The sect was alive with celebration. Banners fluttered along every street of Qingmiao City, casting streaks of gold and crimson under the descending sun. The Duan Sect had not seen such grandeur in decades. For days, disciples and elders alike had been celebrating the rise of their new Sect Master — Liang Zheng of the Fragrant Herb Peak.
Gifts from neighbouring sects overflowed the Sect Master's Palace — rare medicinal herbs sealed in jade boxes, spirit stones, and inscription scrolls. All were tokens of goodwill, of recognition, and perhaps, veiled observation.
On the surface, everything was serene. The sect shone brighter than ever. Yet beneath that calm brilliance, shadows coiled quietly.
Whispers spread through the peaks and pavilions. Was Zi Xuan's poisoning truly an accident? Or was it an inside strike meant to cripple the rival contender? Some said it was the doing of jealous disciples. Others dwelt in conspiracy theories that the poison was meant for someone else entirely. And then there were the bold few from Heaven's Gaze Peak who whispered that even the previous Sect Master had his reasons to silence Zi Xuan before he could stir dissent.
But no one could be certain.
The elders moved cautiously, concealing their worries behind calm expressions. Liang Zheng, though newly seated, was under constant watch; every word he spoke, every step he took, was weighed and measured in silence. The Sect's council of elders convened daily behind closed doors, discussing reports, tracing every vial, every herb, every cup of tea that had been served during the tournament.
Yet the truth remained buried, and it had good reasons to be that way. After all, who would dare believe that an alchemy practitioner still in the Amber Radiance Realm, with barely six moons of experience, could concoct a poison capable of crippling a cultivator at the Whiteflare Bloom Realm and succeed in administering it unnoticed?
Whatever the case, the Duan Sect did not allow the rumor to spread. To the outside world, the incident was dismissed as a sudden affliction, a tragic consequence of overexertion. Zi Xuan's name was honored with silence.
And while the Duan Sect struggled to maintain its graceful composure, time pressed forward mercilessly.
The previous Sect Master had announced his final duty, the preparations for the secret realm of Starfall Abyss Mirage. It was both a trial and an opportunity. One that could alter the balance of power among the great sects of the region. And to seize that chance, the old master was willing to risk everything.
Far from the Sect Master's Palace affairs, one of the chambers of the Alchemy Pavilion was filled with the gentle hum and rich fragrance of brewing cauldrons. Arthur tended the flames beneath two simmering brews — Amber Radiance Stillheart Essence and Amber Radiance Tranquil Mind Draught. Pale mist coiled around his sleeves, carrying the faint aroma of spirit herbs and crystalline dew.
Both potions were suited for cultivators in the Amber Radiance Realm. One to steady the heart, the other to calm the mind. Together, they formed the perfect state for cultivation — a state of perfect harmony, where the flow of qi became fluid and free of obstruction.
Arthur's movements were calm and practiced. He brewed one hundred vials of each elixir before letting out a soft breath of relief. Since his father had become Sect Master, the burdens that once weighed on him had eased. Liang Zheng had secretly ordered that the Pavilion's elders to stop exploiting his son's alchemical skill. Liang Zheng wanted damage control, especially after the effects on his son's life span caused by the Origin Tempering Elixirs.
As Arthur cleaned the cauldron, Elder Yan entered, his usual serene smile gracing his aged face.
"Ah, Xiao Tian, even the herbs seem to listen to your rhythm. I see you've already completed the quota for the week."
Arthur smiled faintly. "Just doing my job, Elder Yan."
The old man chuckled. "Hah! You sound more like your father with each day. But I didn't come to flatter you."
Arthur tilted his head.
"The Sect Master has summoned you. You're to meet him in the Sect Master's Palace immediately."
Arthur bowed respectfully and set his tools aside. "Understood, Elder."
The climb to the palace was long and winding. Along the stairway, Arthur passed several elders of the Ten Peaks.
"Xiao Tian," one greeted with a smile.
"Greetings, Elder Ru. Elder Feng," Arthur bowed.
"Hm. A promising youth," one murmured, patting his shoulder lightly before walking off.
The closer he drew to the inner court, the heavier the air felt. Even the guards stationed outside the gates made his pulse quicken. Each one radiated a strength that far surpassed his own. Their Qi signatures were so dense that he couldn't even glimpse their cultivation realms.
He waited quietly outside the grand doors. A moment later, they opened with a deep groan. One by one, Supreme Elders stepped out with long flowing beards and robes inscribed with sect insignias.
"Ah, young one," one said, smiling faintly as he passed. "Here to meet sect master?"
"Yes, Treasurer Cao."
"Cultivate diligently," said another, giving his shoulder a firm pat before walking on.
Arthur bowed to each before stepping inside.
The great hall was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of sandalwood. At the far end sat Duan Liang Zheng, wearing the same robes of silver and blue that once belonged to the previous Sect Master.
Arthur knelt respectfully. "Disciple Duan Qing Tian greets the Sect Master."
Liang Zheng raised a brow, his voice amused. "Enough of that, you brat. Come here."
Arthur laughed softly and rose, approaching.
"Tell me," Liang Zheng said, pouring tea into a jade cup, "has anyone in the Alchemy Pavilion been pestering you?"
Arthur shook his head. "No, Father. Elder Yan keeps things in order."
"Good. That old man knows when to bite." Liang Zheng smiled faintly, but the mirth faded soon after. He set the teacup down and folded his hands.
"As troubling as the situation is, we must move forward. The Starfall Abyss Mirage… has shown signs of awakening."
Arthur's expression turned curious.
His father looked at him. "Would you like to go and see off the Sect Master? It will be difficult for us to enter now, but who knows what the future holds. Might as well see the gates with our own eyes?"
His father's words were not simple; they had far more meaning than they seemed.
Liang Zheng's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, faintly smiling, though his eyes held the quiet gleam of certainty.
He no longer doubted his son.
After being granted the Immortal Grade cultivation method, Liang Zheng understood its true meaning; its potential extended beyond the bounds of Tianyu's comprehension. The weak Spirit Root Arthur was evaluated, but now holds no meaning. It was like shackles that had already rusted away.
With his proper guidance and time, Arthur's path would no longer end where others faltered.
Liang Zheng could already envision it. The Whiteflare Bloom Realm, the stage that once seemed so distant for his son, would crumble before Arthur's steady pace. Beyond it lay realms that even seasoned cultivators struggled to glimpse, and for Arthur, those barriers would one day open as naturally as breathing.
And when that day came… the Secret Realm of Starfall Abyss Mirage, a place of miracles and ruin, would no longer be forbidden for him. It would be a destination, not a dream.