The Royal Academy's central arena pulsed with excitement.
Outer disciples filled the viewing stands, whispering, pointing, and watching as names were announced and battles began. It wasn't every day they could challenge their superiors. Some came to win. Most came to watch.
Alice walked alone into the arena grounds, her sword at her waist, eyes calm and focused.
No cloak. No mask.
Just a girl with fire in her veins.
The crowd barely noticed her at first… until she stepped onto the challenge platform.
> "I challenge Inner Disciple Ren Feiyan!"
The announcement stunned many.
Ren Feiyan was a 20-year-old noble-born cultivator, arrogant and proud. A first stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. His robe bore the golden crest of the Feiyan Clan, and he was known to crush outer disciples just to "teach them humility."
Now, a no-name outer disciple dared to challenge him?
Laughter erupted across the stands.
Ren Feiyan stepped forward with a confident smirk. "You sure you're in the right arena, little girl?"
Alice didn't respond.
Instead, she bowed lightly and drew her sword, flames rippling along the blade.
The judge raised a hand.
> "Begin!"
Feiyan didn't hold back. He stepped in, slashing downward with his spiritual sword cloaked in Qi, aiming to overpower Alice with sheer force.
But Alice met his strike—flames exploded from her sword, deflecting his blow. She spun, her footwork graceful and precise, each movement honed from three days of tireless training.
Feiyan narrowed his eyes. "So, you're not just talk."
He attacked again, faster, sharper—unleashing flame bursts from his palm, using his superior cultivation to press her back.
But Alice moved like flowing fire—dancing between blows, parrying at perfect angles, her sword igniting in controlled bursts that pushed him off rhythm.
The audience gasped as Feiyan lost his footing briefly.
She didn't give him a second.
With a fierce forward dash, Alice struck.
Her flame-coated blade bypassed his block—slamming into his chestplate, sending him crashing back.
Dust rose. Silence fell.
Feiyan struggled to rise, but blood dripped from his mouth. He stared at Alice, disbelief written across his face.
> "How—?"
> "You lost," Alice said calmly, sheathing her sword.
The judge stepped forward, raising his voice.
> "Victor: Alice! From this moment onward, she is an Inner Disciple of the Royal Academy!"
Cheers and murmurs filled the air. No one had expected this outcome.
Alice turned and walked away, her expression unreadable—but her heart steady and burning.
---
Later that day, she received her new robes and her inner disciple token.
More importantly, she was handed her monthly stipend:
> 70 Tier 2 Spirit Stones—a fortune for someone once ignored by the world.
Alice returned to her room quietly. She placed the spirit stones into her storage ring, then sat cross-legged on her bed.
Her body still surged with energy from the battle.
But she wasn't satisfied.
Her next target was Foundation Establishment.
Once she stepped into that realm, she would truly qualify as a rising expert. And when she reached Core Formation…
She could finally head for the Capital City's Royal Academy Main Branch.
That was the true stage.
And she intended to conquer it.