"Show Me What You've Got"
The training grounds were eerily silent. Dozens of inner disciples stood in a wide circle, their eyes locked on the two figures at the center.
Xiao Lian. Ji Ren. Two names that, in just a short time, had become the talk of the sect.
The air hummed with energy as the duel was about to begin. Ji Ren rolled his shoulders, his sword resting casually at his side. His expression was relaxed, but his sharp eyes held a glint of amusement.
"Last chance, Xiao Lian," he drawled. "You could always back out."
Xiao Lian smirked. "And let you gloat? Not a chance."
A few disciples chuckled.
Ji Ren sighed. "Fine. But don't cry when you lose."
A disciple raised a flag. "Begin!"
A Clash of Skill and Speed. Ji Ren vanished. In a blink, he closed the distance between them, his sword slicing toward her side.
Too fast. SIS instantly calculated the trajectory. Dodge left. Counter with a downward slash.
Xiao Lian's body moved before she even processed the thought. She twisted aside, her blade flashing as she struck at his exposed shoulder. But Ji Ren wasn't there.
A blur of movement, His sword came from above. Xiao Lian barely raised her blade in time to block. The impact sent vibrations down her arms. She slid backward, eyes narrowing. He's stronger than I thought.
Ji Ren tilted his head, smirking. "Not bad. But I hope you've got more than just defense."
He lunged again.
[Analyzing His Movements]
SIS processed every micro-movement. Ji Ren favored speed over power. His footwork was flawless, but he had a habit of dropping his left shoulder before attacking.
A small opening. But against someone this skilled, small openings weren't enough. Xiao Lian tightened her grip. Think. She shifted her stance, letting Ji Ren believe she was purely reacting to his speed.
Then, when he came in for another strike, She feinted. She deliberately slowed her reaction, allowing him to aim for what looked like an unguarded spot.
Ji Ren took the bait. Xiao Lian twisted at the last second, dodging his blade by a hair's breadth. And then she struck. Her blade aimed straight for his ribs, But Ji Ren was faster. His sword met hers with a sharp clang, deflecting her attack like it was nothing.
He stepped back, laughing. "Smart. But predictable."
Xiao Lian scowled. "Predictable?"
Ji Ren pointed at her temple. "You rely too much on calculations."
Her fingers twitched on the hilt of her sword.
SIS was supposed to be her greatest weapon. But Ji Ren was adapting. He was reading her just as fast as she was reading him.
That meant...She had to stop thinking like a machine.
A Risky Move. Xiao Lian shut off SIS. The flood of predictions stopped. The battlefield was suddenly silent, just the sound of her own breath and Ji Ren's confident stance.
Ji Ren raised an eyebrow. "Oh? No glowing eyes this time?"
Xiao Lian exhaled. Time to trust my instincts. She launched forward, her blade moving without hesitation. Ji Ren met her head-on.
For the first time, her movements weren't calculated. She fought with pure intuition. She blocked faster, not because SIS told her to, but because she could feel where the attack would land.
She attacked harder, not because of a predicted weak spot, but because she sensed an opportunity.
Ji Ren's expression shifted. For the first time in the duel, he looked surprised. Then, A sharp clash. A shift in weight. A mistake.
Ji Ren's stance opened for a brief second.
Xiao Lian struck. Her sword aimed straight for his chest. But at the last second, Ji Ren twisted his wrist, and his blade redirected hers. The next thing she knew, she was off balance.
And before she could react, his sword was at her throat. The training grounds were silent.
Xiao Lian stood frozen. Ji Ren's blade hovered just inches from her neck. She had lost.
Ji Ren's smirk returned. "You're getting there."
She gritted her teeth.
"But," he continued, withdrawing his sword, "you still rely too much on SIS."
Xiao Lian clenched her fists.
"Even after shutting it off?" she snapped.
Ji Ren sheathed his sword. "You weren't fighting with your instincts. You were fighting to replace the system."
She frowned.
He gave her a knowing look. "You're skilled, Xiao Lian. Smarter than most. But if you want to truly win… stop thinking altogether."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the center of the arena, Frustrated. Determined.
And for the first time, truly understanding, She had so much more to learn.