Enzo stands outside Master Chen's office, his heightened senses catching snippets of the intense argument within.
"energy readings are unprecedented."
Elder Zhao's tone is laced with excitement and worry.
"If what you're suggesting is true,"
Master Chen says,
"then this redefines everything. Not only for the boy, but for our whole sect."
They're talking about me. About whatever they discovered during yesterday's examination.
The door creaks open and Elder Zhao steps out, a look of just-restrained wonder on her face. She regards Enzo differently now - no longer as a frail junior disciple, but something much greater.
"Wei Lin,"
She whispers,
"whatever is occurring to you, accept it. Do not resist the changes."
Before Enzo has a chance to ask what she means, Elder Zhao scurries off, leaving him more perplexed than ever.
"Enter, Wei Lin," Master Chen's voice calls from within.
Enzo enters the office to discover Master Chen not seated behind his desk as customary, but respectfully standing, as if receiving someone of stature.
That's... different. Master Chen has never shown me that kind of respect before.
"Sit, please,"
Master Chen instructs, pointing to the chair.
"We have a great deal to talk about."
When Enzo is seated, Master Chen goes to a locked cabinet and takes out an old tome wrapped in what seems to be dragon leather.
"Wei Lin, what I'm going to tell you will revolutionize your perception of yourself and your position in this world,"
Master Chen starts.
"Elder Zhao's inspection showed that you have what we refer to as 'Primordial Meridians' - energy channels that existed among cultivators in the Ancient Era."
Primordial Meridians. That sounds significant.
"What does that mean?" Enzo asks.
Master Chen opens the old book, and pages full of golden writing appear to radiate their own light.
"It means that you possess the potential to achieve levels of development not witnessed in more than a millennium. The golden energy you've been creating isn't merely sophisticated spiritual energy - it's the very same energy legendary masters employed to cleave mountains and divert rivers."
Holy shit. I really did hit the cultivation jackpot when I transmigrated.
"But most of all,"
Master Chen goes on,
"it means that you can't hide. Power such as yours tends to reveal itself, no matter how hard we try to keep it hidden."
"So what do you think?" Enzo asks.
Master Chen closes the book and regards him with something close to reverence.
"I recommend that we cut the pretenses that you are a weak junior disciple and begin training you like the prodigy you are. Your skills are going to draw notice no matter if we conceal them or not - better that you be able to deal with whatever arises."
"What sort of training are you speaking about?" Enzo inquires.
"Advanced methods that are usually reserved for older disciples. Private tutelage by the elders. Access to cultivation equipment that most disciples never get to lay eyes on."
Master Chen stops to consider.
"And preparation for the problems that extraordinary ability necessarily attracts."
The following morning, Enzo's proper training commences. Rather than participating in the standard junior disciple drills, he's taken to a secluded training area where Elder Zhao and two other elders of the sect await.
"Wei Lin,"
Elder Zhao greets him,
"today we find out what you're really made of."
The training area is like nothing Enzo has ever experienced. The ground is covered with intricate circles of formation, and the air itself appears to vibrate with intense spiritual energy.
"First, we'll see where you're at,"
declares Elder Wu, the sect's training master.
"Try and hit me with everything."
Everything I have? Against an elder? This should be interesting.
Enzo comes into fighting position and calls on the golden energy that has been building up over the course of a day. But far from the subtle heat he's become used to, power surges through his meridians like a rushing torrent.
Wow. Without holding back, this feels incredible.
He launches himself forward with speed that surprises even him. Elder Wu's eyes widen as Enzo closes the distance in a blur of motion, his palm strike creating a visible distortion in the air.
He springs forward with velocity that astonishes even him. Elder Wu's eyes go wide as Enzo cuts the distance in a flash of movement, his palm strike causing a perceptible rip in the air.
Elder Wu parries the attack, but the force blows him back a few feet.
"astonishing,"
Elder Wu gasps.
"Your physical augmentation is commensurate with what I managed after two decades of practice."
"And that was a simple attack,"
Elder Zhao continues enthusiastically.
"Wei Lin, attempt to funnel your energy into a technique. Don't concern yourself with the forms in particular - trust your instincts."
Follow my instincts. After years of reading cultivation novels, my instincts are telling me to try something dramatic.
Enzo brings the golden energy together in his right hand, imagining it coalescing and focusing like a sword. The energy obliges with enthusiasm, creating an construct that shimmers as intense sunlight.
"Golden Blade manifestation,"
The third elder, an older woman named Elder Chen, breathes softly.
"That's a trick from the Celestial Combat Manual. How does he know."
"He doesn't realize it,"
Elder Zhao understands.
"He's developing it unconsciously. His Primordial Meridians are enabling him to use techniques that would take years to learn."
I can create techniques just by imagining them? This is like having cheat codes for cultivation.
"Wei Lin,"
Elder Wu concludes, his voice filled with sincere amazement,
"in thirty years of teaching, I have never observed natural ability of this caliber. You're not merely talented - you're potentially revolutionary."
Word of Enzo's incredible training session runs through the sect like fire. By the afternoon, groups of students are congregating wherever he trains, gaping as he performs skills that appear to defy all they know about cultivation development.
"Is that actually Wei Lin?" a senior student whispers to another.
"The same Wei Lin who couldn't complete simple exercises two days ago?" is the response.
At an open air sparring session, Master Chen pairs Enzo with more experienced opponents to see how far he can go. He beats three junior disciples at a time, then goes up against intermediate level students.
"Liu Wei,"
Master Chen yells out,
"you've been asking for a rematch. Here's your chance."
Liu Wei approaches, but his previous confidence has given way to real nervousness. The weak target he had imagined he could intimidate has turned into something much more powerful.
"Wei Lin,"
Liu Wei says cautiously,
"what did you do to yourself? This isn't natural."
"You're right,"
Enzo says truthfully.
"It's not natural. It's extraordinary."
The battle takes less than thirty seconds. Liu Wei's attacks look slow and foretold in contrast with the pace Enzo has grown used to. When he retorts, his golden energy-amplified strikes break Liu Wei's defense without any effort.
"Winner: Wei Lin,"
Master Chen declares to a dead-still training ground.
I don't know why but that felt good.
But the victory comes with consequences. As the other disciples disperse, Enzo notices the way they look at him - with awe, yes, but also fear and suspicion.
"Wei Lin,"
Zhang Feng approaches hesitantly, "are you still the i know?"
"I'm still your friend, Zhang Feng,"
Enzo answers.
"I'm just finally able to do what I can do."
"It's not what you can do,"
Zhang Feng says softly.
"It's how quick you've changed. People are already whispering about. supernatural causes."
Before Enzo can answer, Wang Hu shows up beside them with his characteristic still intensity.
"Supernatural or not,"
Wang Hu says,
"sudden progress always draws attention. And not all of that attention is within the sect."
"What sort of attention?" Enzo asks.
Wang Hu's face grows more somber.
"The kind that regards strong disciples as assets to be obtained or dangers to be disposed of."
That night, when Enzo trains in his new private training room (officially allotted now that his talents are recognized), his expanded senses detect movement in the forest outside the sect grounds.
Someone's out there. Multiple people, moving with coordination and purpose.
He quietly makes his way to the chamber's window and peers into the darkness. What he sees makes his blood run cold - dark figures moving through the trees, their movements too organized to be casual travelers.
Scouts. Someone is watching the sect.
Enzo slips out of the chamber and uses his enhanced speed and stealth to get closer to the perimeter. His improved night vision allows him to see details that would be impossible for normal eyes.
The figures wear dark clothing with no obvious insignia, but their weapons are clearly visible - swords of exceptional quality that seem to hum with spiritual energy.
Sword cultivators. And not just any sword cultivators - these look like elite troops.
He counts at least a dozen figures spread throughout the forest, all positioned to observe the sect's defenses and patrol patterns. This isn't a casual reconnaissance - it's preparation for something much larger.
I need to report this.
As he's considering his options, one of the scouts suddenly turns in his direction. Even from a distance, Enzo can see the man's eyes widen in surprise.
Shit. They saw me.
Instead of retreating, the scout signals to his companions and begins moving toward Enzo's position. The other figures start converging as well, clearly intending to capture or eliminate the witness.
Well, there goes any chance of reporting this quietly.
Enzo has a choice - run back to the sect and raise an alarm, or confront the scouts directly and find out who sent them.
I've spent my whole new life in this world being reactive. Time to be proactive for once.
Drawing on his golden energy, Enzo steps out of concealment and faces the approaching scouts.
"Good evening,"
he calls out conversationally.
"Lovely night for spying, isn't it?"
The lead scout stops in surprise, clearly not expecting such a direct confrontation.
"You're just a junior disciple,"
The scout says, his voice carrying a distinct accent that Enzo can't place.
"Walk away now, and you might live to see morning."
"Counterproposal,"
Enzo replies, golden energy beginning to glow around his hands.
"Tell me who sent you, and I might let you leave with all your limbs attached."
The scout laughs coldly and draws his sword.
"Bold words for someone who doesn't understand what's coming for your sect."
What's coming for the sect huh..
"Then enlighten me,"
Enzo says, settling into a combat stance.
But instead of answering, the scout signals his companions, and suddenly Enzo finds himself facing twelve armed enemies in the darkness of the forest.
Well, this escalated quickly. Time to find out just how strong I've really become.
As the scouts attack in coordinated formation, Enzo realizes that his peaceful days of gradual power development are officially over. Whatever storm has been building around him is about to break, and he's standing directly in its path.
The golden energy surges through his meridians as he prepares to face his first real test against multiple skilled opponents.
Time to show these scouts what Ancient Era cultivation really looks like.