"I didn’t expect to run into you here." Fu Yun sat down on the sofa, sized up Xu Wuyi, and remarked, "It’s only been a few months, but your aura has grown much more solid. Looks like you’ve had some significant gains recently."

Xu Wuyi nodded. "I’ve had some insights."

Ta Shan and Tana sat to the side, listening to their conversation with different expressions.

Ta Shan was surprised.

He hadn’t expected Fu Yun and Xu Wuyi to be so familiar with each other. From the tone of their conversation, it also seemed Fu Yun knew a great deal about Xu Wuyi’s strength.

Tana, on the other hand, was smug.

’See? Even a senior from Black Stone Academy says so. My judgment is just that good.’

"Senior Brother Fu, are you here representing..." Xu Wuyi asked.

"I was going to represent Brother Ta Shan." Fu Yun smiled. "But now, it looks like that won’t be necessary. With you here, the Royal Family’s spot in the competition is definitely yours."

He said it frankly, without a hint of reluctance.

Ta Shan couldn’t help but speak up. "Brother Fu, won’t you reconsider? Our affiliated factions still have a few spots. Even if Junior Brother Xu is strong, tournaments are full of variables. Perhaps..."

"There’s no ’perhaps’ about it." Fu Yun waved his hand, cutting Ta Shan off. "Brother Ta Shan, I’m not just being polite or saying what you want to hear. I truly believe that with Junior Brother Xu participating, the Royal Family has this tournament in the bag."

He looked at Ta Shan, his tone serious. "Do you know what Junior Brother Xu’s reputation is within Red Star right now?"

Ta Shan shook his head.

"Among the younger generation, he’s considered the strongest person after ’Sister Yi’." Fu Yun said, word by word. "Of course, that might be a slight exaggeration, but strictly among those under twenty-four... I dare say, in the entire Federation, there are no more than three people who could definitively beat Junior Brother Xu."

"Three?" Ta Shan asked subconsciously. "Which three?"

"First, Hong Nianyi." Fu Yun held up one finger. "She needs no explanation. Second is Senior Brother Pan Yan from Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy, but he graduated last year and is probably focused on breaking through to the Innate realm now. The third..."

He paused, then shook his head. "The third is uncertain. There might be someone, there might not. But even if there is, they’d be just like the first two—too busy to participate in a tournament like this."

"Geniuses of that caliber, aside from Junior Brother Xu who happens to still be Level 35, are all on the verge of the Innate realm. You wouldn’t be able to invite them."

Ta Shan fell silent.

Fu Yun’s words were bold, but he knew this genius from Black Stone Academy was not one to exaggerate.

If he said Xu Wuyi was strong, then he was truly strong.

"So," Fu Yun said, looking at Ta Shan, "Brother Ta Shan, I’m officially withdrawing from the Royal Family’s spot. I won’t be returning the appearance fee, though. Just consider it compensation for my troubles on this little trip to the West Desert."

He was very familiar with Ta Shan and knew his family wasn’t short on money, so he didn’t stand on ceremony.

Ta Shan opened his mouth, but in the end, simply nodded. "Alright, we’ll do as Brother Fu says."

He then turned to Xu Wuyi, his expression solemn. "Junior Brother Xu, for this tournament, we’re counting on you."

Xu Wuyi said calmly, "I will do my best."

...

After the matter was settled, the atmosphere became much more relaxed.

Fu Yun stayed and chatted with Xu Wuyi about recent events within Red Star.

"After word of you leaving your image on the Nine Stars Stele spread internally, a few of the older members actually became quite interested in you," Fu Yun said with a smile. "But we heard you were on a mission in the Ashen Wasteland, so we didn’t disturb you."

Xu Wuyi was silent for a moment. Not many people knew about the mission in the Ashen Wasteland, and normally, no one would be paying that much attention.

But Red Star’s intelligence network was clearly special, likely gathering information through its individual members.

He thought for a moment and asked, "Who were they?"

"A few senior brothers and sisters who have already graduated. They’re all on the Star Realm Battlefield or in exploration teams now," Fu Yun said. "They’re quite interested in your Mental Realm and said they’d like to witness it for themselves if they get the chance."

Xu Wuyi nodded but didn’t say much.

This Mental Realm of his was something you couldn’t understand just by hearing about it. You had to see it and experience it firsthand to grasp its mysteries.

"By the way, ’Sister Yi’ is in seclusion recently," Fu Yun said suddenly. "I hear she’s trying to achieve Great Success in Heart Image. If she succeeds, her strength will probably leap to another level when she comes out."

Xu Wuyi’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Great Success in Heart Image.

That was the final threshold for a Martial Artist to cross before reaching the Innate realm.

Once one achieved Great Success in Heart Image, the next step was to manifest the Heart Image in the physical world. However, the difficulty of that step was actually much lower than the initial stage of solidifying it.

Therefore, after achieving Great Success in Heart Image, a Martial Artist could be said to have one foot in the Innate realm. All that remained was accumulation.

"But don’t feel too pressured," Fu Yun said with a laugh, sensing his thoughts. "A monster like her who has a shot at the Innate realm while still in the academy might not even appear once a decade in the entire Federation. We just need to go at our own pace."

Xu Wuyi grunted in agreement.

He never felt anxious just because others were progressing faster.

On the path of Martial Arts, everyone has their own timeline.

...

After chatting for a while longer, Fu Yun stood up to leave.

Ta Shan left with him. He needed to arrange the follow-up matters, including reporting the change in their chosen combatant to Flame Venerable.

Only Xu Wuyi and Tana remained in the living room.

Tana stretched, a satisfied smile on her face. "All settled! Now my cousin has nothing to say."

Xu Wuyi looked at her. "You didn’t tell him about me before?"

"I did," Tana said, blinking. "I told him you were amazing, the strongest I’ve seen in our year. But he didn’t believe me. He thought I was just saying that because we’re on good terms."

She pouted. "He believes me now, doesn’t he."

Xu Wuyi didn’t respond to that, asking instead, "Have the specific arrangements for the tournament been announced?"

"They’ll be officially announced tomorrow," Tana said. "Thirty-two contestants will draw lots to determine their opponents. The competition starts the day after tomorrow and will be finished in one day, with the champion decided right then and there."

With only thirty-two people, it was just five rounds of matches, so there was no need to drag it out.

She thought for a moment, then added, "Oh, right, Senior Flame Venerable will be watching the entire competition. I hear his eye for talent is incredibly sharp. Sometimes, after the tournament ends, he’ll give private pointers to the standout contestants."

Xu Wuyi nodded.

Pointers from a Grandmaster, even just a word or two, were worth a fortune.

"You should get some rest," Tana said, standing up. "Build up your energy. Starting the day after tomorrow, you’ll have to fight five matches in a row."

"Okay."

After Tana left, the small building fell completely silent.

Xu Wuyi did not go to rest immediately.

He walked to the window and looked out at the night.

In the Western Desert Royal Capital, the night sky was exceptionally clear.

Dotted with countless stars, unobscured by clouds, they appeared large and bright.

The silhouettes of distant palaces stood silent in the darkness, dotted with sporadic lights.

’Flame Venerable’s tournament...’

Xu Wuyi closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his sea of consciousness.