The Inner Sect Sparring Grounds were a far cry from the rough-and-tumble arenas of the Outer Sect competition. Polished white stone platforms gleamed under the midday sun, inscribed with subtle energy-absorbing arrays to prevent stray Qi from damaging the surroundings or spectators. Viewing pavilions, crafted from fragrant spirit wood, housed clusters of Inner Disciples, their gazes sharp and analytical. Several Elders occupied the main pavilion, their powerful spiritual senses passively observing the proceedings – Elder Ming of the Disciplinary Hall prominent among them, his expression as stern as ever.

  This wasn't a competition for glory; it was assessment. Mandatory Peer Evaluation Spars were designed to gauge the progress, stability, and combat applicability of disciples' cultivation, especially for newcomers like Kai. It was a chance to impress, but also a chance to be scrutinized, weaknesses laid bare.

  Kai stood opposite Jian Feng on the central platform. The air crackled with more than just ambient Qi; the animosity between them was a palpable force. Jian Feng, handsome face twisted into a barely concealed sneer, radiated the powerful aura of Qi Condensation Level 9. He clearly intended this 'evaluation' to be a public humiliation, a brutal correction for the upstart who had embarrassed him and cost him two subordinates in the Shadowfen Marsh.

  "Junior Brother Kai," Jian Feng began, his voice carrying clearly across the platform, loud enough for the onlookers to hear. "Ready for some... friendly guidance? Let's see if your foundation is as solid as your luck seems to be."

  Kai met his gaze calmly. The Mind-Calming Incense's residual effects helped maintain his inner equilibrium, but beneath it, his newly reinforced Qi pathways hummed with readiness. The Myriad Rivers Convergence Art had done more than just heal and stabilize; it had fundamentally improved his energy throughput and control. "This disciple is eager to learn from Senior Brother Jian's profound cultivation," Kai replied, his tone respectful but level, giving away nothing. He drew his carbon fiber bokken, its unassuming appearance a stark contrast to the ornate hilt of Jian Feng’s own spirit-infused sword.

  An Elder from the observation pavilion gave the signal. "Evaluation Spar. Demonstrate your skills. Begin!"

  Jian Feng exploded into motion, foregoing any pretense of gradual assessment. He clearly wanted to overwhelm Kai immediately, proving the gap between Level 7 and Level 9 was insurmountable, tricks aside. Wind-attributed Qi swirled around his blade as he unleashed a flurry of blindingly fast strikes – the opening moves of the Swift Wind Sword Art Kai had witnessed Zhao Feng use, but executed with far greater power and speed.

  Kai didn't retreat. He stood his ground, his newly acquired All-Terrain boots gripping the polished stone firmly. His own Level 7 Qi surged, channeled through the perfected pathways of the Myriad Rivers Art. It felt different now – faster, cleaner, more responsive. He met Jian Feng’s incoming storm of steel not with frantic blocks, but with precise, economical movements of his bokken.

  Clang! Ting! Shiiink!

  Sparks flew as carbon fiber met spirit steel. Kai’s defense was fluid, almost effortless compared to his desperate struggle against Li Wei. The Myriad Rivers Art allowed his Qi to circulate with incredible efficiency, reinforcing the exact point of impact on his bokken instantaneously, deflecting Jian Feng’s powerful blows without yielding significant ground. Where before he might have been knocked back or his arm jarred, now he absorbed or redirected the force with surprising ease. His bokken, guided by his enhanced control, moved like a black serpent, intercepting, parrying, turning aside Jian Feng's rapid attacks.

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  Jian Feng’s eyes widened slightly, his initial smirk faltering. He intensified his assault, pouring more Level 9 Qi into his strikes, aiming to break through Kai's defense by sheer force. But Kai’s resilience was baffling. It wasn't just the strange weapon; Kai's own Qi felt unusually dense and responsive for a Level 7, recovering almost instantly after each block. It was like striking water – the surface yielded momentarily but remained fundamentally undisturbed.

  "Still hiding behind that strange stick?" Jian Feng snarled, frustration colouring his tone. He shifted tactics, incorporating powerful Qi-infused kicks and palm strikes into his sword sequence, trying to overwhelm Kai from multiple angles.

  Kai adapted smoothly. His footwork, enhanced by his boots and the improved balance from the Myriad Rivers Art, allowed him to evade the heavier blows while continuing to parry the sword strikes. He flowed around Jian Feng’s attacks, conserving his energy, letting Jian Feng expend his own Qi in increasingly furious, but ultimately ineffective, assaults. He wasn't just defending; he was analyzing, sensing the subtle fluctuations in Jian Feng's Qi flow, the slight hitches in his technique born from frustration.

  Then, Kai saw his opening. Jian Feng, overextending slightly on a powerful downward slash, left a momentary gap in his guard near his ribs. Kai didn't hesitate. In a movement almost too fast for the eye to follow, his bokken shifted from defense to offense. He didn't pour overwhelming power into the strike, but rather focused his Qi into a single, sharp point, guided by the Myriad Rivers Art's enhanced precision.

  Thwip!

  The tip of the bokken struck Jian Feng precisely on a minor acupoint near his ribs, one known to temporarily disrupt Qi flow in that area. It wasn't a damaging blow, but the targeted Qi injection caused Jian Feng's arm to go numb for a split second, his follow-through attack faltering.

  Jian Feng gasped, stumbling back a step, shock replacing the fury on his face. He hadn't even properly registered the counter-attack until the numbness hit. How was Kai, two levels below him, able to land such a precise blow through his defenses?

  Kai didn't press the advantage aggressively. He stepped back, lowering his bokken slightly, his breathing steady. He had made his point. He had demonstrated control, resilience, and the ability to counter-attack effectively against a higher-level opponent, all without resorting to the controversial gadgets that had marked his competition victories.

  The surrounding pavilions were silent. Disciples stared, mouths slightly agape. Even the Elders looked intrigued. Elder Ming’s stern expression remained unchanged, but his eyes held a thoughtful gleam.

  Jian Feng recovered quickly, his face flushing crimson with humiliation. Being momentarily disabled by a precise tap from a Level 7 disciple, in front of everyone… it was intolerable. Raw killing intent flared in his eyes. He opened his mouth to roar, to unleash his full power regardless of the 'evaluation' context—

  "Enough."

  The voice, calm but carrying absolute authority, came from Elder Ming in the main pavilion.

  Jian Feng froze, his killing intent instantly suppressed, though his body still trembled with rage.

  Elder Ming addressed them both. "Disciple Jian Feng, your power is evident, but your control wavers under frustration. Disciple Kai, your foundation is surprisingly stable, your Qi control precise, your application of the sect's basic arts commendable." He paused, his gaze sweeping over Kai. "Your progress since entering the Inner Sect is... noteworthy."

  The evaluation was over. It wasn't a victory or a defeat in the traditional sense, but the implications were clear. Kai had held his own, demonstrated skill beyond 'tricks', and earned a measure of grudging acknowledgment, even from the stern Disciplinary Elder. Jian Feng, despite his higher cultivation, had been implicitly criticized for his lack of control.

  Jian Feng shot Kai a look that promised murder, then turned stiffly and stalked off the platform without a word, his humiliation radiating outwards.

  Kai bowed respectfully towards the Elders' pavilion. "This disciple thanks the Elders for their evaluation and Senior Brother Jian for the instructive spar."

  He walked off the platform, ignoring the stunned whispers and varied gazes following him. He hadn't crushed Jian Feng, but he had achieved something arguably more important.