Chapter 5: Inner Sect Challenge
The academy did not sleep that night.
From the outer courtyards to the highest inner sect halls, one name echoed endlessly—
Li Wei.
By dawn, the rumors had evolved into something far greater than gossip. They had become legend.
"Li Wei slapped the Azure Clan Patriarch!"
"A Qi Refining cultivator forcing a Foundation Establishment expert to retreat!"
"He broke through multiple stages in just days—he's a monster!"
"No… he's something worse."
Fear and excitement intertwined, spreading like an unstoppable tide.
—
Inside his quiet courtyard, the source of all the chaos sat calmly.
Li Wei remained cross-legged, his breathing steady, his mind immersed in the newly unlocked Intermediate Cultivation Technique. Streams of refined spiritual energy circulated through his meridians with far greater efficiency than before, compressing, strengthening, evolving.
The technique wasn't just an upgrade—it was a transformation.
Each cycle of cultivation condensed his qi further, bringing it closer to the threshold of a higher realm.
Half-step Foundation Establishment.
His aura, once sharp but unstable, now felt solid—like a blade forged and tempered repeatedly. Even without releasing pressure, the air around him subtly distorted.
After a long moment, Li Wei opened his eyes.
A faint pulse of energy rippled outward.
"Status."
Host: Li WeiCultivation: Half-step Foundation EstablishmentSpirit Points: 4600Techniques: Advanced Slap Technique (Enhanced), Intermediate Cultivation Technique
A slight smile formed on his lips.
"Not bad," he murmured.
But before he could continue, the system chimed once more.
[New mission detected.]
[Mission: Dominate the Inner Sect Tournament.]
[Objective: Slap every arrogant young master who challenges you.]
[Reward: 2000 Spirit Points, Foundation Establishment Pill, Academy Fame Title.]
Li Wei chuckled softly.
"Seems like the system enjoys this as much as I do."
At that exact moment—
A powerful voice echoed across the entire academy, carried by spiritual amplification.
"Attention all disciples!"
"The Inner Sect Entry Tournament begins today!"
"Outer disciples may challenge inner sect members for promotion spots!"
The announcement sent shockwaves through the academy.
Doors burst open. Disciples rushed out. The already boiling excitement reached its peak.
Li Wei stood slowly.
"Perfect timing."
—
The grand fighting arena stood at the heart of Azure Cloud Academy—a massive circular structure forged from reinforced stone, layered with protective formations.
Today, it was overflowing.
Hundreds—no, thousands—of disciples gathered, filling every available space. Outer disciples crowded below, eyes burning with anticipation. Above them, on elevated platforms, inner sect members sat with composed arrogance, their robes elegant, their auras clearly stronger.
To them, this was entertainment.
To the outer disciples, it was opportunity.
And to Li Wei—
It was a stage.
Among the inner sect seats, Zhao Feng sat stiffly, his face still partially wrapped in bandages. Though the swelling had lessened, the humiliation remained deeply carved into his expression.
Beside him sat several inner sect disciples, their gazes sharp.
"That's the one?" one of them asked, glancing toward the entrance.
Zhao Feng's eyes darkened.
"Yes," he said through gritted teeth. "That dog Li Wei."
Another disciple smirked. "Relax. If he dares step into this arena, he won't leave standing."
Zhao Feng clenched his fists.
"Good," he muttered. "I want him broken."
—
At that moment, the crowd stirred.
A path opened.
Li Wei walked into the arena.
No dramatic entrance. No overwhelming aura.
Just calm, steady steps.
But the moment he appeared—
The noise exploded.
"That's him!"
"Li Wei!"
"The Patriarch-slapper!"
Even some inner sect disciples leaned forward slightly, curiosity flickering in their eyes.
The referee stepped forward, raising his hand.
"First match!" he announced loudly.
"Outer disciple Li Wei—challenging Inner Sect Disciple Wang Jun!"
A ripple of surprise spread.
"They're starting him against an inner sect member immediately?"
"Wang Jun is already at Foundation Establishment!"
A figure leapt down from the elevated platform.
Wang Jun landed heavily in the arena, cracking the stone beneath his feet. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his aura fierce and oppressive.
He looked at Li Wei—and laughed.
"So you're the famous trash?" he sneered. "Got lucky slapping some old fool and now you think you're invincible?"
He rolled his shoulders, spiritual energy gathering rapidly.
"I'll crush you in one move."
Without waiting, he charged.
His fist surged forward, wrapped in condensed qi, tearing through the air with explosive force.
Gasps filled the arena.
"That attack… it's lethal!"
Li Wei didn't move—
Until the last second.
His hand rose.
A familiar motion.
A simple motion.
PA!!!
The sound cracked like thunder.
Wang Jun's expression froze mid-sneer.
Then—
His entire body spun violently, like a broken puppet, before flying across the arena.
BOOM!
He slammed into the wall, leaving a human-shaped crater.
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
Wang Jun slid down slowly, unconscious, his face grotesquely swollen, several teeth scattered across the ground.
The arena erupted.
"One slap?!"
"He didn't even resist!"
"He's terrifying!"
Li Wei lowered his hand calmly.
"Next."
—
The second challenger descended quickly, unable to endure the rising pressure of the crowd's expectations.
An inner sect genius.
Foundation Establishment, 2nd stage.
"I won't underestimate you," he said coldly.
He attacked instantly, unleashing a refined technique, multiple strikes layered with precision.
Li Wei stepped forward.
PA! PA!
Two crisp slaps.
The attacks shattered.
The genius flew out of bounds, crashing unconscious before even landing properly.
—
What followed—
Was a massacre.
One by one, inner sect disciples stepped forward, driven by pride, anger, or the desire to claim fame by defeating Li Wei.
One by one—
They fell.
PA!!!
PA!!!
PA!!!
The sound echoed repeatedly, relentless, unstoppable.
Ten inner sect disciples.
Defeated.
In under ten minutes.
Each one left with the same mark—
A bright red handprint.
A symbol of absolute humiliation.
—
The atmosphere had completely changed.
The arrogance of the inner sect began to crack.
Some disciples avoided eye contact.
Others clenched their fists, unwilling to step forward.
And then—
A figure jumped down violently.
"Enough!"
Zhao Feng landed in the arena, his aura flaring wildly. Though still recovering, he had clearly forced himself to fight.
Behind him, two inner sect elders followed, their expressions stern.
Zhao Feng pointed at Li Wei, eyes burning with hatred.
"Li Wei!"
"Today—you die!"
Spiritual energy exploded from his body as he activated a clan secret technique. His aura surged unnaturally, temporarily boosting his strength.
The crowd tensed.
"This is different…"
"He's going all out!"
Zhao Feng attacked with everything he had.
Li Wei watched him calmly.
"Still haven't learned," he said softly.
He activated the Advanced Slap Technique—fully.
Power surged into his palm.
The air trembled.
Zhao Feng's attack arrived—
PA!!!
A deafening explosion rang out.
Zhao Feng's body flew backward like a cannonball.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
He smashed through three stone pillars before collapsing in a heap.
Blood sprayed.
His aura collapsed instantly.
Even worse—
His cultivation visibly dropped, destabilized by the overwhelming impact.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
"T-that…"
"He crippled him…?"
—
The two elders roared in fury.
"Impudent brat!"
They attacked simultaneously, their combined pressure suffocating.
Li Wei didn't even step back.
Two simple movements.
PA! PA!
Two slaps.
Both elders spun midair, their bodies flipping uncontrollably before crashing heavily onto the ground.
Defeated.
Effortlessly.
—
Li Wei stood alone at the center of the arena.
The wind stirred his robes slightly.
His voice echoed, calm yet absolute.
"Inner sect?" he said.
"Just bigger faces to slap."
He looked around, his gaze sweeping across every disciple present.
"From today…"
"I, Li Wei, claim the top spot among both outer and inner disciples."
No one spoke.
No one refuted.
The system chimed.
[Mission progress: 70%. Continue dominating.]
At the same moment—
A powerful surge erupted from Li Wei's body.
His cultivation broke through.
Half-step… shattered.
Foundation Establishment—
1st stage.
A true transformation.
The air around him trembled as his aura expanded, no longer merely refined—but fundamentally elevated.
The crowd exploded.
"Foundation Establishment!"
"He broke through mid-battle!"
"Monster!"
Outer disciples began chanting his name.
"Li Wei! Li Wei! Li Wei!"
Even many inner sect disciples lowered their heads—not in defeat, but in acknowledgment.
Respect.
Fear.
Acceptance.
—
High above, hidden from the crowd's view, several academy elders watched in silence.
Their expressions were grim.
"This… is no ordinary disciple," one muttered.
"His growth is unnatural," another said. "If left unchecked…"
They did not finish the sentence.
But the meaning was clear.
—
Back in the arena, Li Wei turned away.
He had no interest in lingering.
The cheers, the fear, the admiration—
None of it mattered.
His path was forward.
Always forward.
As he walked out of the arena, his silver sword humming softly at his side, the legend behind him continued to grow.
No longer whispers.
No longer rumors.
But undeniable truth.
The era of Li Wei—
Had begun.