Chapter 3: The Sect Games Begin!

  The next morning, the entire Cloudpetal Sect gathered at the main arena.

  It was… honestly a little sad.

  The “arena” was just a big patch of dirt surrounded by old wooden benches. A few weeds grew stubbornly in the middle.

  Someone even hung up a crooked sign that said:

  “Cloudpetal Sect Annual Games – Please Fight Politely”

  Lin Xian arrived te, carrying his new Void Tiger Cub, who was sleeping on top of his head like a fluffy hat.

  Some disciples gasped when they saw him.

  “That’s the genius kid who knocked out Chen Bao with a pillow!”

  “Look, he even tamed a beast already!”

  “So cool…!”

  Lin Xian yawned.

  He wasn’t here for glory.

  He was here for the prize: a rare Spirit Beast Egg stored in the sect’s treasury. He could already imagine the chaos he’d cause if he hatched a dragon inside a tiny sect like this.

  The Rules Were Simple:

  Every outer disciple had to fight.Win three matches to reach the finals.No killing allowed (unless you could bribe Elder Hao, but Lin Xian wasn’t that bored).

  First Match:

  Opponent: Lu Feng

  Cultivation: Qi Awakening Stage 6

  Specialty: Angry Sword Techniques

  Lu Feng charged across the dirt field, sword fshing.

  “I won’t hold back!” he yelled, dramatic music somehow pying in the background (someone was pying a flute badly).

  Lin Xian stood still.

  He waited until Lu Feng was right in front of him…

  Then casually lifted one finger and booped him on the forehead.

  Boop.

  Lu Feng crumpled like a wet noodle.

  Silence.

  The Void Tiger Cub purred zily on Lin Xian’s head.

  The referee blinked and announced, “Uhh… Winner, Lin Xian!”

  Second Match:

  Opponent: Mei Lin

  Cultivation: Qi Awakening Stage 7

  Specialty: Ice Palm Technique

  Mei Lin smiled sweetly.

  “Senior Brother Lin, please go easy on me~”

  Lin Xian smiled back politely.

  “Of course.”

  Five seconds ter, Mei Lin was frozen into a popsicle — by her own attack, reflected back casually by Lin Xian’s qi barrier.

  Another win.

  Third Match:

  Opponent: Shi Lei

  Cultivation: Foundation Bloom – Early Stage

  Specialty: Iron Fist and Loud Yelling

  Now this… was a problem.

  Shi Lei was one of the sect’s “geniuses.” He had already broken through Qi Awakening and built a basic Foundation Bloom.

  He looked twice as big as Lin Xian, muscles bulging like he ate entire cows for breakfast.

  “Come, little brat!” Shi Lei bellowed, cracking his knuckles. “I’ll teach you why elders call me Iron Wall Shi!”

  The crowd roared.

  Even Elder Hao woke up halfway from his nap.

  Lin Xian sighed.

  He gently put his sleeping Void Tiger Cub into a basket nearby.

  “Alright,” he said. “I guess I should get a little serious.”

  The Fight…

  Shi Lei charged, fists glowing with spiritual energy.

  Lin Xian casually stepped aside.

  Shi Lei punched the ground.

  The entire field shook.

  Lin Xian flicked a pebble with one finger.

  The pebble hit Shi Lei’s forehead with a crisp plink.

  Shi Lei froze, stumbled backward three steps… then dropped like a log.

  Dust settled.

  Wind blew.

  Someone’s flute in the background squeaked awkwardly.

  Lin Xian dusted his hands.

  “Next?”

  After the Matches…

  Lin Xian officially qualified for the final match.

  Everyone was staring at him like he was a heavenly dragon in human skin.

  Even Elder Hao rubbed his eyes. “Am I… dreaming?”

  Lin Xian picked up his Void Tiger Cub, who was still asleep, and grinned.

  This was just the beginning.

  Today a little dirt arena.

  Tomorrow?

  Maybe conquer a few continents if he felt like it.

  But first, he was hungry.

  “Anyone know where I can get some dumplings around here?” he asked.