The moment I permitted Lin Xiaoyu, the entire courtyard atmosphere changed.
The snow swirling inside the protection barrier slowed.
The faint golden cracks across the barrier glimmered like warning lights.
Outside, Elder Han stood with his hands behind his back, expression calm and condescending, as if this entire mountain was already his.
Behind him, Mo Tianyu wore the most irritating smug smile I had ever seen.
He crossed his arms and sneered.
"So the little thief finally wants to fight?"
Xiaoyu took one step forward.
Her boots crunched against the snow-covered stones.
Golden light flickered across her eyes.
This time, it was brighter than before.
More stable.
More dangerous.
She rolled her shoulders and cracked her knuckles.
"Try calling me that again."
Mo Tianyu laughed.
Elder Han, however, did not.
His sharp gaze remained fixed on her.
He had already sensed it.
The dragon blood.
The potential.
The threat.
The system screen appeared before me.
DISCIPLE COMBAT ANALYSIS
Lin XiaoyuRealm: Body Tempering 2nd LayerBloodline Sync: 54%Combat Prediction vs Elder Han: 19%Combat Prediction vs Mo Tianyu: 87%
I frowned.
Nineteen percent against the elder.
Not good.
But against Mo Tianyu—
Now that was more interesting.
I immediately understood the move.
This wasn't about defeating the elder.
This was about destroying the young master's pride.
The ultimate face-slap.
I looked at Elder Han and smiled.
"My disciple challenges your young master."
Mo Tianyu's smug expression faltered.
"…What?"
Xiaoyu turned slightly and blinked at me.
I gave her a tiny nod.
Her grin widened instantly.
Perfect.
Elder Han narrowed his eyes.
"You dare?"
I folded my arms.
"Or is the Stone River Sect afraid of a girl who started cultivating yesterday?"
The words hit exactly where I wanted.
Mo Tianyu's face darkened.
His pride had been pierced.
Good.
He stepped forward before Elder Han could speak.
"I accept."
Elder Han frowned.
"Young Master—"
Mo Tianyu raised a hand.
"I will personally crush this trash sect disciple."
There it was.
Arrogance always did half the work for me.
The elder hesitated for a moment, then slowly stepped back.
"As you wish."
The barrier flickered.
I deactivated a small section of it near the gate.
Enough space for a duel.
Not enough for the elder to interfere quickly.
The two stood facing each other in the snowy courtyard.
Xiaoyu on one side.
Mo Tianyu on the other.
The contrast was almost comical.
He stood in luxurious robes, sword at his waist, polished boots, and all the confidence of someone who had never lost a fight.
She stood in patched clothes, snow-dusted sleeves, and the grin of a born troublemaker.
Mo Tianyu sneered.
"I'll give you one chance."
He lifted his chin arrogantly.
"Kneel, and I might allow you to join our sect as a servant."
Xiaoyu blinked.
Then looked at me.
"Can I hit him now?"
I almost laughed.
"Yes."
That was all the permission she needed.
BOOM!
She moved first.
A burst of golden light exploded beneath her feet.
Snow blasted outward.
Her body shot forward like an arrow.
Mo Tianyu's eyes widened.
He barely managed to raise his arm in defense—
BAM!
Her fist slammed into his forearm.
The impact sent him sliding three steps back.
His boots carved deep lines into the snow.
Silence.
Then the guards behind him gasped.
Even Elder Han's expression shifted slightly.
Mo Tianyu stared at her in disbelief.
"You—"
Xiaoyu smirked.
"That all?"
Beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful.
His pride shattered right there.
Rage flared in his eyes.
He drew his sword.
The blade gleamed with spiritual energy.
A faint blue aura coated the steel.
Ah.
A spirit weapon.
Of course the rich young master had one.
He lunged.
The blade sliced through the air.
Fast.
Much faster than before.
Xiaoyu barely tilted her body in time.
The sword missed her cheek by inches.
A lock of black hair drifted to the ground.
Her golden eyes narrowed.
Now she was serious.
Mo Tianyu attacked again.
And again.
Three consecutive strikes.
Xiaoyu retreated, dodging each one with growing fluidity.
Her dragon blood had enhanced her instincts.
Every movement was sharper than a normal beginner cultivator.
Still—
Mo Tianyu had more training.
More technique.
More experience.
The system flashed.
REAL-TIME COMBAT ASSIST
Recommended move: close-range pressure
I immediately shouted.
"Don't let him create distance!"
Xiaoyu's eyes flicked toward me for half a second.
Then she smiled.
Understood.
The next moment—
She rushed in.
Instead of dodging backward, she stepped into his attack range.
Mo Tianyu's sword slash came down.
She twisted sideways—
And grabbed his wrist.
His eyes widened.
"What—?!"
Her fist glowed gold.
BAM!
The punch landed directly in his stomach.
The sound echoed through the courtyard.
Mo Tianyu's body folded.
Air exploded from his lungs.
He stumbled backward, coughing violently.
Xiaoyu did not stop.
She followed up immediately.
Left punch.
Right elbow.
Knee strike.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each hit carried traces of dragon aura.
Each hit destroyed a little more of his dignity.
The guards stared in horror.
One even muttered, "Young Master…"
Mo Tianyu roared and slashed wildly.
Xiaoyu ducked beneath the sword.
Then—
Golden light erupted behind her.
For a split second, the phantom outline of a dragon's head appeared.
Her fist shot upward.
BOOOOM!
Uppercut.
Mo Tianyu was launched off the ground.
He spun through the air and crashed face-first into the snow.
Complete silence.
Then—
I slowly clapped.
"Excellent."
Xiaoyu straightened and dusted off her sleeves.
Her grin was absolutely vicious.
"Told you not to call me a thief."
Mo Tianyu pushed himself up, blood at the corner of his mouth.
His face twisted with humiliation.
"You bitch!"
The moment the insult left his mouth—
Xiaoyu's aura exploded.
The dragon blood fully responded to her fury.
Golden scales of light flickered along her arms.
The air temperature rose.
The snow around her feet began melting.
Even Elder Han took a step forward, alarm in his eyes.
The system screen flashed red.
BLOODLINE SURGE
Ancient Dragon Bloodline: temporary combat boost active
Oh hell.
This was getting dangerous.
But before I could intervene—
Xiaoyu moved.
Too fast.
Even I almost lost sight of her.
She appeared directly in front of Mo Tianyu.
His eyes widened in panic.
BAM!
Her palm struck his chest.
A shockwave erupted.
Mo Tianyu flew backward like a broken kite.
He slammed into a tree near the sect gate.
The trunk cracked.
He slid down into the snow, unconscious.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then the system chimed.
MISSION COMPLETE
First sect duel victory
Reward: 300 Spirit StonesSect Reputation +100
I grinned.
Beautiful.
An absolutely perfect face-slap.
Elder Han's expression had turned icy.
His killing intent surged.
"How dare you injure the young master!"
Xiaoyu stepped back beside me.
Her breathing was heavy, but her eyes still burnt with excitement.
I immediately reactivated the barrier.
Golden light sealed the sect once more.
Elder Han's fist slammed against it.
BOOM!
The barrier trembled.
His eyes glared at me.
"This matter is not over."
I smiled.
"It rarely is."
He looked at Xiaoyu one last time.
Something dark flickered in his gaze.
Not anger.
Greed.
Then he turned and ordered the guards to carry Mo Tianyu away.
As they retreated down the mountain, his voice echoed through the snow.
"The Stone River Sect will return."
The path fell silent once more.
Xiaoyu exhaled and looked at me.
"Well?"
I smirked.
"Well, what?"
She lifted her chin proudly.
"How was my first battle?"
I laughed.
"Perfect."
She grinned.
For the first time, the ruined mountain truly felt like the beginning of something bigger.
Much bigger.