As dusk fell, Wang Chen moved. He knew every patrol route, every hidden path on Silon Mountain. With a spring in his step, he moved like a ghost, silent and precise. The outer guards remained unaware.
He reached the stone courtyard at the summit. The Elders' Sanctuary loomed ahead, silent and imposing. He crouched, weaving between ancient carvings, feeling the invisible wards pressing against his senses like a tidal wave.
At the center stood the Pillar of Fortune, a massive granite monolith carved with swirling dragons, humming with latent energy. Wang Chen approached, every step deliberate. The air felt liquid, thick with power.
He reached the base, placing a hand against the smooth stone. Energy surged, tugging at him like a storm. Heart pounding, he activated the Beginner's Breathing Technique at full force.
Special Sign-In Successful!
Reward 1: Cultivation Base Upgrade – Qi Novice → Qi Adept (Low)
Reward 2: Technique Obtained – Thai Ghost Step (Advanced Movement)
Reward 3: +50 Qi Amount
A silent grin spread across his face. He had bypassed years of struggle in a single night.
The Thai Ghost Step hummed in his muscles, making his body feel lighter than air. He scanned the courtyard. Shadows of statues stretched under the pale moonlight. Invisible currents of force swirled around the sanctuary. One misstep could bring the entire Elder contingent down upon him.
He stepped forward, each footfall a whisper. The Thai Ghost Step carried him, body barely touching the ground. A fine mist of Qi seeped outward, blending with the pillar's aura, masking his presence.
Halfway across, a faint rustle. A shadow detached from the sanctuary roof—a high-level disciple patrolling silently. Wang Chen froze. Every movement slowed. He shifted his weight, moving in a serpentine glide, almost imperceptible. The guard passed mere meters away, oblivious.
Finally, he reached the inner doors of the sanctuary, massive wood panels etched with ancient glyphs. He crouched low, examining the energy flows. Wards twisted like a spider's web. He let his Qi seep outward, synchronizing with the wards' rhythm. For a heartbeat, nothing. Then, imperceptibly, the pressure eased. He pushed the door, and it opened silently.
Inside, the air was thick with spiritual energy, almost tangible. In the center, an elevated dais held the inner pillar of the sect—a smaller, more potent replica. He approached, hands raised. The energy surged, but he guided it into his dantian. Pain struck—sharp, raw—but he embraced it.
Special Sign-In Completed (Critical): Inner Pillar
Reward 1: Cultivation Base Upgrade – Qi Adept (Low) → Qi Adept (Medium)
Reward 2: Technique Obtained – Spirit Seal Manipulation (Intermediate)
Reward 3: +100 Qi Amount
His body trembled, the energy within coalescing into a radiant mist. The power was intoxicating.
Hours later, Wang Chen emerged as dawn brushed the mountain peaks. His body ached, but the sensation was pleasant, earned. Every fiber pulsed with newfound strength. He gazed down at Silon Mountain. The outer disciples scurried like ants. He had passed unseen, untouched, unbroken.
The Beginner's Secret, the Thai Ghost Step, the Pillar of Fortune—all were his.
And this was only the beginning.
(To be continued...)