The academy's grand stadium was a sea of faces, a living ocean of anticipation. Spectators filled the towering stands, their voices merging into a chaotic symphony of excitement. Beneath the bright sky, the arena sparkled like a jewel, its central stage a vast battleground where talents would clash.
Some came with eager eyes, already placing bets, their voices rising in spirited arguments over who would emerge victorious. Others whispered, pointing towards the specially reserved seats where dignitaries and family heads sat with measured pride and concealed anxiety.
Among these esteemed guests was Chu Ming's father, Chu Fu. His face was dark, a storm brewing beneath his expression. His status as the Chu family's patriarch had become precarious. Business had dwindled, old partners now turned cold, and the family's fortunes were fading.
His sharp gaze swept over the crowd, and his mood only worsened as he saw the familiar faces of four other family heads—Wang, Wing, Xi, and Xu. The patriarchs of the first-grade families sat together, their faces calm but their eyes occasionally drifting towards Chu Fu with thinly veiled mockery.
"Those vipers," Chu Fu muttered under his breath, his fists clenching. "They were once our partners. Now they strike us in the back."
Beside him, Chu Ming leaned in, her expression uneasy. "Father… don't worry. With Chen Fan on our side, we will surely win today. His talent is unmatched. If he wins, our position will be secure."
Chen Fan, who stood proudly near them, smiled confidently. Dressed in pristine white robes, his presence was a beacon of hope for the struggling Chu family.
But Chu Fu's mood did not improve. His eyes drifted across the stadium—until they landed on another familiar face. Chu Su's father, Chu sen, sat with a radiant smile, his faction members gathered around him, speaking in warm, respectful tones.
Chu sen's face beamed with pride, his laughter clear even from afar. His gaze lingered on the center of the arena, where Lu Chen had just entered with his team.
"That man…" Chu Fu's eyes darkened. "Lu Chen… The reason my position is threatened, the reason my daughter was cast aside…"
There she was—Chu Su—walking beside Lu Chen, her posture elegant but her face glowing with pride. The girl who once bowed her head before him now stood like a flower blossoming in the light of a rising sun.
Murmurs ran through the crowd.
"Look! Lu Chen has arrived."
"I heard he set a new record in the team competition."
"Didn't he even surpass Chen Fan's team?"
"Of course! That's the power of the imperial family's young master!"
Each whisper was like a needle stabbing into Chu Fu's pride. His daughter, Chu Ming, saw his expression and bit her lip, unease gripping her heart.
On the other side of the stands, Chu sen's laughter only grew louder. His hand rested proudly on the shoulder of one of his advisors.
"See, my daughter is with Lu Chen. Our Chu family will only rise from now on."
And Lu Chen… he strode calmly across the stadium, his expression serene, yet his gaze sharp. Behind him, Yun Li, Yun Mu, and Chu Su followed, their faces calm but their eyes filled with confidence.
The world seemed divided.
On one side, Chu Fu and his declining faction, bitter and anxious.
On the other, Chu sen and his rising star—his daughter now tied to Lu Chen, a man whose very name sent waves of excitement through the crowd.
And in the center of it all, Lu Chen stood like an unshakable mountain, his eyes fixed on the arena, as if already seeing the battlefield that awaited.