The morning of the Azure Phoenix Sect Tournament dawned bright and crisp. Disciples from outer, inner, and core sections gathered in the massive central arena. Flags bearing the phoenix emblem fluttered in the wind. Elders sat on a high platform, watching everything with sharp eyes.
Walter Cooper stood among the outer disciples, calm and confident. At Qi Condensation Stage 6, he felt completely different from the trash everyone once mocked. Sylvara and Vespera had both slipped away before dawn, but their bonds still pulsed warmly inside him.
The system screen refreshed.
[Main Mission Progress: 2/3 Bonds Formed]
[Sect Tournament Arc Activated]
[Bonus: Strong performance grants extra system rewards]
The head elder stepped forward, his voice booming with qi. "Today marks the annual selection tournament! Winners will earn inner sect resources, better techniques, and a chance to enter the core disciple ranks. Fight fairly—or face punishment."
Harlan Voss stood across the arena with his group, still bandaged from last night. He shot Walter a venomous glare.
The first round was simple bracket matches. Outer disciples fought first to qualify.
Walter's name was called early. His opponent was a burly outer disciple at Stage 3.
"Trash Cooper thinks he can fight now?" the opponent sneered as they stepped onto the stone platform.
Walter smiled coldly. "Let's see."
The moment the elder signaled start, the opponent charged with a heavy fist strike. Walter dodged effortlessly and countered with Dual Ice Flame Palm. Blue frost and golden flame exploded on impact. The burly disciple flew off the platform, crashing into the barrier with ice burns covering his chest.
The crowd gasped. Outer disciples whispered in shock.
"Stage 6? How did the trash jump so far?!"
Harlan's face twisted in disbelief.
Walter advanced easily through the next two matches. Each time he used controlled bursts of his new technique, ending fights quickly without wasting qi. His Healing Flame Touch passively recovered any minor strain.
By the time he reached the inner disciple bracket, attention had shifted heavily toward him.
Sylvara watched from the inner sect stands, a proud smirk on her lips. Vespera sat nearby, blushing whenever their eyes met.
In the quarterfinals, Walter faced a proud inner disciple at Stage 5. The opponent summoned a full phoenix flame bird attack.
Walter met it head-on. His Dual Ice Flame Palm clashed with the flames, creating a spectacular explosion of steam and light. He pushed through and landed a clean strike, freezing the opponent's arm while burning his shoulder.
"Yield!" the inner disciple shouted, dropping to one knee.
The elder nodded. "Walter Cooper advances!"
Cheers erupted—some genuine, many shocked. Harlan finally stepped up for his match, but his performance looked weak compared to Walter's.
After the morning rounds, a short break was announced. Walter stepped off the platform and found Sylvara and Vespera waiting in a quiet corner.
"You were incredible," Sylvara said, voice low but excited. "Everyone is talking about you now."
Vespera nodded shyly, her violet eyes sparkling. "Your qi feels so stable… thanks to our bonds."
Walter pulled both girls closer for a moment, hidden by the crowd. "This is just the start. Stay close. I might need your support for the finals."
As they talked, a new presence approached. A tall, fiery beauty with crimson-streaked black hair and sharp red-gold eyes walked past with a group of elite disciples. Her robes carried subtle demonic energy patterns—she was Thalira Ember, a half-phoenix sword cultivator known for her explosive temper and rebirth-like resilience.
The system instantly reacted.
[High Potential Target Detected: Thalira Ember]
[Bloodline: Blazing Phoenix (Rare)]
[Special Physique: Flame Rebirth Body]
[Bonding Reward: Fire-based techniques + explosive power boost]
Thalira's gaze lingered on Walter for a second. She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the sudden rise of a former trash disciple.
Walter met her eyes boldly and gave a small, confident nod. She huffed and looked away, but not before a faint blush touched her cheeks.
The goddess's voice chuckled in his mind. "Three in three days? You're on fire, Walter. Literally."
The afternoon semifinals began. Walter's next opponent was Harlan himself.
The arena quieted as they faced off.
Harlan snarled, channeling all his rage into phoenix flames. "You stole my spotlight, trash! I'll burn you to ash!"
He unleashed a massive flame wave. Walter countered with Dual Ice Flame Palm at full power. The two energies collided violently. Frost and fire fought for dominance.
Walter's superior cultivation and dual-bonded qi gave him the edge. He pushed forward, freezing Harlan's flames mid-air before slamming a palm into the bully's chest.
Harlan flew backward, coughing blood and ice crystals. He struggled to stand but collapsed.
"Walter Cooper wins!" the elder announced.
The crowd erupted. Even some elders looked impressed.
As medics carried Harlan away, Thalira Ember watched from the sidelines, arms crossed. Her red-gold eyes burned with interest.
Walter caught her stare again and smiled. The third bond felt very close.
With the tournament finals looming tomorrow, Walter's rise was no longer a secret.
The Dual Cultivation Empire was gaining its first real momentum.