Dawn arrived cold and sharp over the northern cliffs of the Azure Cloud Sect.
The mountains here rose like jagged blades, and a thin layer of mist rolled across the narrow stone paths. Few disciples ever came to this part of the sect. The spiritual energy was powerful—but the environment was harsh.
Which was exactly why Su Qingyue chose it.
Lin Ye climbed the last stone step and looked around.
"…Of course it's cold."
He rubbed his arms dramatically.
"Training at sunrise on a cliff. Classic villain mentor behavior."
A calm voice answered behind him.
"I'm not your mentor."
Lin Ye turned.
Su Qingyue stood several meters away, her white robes untouched by the morning wind. Frost-like spiritual energy surrounded her faintly, giving her the distant, untouchable presence that had earned her the reputation of the Inner Sect Ice Queen.
Lin Ye grinned.
"Good morning."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're late."
Lin Ye blinked.
"I'm three seconds late."
"Still late."
Lin Ye sighed.
"…Strict teacher confirmed."
Su Qingyue ignored the comment.
Instead, she studied him carefully.
"You didn't sleep."
Lin Ye scratched the back of his neck.
"Cultivation practice."
She shook her head.
"Lying."
Lin Ye blinked.
"…How did you—"
"You look terrible."
Lin Ye placed a hand on his chest in mock offense.
"I always look handsome."
Su Qingyue turned away.
"Your bloodline was unstable last night."
Her voice grew colder.
"If you had slept normally, the demonic energy would have surged again."
Lin Ye's smile faded slightly.
"…You noticed."
Su Qingyue nodded once.
"I always notice."
For a moment, silence lingered between them.
The wind howled quietly across the cliff.
Lin Ye finally exhaled.
"…So what's the training plan?"
Su Qingyue walked toward the edge of the cliff and pointed toward a wide stone platform below.
"You fight."
Lin Ye stared.
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
Lin Ye scratched his head.
"Wow. Very advanced teaching method."
Su Qingyue turned toward him again.
"You need control."
"Control only comes through pressure."
Lin Ye smirked.
"…And I'm the one who likes fighting."
Su Qingyue raised her hand.
A wave of icy spiritual energy spread across the platform.
"Show me your Blood Shadow Step."
Lin Ye cracked his neck.
"Alright."
His body flickered.
Blood Shadow Step.
He moved across the platform instantly, appearing several meters away.
Su Qingyue didn't react.
"Again."
Lin Ye repeated the technique.
Faster this time.
But before he could stop—
Su Qingyue moved.
In a single step she appeared directly in front of him.
Lin Ye almost walked straight into her.
"…Whoa."
She grabbed his wrist.
Cold energy surged into his body instantly.
Lin Ye felt the demonic bloodline react violently.
His eyes flashed red.
Su Qingyue's voice remained calm.
"Your control is terrible."
Lin Ye winced.
"…You could've said that nicer."
She released him.
"You're relying on instinct."
Lin Ye rolled his shoulder.
"It works."
"Until it doesn't."
Then—
She attacked.
Her palm shot toward his chest with blinding speed.
Lin Ye barely dodged.
Blood Shadow Step.
He vanished—
But Su Qingyue appeared beside him instantly.
Her elbow struck his shoulder.
THUD.
Lin Ye stumbled backward.
"…Ow."
Su Qingyue didn't stop.
Another attack.
Lin Ye dodged again, but her movements were flawless.
Every strike forced him to react.
Every reaction pushed him harder.
Within seconds the quiet training ground had turned into a chaotic battle.
Lin Ye jumped back, breathing harder.
"…You're serious."
Su Qingyue's gaze remained cold.
"You wanted training."
Lin Ye laughed.
"Fair."
He launched forward again.
This time their attacks collided repeatedly.
BANG.
THUD.
CRACK.
But the difference in skill was obvious.
Su Qingyue controlled the fight completely.
Every time Lin Ye used Blood Shadow Step—
She intercepted him.
Every time his demonic aura began rising—
Her icy spiritual energy suppressed it.
After several minutes Lin Ye staggered backward, breathing heavily.
"…Okay."
"You win."
Su Qingyue shook her head.
"This isn't a competition."
Lin Ye wiped sweat from his forehead.
"…Feels like one."
She stepped closer again.
"You rely on power."
"Instead, focus on control."
She placed her hand lightly against his chest again.
Cold energy flowed through his meridians.
This time—
The demonic bloodline didn't surge.
It slowed.
Stabilized.
Lin Ye blinked.
"…That feels weird."
Su Qingyue nodded.
"That's balance."
Lin Ye looked at her.
"…You're helping me control it."
"Yes."
He grinned slightly.
"You're nicer than you pretend."
Her expression didn't change.
But she didn't deny it either.
At that moment—
A faint ripple of spiritual energy passed through the mountains.
Both of them turned instantly.
Lin Ye frowned.
"…Someone's watching."
Su Qingyue's gaze sharpened.
From the distant forest below—
A group of figures stood partially hidden between the trees.
Black robes.
Black Fang disciples.
Lin Ye sighed.
"…Seriously?"
One of them stepped forward.
A familiar face.
Liu Feng.
His expression was bitter.
"You thought yesterday ended things?"
Lin Ye rubbed his temples.
"…I was hoping."
Behind Liu Feng stood several other Black Fang members.
And in the center—
Wu Shan.
He smiled faintly.
"Morning, Lin Ye."
Lin Ye waved lazily.
"Morning."
Wu Shan's eyes shifted briefly toward Su Qingyue.
"…Senior Sister."
Su Qingyue's voice turned cold.
"You shouldn't be here."
Wu Shan shrugged.
"We're just observing."
Lin Ye smirked.
"…You guys really don't give up."
Wu Shan's smile widened.
"Neither do you."
For a moment—
The tension thickened.
Then Wu Shan turned away.
"Enjoy your training."
"But remember something."
He glanced back over his shoulder.
"The Inner Sect is only the beginning."
Lin Ye frowned slightly.
"…What's that supposed to mean?"
Wu Shan chuckled quietly.
"You'll see soon enough."
The Black Fang group disappeared into the forest.
Silence returned to the cliff.
Lin Ye looked toward the trees thoughtfully.
"…That sounded ominous."
Su Qingyue nodded slightly.
"It was."
Lin Ye turned toward her again.
"So."
"Training continues?"
Su Qingyue raised her hand.
Cold spiritual energy gathered again.
"Yes."
Lin Ye groaned.
"…I knew you were going to say that."
She attacked again.
Lin Ye barely dodged.
"…Hey!"
The quiet mountain echoed with the sounds of their training battle.
But neither of them noticed something else.
Far away—
At the highest peak of the Azure Cloud Sect.
A tall figure stood watching everything from a distant balcony.
Rank 1.
The strongest disciple in the entire Inner Sect.
Li Tianxuan.
His eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"…Interesting."
Because for the first time in a long while—
Someone new had appeared in the sect who might be worth watching.
And Lin Ye had no idea—
That his real challenges were only beginning.