The Iron Fist Sect's training grounds buzzed with the clash of fists and the hum of Qi, a stark contrast to the quiet slums Kai Chen had known all his life. Dawn painted the black stone walls in hues of orange, but the air was heavy with the scent of sweat and spirit herbs. Kai stood among the outer disciples, his muscles sore from days of grueling drills. At Body Refinement Realm, Level 5, with a Gene Level (GL) of 2.2x and 700 Essence Points (EP), he was stronger than ever, but still a minnow in the sect's ocean of talent.
The Star Swallowing Art jade slip, hidden in his patched cloak, weighed on his mind. He'd been practicing in secret, absorbing starlight to fuel his cultivation, but progress was slow without essence cores. The Eclipse Wyrm's core—his key to a breakthrough—remained locked in the sect's vault, a prize for the upcoming tournament. Winning meant power; losing meant obscurity, or worse, Jian Luo's wrath.
"Focus, scavenger!" barked Instructor Gao, a wiry man with a whip-like voice, overseeing the morning drills. The outer disciples were paired for sparring, practicing the Iron Body Technique to harden their bodies against blows. Kai faced a stocky boy named Zhang Wei, whose fists glowed faintly with Qi, a sign of early Qi Condensation. Zhang Wei sneered, "Heard you killed a Wyrm. Bet it was a fluke."
Kai didn't respond, dodging a heavy punch that cracked the stone floor. He countered with a jab, guided by the star seed's instincts. A faint vortex swirled in his palm, absorbing a sliver of Zhang Wei's Qi. The boy staggered, eyes wide. "What was that?"
"Keep swinging," Kai said, suppressing a grin. His EP ticked to 710, his meridians tingling from the stolen energy. The Star Swallowing Art was unlike anything the sect taught—dangerous, but potent. He had to be careful; if Jian Luo or the elders noticed, he'd be in deeper trouble than a stolen jade slip.
The sparring session ended with Kai unscathed, though Zhang Wei glared daggers. As the disciples dispersed, Lina Mei approached, her healer's satchel slung over her shoulder. Her dark eyes scanned Kai, lingering on the faint glow of his aura. "You're pushing yourself too hard," she said, voice low. "That technique you're using—it's not the Iron Body. What are you hiding?"
Kai glanced around, ensuring no one was listening. "It's… complicated," he said, touching the jade slip through his cloak. "I need to get stronger, Lina. The tournament's my shot at that core."
Lina frowned, her hands glowing as she checked his meridians. "Your energy's unstable. Whatever you're doing, it's stressing your body. Slow down, or you'll burn out."
"I can't," Kai said, pulling away. "You saw that Wyrm. Something's after me—something big. I need power to survive."
Before Lina could argue, a shout cut through the courtyard. "Kai Chen!" Li Wei, the burly outer elder, strode toward them, his iron-plated robes clanking. "You're wanted at the Essence Pavilion. Move it."
Kai's stomach twisted. The Essence Pavilion was where disciples traded cores and herbs for sect points, but it was also where elders scrutinized new talent. Had someone reported his technique? He followed Li Wei, Lina trailing behind, her expression tense.
The pavilion was a domed structure of polished jade, its walls etched with runes that pulsed with stored essence. Inside, shelves brimmed with glowing cores, spirit herbs, and low-grade artifacts. A stern elder, Madam Zhao, sat behind a counter, her Foundation Establishment aura pressing down like a storm. Beside her stood Jian Luo, his silver-trimmed robes pristine, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Kai Chen," Madam Zhao said, her voice cold. "You claim rights to the Eclipse Wyrm's core. Prove your worth. Show us your cultivation."
Kai's heart raced. This was a test, and Jian Luo's presence made it a trap. He focused, letting the star seed's aura flare—Body Refinement, Level 5, a faint starry glow. Whispers rippled among the disciples watching. "A scavenger at Level 5 already?" one muttered. "Impossible."
Madam Zhao's eyes narrowed. "Impressive for a street rat, but unstable. Your aura's chaotic. What technique are you using?"
"The Iron Body Technique," Kai lied, his voice steady. He couldn't reveal the Star Swallowing Art—not yet.
Jian Luo stepped forward, his smirk widening. "He's lying, Elder. I saw him use a vortex move in the courtyard. It's not our sect's art. He's hiding something—maybe stolen."
Kai's fists clenched, the star seed pulsing with anger. "Prove it," he shot back, meeting Jian Luo's gaze.
Madam Zhao raised a hand. "Enough. Kai, you'll face a trial. Absorb a Rank 1 core under supervision. If your technique is unorthodox, we'll know."
Li Wei handed Kai a Shadow Wolf core, its faint glow familiar. Kai hesitated, then pressed it to his palm. The star seed surged, devouring the core's essence in seconds. His EP jumped to 800, his GL to 2.3x. A faint vortex flickered in his hand, impossible to hide. Gasps echoed; Jian Luo's eyes gleamed with triumph.
"See?" Jian Luo said. "That's no Iron Body Technique!"
Madam Zhao stood, her aura oppressive. "Explain, boy. Where did you learn this?"
Kai's mind raced. He couldn't admit to stealing the jade slip, but lying further risked expulsion—or worse. Before he could speak, the pavilion's runes flared red, and a tremor shook the ground. Shouts erupted outside: "Rift breach! Inner courtyard!"
Disciples scrambled, elders barking orders. Kai seized the distraction, slipping toward the exit, but Jian Luo blocked him. "Not so fast, thief." He swung, his fist blazing with Qi.
Kai dodged, the star seed guiding him. He countered with a vortex punch, draining more of Jian Luo's energy. His EP hit 820, but the strain made his meridians scream. "Back off!" Kai growled, shoving past.
Outside, chaos reigned. A rift had opened in the inner courtyard, smaller than the Eclipse Storm's but spitting out Rank 2 beasts—Bloodfang Lizards, their scales dripping venom. Disciples fought desperately, their techniques lighting up the air. Kai spotted Lina, her healing Qi stabilizing a wounded disciple.
"Kai!" she called, waving him over. "Help us!"
He dove into the fray, his spear—returned from the tide—flashing. He stabbed a lizard, absorbing its essence. His EP climbed to 850, his body tougher. But the rift pulsed, and a larger beast emerged: a Rank 3 Void Serpent, its eyes glowing with the same void-like intensity as the mysterious figure Kai had sensed.
The serpent's gaze locked onto him, ignoring other disciples. "The legacy," it hissed, its voice echoing in his mind. Kai froze. Beasts didn't speak—unless they were far beyond normal ranks. This was no ordinary rift breach.
Li Wei charged, his fists smashing the serpent's scales, but it barely flinched. "Kai, move!" he roared. Kai snapped out of his shock, leaping to aid the elder. His vortex technique drained the serpent's essence, pushing his EP to 900. The beast recoiled, but its tail lashed, sending Kai crashing into a stone pillar.
Pain exploded in his ribs, but the star seed flared, healing him faster than normal. He stood, spear in hand, as the serpent lunged. Lina's healing Qi bolstered him, and together with Li Wei, they drove the beast back. Kai's final vortex strike shattered its core, the rift collapsing with its death.
The courtyard fell silent, disciples panting, blood and ichor staining the stones. Li Wei clapped Kai's shoulder. "Not bad, kid. You're reckless, but you've got guts."
Madam Zhao approached, her expression unreadable. "You're trouble, Kai Chen. But you've earned a chance. Train for the tournament. We'll discuss that technique later."
Jian Luo glared, his plans thwarted, but Kai felt no relief. The Void Serpent's words echoed: The legacy. Something was hunting him, something tied to the star seed. As he helped Lina tend to the wounded, a new figure caught his eye—a quiet disciple in gray robes, watching from the shadows. Unlike Jian Luo's arrogance, this boy's gaze was calm, calculating. He nodded slightly at Kai, as if in recognition, before vanishing into the crowd.
"Who was that?" Kai muttered.
Lina followed his gaze, frowning. "Chen Yu, an outer disciple. Keeps to himself, but he's strong—maybe Qi Condensation already. Be careful, Kai. You're making too many waves."
As night fell, Kai sat alone, studying the Star Swallowing Art. His EP hit 950, his GL 2.4x, but the serpent's voice haunted him. The rift wasn't random—it was a warning. The legacy was drawing enemies, and the tournament was only three weeks away. He needed to master his power, claim the Wyrm's core, and uncover the truth.
But in the darkness beyond the sect's walls, the cloaked figure watched again, its void-blade gleaming. "The boy grows," it whispered. "But the Eternal Eclipse is coming… and he cannot escape it."
End of chapter 5