Li Xuan walked back toward the main field as the sun climbed higher.His steps were slow on purpose.His back slightly hunched.His breathing shallow.
He needed to look like the same weak, tired boy… even though every part of him felt new inside.
As he reached the training ground, disciples were already gathering. Some practiced kicks, others swung wooden swords, and a few sat chatting loudly.
The familiar whispers floated through the air:
"Li Xuan's late again.""Still pretending he's part of the sect.""He'll get thrown out eventually."
Li Xuan ignored them.
He went to his usual corner under the shadow of the tall wall.
But today, something was off.
The atmosphere felt… heavy.
Like everyone sensed something important was coming.
Then—
The elders arrived.
Not just Elder Qiu.
Several elders.Four in total.Their long robes brushed the ground as they walked, and their expressions were all serious.
The disciples immediately straightened their backs.
Li Xuan lowered his head.
One elder stood out.
A man in dark red robes trimmed with black thread, with deep-set eyes that seemed to swallow light. His hair was tied high, and a cold pressure radiated from him.
He wasn't from the Twilight Ember Sect.
Li Xuan felt a chill go down his spine.
This must be Yan Ling's warning.
Elder Qiu walked beside the man, voice loud, almost flattering:
"Everyone, stand properly! Today, we welcome Elder Fang Zhi from the Crimson Spirit Hall."
A murmur spread through the disciples.
Crimson Spirit Hall?
That was a mid-tier sect known for strict rules, powerful disciples, and merciless punishments.
Li Xuan kept his head low.Very low.
Elder Fang Zhi's gaze swept across the field like a blade. Even from far away, Li Xuan could feel the pressure.
His Qi sense was powerful.
Too powerful.
Elder Fang Zhi spoke, his voice deep and sharp.
"I came here to find someone."
Li Xuan's heart clenched.
Someone?
Who?
Elder Qiu smiled stiffly. "Of course. Our sect will assist in—"
Fang Zhi raised a hand, silencing him.
"I sensed a faint, unusual Qi fluctuation near this mountain early this morning."
Li Xuan's stomach dropped.
That was me!
The Immortal's voice echoed in Li Xuan's mind—
—Stay calm. Do not let fear show. That man is dangerous. His senses are sharp, but he cannot detect what I hide.
Li Xuan swallowed quietly.
Elder Fang Zhi looked across the disciples again.
"I wish to see which disciple is rising too quickly."
Zhao Ren immediately stepped forward.
He cupped his fists. "Honored Elder, I am Zhao Ren. I recently trained near the mountain peak. Perhaps you sensed my Qi?"
Li Xuan resisted the urge to snort.
Zhao Ren wanted to claim the Qi surge for himself — typical.
But Elder Fang Zhi didn't even look at him.
His eyes swept to the back row.
And stopped.
Right where Li Xuan stood.
Li Xuan froze.
His breath nearly stopped.
Elder Fang Zhi stared directly at him.
For one terrifying second, Li Xuan thought the elder saw everything inside him.
His new dantian.His opened meridians.His tiny spark of Qi.
But Fang Zhi's expression didn't change.
He simply said:
"You. Step forward."
Li Xuan's heart hammered.
Zhao Ren's head snapped toward him, eyes wide with disbelief.
Chen Mu muttered, "Him? Trash? Why him?!"
Even Elder Qiu's face tightened.
Li Xuan stepped forward slowly, every movement controlled.
He bowed slightly. "Elder…"
Fang Zhi examined him as if studying a puzzle.
"What is your name?"
"Li Xuan."
The elder tilted his head.
"Your aura is strange. Weak. Muddy. But…"His eyes narrowed."…I sense a change."
Li Xuan's heart nearly stopped.
Yan Ling was right.This elder could sense Qi shifts like wind movements.
He couldn't hide everything.
But he had to hide enough.
Li Xuan lowered his gaze.
"My body… reacts slowly, Elder. Maybe it is my old illness."
A murmur spread among the disciples.
Elder Fang Zhi's eyes narrowed further.
"Look at me."
Li Xuan slowly raised his head.
Elder Fang Zhi's gaze pierced him like needles.
Li Xuan held his breath, keeping his Qi completely still — a silent pool.
A long moment passed.
Then—
Elder Fang Zhi leaned back slightly.
"…No. You are too weak. Not what I sensed."
Li Xuan exhaled quietly — so quietly no one noticed.
His legs nearly gave out.
Zhao Ren actually let out a relieved breath.
Elder Qiu stepped forward quickly, smiling politely.
"Honored Elder, perhaps the fluctuation came from our Ember Spring's activation? It was opened yesterday."
Elder Fang Zhi considered this.
"…Perhaps."
He turned away, dismissing Li Xuan completely.
Li Xuan stepped back into the shadows, his hands trembling slightly.
He survived.
But barely.
Yan Ling watched him from a distance, her eyes steady and unreadable.
As Elder Fang Zhi spoke with the other elders, the Grand Immortal whispered:
—Li Xuan… this elder has sharp senses. Too sharp. Someone like him could see through your progress in a heartbeat.
Li Xuan narrowed his eyes.
"What do we do?"
The Immortal's voice grew colder.
—Grow faster.—Faster than they can detect.—Faster than they can kill you.
Li Xuan clenched his fists slowly.
He had opened his dantian.
Now… he needed to fill it.
And he needed to do it before the sect realized the truth:
That the useless boy they all ignored…was no longer weak.