I dropped into a defensive stance instinctively, my muscles coiling like springs as I faced the two new arrivals. Every survival instinct I'd developed over months of cultivation battles was screaming warnings about the spiritual pressure radiating from both figures, but especially from Wu Kangming.

Something was very, very wrong with what I was sensing.

Wu Kangming stood there in his pale outer disciple robes, that familiar expressionless mask he always wore firmly in place. His spiritual aura clearly indicated ninth stage Qi Condensation, the same as mine. But that sword stroke... that impossibly precise line of sword qi that had carved through space itself like cutting silk...

That wasn't ninth stage power.

"Azure," I thought urgently, never taking my eyes off Wu Kangming as he calmly adjusted his stance. "That sword technique. What did you make of it?"

"Troubling," Azure replied, his voice carrying an edge of concern I rarely heard from him. "The spiritual signature was definitely beyond the Qi Condensation Realm. But Wu Kangming's cultivation base reads as ninth stage, same as yours."

I frowned, running through possibilities in my mind. Hidden cultivation was one option, some powerful techniques could suppress or disguise a cultivator's true realm. But that usually required significant effort to maintain, and Wu Kangming seemed perfectly relaxed.

Another possibility was external assistance. Maybe he had some kind of treasure or artifact that could channel higher-realm power through his attacks. That would explain the disconnect between his aura and that devastating sword strike.

But the most likely explanation, and the one that made my stomach clench with unease, was that Wu Kangming had somehow gained access to power beyond his current realm. Maybe through his mysterious benefactor, maybe through some inheritance or bloodline awakening.

Either way, it made him far more dangerous than I'd originally calculated.

"Well," I muttered under my breath, flexing my fingers as qi began to circulate through my meridians. "This just got more complicated."

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a blade as both teams sized each other up. Wei Lin had moved to flank me on the left, his new tenth-stage spiritual pressure making the space around him shimmer slightly. Lin Mei had wisely positioned herself behind us, but I could feel her anxiety through our shared team bond.

Wu Kangming's companion, Luo Yichen, stepped forward slightly. He was studying me with intense focus, his eyes narrowing as if trying to recall something important.

"I know you," Luo Yichen said suddenly, his voice carrying a mixture of recognition and something darker. "You were at Black Mist Valley."

I nodded once, keeping my expression neutral. There was no point in denying it, plenty of other disciples had been present during that incident. But I had a feeling this conversation wasn't going to end with pleasant reminiscences about our shared experience.

"Yeah," Luo Yichen continued, his voice growing colder with each word. "You were one of the many sect cultivators who just watched as Lu Fang humiliated me. Stood there and did nothing while he nearly killed me."

The accusation hung in the air between us like a blade waiting to fall.

Part of me wanted to argue, to explain that I'd been recovering from my own injuries at the time, barely mobile and in no condition to intervene in a battle between prodigies at the Qi Condensation Realm. I wanted to point out that Lu Fang had been beyond my ability to challenge even at full strength, that jumping in would have accomplished nothing except getting myself killed alongside him.

But I held my tongue.

The pragmatic part of my mind, the part that had kept me alive through dozens of deadly situations, reminded me of an uncomfortable truth: I wasn't the hero of some grand story, rushing in to save strangers at the cost of my own life. I was a cultivator trying to survive in a brutal world, and sometimes that meant making hard choices about when to act and when to preserve my own strength.

Would I have helped if I could have made a difference? Probably. Did I feel guilty about being unable to intervene? Maybe a little. But I wasn't going to apologize for being realistic about my limitations.

"I remember," I said simply, offering no excuses or explanations.

Wei Lin suddenly stepped forward, his hand moving in a gesture I recognized as preparation for combat. "Ke Yin, let me handle Wu Kangming. You focus on Luo Yichen."

I immediately shook my head. "I don't think that's a good idea."

Wei Lin's eyebrows rose in surprise. "What do you mean? I can handle a ninth-stage opponent now. My breakthrough to the tenth stage—"

"It's not about your cultivation level," I interrupted, glancing meaningfully at Wu Kangming. "That sword technique he used earlier? That wasn't ninth-stage power, Wu Kangming has access to abilities beyond the Qi Condensation Realm."

I could see Wei Lin processing this information, if Wu Kangming could channel pseudo-Elemental Realm techniques, even Wei Lin's impressive new power might not be enough.

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But there was a more pressing concern than our ability to win a potential fight.

"More importantly," I continued, my voice switching to spiritual communication to ensure only my teammates could hear, "we don't have time for this. Look up."

All eyes turned skyward to the crimson number floating in the perpetual twilight: 6.

"Six slots remaining," I said grimly. "If we waste time fighting here, other teams might claim the remaining spots while we're busy trying to kill each other. And if Lin Mei gets targeted during the battle..."

I didn't need to finish that thought. Everyone understood the implications. Lin Mei's elimination would result in our entire team being expelled from the realm, regardless of how the fight ended.

Lin Mei herself stepped forward slightly, her jaw set with determination. "I can hold my own," she said firmly.

"Against ninth-stage cultivators?" I asked gently. "Lin Mei, you're incredibly skilled, but there are limits to what technique and strategy can overcome. These aren't seventh-stage opponents you can outmaneuver with clever formations."

She looked like she wanted to argue further, but Wei Lin placed a supportive hand on her shoulder. "Ke Yin's right," he said softly. "This isn't about your abilities. It's about mathematics. The power gap is simply too large."

Before the situation could escalate further, I raised my voice to address Wu Kangming directly. "Wu Kangming, I haven't forgotten our agreement about that duel we discussed. But this isn't the time or place for it."

Wu Kangming tilted his head slightly, studying me with those pale, calculating eyes. "Oh?"

"If we fight now, we both risk losing our chance to advance to the individual rounds," I continued, gesturing toward the diminishing number in the sky. "I'd prefer to face you in the arena, where we can settle things properly without worrying about external factors."

For a long moment, Wu Kangming remained silent, clearly weighing his options. I could practically see the thoughts churning behind his impassive expression. Finally, his hand moved away from his sword hilt, and he nodded once.

"You make a fair point," he said, his voice as emotionless as ever. "I would prefer to face you one-on-one, in proper combat conditions, without tricks or interference."

Luo Yichen immediately stepped forward, his face flushed with indignation. "Big Brother, we can eliminate their entire team right here! Why give them the chance to—"

Wu Kangming's hand settled on Luo Yichen's shoulder, and the younger cultivator's protests died instantly. There was something in that simple gesture, a weight of authority that spoke of the complex relationship between the two disciples.

"That one," Wu Kangming said, nodding toward Wei Lin, "isn't as simple as he appears. Fighting him would be... costly."

I felt a surge of pride for my friend's advancement. Wu Kangming had recognized the threat that Wei Lin's tenth-stage breakthrough represented, even without seeing him fight.

Luo Yichen's expression showed frustration, but he stepped back obediently. Whatever dynamic existed between him and Wu Kangming, it was clear who held ultimate authority in their partnership.

The standoff stretched for several more seconds before I decided to break the silence. "I have to admit, I'm surprised your team hasn't already advanced to the next stage," I said conversationally.

In my experience, protagonists like Wu Kangming usually had heaven-defying fortune. They'd stumble into hidden treasures, encounter helpful spirit beasts, or find convenient shortcuts that led them straight to their goals.

And Wu Kangming's team didn't just have one protagonist figure, they had two. Luo Yichen with his tragic backstory of near-death and miraculous recovery, his inherited sword techniques, and that determined look of someone destined for greatness.

But then again, my own team wasn't exactly lacking in protagonist-like qualities either. I had the whole mysterious cultivation method and rapid advancement thing going on, while Wei Lin had just achieved the mythical tenth stage breakthrough.

Two teams, each with their own collection of heaven-chosen prodigies, and both of us had been getting hammered by this realm's challenges.

A disturbing thought began to form in my mind. What if the Fallen Realm was specifically designed to target protagonist figures? What if Ancestor Tian, with his mastery of the Death Dao, had created a testing ground that actively worked against those with unusual destinies or exceptional potential?

That would explain why both our teams kept encountering issues while other, more ordinary teams seemed to advance smoothly. The realm wasn't operating on random chance, it was actively hunting those who stood out from the crowd.

Wu Kangming's lips curved into what might have been the ghost of a smile. "I could say the same about your team. But it seems we've both encountered some... bad luck."

That was an understatement, but before we could continue our conversation, the crimson number in the sky suddenly shifted again: 5.

"Five slots," Lin Mei whispered, tension making her voice tight.

I looked at the seventh-stage cultivator who had been cowering nearby during our confrontation. Meng Haoran, if I remembered correctly from the tournament roster. He'd been moving with the confident stride of someone who knew exactly where he was going when we'd first spotted him.

If he knew the location of an exit, then our teams were essentially heading to the same destination anyway.

"We're all heading to the same exit, aren't we?" I said, looking between Wu Kangming and Meng Haoran. "In that case, why not travel there together? There are still enough slots for both our teams to advance without having to eliminate each other."

Wei Lin caught on immediately. "It makes sense from a strategic standpoint," he added. "Combined, our teams would be strong enough to handle any remaining threats, and we'd both reach the exit safely."

Meng Haoran looked like he was about to combust with joy at the prospect of having two of the most powerful teams in the tournament working together to ensure his survival. The relief on his face was almost funny.

But Luo Yichen was already shaking his head. "We don't need them," he said firmly. "Our team is strong enough to handle whatever this realm can throw at us. Why should we share information or resources?"

"Because cooperation benefits everyone," I replied calmly. "Your team gets additional security against realm inhabitants or other competing teams. Our team gets the same benefits. And we all reduce the risk of elimination due to unexpected circumstances."

I could see Wu Kangming considering the proposal, his mind working through the advantages and disadvantages. The silence stretched for several heartbeats while both teams waited for his decision.

"Master," Azure's voice whispered in my mind, "this could be an opportunity to observe Wu Kangming's abilities more closely. If you're going to face him in the individual rounds, understanding his true capabilities could be invaluable."

That was a good point.

Fighting alongside Wu Kangming would give me insights into his techniques, his tactical thinking, and just how overpowered his impossible sword power was.

The number in the sky remained at 5, but I knew it wouldn't stay there long. Other teams were out there, racing toward exits, fighting their own battles for survival and advancement. Every moment we spent in negotiation was a moment closer to elimination.

Finally, Wu Kangming turned to face me directly, his pale eyes meeting mine with that familiar intensity.

"Very well," he said, placing his hand on Luo Yichen's shoulder to forestall any further protests. "We'll travel to the exit together."