The Primordial Dragonling slept peacefully at the cliff's base, its breaths slow and thunderous.
Now that Stonewall had stabilized the mountain's earth veins, the entire peak felt calmer—
stronger—
as if it had regained a missing piece of its foundation.
Lin Xuanji looked over the disciples with a relieved sigh.
"Alright. Today should be peaceful. No surprises. No awakenings. No new—"
The mountain hummed.
Lin Xuanji glared upward.
"I SAID NO."
Kai Yun burst out laughing.
"The mountain doesn't listen to you!"
Feng Xiao added, "That's because it has taste."
Ruolan tugged his sleeve timidly.
"M-Maybe it's greeting us politely…"
"No," Lin Xuanji said. "It's mocking me. I can feel it in my bones."
Stonewall, arms crossed, spoke bluntly.
"It recognizes your weakness."
Lin Xuanji choked.
"WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!"
Stonewall nodded respectfully.
"Honesty is my duty."
Tian Wen hid a small smirk behind his hand.
Mu Xiaofan gently fed berries to the bear, not understanding the argument at all.
Ling Xueyin ignored everyone with practiced grace, sipping tea.
Wei Tian cleared his throat.
"Sect Master. Training?"
"YES. Training. Let's train before the mountain summons another beast, elder, cave, or exploding formation—"
HUMMMMM.
Lin Xuanji slammed his hands over his ears.
"STOP HUMMING AT ME!"
Stonewall stepped forward.
"I'll suppress it."
He pressed his palm to the ground—
qi pulsed—
the humming dipped slightly.
Lin Xuanji sighed in relief.
Then—
A deep rumble echoed from the dragonling.
Stonewall immediately pulled his hand away.
"That hum was not the mountain."
Tian Wen's eyes sharpened.
"…The dragon."
Kai Yun's grin widened dangerously. "IS IT WAKING UP AGAIN?!"
Feng Xiao slapped her arm.
"Stop sounding excited about potential death!"
Ruolan peaked from behind Lin Xuanji.
"…Maybe it wants breakfast?"
Mu Xiaofan nodded.
"He does. He's hungry."
Lin Xuanji stared at him.
"…How do you KNOW that?"
Xiaofan pointed at the dragonling.
"He's dreaming of fish."
Lin Xuanji looked at the sleeping beast.
"…How do you know THAT?!"
Xiaofan smiled softly.
"He talks in his sleep."
Lin Xuanji buried his face in his hands.
"I am not qualified for this sect…"
Stonewall walked over to the dragonling with steady, heavy steps.
"Guardian," Stonewall said solemnly, "your strength must not fluctuate. Consume earth essence."
He placed a boulder-sized chunk of earth qi into the creature's mouth.
Everyone stared.
The dragonling chewed.
Slow.
Loud.
Like a mountain eating a snack.
Kai Yun's eyes sparkled.
"This is the best thing I've ever seen."
Feng Xiao muttered, "Everything is the best thing you've seen."
"It IS!"
The dragonling swallowed and let out a deep rumble of satisfaction.
Mu Xiaofan smiled.
"He likes Elder Stonewall."
Stonewall nodded.
"He should. I cleaned up his mess."
Lin Xuanji blinked.
"…Mess?"
Stonewall gestured toward a deep crack in the cliff.
"He made this while turning in his sleep."
Tian Wen raised an eyebrow.
"That is… concerning."
Stonewall crossed his arms.
"This Peak endures because I endure."
Kai Yun whispered to Feng Xiao, "Is he always this dramatic?"
Feng Xiao replied, "He's an elder. They come dramatic by default."
Lin Xuanji clapped his hands to regain control of the situation.
"Okay! Enough bonding with dragons and arguing with mountains. We're doing GROUP TRAINING today."
Ruolan straightened.
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Feng Xiao ignited her palm flames.
"Ready."
Tian Wen stood firm.
"…Let's begin."
Kai Yun unsheathed her giant sword with reckless enthusiasm.
"FINALLY!"
Mu Xiaofan placed the fox gently down.
"I'll try my best."
Stonewall observed all of them with a stone-faced expression.
"Children," he said, "show me your strengths."
Kai Yun jumped forward.
"I'll go first!"
Stonewall raised one hand.
"No."
She froze.
"…Why not?"
Stonewall pointed at Lin Xuanji.
"Your Sect Master will demonstrate."
Lin Xuanji felt his soul exit the back of his body.
"W-WAIT— ME?! WHY ME?!"
Stonewall nodded solemnly.
"You lead the sect. Your example is the foundation."
Lin Xuanji panicked.
"I DON'T KNOW TECHNIQUES—"
Stonewall bowed slightly.
"Your body remembers."
Lin Xuanji stared at him.
"…No. NO. Last time it remembered, it RAN UP A TREE."
Stonewall said nothing.
Kai Yun cheered, "YES! LET THE SECT MASTER SHOW US HIS EPIC SECRET MOVES!"
Feng Xiao whispered to Ruolan, "We're going to witness something embarrassing."
Tian Wen folded his arms, interested.
Mu Xiaofan blinked innocently.
Wei Tian nodded seriously—expectation glowing in his eyes.
Ling Xueyin drank tea without concern.
She already knew what would happen.
Lin Xuanji breathed deeply.
"Alright. If I die, bury me under the dragon."
He stepped forward.
Everyone watched.
Stonewall nodded.
"Begin."
Lin Xuanji lifted his hand.
Then—
His body moved on its own.
A perfect stance.
A flawless step.
Qi gathered around his fist.
The air bent slightly.
The disciples froze.
Stonewall's eyes widened.
Lin Xuanji blinked in horror.
"…I didn't mean to do that."
Tian Wen murmured, "His control… is instinctive."
Feng Xiao whispered, "He's pretending to be weak…"
Kai Yun screamed,
"I KNEW IT! SECT MASTER IS A BADASS!"
Mu Xiaofan clapped happily.
"So pretty…"
Stonewall bowed deeply.
"Sect Master. Your foundation remains unshaken."
Lin Xuanji turned pale.
"…I hate this."
The mountain hummed approvingly.
Lin Xuanji glared upward.
"YOU TOO?!"
The dragonling rumbled in amusement.
Heavenly Peak had gained another elder—
and Lin Xuanji had accidentally revealed a glimpse of his past strength.
Chaos level: steadily increasing.