The next morning, Lushan Martial Hall was packed.
Thousands of people surrounded the arena.
The tournament had attracted cultivators from across Lushan City, and the noise was almost overwhelming.
Kael stood among the contestants.
His eyes remained calm.
But his mind kept returning to the warning from last night.
Do not win your first match.
He still didn't understand why.
“Contestant sixty-four.”
The announcer's voice echoed through the arena.
“Enter.”
Kael stepped forward.
The moment he entered the arena, the crowd became louder.
His opponent walked in from the other side.
A tall young man carrying a heavy axe.
The announcer raised his hand.
“First match!”
The young man grinned.
“I'm Zhou Han.”
Kael drew his sword.
“Kael.”
Zhou Han laughed.
“Body Tempering?”
Kael nodded.
“Third Layer.”
The crowd immediately started laughing.
“Third Layer?”
“He's dead.”
“Why would someone this weak enter the tournament?”
Zhou Han lifted his axe.
“I'll finish this quickly.”
The bell rang.
Bang!
Zhou Han charged.
The axe came down with enough force to crack the stone beneath Kael's feet.
Kael moved sideways.
The axe missed.
Zhou Han swung again.
Kael ducked.
Again.
Again.
The attacks became faster.
Kael didn't fight back.
He simply watched.
His eyes followed every movement.
His body remembered.
Not this opponent.
But something similar.
A battlefield.
An axe.
A stronger enemy.
A mistake.
Kael suddenly understood.
Zhou Han always stepped forward with his right foot before attacking from the left.
A weakness.
Kael could win.
Easily.
But the voice from last night returned.
Do not win your first match.
Kael deliberately slowed down.
Zhou Han's axe struck his shoulder.
Bang!
Kael was thrown backward.
Blood appeared on his sleeve.
The crowd cheered.
“Hit him!”
Zhou Han smiled.
“You're weaker than I thought.”
Kael wiped the blood from his shoulder.
Then he noticed something.
The wound wasn't deep.
His Human Flame had already begun repairing it.
A faint golden glow moved beneath his skin.
Kael's expression changed.
The Human Flame is getting stronger.
Zhou Han charged again.
This time Kael didn't dodge completely.
He allowed the axe to pass close to his body.
Then he struck Zhou Han's wrist with the flat of his sword.
The axe fell.
Zhou Han froze.
Kael's blade stopped against his throat.
Silence.
The entire arena went quiet.
The referee stared at them.
“Winner—”
Kael suddenly lowered his sword.
“I surrender.”
The referee blinked.
“What?”
Kael turned around.
“I surrender.”
The crowd exploded.
“What is he doing?”
“Is he stupid?”
“He had the match!”
Zhou Han stood there in disbelief.
Kael walked out of the arena.
Luo Chen immediately grabbed him.
“You could have won.”
“I know.”
“Then why surrender?”
Kael looked toward the highest balcony.
A man in black robes stood there.
The same face.
The same eyes.
The same person who had killed him in his seventh life.
Their eyes met.
The man's expression changed.
For the first time—
He recognized Kael.
Kael's heart stopped.
The man slowly smiled.
Then he raised one finger and touched his own throat.
A silent message.
Next time, I'll cut yours.
Kael's hands tightened.
So that was why.
The tournament wasn't about winning.
It was about being noticed.
And now—
Black Lotus knew exactly where he was.