The next morning, Li Xuan walked toward the training field with a steady pace.His body still hurt, but everything felt lighter and clearer. The broken pieces inside him no longer felt like a dead weight. They moved, shifted, softened with every breath.
He didn't dare show it on his face.
When he reached the field, disciples were already whispering to each other again. Not about him—but about something else.
"The Ember Spring is opening today."
"I heard only top disciples get to enter."
"Zhao Ren was chosen, of course."
Li Xuan lifted his head slightly.
The Ember Spring.A small spiritual pool hidden inside the mountain, created from natural fire Qi. Entering it could speed cultivation—if the person's meridians could handle it.
For Li Xuan, entering now would kill him instantly.
But today's opening meant attention from higher elders… and that meant danger.
He quietly took his usual corner.
Shortly after, Elder Qiu arrived, followed by several outer elders. Their robes were clean and neatly pressed, a clear sign that today's event was important.
Elder Qiu raised his voice."Those chosen for the Ember Spring will step forward."
Zhao Ren strutted out with a proud smirk.Several disciples cheered for him.
Chen Mu and Hou Shan stood behind him like loyal dogs.
Li Xuan lowered his eyes and pretended not to look.
He also noticed something strange.
The Sect Leader, Li Shen, stood at the top of the stairs, watching silently. His face calm. His posture straight. But his eyes… distant.
It was the same cold gaze he always used when he saw Li Xuan.
But today, the gaze sharpened for a moment.
Just a moment.
He was searching.
Evaluating.
Li Xuan held his breath and lowered his head quickly.
—Do not draw attention, the Immortal warned.
"I know," Li Xuan whispered in his mind.
Elder Qiu continued, "Only three outer disciples will enter the Ember Spring today. Zhao Ren, Wu Ming, and Liang Jie."
The named disciples bowed proudly.
Zhao Ren smirked at Li Xuan as he passed."Watch carefully, trash. Today, the distance between you and me grows even larger."
Li Xuan didn't reply.
He didn't need to.
Because inside him…the distance was shrinking.
As the selected disciples followed Elder Qiu up the mountain path, the rest of the group was dismissed for free training.
Li Xuan headed toward the back of the training field, where fewer eyes watched.
He needed to test something.
He sat down under a pine tree and closed his eyes.
The warmth inside him responded immediately.A thin stream of Qi moved smoothly through his chest and arms.
Just yesterday, it had been trapped.Today… it flowed.
Not strong.Not sharp.
But real.
He breathed slowly, guiding the warmth toward the broken barrier again.
He didn't push.He only observed.
It was soft now.Fragile.
One more day of training and he could completely clear the blockage.
His dantian would open.
He would become a real cultivator.
—Good, the Immortal said softly. You have talent. Weak plants become strong trees after surviving the storm.
Li Xuan kept breathing, absorbing every tiny change.
But suddenly—
Footsteps approached.
He opened his eyes instantly.
A thin boy stood a few steps away, holding a broom. His clothes were old and patched. His eyes were large and nervous.
"Li… Li Xuan?" the boy whispered.
Li Xuan blinked. "Yes?"
The boy swallowed. "U-Um… someone told me to give this to you."
He extended a small folded paper.
Li Xuan didn't move at first.
"Who gave it?" he asked.
The boy shook his head quickly. "I-I don't know. I was told to deliver it. That's all."
He placed the paper on the ground and quickly ran off, almost tripping over his own feet.
Li Xuan watched him disappear.
Then he picked up the paper carefully and unfolded it.
Inside, only one short sentence was written:
"I know what you did."
Li Xuan's fingers tightened slightly.
Another line below it:
"Come to the old storage shed at sunset."
No name.No signature.
The handwriting was clean and sharp.Too sharp.
Elder Qiu?Zhao Ren?Chen Mu?Or someone else entirely?
Li Xuan's jaw tightened.
He folded the paper again.
He wanted to throw it away, but the Immortal spoke:
—You must go.
Li Xuan looked down at the note.
"Why? It could be a trap."
—It is a trap, the Immortal said plainly. But danger reveals truth. Someone is watching you, Li Xuan. Someone sees what the others do not.—To grow, you must face shadows—not run from them.
Li Xuan closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Then he stood up slowly.
The wind brushed past his face, carrying the faint scent of pine and old stone.
Sunset was many hours away.
But his fate…had already begun to shift.