Chương 381: May the Best Cultivator Win

The world dissolved around me in a flash of azure light, that familiar sensation of dimensional transit washing over my consciousness like a tide. But unlike the violent, jarring transition into the Fallen Realm, this felt smooth, controlled. Like stepping through a doorway rather than being hurled through space by an angry god. When the light faded, I found myself standing on familiar stone beneath my feet. The tournament arena.

The same massive circular structure carved into the mountainside that I'd entered what felt like days ago, though I knew it had only been hours in the outside world. I blinked, adjusting to the sudden change in lighting. Instead of the sickly green-black twilight of the Fallen Realm, natural sunlight streamed down from above. Real sunlight, warm and clean, without the oppressive weight of death essence that had pressed against us constantly in Ancestor Tian's realm.

Wei Lin materialized beside me, his tenth-stage spiritual pressure still radiating that new, denser quality I was getting used to. He looked around with the same disorientation I felt, probably trying to process the abrupt transition from what felt like life-or-death survival to tournament ceremony.

"Back to civilization," he said, brushing some lingering death essence off his robes.

"I have to admit, I'm not going to miss that place."

"It's good to be back," I smiled. A few feet away, stood Wu Kangming, Luo Yichen, and Meng Haoran, who had arrived just before us. Wu Kangming caught my eye and gave me a subtle nod of respect, which I returned. Despite everything that had happened between our teams, there was an understanding there now. We'd fought side by side against the realm's creatures, and that kind of shared experience created bonds that went beyond simple competition.

Or at least I hope it did, I would hate to have to go through the process of convincing him that I wasn't after his woman again. Luo Yichen looked significantly better than when I'd last seen him. The exhaustion and fear from our battles in the realm had been replaced by quiet confidence. His hand rested casually on the Mirrorwater Blade at his side, but there was no hostility in his posture. If anything, he seemed almost grateful. Meng Haoran just looked relieved to be alive.

The seventh-stage cultivator had been through more than most during the trial, and it showed in the way he kept glancing around as if expecting another shadow phoenix to drop from the sky.

"Ke Yin," Wu Kangming said, his voice carrying that same controlled tone he always used.

"I look forward to continuing our discussion under more... controlled circumstances." I returned his nod with a small smile.

"Likewise. Though I have to say, fighting alongside you was more enjoyable than I expected. You're not quite as brooding as your reputation suggests."

"My reputation?" Wu Kangming's eyebrow raised slightly.

"I wasn't aware I had developed such a reputation." I couldn't help but smile wider at that response. It didn't surprise me in the least that Wu Kangming had no idea about his own reputation. After all, he was the classic quiet, brooding protagonist type who usually didn't realize or even care about the chaos they created around them. The kind of person who could casually defeat a higher realm cultivator and act like it was perfectly normal.

Honestly, I preferred dealing with his type compared to the reckless, loud-mouth protagonists who announced their every technique and feeling to anyone within shouting distance. At least with Wu Kangming, you knew where you stood - he'd either respect you or he wouldn't, but he wouldn't waste time with dramatic speeches about it either way. I glanced around the arena, taking stock of our surroundings.

The massive circular structure looked exactly the same as when we'd left it, with its tiered seating and glowing protection formations carved into the walls. But something felt different about the atmosphere. Where before there had been over a hundred teams of three clustered in the center of the arena, now there were significantly fewer people. I did a quick count, trying to identify familiar faces among the remaining competitors. Forty-three teams.

One hundred and twenty-eight disciples out of what had been nearly three hundred participants. The elimination rate was brutal as expected. The Fallen Realm had been designed to test more than just cultivation level. It had challenged adaptability, teamwork, tactical thinking, luck, and sheer determination. A lot of disciples who might have performed well in standard combat would have struggled with the realm's unique hazards and psychological pressure.

Looking around at the survivors, I recognized most of the major names. Yuan Zhen stood with his sworn brothers, looking as composed and unflappable as ever. His team had clearly made it through without significant difficulty, probably encountering the kinds of manageable challenges that the realm seemed to provide for "normal" competitors. Chen Feng and his Shadow Wraith Squad had also advanced, though they looked considerably more battered than Yuan Zhen's group.

Chen Feng's usually pristine appearance was marred by tears in his robes and what looked like claw marks across his left arm. The "Ghost Step Expert" had apparently faced some genuine opposition during the trial. Ming Yue's team was present as well, the water cultivator's fluid grace undiminished despite whatever they'd endured. Her poison expert teammate looked particularly pleased with himself, they probably found opportunities to test their more esoteric techniques against the realm's inhabitants.

Earth Fist Liu stood like a mountain among the survivors, his massive frame unmarked by battle. His ranged specialists flanked him, and I could see satisfaction in their formation. They'd probably approached the trial with the stable efficiency I'd come to expect from earth cultivators. But there were notable absences too. Teams that had been considered strong contenders were simply gone. The elimination hadn't been based purely on cultivation level.

The realm had been random in ways that standard power rankings couldn't predict. I looked around for Lin Mei and the other eliminated participants, but they were nowhere to be seen. A knot of disappointment settled in my stomach, even though I'd known this moment was coming. The reality of her elimination still felt strange after everything we'd been through together.

"Master," Azure said gently, apparently sensing my mood, "she made the right choice. And more importantly, she made it herself. That takes a different kind of strength than what we needed in the Fallen Realm." I nodded internally, knowing he was right. Lin Mei had shown more courage in that final moment than most cultivators displayed in years of training. Still, it was going to feel odd competing without her.

My attention was drawn to the elder viewing section when I noticed something that made me do a double-take. One of the elders, a man I didn't recognize, appeared to be chained to his seat with what looked like bands of crystallized starlight. The restraints were beautiful in their own way, but definitely not the kind of thing you'd expect to see in a formal elder gathering.

"Wei Lin," I murmured, subtly nodding toward the viewing platform, "is it just me, or is that elder bound to his chair?" Wei Lin glanced up casually, then his eyes widened slightly.

"Huh. That's... unusual. Wonder what he did to earn that kind of attention." I decided it was definitely none of my business and tried to put it out of my mind. Whatever politics were happening among the sect's leadership were way above my pay grade. As an outer disciple, even one who'd just demonstrated some unusual abilities, getting involved in elder-level conflicts was a good way to end up as collateral damage. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Better to focus on things I could actually influence. The crowd noise that had been building since our return began to quiet as Elder Wan stepped forward on the viewing platform. The same elder who'd explained the rules of the Fallen Realm now commanded attention with a simple gesture, his spiritual pressure radiating outward to still the conversations of thousands of spectators.

"Disciples of Azure Peak Sect," Elder Wan's voice carried easily across the arena.

"Congratulations to those who have successfully completed the first stage of this year's tournament." A cheer rose from the spectator sections, family members and friends celebrating their loved ones' advancement. I caught a glimpse of my parents in the Core Disciple viewing area, both looking relieved and proud. My mother was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief while my father stood with his arms crossed, trying to project calm despite the obvious tension in his shoulders. They'd watched everything.

Every battle, every near-death experience, every moment of danger we'd faced in that cursed realm. I could only imagine what that had been like for them, watching their son fight creatures that could easily massacre entire villages while being powerless to help.

"The Fallen Realm has tested your courage, your adaptability, and your ability to work as a team under extreme pressure," Elder Wan continued.

"Those of you who stand here now have proven yourselves worthy of advancement. However, your trials are far from over." He gestured, and formation arrays around the arena began to glow.

"Before we proceed to the next stage, we must retrieve our remaining participants." The air in the center of the arena began to shimmer and distort. Suddenly, dozens of flashes of silver light erupted across the space as the remaining cultivators still trapped in the Fallen Realm were forcibly expelled. They appeared in groups of three, looking disoriented and defeated.

Beside them materialized teams that had been eliminated earlier in the tournament, I wasn't sure where they were held after their elimination, but their faces still bore the bitter sting of premature defeat. Many of these groups stood in tense clusters, with two members casting reproachful glances at their third teammate—the one whose failure had sealed their collective fate. Some crossed their arms and turned away entirely, while others shook their heads in visible disappointment.

The eliminated cultivator in each group typically stood apart, shoulders hunched under the weight of their teammates' silent accusations, unable to meet their eyes as the reality of their costly mistake hung heavy in the air between them. Among the newly arrived cultivators, I spotted Lin Mei. She was near the arena's eastern entrance, looking tired but unharmed. Her sixth-stage cultivation had held up well considering everything we'd been through, and there was no shame in her elimination.

She'd made it further than most disciples her age and cultivation level had any right to expect. Our eyes met across the arena, and she flashed me a brilliant smile despite her disappointment. She mouthed something that looked like "good luck" before gesturing toward Wei Lin with obvious affection. Even in elimination, she was thinking about our success rather than her own setback.

Wei Lin's spiritual pressure fluctuated slightly beside me, his control slipping for just a moment as he spotted his girlfriend among the eliminated. I could feel the conflict radiating from him, torn between pride in advancing and guilt over leaving her behind.

"She's proud of you," I said quietly, just loud enough for him to hear.

"Both of you made it farther than most people thought possible."

"I know," Wei Lin replied, his voice tight with emotion.

"It's just... we've been through so much together. Competing without her feels wrong."

"Then make it count," I suggested.

"Win something worth winning, so that when you see her again, you can tell her it was worth the sacrifice." Wei Lin nodded, his spiritual pressure stabilizing as he regained his composure.

"You're right. No point in wasting the opportunity she gave us." Elder Wan waited for the last of the expelled participants to fully materialize before continuing his address.

"To those who did not advance, do not consider this failure. The Fallen Realm is one of the most challenging trials our sect has devised, and simply surviving its dangers marks you as cultivators of exceptional promise. Your time will come." He gestured toward the arena exits, where sect servants were waiting to escort the eliminated participants.

"Please proceed to the medical pavilion for healing and recovery. The sect's resources are at your disposal." I watched as Lin Mei joined the stream of eliminated cultivators heading toward the exits. She looked back once, catching my eye again and giving a small wave before disappearing into the crowd. And just like that, the team phase was over. The hundred and twenty-eight survivors scattered around the arena weren't teammates anymore. We were competitors.

Enemies, in the most literal sense, since only one of us could claim the championship and its unprecedented rewards. I felt the shift in the air immediately, that subtle change in spiritual pressure that came when cultivators stopped thinking of each other as allies and started evaluating potential threats. Conversations became more guarded. Glances turned calculating. The easy camaraderie that had developed during our struggles in the Fallen Realm was already beginning to dissolve. Wei Lin seemed to sense it too.

When I turned toward him, I found him studying me with an expression I'd never seen before. Not unfriendly, but... assessing. Like he was seeing me clearly for the first time. We'd been through hell together. Fought side by side, saved each other's lives, shared resources and techniques. But now we were standing on opposite sides of a single-elimination bracket that would pit us against each other if we both advanced far enough. The Elemental Chamber.

Three days of cultivation in the sect's most sacred space, guaranteed breakthrough to the Elemental Realm with perfect foundations. It was the kind of opportunity that came once in a lifetime, if that. Worth fighting for. Worth fighting each other for.

"So," Wei Lin said quietly, his voice carrying a note of finality.

"This is where it gets interesting." I nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. Our friendship wasn't ending, but the dynamics were changing in ways that couldn't be ignored. We both wanted that prize. We both deserved a shot at it. And if the bracket put us against each other... Well, we'd deal with that when it happened. Wei Lin extended his hand, and I clasped it firmly. The gesture was warm, brotherly even, but there was something else beneath it.

The kind of competitive fire that existed between siblings who genuinely cared about each other but also desperately wanted to prove who was better. Like brothers arguing over who could climb the highest tree, except the stake was a chance to instantly breakthrough to the Elemental Realm.

"You know," Wei Lin said with a grin that was equal parts affectionate and challenging, "I've been waiting for a chance to properly test myself against you. No holding back, no team tactics to worry about."

"Careful what you wish for," I replied, matching his grin with one of my own.

"I might just give you more than you bargained for."

"May the best cultivator win," he said, his grip tightening slightly.

"May the best cultivator win," I replied, squeezing back just as firmly.