Night fell, but the storm inside the sect was only just beginning.
Within an hour of the Elders' Summit ending, the entire Inner Sect buzzed like a shaken hive.
"Su Chen's forming a faction?"
"He challenged the hierarchy straight to Elder Mo's face!"
"And named it Reset Hall! Who even dares to say something like that?"
News spread like wildfire. Some mocked. Others watched silently. But more than a few… were intrigued.
In his courtyard, Su Chen stood by a stone basin, pouring cold water over his bare arms. Muscles tensed, mind still crackling with the Summit's tension.
Yue Ling leaned against the doorway, arms folded, her expression unreadable.
"I thought you were clever," she said, voice cool. "But now you're challenging the entire sect head-on?"
Su Chen didn't flinch.
"I didn't come here to beg for scraps. I came to reshape everything."
She studied him for a long moment.
"Then you'll need more than bravado. Elder Mo won't play fair."
"I'm counting on that."
She stepped forward and placed a slip of jade on the table.
"Unofficial intel. The trial opponents' names leaked a few minutes ago."
Su Chen picked it up, channeling a thread of spiritual sense into it.
Trial Opponent One:
Ji Minghao – Peak Foundation Realm, disciple of Elder Mo. Known for speed and vicious sword techniques.
Trial Opponent Two:
Ren Yujin – Late Foundation Realm, beastpath cultivator. Dual-core with a venomous spirit fox.
Trial Opponent Three:
Unknown. Classified.
Su Chen raised an eyebrow.
"Classified?"
Yue Ling nodded.
"Means Elder Tianxu's picking that one personally. Someone strong enough to end you."
Su Chen smiled faintly.
"Good. I was afraid this would be boring."
She gave him a dry look.
"You know, it's okay to not die every few weeks."
"Reset System," he reminded her, tapping his temple. "Worst case, I try again."
She frowned.
"And if the System fails? Or resets you too far back?"
That made him pause. Even he didn't know the full limits of the Reset System.
Still, he shrugged.
"Then I win before that happens."
Later that night, Su Chen summoned his only true ally—Han Bei, a former outer disciple he had trained with months ago.
Han Bei arrived panting, sweat-soaked and wild-eyed.
"Senior Brother Su! I—I came as fast as I could! You said you're starting a faction?!"
Su Chen poured him tea.
"I need a core team. Loyal, sharp, and not afraid to offend the elders."
Han Bei blinked. Then laughed, nervously.
"You mean people like me who have nothing to lose?"
"You have potential. That's all that matters."
Han Bei's expression shifted—like a dying fire catching spark again.
"Then I'm with you."
Su Chen nodded.
"Good. You'll help me scout for others. Look for the hungry, the overlooked. Bring them here, quietly."
"What are we building?" Han Bei asked.
"A place where strength matters more than backing. Where you don't need to lick an elder's boot to be seen."
Han Bei grinned.
"That sounds... impossible."
Su Chen's eyes gleamed.
"Then let's make it inevitable."
The next morning, Su Chen left his courtyard alone, walking through the sect's lower rings.
It didn't take long before trouble found him.
A youth in red robes stepped into his path, flanked by two lackeys.
> "You're Su Chen?" the lead disciple sneered. "I'm Zhang Tao, from Crimson Fang. Elder Mo says you're to withdraw from the trials."
Su Chen raised an eyebrow.
"And if I don't?"
Zhang Tao smirked.
"Then you'll be reminded of your place."
The three surged forward at once.
Su Chen didn't move.
Until they were just in range.
Then—
He pivoted sideways, caught the first attacker's wrist, and slammed him face-first into the stone. A flick of Qi sent the second flying, clutching his chest and gasping.
Zhang Tao froze.
Su Chen stepped in close, eyes like winter.
"You're too weak to threaten me. Go back to Elder Mo. Tell him…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I'm not his pawn. I'm the storm he's been pretending doesn't exist."
Back at his courtyard, Su Chen entered meditation. But the System stirred.
> [Faction Path Unlocked: Reset Hall – Rank 0]
Members: 1
Influence: 0
Trials Passed: 0 / 3
Reputation: Infamous (Sect Watchlist)
Note:Succeed in all three trials to formalize Reset Hall as a recognized faction.
Failure will result in reputation collapse and sect blacklisting.
Su Chen's eyes opened.
Three days.
Three battles.
Three chances to shake the very foundation of the sect.
He closed his eyes again and whispered:
"Let the Reset begin."