The beautiful white clouds moved above the Ye Clan Academy, as the final match of the preliminary round began.
"Ye Mu Lan vs. Ye Shui Ren. Step forward," Instructor Ye Ming Chun called.
Ye Mu Lan walked into the arena with her usual graceful poise, her blue robes fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. Her opponent, Ye Shui Ren, stood taller, with a calmer demeanor than most of the other C-ranks. He gave a respectful bow.
"Ye Shui Ren, Rank 1 Initial stage."
"Ye Mu Lan, Rank 1 Initial stage."
Their Gu choices had been known for days now. Ye Mu Lan had selected the Bubble Shield Gu, opting for a defensive style that reflected her cautious, elegant temperament. Ye Shui Ren, on the other hand, had taken the path of many in the clan — the reliable Water Arrow Gu.
The match began swiftly.
Ye Shui Ren wasted no time, activating his Water Arrow Gu and firing shots in quick succession. Blue streaks of water cracked through the air, each one hammering into the shimmering bubble that enveloped Ye Mu Lan's body. She dodged with graceful sidesteps and countered by slowly closing the distance, waiting for an opening.
It never came.
Ye Shui Ren's stamina waned visibly. With every shot, his expression tightened. Finally, his essence ran dry — the green copper glow in his eyes flickering out. His shoulders sank.
"I admit defeat," he said, bowing with a tight breath.
The match was over.
Ye Mu Lan bowed back in acknowledgment. Her shield flickered once, then dissipated. She had taken no damage — only pressure.
—
Now came the real battles.
The semi-finals.
If Ye Xue Han could choose, he would've preferred to face Ye Mu Lan. Her defensive style and predictable tactics made her the easiest matchup, in his eyes.
But dreams were just that — dreams.
As the supposedly random draw was announced, Ye Xue Han clenched his jaw.
His opponent… was Ye Hai Tong.
The grandson of Elder Ye Hai Tao.
Second strongest among the B-ranks.
At least it wasn't Ye Lan Feng.
—
" Ye Xue Han vs. Ye Hai Tong, both of you, step forward." Ye Ming Chun called.
The crowd quieted.
Ye Xue Han stepped forward, steady and silent. Across from him, Ye Hai Tong stood with his arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
"Ye Hai Tong, Rank 1 Initial stage."
"Ye Xue Han, Rank 1 Initial stage."
The instructor nodded. "Begin."
Ye Hai Tong moved first, drawing a sharp breath as he activated his Water Arrow Gu.
But Ye Xue Han was faster.
His footwork shifted — smooth, light, and unnatural. Drip Step Gu activated.
His figure blurred slightly as he dashed forward, gliding across the stone like water on glass. The boost wasn't massive, but it was just enough. With a burst of momentum, he closed the distance in a blink — barely half a meter between them.
Ye Hai Tong's eyes widened, surprised.
To his credit, he recovered quickly, raising his arm and firing the Water Arrow Gu.
But it was too late.
Xue Han twisted aside, the water jet grazing his right arm but doing no real damage. In the same fluid motion, he sent a sharp kick straight into Ye Hai Tong's chest.
Thud!
Ye Hai Tong flew backward, crashing to the arena floor with a cough.
Xue Han didn't give him a moment.
Drip Step Gu flared again, his body surging forward as he pinned Ye Hai Tong down, locking his arms before he could summon another attack.
Seconds passed.
The teacher's eyes flicked over both boys, noting Ye Hai Tong's immobilized state.
"Enough. Ye Xue Han wins."
The murmurs began immediately.
The students watching from the side exchanged surprised glances. Even the healing Gu Master paused, brows raised.
Ye Mu Lan's dark eyes lingered on Ye Xue Han again — her gaze thoughtful.
Ye Lan Feng, standing beside her, scoffed quietly.
Xue Han didn't notice any of it. His pulse was still racing with the thrill of victory. He stepped off the stage, letting out a slow breath as he sat back down.
He had done it.
He had secured a vice president's seat — twenty-five primeval stones a week. A huge upgrade from the base stipend. With that, he could push toward Peak Rank 1, maybe even reaching Rank 2 before graduation.
But the price was steep.
He rubbed his side, feeling the soreness settle in. Using Drip Step Gu twice had drained nearly half of his essence — only thirty seconds of enhanced movement and it cost him that much.
The path of a C-rank was a hard one.
—
The second semi-final match was next: Ye Lan Feng vs. Ye Mu Lan.
Despite Ye Mu Lan's effort, it was no contest.
Two sharp blasts from Ye Lan Feng's Water Arrow Gu broke through her Bubble Shield. The second hit knocked her back, and she fell to one knee, coughing.
"I concede," she said quietly.
Ye Lan Feng smiled — cold and confident — before walking off without looking at her again.
Ye Mu Lan's face was still and composed, but the slight slump in her shoulders said enough.
The teacher gave both remaining finalists a five-minute break.
Ye Xue Han sat on the edge of the courtyard, sipping from a small gourd of water and trying to regulate his breathing. The Primeval Sea within his body was slowly recovering.
Across the arena, Ye Lan Feng stood tall, arms crossed, eyes locked onto him.
His gaze was sharp — openly disdainful.
Xue Han didn't look away.
He knew his chances were slim now. He had already played his best card — the surprise of Drip Step Gu. Ye Lan Feng had watched the fight. There would be no shocking him this time.
Still…
He would be damned if he didn't try.