When Li Xuan returned to his room, the sky had already begun to darken.The faint orange glow of sunset touched the rooftops, turning the entire sect into a painting of shadows and dim light.
He closed the door quietly behind him.
He didn't sit.He didn't rest.
He just stood still.
Because his mind was still replaying the moment in the bamboo forest—
The gray-robed man's calm steps.The gentle smile.That single word:
"…Interesting."
It felt like a needle entering his spine.
The Grand Immortal finally broke the silence.
—You need to focus.—Fear is not your enemy. Fear is your reminder — you are not ready to be seen.
Li Xuan exhaled slowly.
"You said he was beyond Elder Qiu… beyond Fang Zhi…"
—Yes. And he hides deeper than both.
Li Xuan clenched his fists.
"Then… how strong is he?"
A moment of silence.
Then the Immortal answered—
—Strong enough that if he wanted to kill Elder Qiu and every disciple here… he could do so before the moon rises fully.
Li Xuan's blood ran cold.
"And he noticed me," Li Xuan whispered.
—Barely. But that is already too much.
Li Xuan sank to the floor, leaning against the wall.
"…Grand Immortal. Why does someone like that stay in a weak sect like ours?"
The Immortal's voice grew softer.
—Everyone hides from something, Li Xuan. Even monsters.
Li Xuan didn't know what that meant.
But he didn't ask.
Instead, he whispered:
"What do I do now?"
The Immortal replied without hesitation:
—Train. Hide. Grow.A pause.—Tonight, we begin your next step. You must reach Qi Refining Stage 2 soon, quietly, without letting your aura leak.
Li Xuan nodded.
He extinguished the candle, letting darkness settle around him like a cloak.
Then he sat cross-legged.
His dantian warmed instantly, responding to his focus.
"Show me," Li Xuan whispered softly.
The immortal began:
—Qi Refining Stage 2 is about stability.—You must strengthen the ring of Qi. Thicken it. Let it rotate slowly.—But never push too fast. The slightest leak could alert Elder Ning… or worse.
Li Xuan inhaled slowly.
He guided a tiny thread of Qi into his dantian.The thin ring inside him trembled, then absorbed it slowly.
Then another thread.And another.
Each one entered gently, like drops of warm water.
Minutes passed.Then an hour.
Li Xuan's breathing stayed steady.His back straightened naturally.His mind sharpened.
The thin ring of Qi inside him slowly grew stronger — no longer a weak circle, but something firmer.
The Immortal murmured:
—Good. Keep going. But do not reach Stage 2 tonight. Not yet.
Li Xuan blinked."…Why not?"
—Because today, too many eyes are searching for change.
Li Xuan nodded slowly.
He absorbed a bit more Qi, just enough to improve without causing ripples.
He trained until his body grew warm and slightly tired.
Finally, the Immortal spoke again:
—Stop. That is enough.—You improved more in one day than you used to in years. Let that be enough for now.
Li Xuan opened his eyes.
The room was still dark.Still quiet.
The moonlight touched the floor, faint and cold.
Li Xuan lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
He wanted to rest.
But his thoughts lingered on one person—
Elder Ning.
The way he walked.The empty aura.The gentle smile.The single word of interest.
Li Xuan clenched his hand on the blanket.
"…Why me?"
The Grand Immortal didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Li Xuan already knew—
Because fate had tied a monster's gaze to him the moment he awakened.
He closed his eyes.
Tomorrow would be another dangerous day.
Maybe worse.
But one thing was certain:
He could never go back to being useless.
Not anymore.
Not with so many eyes watching him now.