Two years passed in the blink of an immortal's eye.
Azure Cloud Sect's once-a-decade Grand Competition arrived — an event that drew eyes from allied sects and great clans across the entire Azure Cloud Realm.
All disciples below Nascent Soul could participate, divided into Outer, Inner, and Core categories. Rewards were lavish: top three in each category received direct transmission from Peak Masters, ancient treasures, and massive resource allotments.
For geniuses, it was a springboard to fame.
Xiao Chen was twenty-one now. His cultivation had reached peak Golden Core — the chaos nebula core spinning silently in his dantian, suppressing its aura to early Golden Core outwardly.
The Righteous Avatar embryo had grown into a golden phantom figure, capable of manifesting for brief bursts of unbreakable defense.
The Dark Avatar seed remained dormant — a black abyss that occasionally stirred in his dreams, whispering promises of limitless power.
He had not let it awaken. Not yet.
Qing Lian, nineteen, had broken through to early Nascent Soul — an astonishing leap for someone who started as a mortal village girl. Her water Dao had evolved into profound "Lotus Heart Dao," pure and resilient, earning her promotion to inner disciple and a courtyard near Alchemy Peak.
Mu Xiaoxiao had taken her as junior sister, teasing endlessly about "stealing the chaos monster's girl."
The competition began with outer and inner divisions.
Qing Lian entered the inner disciple category.
Her battles were elegant — water lotuses blooming to trap enemies, sword light like gentle rain that eroded mountains.
She swept through opponents, reaching top eight with ease.
In the stands, Xiao Chen watched proudly, Mu Xiaoxiao beside him munching spirit melon seeds.
"Your little lotus is fierce! That sword intent — she definitely stole some chaos insights from you during those 'dual cultivation' sessions, eh?"
Xiao Chen coughed, face heating. "Senior Sister, stop joking."
Xiaoxiao laughed loudly. "Look at you blushing! So cute for a chaos devil."
Qing Lian's quarter-final opponent was a sword cultivator from Sword Peak — late Golden Core, famous for ruthless cuts.
The battle was fierce.
Sword light clashed with water lotuses, arena barriers trembling.
At the climax, the sword cultivator unleashed his killer move: Thousand Severing Sword Domain.
Qing Lian's lotus domain cracked.
Blood trickled from her lips.
The crowd gasped.
Xiao Chen stood involuntarily, killing intent flickering.
But Qing Lian smiled softly amid the storm.
A pure blue lotus bloomed beneath her feet — heart blood essence infused.
"Lotus Rebirth Domain."
The sword domain shattered.
Her sword pierced the opponent's shoulder, forcing surrender.
Victory.
She looked toward the stands, finding Xiao Chen's eyes.
He relaxed, heart full.
That night, in her new inner disciple courtyard, she collapsed into his arms, exhausted but triumphant.
"I did it… top four."
He carried her to the bed, feeding her a healing pill.
"You were beautiful out there. Like a true immortal goddess."
She pulled him down beside her, fingers tracing his face.
"Only because I knew you were watching."
Their kiss started gentle — gratitude, pride — then deepened into hunger born of battle adrenaline and years of restrained longing.
Clothes loosened, breaths mingled, hands explored with growing boldness.
But Xiao Chen paused, forehead against hers.
"Not yet… not until we're stronger. I won't risk karma binding you if tribulation comes."
She nodded, eyes misty but understanding.
"I'll wait forever if needed."
They fell asleep entwined, innocent yet intimate.
Core disciple battles began the next day.
Xiao Chen entered under Elder Chaos's name — the only participant from Chaos Peak.
His first opponent: a peak Golden Core core disciple from Formation Peak, famous for unbreakable arrays.
The arena stage was vast, protected by sect master-level barriers.
The opponent smirked. "Chaos genius? Let my Nine Palace Killing Formation bury your myth."
Arrays rose — nine layers of killing intent, blades, fire, illusion.
Most spectators thought Xiao Chen finished.
He stood calmly in the center.
Then stepped forward.
Righteous Avatar manifested fully for the first time publicly — golden phantom ten zhang tall, radiating indestructible aura.
One punch.
The entire formation shattered like glass.
The opponent spat blood, flying off stage.
Instant defeat.
The arena fell silent.
Then erupted.
"What was that golden figure?!"
"Avatar manifestation at Golden Core? Impossible!"
Mu Qingwan's eyes shone. "Dual paths… he's walking it."
Leng Feng's grip tightened on his sword.
Sect Master Yun smiled faintly.
Round after round, Xiao Chen crushed opponents with minimal moves — sometimes pure chaos fist, sometimes Righteous Avatar defense that ignored all attacks.
He reached finals undefeated.
His opponent: Sword Peak's number one core disciple, Zhao Wuji — half-step Nascent Soul, wielding a quasi-spirit treasure sword.
The battle shook the entire main peak.
Sword intent tore space.
Xiao Chen met it with chaos palm, neutralizing every strike.
At the climax, Zhao Wuji unleashed forbidden sword: Heaven Severing Slash.
A strike that could wound early Nascent Soul.
Xiao Chen's eyes flashed dual light.
Righteous Avatar blocked front.
But the slash was too strong — avatar cracked.
For the first time, blood appeared on Xiao Chen's lips.
The Dark seed stirred violently.
Whispers filled his mind: Let me out… I'll slaughter him…
He clenched fists, suppressing it with sheer will.
Instead, he used pure chaos energy — black mist erupting, devouring the sword intent.
One palm struck Zhao Wuji's chest.
The sword genius flew hundreds of zhang, coughing blood, sword shattered.
Defeat.
Xiao Chen stood victorious — Grand Competition Champion.
The entire sect thundered with cheers… and whispers of fear.
That night, in Elder Chaos's hut.
"You suppressed the Dark seed again. Impressive control… but dangerous. One day, you'll need it."
Xiao Chen bowed. "When lives depend on it, Master."
Far above, tribulation clouds gathered faintly over the realm — then dispersed, as though heaven itself hesitated.
In the Nine Heavenly Domains, the ancient clan's ancestors opened their eyes.
"The bearer has grown. Send the first hunter."
A black-robed figure vanished into void.
Storm was coming.
But in Qing Lian's courtyard, Xiao Chen held her as they watched celebration fireworks light the sky.
"We're getting stronger," she whispered.
He kissed her forehead.
"Together… we'll defy everything."