The dust from the destroyed arena had not yet fully settled.
Cracked stone spread across the plaza like a spiderweb, the once-proud battlefield now reduced to broken slabs and scattered debris. Disciples stood at a distance, whispering nervously while elders inspected the damage.
The duel between Lin Ye and Wu Shan had gone far beyond a simple ranking challenge.
It had nearly turned into a disaster.
At the center of the ruined arena, Lin Ye stood quietly.
The crimson aura around him had faded after Su Qingyue stabilized his bloodline, but the pressure lingering in the air still felt heavy.
Lin Ye exhaled slowly.
"…That escalated."
Su Qingyue stood beside him, her expression cold as always.
But her gaze remained sharp.
"You nearly lost control."
Lin Ye rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Yeah."
The system notification still floated faintly in his mind.
[Bloodline Awakening: 98%]
[State: Temporarily Stabilized]
Lin Ye frowned slightly.
"…Two percent away."
That number felt like a ticking bomb.
Nearby, several elders finally approached the center of the ruined arena.
The leading elder, an old man with deep wrinkles and sharp eyes, looked around at the destruction with a heavy sigh.
"The two of you…"
His voice carried across the courtyard.
"…have caused quite a mess."
Wu Shan stood calmly several meters away, his expression composed despite the damage around them.
"It was an unfortunate accident," he said smoothly.
The elder's eyes narrowed.
"Your technique shattered the arena floor."
Wu Shan shrugged slightly.
"The opponent forced me to use it."
Several disciples nearby snorted quietly.
Lin Ye raised his hands.
"Don't look at me. I was just trying to survive."
The elder rubbed his forehead.
"…Enough."
He looked at both of them carefully.
"This duel is officially declared a draw."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"A draw?"
"They destroyed the arena!"
"But neither lost…"
The elder continued firmly.
"The ranking board remains unchanged."
Wu Shan nodded calmly.
"As expected."
Lin Ye sighed.
"…That's disappointing."
The elder shot him a glare.
"You're lucky we aren't disciplining you."
Lin Ye smiled awkwardly.
"…I appreciate your mercy."
The elders turned away, already discussing the repairs needed for the arena.
As the tension began to fade, the crowd slowly started dispersing.
But whispers followed Lin Ye wherever he stood.
"Did you see his eyes?"
"That demonic aura…"
"He almost transformed…"
Lin Ye rubbed his temples again.
"…This keeps getting worse."
Gu Chen and Zhao Tian finally approached him through the thinning crowd.
Gu Chen's expression remained serious.
"You went too far."
Lin Ye sighed.
"I know."
Zhao Tian looked at the cracked battlefield.
"That fight could have destroyed half the plaza."
Lin Ye shrugged.
"Wu Shan started it."
Wu Shan, who was still nearby, glanced at him and chuckled quietly.
"You didn't seem reluctant."
Lin Ye smirked.
"Neither did you."
For a moment, the two men locked eyes.
But instead of hostility—
There was mutual understanding.
Wu Shan crossed his arms.
"You're stronger than I expected."
Lin Ye raised an eyebrow.
"That sounded like praise."
Wu Shan shook his head.
"Just observation."
Then his gaze shifted briefly toward Su Qingyue.
"…But you're unstable."
Lin Ye didn't argue.
Because that part was true.
Wu Shan turned away slowly.
"Our fight isn't finished."
Lin Ye grinned.
"I figured."
Wu Shan walked off with several members of the Black Fang faction following behind him.
The tension faded slightly after he left.
Lin Ye stretched his arms slowly.
"…Well."
"That was fun."
Gu Chen stared at him.
"You almost turned into a demon."
Lin Ye shrugged.
"Technical details."
Zhao Tian chuckled quietly.
"You're insane."
Lin Ye smiled.
"That's why I'm improving."
Before anyone could respond—
Su Qingyue spoke again.
"Lin Ye."
Her voice cut through the conversation instantly.
Lin Ye turned toward her.
"…Yeah?"
She stepped closer.
Her cold gaze studied him carefully.
"You need to learn control."
Lin Ye nodded slowly.
"I'm working on it."
Su Qingyue shook her head.
"No."
"You need guidance."
Lin Ye blinked.
"…Guidance?"
Gu Chen and Zhao Tian both looked surprised.
Because Su Qingyue rarely involved herself in other disciples' training.
Su Qingyue continued calmly.
"If your bloodline reaches full awakening without preparation…"
"…you will die."
Lin Ye scratched his cheek.
"…That sounds unpleasant."
She ignored the joke.
"Starting tomorrow…"
"You will train with me."
Silence.
Gu Chen raised an eyebrow.
Zhao Tian smirked slightly.
Lin Ye stared at her.
"…Wait."
"You're personally training me?"
Su Qingyue nodded once.
"Yes."
Lin Ye laughed.
"…That sounds dangerous."
Her expression didn't change.
"It is."
Lin Ye rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"…Alright."
"Let's do it."
Gu Chen sighed.
"You're agreeing too easily."
Lin Ye shrugged.
"Free training from the second strongest disciple?"
"Sounds like a great deal."
Zhao Tian chuckled.
"Or a painful one."
Su Qingyue turned away.
"Meet me at the northern cliff at dawn."
Then she left without another word.
Lin Ye watched her go.
"…This should be interesting."
Gu Chen crossed his arms.
"You just became her responsibility."
Lin Ye smirked.
"Lucky me."
But inside his mind—
The system flickered again.
[Bloodline Awakening: 98%]
[Next Evolution Approaching]
Lin Ye looked toward the distant mountain peaks.
His smile faded slightly.
"…Two percent."
Only two percent remained.
Whatever would happen at full awakening—
Was coming soon.
And he had no idea what it would be.