Ten years quietly passed, and the once small, fragile Shen Xuan had transformed into a tall, striking young man. His long black hair flowed with the wind, and his cold, sharp eyes carried a faint trace of playfulness. Standing six feet tall, his very presence was enough to overshadow other men. His white and black robe accentuated his figure, giving him an elegant yet domineering aura.
Shen Xuan's appearance was breathtaking—handsome to the point that most women would lose themselves with just a glance. Wherever he stood, he seemed like the center of the world.
At this moment, he was surrounded by a pack of spirit beasts deep within the forest. Twenty late-stage Qi Condensation beasts snarled at him, their eyes filled with killing intent.
Yet Shen Xuan only smirked.
The beasts charged together, a combined assault that would have torn apart any ordinary cultivator of the same realm. But Shen Xuan wasn't ordinary.
He transferred his Qi into his hands, his veins glowing faintly as power surged through his body. With a swift movement, his palm struck out like a hammer.
Crack!
Bones shattered, flesh ripped apart, and one beast fell lifelessly to the ground. Without giving the others a chance to react, Shen Xuan's figure blurred. His fists and palms tore through flesh and bone alike, his movements ruthless and merciless. Blood sprayed across the battlefield as one beast after another fell under his bare hands.
Within minutes, the corpses of twenty beasts littered the ground. Not a single one had escaped.
Though his expression was calm, his eyes revealed a ruthless glint. Shen Xuan did not show mercy whether to humans or beasts.
Elder Du, who had been observing from a distance, was stunned beyond words. "This… this speed of cultivation…" He could hardly believe it. Ten years ago, Shen Xuan was a child with no detectable spiritual roots. And now, at only fifteen, he was already at the late stage of Qi Condensation, his combat power monstrous enough to rival even Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Elder Du let out a hearty laugh, pride swelling in his chest.
Over the years, he too had changed. Thanks to the rare pill that Yaoyao had begged from her sect, he had managed to break through into the Foundation Establishment realm. His wrinkles had faded, his hair regained much of its black color, and his body felt lighter and younger than before. Though he knew his years were still limited, this chance had added vitality to his life and allowed him to witness Shen Xuan's rise with his own eyes.
Note:
⚡ Qi Condensation Realm(First realm)
The first realm of cultivation, where the body is polished until it becomes like steel.
Stages: Early Stage → Focus: Internal body (organs, bones, blood). Signs: The cultivator's skin shows a faint glow of vitality, their wounds heal faster, and their eyes look brighter than normal humans. Middle Stage → Focus: External body (skin, muscles). Signs: Their skin becomes unnaturally tough, with a faint metallic sheen under sunlight. Normal blades or arrows struggle to pierce their flesh. Late Stage → Focus: Qi control in limbs. Signs: When channeling qi into fists or legs, a visible aura or rippling distortion appears around their strikes, and the ground may crack when they walk with intent.
As the dust from the battle settled, Elder Du placed a firm hand on Shen Xuan's shoulder, his face lighting up with a proud smile.
"Congratulations on breaking through to the late stage," Elder Du said warmly.
Shen Xuan was also a little excited inside but on the surface, he only gave a faint smile and nodded. The two of them began walking back toward their home, laughter and light conversation flowing naturally between them. For a moment, it didn't seem like this was the same boy who had once endured such unimaginable trauma at the age of five.
Although Shen Xuan's personality remained cold and distant toward strangers, here beside Elder Du he allowed a small part of his true self to surface.
On the way back, Elder Du chuckled.
"If Yaoyao knew about your cultivation speed, she would be completely shocked. The last time she saw you, you were just five years old!"
For the first time, Shen Xuan actually let out a laugh at those words. But suddenly, his expression froze.
In the middle of the road, a man stood.
Neither of them had noticed when he appeared. Just a heartbeat ago, the path had been completely empty. Elder Du and Shen Xuan instinctively tensed, their senses sharp because this man's presence was silent, his aura concealed, as if he had materialized out of thin air.
Seeing their guarded expressions, the man chuckled lightly and raised his hands in a calming gesture.
"There's no need to be so tense, friends. I've not come with ill intentions. Why don't we sit somewhere and talk?"
Elder Du narrowed his eyes but, sensing no immediate hostility, gave a polite nod. "Very well."
This was a middle aged man. He was quite handsome and his presence gave the feeling of emperor.
The three of them made their way to the nearby town and go to the hotel. They sat in quite room, The atmosphere was calm, though an undercurrent of caution lingered.
Elder Du and the mysterious man exchanged many words, with Shen Xuan silently observing from the side. At one point, Elder Du leaned forward slightly, his tone polite but probing.
"May I ask, friend, what your name is?"
The man smiled faintly, his voice steady as he replied.
"My name is… Lu Zhen."
If someone from the king clans or any powerful expert had been present, they would have immediately leapt to their feet, bowing respectfully, their backs drenched in cold sweat at hearing that name. But Elder Du and Shen Xuan were unaware of the weight those two words carried.
To them, it was just a name. And so, they did not react. But not for others, on the whole continent nobody dare to raise a head in front of this man but du hai and shen xuan were not aware of this fact.
After a long exchange of pleasantries, Elder Du finally leaned forward, curiosity flickering in his old eyes.
"Forgive my bluntness, but… why exactly did you seek us out, Senior Lu?"
Lu Zhen placed his teacup down gently, his gaze shifting toward Shen Xuan. His eyes carried a strange glimmer of appreciation.
"Earlier, I happened to witness this young man's battle," he said slowly. ", I can see that he is only fourteen or fifteen years old, Yet his strength, his ruthlessness, and his talent—it is extraordinary. If he remains in this Eastern Territory, his potential will be wasted."
At those words, Elder Du stiffened. He knew better than anyone that the Eastern Territory was considered the weakest region of the continent, a place where true geniuses rarely emerged.
Lu Zhen's next words, however, made Elder Du's heart tremble.
"I am from the Southern Territory," Lu Zhen said calmly, as though it was nothing.
The old man's pupils shrank. The Southern Territory was the land of first-class forces and the mighty King Clans, a place ordinary people could only dream of.
But before Elder Du could recover from his shock, Lu Zhen's following declaration struck him even harder.
"I wish to take this young man—Shen Xuan—as my disciple."
When Lu Zhen had first laid eyes on Shen Xuan, he had been utterly shaken.
Fifteen years old… and already at the late stage of Qi Condensation?
In his long life, Lu Zhen had traveled across countless regions and even visited other continents. Yet, in all his journeys, he had never once encountered a youth with such monstrous cultivation speed. To him, Shen Xuan could only be described as a monster.
Elder Du, still reeling from Lu Zhen's earlier declaration, forced himself to speak. His tone was cautious, but his eyes betrayed his disbelief.
"Senior… are you truly serious? You really are from the Southern Region?"
Lu Zhen's lips curved into a faint smile. "Of course."
Seeing the doubt in Elder Du's eyes, Lu Zhen casually produced a token engraved with a majestic insignia. The instant Du Hai saw it, his breath hitched, and his body trembled. The aura alone was proof—this man's words were genuine.
Relief washed over the old elder's heart. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement at Shen Xuan's future. Still, he hesitated and finally voiced the concern that had haunted him for years.
"Senior… I must be honest with you. When we first tested Shen Xuan, we discovered something troubling—he possesses no spiritual roots. Without them, how could he possibly break through to the Foundation Establishment realm?"
Lu Zhen's eyes narrowed, then softened as he chuckled lightly.
"I am aware." His voice carried an undeniable authority. "But do not worry. If he truly lacked spiritual roots, then it would have been impossible for him to cultivate to this level at such a young age. His roots are simply… dormant."
Elder Du froze.
Lu Zhen continued, his voice deep and resonant.
"To awaken such roots requires more than ordinary techniques or half-broken arrays. No… he will need high-grade pills, rare herbs, and most importantly the proper kind of pressure and energy to stimulate their awakening. I have seen such cases before."
He leaned back slightly, as if recalling memories from the past.
"Mark my words his spiritual roots do exist. And once awakened, they would be extraordinary."
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