A few days passed in steady training. I had settled into a rhythm—refining my body, practicing the Crimson Fang Fist, and occasionally sparring with Li Shen to sharpen our reflexes.
But today, something else caught my attention.
As I walked through the bustling sect courtyard, I overheard two senior disciples talking in hushed tones near a stone pavilion.
"…he made five spirit stones in a single match yesterday."
"Seriously? I heard the Arena battles are brutal."
"Only if you fight those above your level. You can still earn by challenging someone on your level or by taking public matches for coin."
Their conversation stopped as they noticed me passing, but the seed was already planted in my mind.
The Arena… fighting for money?
I had heard about the outer sect rankings before—a system where disciples challenged each other to climb the ranks and earn rewards. But I hadn't known that casual matches could bring spirit stones too.
As I continued walking, another conversation drifted past me.
"Ranked challenges are risky. If you lose, you might drop down the list, but if you win against a higher-ranked disciple, you'll gain their position—and sometimes even get direct rewards from the sect."
My heart pounded with a strange mix of curiosity and excitement.
I didn't have many spirit stones left after buying pills, and earning more through the Arena could fuel my growth. Not to mention… I wanted to test myself.
Could I stand in that ring and win?
When I returned to my room that evening, I made up my mind.
I would fight.
Whether I chose open Arena battles for coin or aimed straight for the rankings, one thing was certain:
I needed to become stronger, faster.
I needed to become a force that could not be ignored.
Tomorrow, I would head to the Arena grounds and see it with my own eyes.