Spar in the Arena and Acquiring my First Techniques

I found myself abruptly yanked out of a dream where I was soaring over the Miami skyline, weaving through towering skyscrapers, and thoroughly enjoying the experience. The cheerful banging of a metal sheet by Nicolas, accompanied by his wide grin, shattered the dream and awoke all the new disciples. If looks could kill, he'd have died a hundred times over.

"Sorry, I just love waking the newbies and only get to do it once a year. Meet at the sect entrance in 15 minutes for announcements."

Fully awake now, I hastily put on my robe and joined the others at the entrance.

While waiting, I took in the surroundings. The ground was paved with giant slabs of hard stone, leading to the entrance arch with a stage off to the side. There were no gates or walls to the sides. Beyond the entrance, stairs with a single railing led up to buildings in the distance. Six mountains flanked the sides, each hosting a few structures. The air smelled clean, perhaps with a hint of flowers. The chatter of other disciples filled the air, discussing their realms and aspirations upon entering the sect.

An old man walked onto the stage and shouted loudly enough to make me believe he'd used a megaphone if I hadn't seen otherwise.

"Quiet!"

Immediate silence.

"I'm Bryce Tillerson, an elder of the Blood Moon Sect. I'm here to acquaint you with the sect and explain the rules."

He detailed the perks of each realm and the rules, emphasizing no fighting outside arena duels and the mandatory sect uniform – a red robe with an arm band indicating rank.

Gold arm band = Direct disciple of the patriarch or elders.

1 stripe = Core disciple.

2 stripes = Inner disciple.

3 stripes = Outer disciple.

The higher the talent, the higher the sect position, you can also achieve a higher position through cultivation advancement or significant contributions.

We were directed to tables behind us to collect our sect robes, arm bands, and crystals. Being at the middle stage of Astral Refinement, I received two level 3 crystals.

As I walked up the stairs, Nicholas called out, "Hey Max! Wait up!" I turned toward the sound and saw him waving for me to wait. After a few seconds he was standing next to me and I continued on my way up the stairs.

"Since you're new here, let me show you around."

"Sure, thanks."

Having a guide familiar with the sect's layout seemed better than exploring alone. Besides, this guy seems nice and it wouldn't hurt to know someone to help me out.

At the top of the stairs, he immediately pulled me to the right and down a side street, "There's a group that likes 'welcoming' newcomers. It's best to avoid them if you want to keep your crystals." he explained with heavy air quotes.

Sure enough, after taking a left and passing the backs of a few buildings, Nicholas peeked around a corner and pointed to a group beating up arriving disciples and taking their crystals.

"That guy with the gold band is Kedron Leper, the direct disciple of the patriarch. A real bastard. Just avoid him if possible. If you can't, don't fight back. If he wants to give you a beating, take it. Fighting back will only get you in trouble since he's the patriarch's disciple, and the sect enforcers follow him."

I nodded, understanding the warning. This guy sounds like a piece of work.

Continuing, I inquired about the inter-sect competition mentioned before the fight with the Sun Sect.

"The inter-sect competition involves the top three sects – Blood Moon, Twin Moon, and Sun – and it takes place in six weeks. It's mainly for bragging rights, but there are prizes for the top ten participants. The top three get better prizes, with the first-place winner receiving the best rewards. No one knows the prizes until the competition day, except for the sect leaders and elders. Last year, the first-place prize included a grade 5 weapon, a grade 5 power pill, a grade 5 enlightenment elixir, and 10 grade 5 astral stones. Interested in joining?"

"Maybe," I replied. The mention of energy-rich prizes was tempting, however I lacked combat experience.

"Nicholas, could you show me where the arenas are? I'd like to have a spar with you to test my strength since we're in the same realm."

"Sure! This way. But no way you're beating me; the prince of combat!" he joked.

After a short walk, we arrived at the arena. Around ten platforms hosted sparring disciples, and a small crowd observed. We chose an empty platform to face off.

"I won't hold back since we're in the same realm," Nicholas declared.

"I did say I wanted to test my strength, didn't I?" I responded, adopting a fighting stance.

Nicholas rushed, closing the distance, and threw the first punch. I quickly realized I had overestimated my abilities, but it was too late. His fist moved astonishingly fast, and all I could manage was a step back. Unfortunately, it didn't help; his fist connected with my nose before I could react. I felt and heard bones crack as blood spurted. All I could do was curse and hold my throbbing nose.

Nicholas looked at me in shock, then at his fist, then back at me with a concerned expression.

"Why didn't you move?"

I purchased a grade 2 brown-colored recovery pill from the system and took it.

"I didn't know what to do. I've never fought anyone before, and you were so fast."

"It shows," he remarked, silent for a moment before adding, "Techniques usually require fighting to practice. Do you not know any techniques either?"

"No," I admitted.

He explained about the library, where basic techniques were available for free, and more advanced ones required astral stones. For my rank as an inner sect disciple, I could only buy up to a certain level.

After this brief explanation and a recommendation to start practicing soon, Nicholas led me to the library.

Inside, a kind-looking elderly woman with long gray hair greeted us and asked about the techniques I was looking for. Nicholas took the lead, explaining that I needed my first technique and asked her to recommend one suitable for me. She thought about it for a few seconds and asked if I wanted one of the free ones or to buy one. After I explained it would depend on the price. She asked us to wait for a moment and walked off into the rows of shelves.

After a minute, she returned with a stack of thin books, dividing them into five stacks based on price. The cheapest were free, and the most expensive cost a grade 3 stone each. Each stack included a footwork, fist, palm, and sword technique. I need a footwork technique for sure and considering I didn't use a sword, I opted for a fist or palm technique for offensive attacks.

Curious about the advantages of the higher-priced techniques, I asked the woman to explain. She mentioned that the grade 3 crystal priced techniques remained useful until advancing to early stage Supreme Attainment, while the grade 2 ones were only effective until middle stage Star Condensation. The others were brought out for me in case I wanted to try one first since they were easier to understand for a first technique, though she didn't recommend wasting time on them.

Choosing the grade 3 crystal techniques, I inquired about the difference between palm and fist. She clarified that both had the same theoretical power limit, making it a matter of personal preference. I decided on the fist technique, thinking it might be easier for me to learn.

I sadly spent my only two grade 3 astral stones, I thanked the elderly woman and left the library with Nicholas, who then guided me to my living quarters – a small house with a combined bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Thankfully, I would be getting my own house like all inner disciples.

---

Over the next month, I practiced my new techniques tirelessly, only pausing to eat. While I didn't require food, it provided free energy points. Since I'm a freak who doesn't need to sleep, I practiced the fist technique indoors at night and the footwork in the large courtyard during the day.

Since I don't have this astral energy stuff required to preform the techniques, it took me a while to even figure out how to manipulate my pure energy in such a way that would allow it to work as a substitute. Kitty's guidance was again very helpful in this endeavor.

Once every day, I sparred with Nicholas. Although I still lost, I could last longer, dodging more effectively and occasionally finding opportunities to counterattack. Now that I don't fall to a single punch, this vast improvement made me quite happy.

On the first day of each month, the sect distributed monthly crystals to its members. I headed to the gigantic resource hall, the same place where pills, herbs, and various items were bought and sold, to collect my monthly grade 2 crystal. The place buzzed with people leaving with their crystals and others entering.

After a 15-minute wait in line, I reached the desk where a core disciple handed out the stones. After providing my name and they verified it in their book, I received a rank 2 crystal and exited the hall.

As I stepped outside, two inner disciples in the early stage of astral refinement approached me. They flanked me, and a sense of unease washed over me.

"Since you're new here, boss Kedron wants to see you," they said wearing expressions of malevolence and placing their hands firmly on my shoulders.

Ah, shit. The guy Nicholas warned me about – the one who enjoyed beating people and stealing their stuff.