The first rays of dawn spilled into the quiet courtyard, illuminating the dew-soaked grass. My muscles ached, but the familiar burn was no longer unbearable. I had practiced the Flowing River Sword Art every day for twenty days straight, and my body was slowly learning the rhythm of the forms as I had reached small mastery from beginner.
"System. Show status," I called out in my mind.
Ding!
--- The Celestial System ---
[[Name: Xuan Yuan (Lucas Silva)
Age: 17
Cultivation Level: 3rd Stage of Qi Gathering – (60%)
Skills:- Flowing River Sword Art - Small Success(●●○○○)
Abilities:- Lunar Slash (click to view details)
Items:- One-time use Power card(Increase strength by 3 minor realms)
Quests: CLICK HERE]]
As I checked my Status, I was quite satisfied at my monstrous rate of progress. Yes, I had broken through the 3rd minor realm of Qi Gathering some days ago, and as for my current monstrous level, it was all thanks to the 5% daily steady increase which after twenty days should have elevated my level to 3rd stage 30% progress, but I was at 60% due to the fact that I was also consuming 2 Qi Gathering pills a week for three weeks, totaling 6 pills, and each of them individually gave 5% progress after complete absorption, thereby making my current cultivation level reach 3rd stage at 60% progress.
I also had shown 2nd stage beginner level ability to Luo Cheng, which made him feel that he was right in his speculation that my talent might have bloomed lately, or either I was hiding it myself with some treasures. Now, we were currently sparring as I saw my own progress growing day by day, as I also had reached small-mastery in the Flowing River Sword Art Technique. The sword cut through my thoughts, the air whispering as it cut through the morning haze. My movements, once clumsy and hesitant, now flowed like a faint current, imperfect but undeniably growing stronger. Beads of sweat slid down my brow, but for the first time, a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
"Almost… almost there," I muttered to myself, sensing the subtle surge of qi in my limbs. I paused, lowering the blade, and felt a flicker of pride. Progress was steady, and it was enough—enough to keep me going. I had started to win in some spars against Luo Cheng, but I kept the win rate at twenty percent, which meant I only kept winning around one time in every five matches.
---
Meanwhile, in the grand council hall of the Xuan Clan, the air was thick with tension and the faint scent of incense. At the head of the polished oak table sat Patriarch Xuan Tian, his black hair catching the light, his face calm yet filled with an unspoken authority. This man was known to be on the 6th stage og Golden core but was that his actual level? No one knows except for himself and none dared to even try to find it out.
Standing to his right was Grand Elder Xuan Zhi, ambitious and sharp-eyed, radiating the energy of a man who believed he could conquer the world with sheer will. On the left was Second Elder Xuan Liang, calm and steady, the kind of presence that made one feel as though the ground beneath would never shift, no matter the storms above, and was also the same man who was watching me for some days due to his somewhat ridiculous speculation that I might have become a demonic cultivator and had strayed from the path of righteous cultivation.
"Patriarch," Xuan Zhi began, his voice cutting through the quiet like a sword, "the clan's spirit stone mines are barely touched. If we expand the excavation and increase the hunting quotas for our disciples, we could increase our earnings by 30% within a year. That wealth will give us stronger weapons, more resources, and we should also do something about those Wei Clan basta*ds!"
Xuan Liang shook his head, his calm voice contrasting sharply with Zhi's fire.
"Elder Zhi, your eagerness blinds you. Expansion draws attention. Spirit beasts patrol near the mines, and our enemies are already watching. Pushing the disciples beyond their limits will do more harm than good. We must safeguard our foundation first, before chasing fleeting glory."
Zhi's lips curled into a sharp smile, a mix of irritation and challenge.
"Always the cautious one, Liang. Your patience has kept the clan safe, yes, but what have you truly built? Without bold action, we remain prey to the ambitions of others. For development always has demanded courage and has risks to it, that's why only the bolder ones continue to grow strong."
Liang's eyes hardened, but his tone remained measured.
"And yet, it was my caution that saved your foolish arms in our youth. Do you forget how you rushed ahead, burning yourself like a flame, and I had to pull you back each time?"
Patriarch Xuan Tian raised a hand, silencing both elders.
"Enough. Ambition alone cannot secure the clan, nor can caution alone. We will expand the mines, but slowly, under heavy guard. Hunting quotas remain unchanged until we see stability. Balance is our path, and as for the Wei Clan, even I have also noticed them stirring something up. They have restrained their arrogant disciples but not completely; it's like they are playing a long game where they are planning to use everyone for their plans, so we might have to remain cautious in front of the Wei Clan in the future."
---
As they spoke, the elders' minds wandered briefly to the days of their youth. Both had been prodigies, training together under the same masters. But ambition and caution had always divided them. Zhi, ever eager to prove himself, had often pushed the limits, while Liang tempered him, a steady hand guiding against recklessness. Their rivalry had hardened over years, intensified when the Patriarch had chosen Zhi for higher authority—a choice that left Liang silently burning with restrained resentment.
---
A young messenger burst into the hall, bowing low.
"Patriarch! Urgent news—the Wei Clan has been seen near the southern borders. Scouts report unusual activity, and it appears they are not disturbing us but only just mapping out the detailed areas and observing us."
Zhi's eyes gleamed, his voice immediate.
"What! Now what are those jackals planning to do? They are simply observing us? Impossible. There might be something more to it. I think we should take caution and just directly demand an answer from the Wei Clan regarding interference in our mines."
Liang's expression remained calm, though his gaze was sharpened ever so slightly.
The Patriarch tapped the armrest of his chair thoughtfully.
"Both of you speak truth. But action must be measured. We will send watchers to observe, not warriors to engage. Let the Wei Clan reveal themselves fully before we strike, as we can't act desperate to them right now and show that we fear them just from their men observing our lands and forests near the mines."
The elders also understood this fact and nodded, though the tension between them had not dissipated due to the fact that Wei Clan was not some mere small clan as they were also on the same level as the Xuan Clan so they had to remain cautious and keep a watch on thier actions. The Patriarch amd the Council of Elders were repoted of theses issues later by the Grand Elder himself as the patriarch doesnt concern hinself with the council of Elders as it eas only for the Elders of the clan. Everone agreed to be cautious, but some old rivalries and ambitions simmered beneath the surface for their own personal gains in this time of struggle and cautiousness.
---
Back in the courtyard, I sheathed my sword. My progress in the Flowing River Sword Art was quite significantly and steadily increasing, and I also understood one thing: even if my progress in techniques was a little less than the top geniuses, I could still compete with them in terms of technique mastery, as my system significantly reduced the bottlenecks required to reach the next stage of mastery in techniques, which allowed me to get this good in the Flowing River Sword Art. I was confident that before the Xiantian Sect recruitment, I would reach the Intermediate mastery—a step closer to mastering the currents that would carry me far beyond the walls of the Xuan Clan.
Unseen by me, the shadows beyond the mountains hinted at the stirrings of the Wei Clan, and the subtle schemes that would test my strength and the loyalty of my clan in the days to come.