The quarterfinal arena was packed.

Thousands of spectators from all five sects, plus independent cultivators who'd traveled to witness the tournament. The energy was electric, everyone wanted to see if the "damaged genius" could compete against a healthy Stage 9.

[AUDIENCE: 3,000+]

[BETTING POOLS: HEAVILY FAVOR FENG ZHOU]

[ODDS: 9-TO-1 AGAINST YOU]

[NO PRESSURE]

Feng Zhou stood across the arena, radiating confidence and Stage 9 power. His crimson robes seemed to ripple with barely-contained Qi, and his smile promised pain.

"Last chance to forfeit," he called out. "Save yourself the humiliation."

"I'm good, thanks."

[TRASH TALK: INITIATED]

[PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE: MILD]

[HE'S TRYING TO RATTLE YOU]

The judge, a neutral elder from Golden Summit Sect, raised his hand. "Quarterfinal Match One. Lin Tian of Azure Peak versus Feng Zhou of Crimson Peak. Standard rules apply. Begin!"

[COMBAT INITIATED]

[MAY WHATEVER GODS EXIST HAVE MERCY]

Feng Zhou attacked immediately.

Crimson Flame Dragon, his signature technique. A massive serpent of fire erupted from his hands, its heat so intense the air itself distorted. Stage 9 power concentrated into pure destruction.

[ATTACK: OVERWHELMING]

[DIRECT BLOCK: IMPOSSIBLE]

[RECOMMENDATION: VOID STEP]

I activated Void Step, reality flickering as I displaced three meters left. The flame dragon crashed into where I'd been standing, melting stone.

"Fast," Feng Zhou acknowledged. "But you can't dodge forever."

He was right. Void Step drained Qi with each use. My reserves were infinite, but my damaged foundation limited flow rate. I had maybe twenty jumps before the strain became dangerous.

[VOID STEP REMAINING: 19 SAFE USES]

[THEN THINGS GET RISKY]

He launched another attack, Crimson Fist Barrage, dozens of fire-wreathed strikes converging from multiple angles. Too many to dodge individually.

I used Serpent's Flow to weave through the gaps, each movement flowing into the next. The technique's efficiency kept me mobile while minimizing Qi expenditure.

But I was only defending. Not attacking. Not even threatening.

[STRATEGY: PURE SURVIVAL]

[EFFECTIVE BUT UNSUSTAINABLE]

[HE'LL EVENTUALLY OVERWHELM YOU]

"Is this all you've got?" Feng Zhou taunted. "The famous Lin Tian, reduced to running away?"

[HE'S BAITING YOU]

[WANTS YOU TO ATTACK RECKLESSLY]

[DON'T TAKE THE BAIT]

I needed an opening. A moment where his defenses were down, his attention divided. Chen Rou's advice echoed: survive until he makes a mistake.

But Stage 9 cultivators with eight years experience didn't make obvious mistakes.

Unless I forced one.

'System, if I use Heaven's Judgment Palm at full power, what's the cost?'

[ANALYZING...]

[FULL-POWER HEAVENLY DESCENT: 40% QI RESERVES]

[FOUNDATION STRAIN: SIGNIFICANT]

[DAMAGE INCREASE: 27% → 35%]

[BUT POWER OUTPUT: POTENTIALLY STAGE 9 EQUIVALENT]

[ONE SHOT ONLY]

[MISS AND YOU'RE DONE]

One shot. I needed to make it count.

I continued my defensive retreat, letting Feng Zhou grow more aggressive. His attacks intensified, he was getting frustrated, wanting to end this quickly and decisively.

"Stand still and fight!" he roared, unleashing Crimson Inferno, an area attack that covered half the arena in flames.

[AREA ATTACK: UNAVOIDABLE]

[VOID STEP WON'T WORK]

[THIS IS IT]

[GO FOR THE COUNTER]

I planted my feet and gathered every ounce of Stage 8 Qi. Heaven's Judgment Palm, second form, full power. The storm-gray energy compressed into my palm, building to critical mass.

Pain exploded through my cultivation base as the damaged foundation strained under the load.

[FOUNDATION DAMAGE: 27% → 31%]

[WARNING: EXCEEDING SAFE LIMITS]

[CONTINUING ANYWAY]

The flames reached me. Burning. Searing. But I held my ground, technique still charging.

"Fool!" Feng Zhou laughed. "You're just going to—"

"Heavenly Descent!"

The beam erupted from my palm, punching through the flames like a spear through paper. Storm-gray Qi concentrated into impossible density, targeting Feng Zhou who'd left himself open while maintaining the area attack.

His eyes widened. Too late to dodge. He threw up emergency defenses, layered fire barriers that should have stopped anything from Stage 8.

My attack shattered them.

[CRITICAL HIT]

[FENG ZHOU: DIRECT STRIKE]

The impact sent him flying backward, crashing into the arena barrier. He collapsed, smoke rising from his scorched robes.

Silence.

Then the arena erupted.

[FENG ZHOU: INCAPACITATED]

[MATCH RESULT: VICTORY]

[STAGE 8 DEFEATED STAGE 9]

[IMPOSSIBLE ACHIEVED]

[AGAIN]

I dropped to one knee, gasping. The attack had cost everything, Qi reserves depleted to thirty percent, foundation damage significantly worsened, every nerve screaming.

[FOUNDATION DAMAGE: 31%]

[COMBAT CAPABILITY: 52%]

[NEXT MATCH: INADVISABLE]

[YOU'RE BARELY STANDING]

The judge declared victory. Medical disciples rushed to Feng Zhou, who was conscious but clearly hurt. His pride more damaged than his body.

Elder Hu met me as I limped from the arena. "That was reckless, brilliant, and stupid. Possibly in equal measure."

"Did I win?"

"You won." He steadied me as my legs threatened to give out. "But you've damaged your foundation further. The semifinals are tomorrow. Can you even fight?"

[SEMIFINALS OPPONENT: TBD]

[YOUR CONDITION: DETERIORATING]

[REALISTIC ASSESSMENT: NO]

[STUBBORN ASSESSMENT: MAYBE?]

"I'll manage."

"You're impossible." But Elder Hu smiled slightly. "Also inspiring. Azure Peak needed this victory. Needed proof we're still strong."

That evening, the semifinal brackets were announced:

Match 1: Lin Tian vs Liu Mei (Verdant Valley, Stage 9) Match 2: Chen Rou vs Xiao Yue (Shadow Wind, Stage 8)

[YOUR SEMIFINAL OPPONENT: LIU MEI]

[STAGE 9, DECEPTIVE TECHNIQUES, POISON SPECIALIST]

[VICTORY PROBABILITY: 11%]

[THAT'S WORSE THAN FENG ZHOU]

Chen Rou found me in the medical tent. "You're insane. You know that?"

"I've been told."

"Liu Mei is worse than Feng Zhou. She doesn't rely on raw power, she uses misdirection, illusions, poison techniques." Chen Rou's expression was serious. "Your Heaven's Judgment Palm won't work if you can't target her accurately."

"What do you suggest?"

"Forfeit. You've already proven Azure Peak's strength. Pushing further will cripple you permanently."

[CHEN ROU: GENUINELY CONCERNED]

[SHE'S NOT WRONG]

[CONTINUING IS GENUINELY DANGEROUS]

"I can't forfeit."

"Why not?"

Because the Wanderer was probably watching. Because I needed to prove I was more than just a threat to be eliminated. Because Azure Peak needed every victory after the Blood Moon attack.

"Because I promised to represent the sect," I said instead.

Chen Rou sighed. "Stubborn idiot. Fine. But don't die. Team 7 would be very annoyed."

[EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL: EFFECTIVE]

[TEAM 7 CARES ABOUT YOU]

[DON'T WASTE THEIR CONCERN]

After she left, Yun Xia arrived with food and medicine.

"You're hurt worse than before," she said quietly, examining my condition with spiritual sense. "Lin Tian, this isn't worth it."

"It is."

"Why?" Her voice cracked. "Why risk everything for a tournament? For reputation? For—"

"For you."

She stopped, staring.

"All of you," I continued. "Team 7. Elder Hu. Everyone who believed in me when I was just outer sect cannon fodder. I need to prove I'm worthy of that faith."

[EMOTIONAL HONESTY: HIGH]

[VULNERABILITY: SHOWING]

[RELATIONSHIP: DEEPENING]

Yun Xia was quiet for a long moment. Then she kissed me, soft, gentle, conveying everything words couldn't.

"You're already worthy," she whispered. "You don't need to prove anything."

"Maybe not to you. But I need to prove it to myself."

[CHARACTER MOTIVATION: DEFINED]

[INTERNAL CONFLICT: RESOLVED]

[YOU KNOW WHY YOU'RE FIGHTING]

That night, I meditated despite Medical Disciple Wen's orders. Not cultivation, just awareness. Feeling my damaged foundation, understanding its limits, accepting the pain.

'System, tomorrow I fight Liu Mei. Stage 9, illusion specialist. With my condition, can I win?'

[HONEST ASSESSMENT?]

[NO]

[YOUR FOUNDATION CAN'T HANDLE ANOTHER FULL-POWER TECHNIQUE]

[YOUR COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS IS HALVED]

[SHE'S HEALTHY, EXPERIENCED, STRATEGIC]

[MATH SAYS YOU LOSE]

'But?'

[BUT YOU'VE NEVER BEEN GOOD AT MATH]

[YOU WON AGAINST ZHOU LING WHEN YOU SHOULDN'T]

[DEFEATED ELDER SHEN WHEN IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE]

[SURVIVED THE CRIMSON WASTES WITH ZERO CASUALTIES]

[MAYBE IMPOSSIBLE IS JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR "HASN'T HAPPENED YET"]

'Let's make the impossible happen again.'

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