Chapter 2: Accused by a Flower, Chased Like a Thief
Steam rose from the forest spring, curling like misty serpents under the rising sun. Lin Xuan let out a relaxed breath as he leaned back against a mossy stone. His body felt brand new—lighter, stronger, and humming with qi.
The transformation overnight was nothing short of miraculous. His Divine Body pulsed with power, and his newly refined muscles felt as if they could shatter stone with a glance. He could barely believe this was the same body that had struggled to pass the sect's entrance trials the day before.
Just as he finished scrubbing the last of the foul impurities from his skin and stood to dry himself, the faint sound of footsteps reached his ears.
Someone was approaching.
His senses, now sharper due to his enhanced physique, picked up the light rhythm of boots against stone—graceful, precise, and fast.
Too fast.
"Shit," Lin Xuan cursed under his breath, ducking behind a nearby boulder. He had barely tied his robe when a shadow fell over the spring.
A woman stepped into view, clad in the flowing azure robes of a senior disciple. Her long black hair was tied into a single braid, and her presence radiated effortless authority. Her beauty was breathtaking, but her gaze was cold and unapproachable.
She unfastened her outer robe casually, completely unaware that someone was just meters away.
Before she could even dip her foot into the water, Lin Xuan rose and waved his hands frantically. "Senior Sister, wait! I'm here by accident—I wasn't peeping!"
The woman froze.
Their eyes met.
Her expression turned icy. "You dare spy on me while I bathe?"
"No! I was here first—cleansing after breakthrough!" Lin Xuan tried to explain, but she was already moving.
Boom!
The air cracked as she struck, her palm glowing with condensed qi.
Lin Xuan's instincts roared. Without hesitation, he activated his newly acquired Void Phantom Movement Art, vanishing in a flicker just as the attack blasted apart the boulder behind him.
"You filthy worm!" she shouted, her graceful form already mid-leap as she gave chase.
Lin Xuan dodged trees, leapt over rocks, and blurred through brush like a phantom. His body was still adjusting to the Heaven-grade movement technique, but even so, it felt natural—like the wind itself bent to his will.
Despite her strength and speed, she was gradually losing ground.
"Senior Sister, please! I swear on my cultivation I didn't see anything! You have the wrong idea!"
"Shut up and hold still!"
Another palm strike came soaring toward his back. Lin Xuan ducked under it and twisted midair, landing in a crouch before vanishing again.
After a dozen exchanges, the woman finally paused, panting slightly. Her eyes narrowed as Lin Xuan disappeared once more.
"Void… Phantom Steps?" she muttered. "That's not a technique outer disciples should have."
She watched the trees sway, her fingers twitching in frustration.
"Lin Xuan…" she whispered. "I'll remember this."
---
The Next Day — Sect Orientation
Lin Xuan stood quietly among the crowd of newly accepted outer disciples, doing his best to blend in.
Unfortunately, his late-night adventure had left him with little rest. Worse, there were rumors spreading already. He heard whispers:
"Did you hear? Someone tried to peep on Senior Sister Xu Qingyu at the bathing spring!"
"They say the pervert used some kind of top-tier movement art to flee from her grasp!"
"Senior Sister Xu is ranked 13th among the inner sect disciples. That guy's probably dead meat."
Lin Xuan rubbed his forehead. "Max luck, huh? Couldn't you have helped me avoid that?"
But he didn't have time to sulk. An elder in white robes stepped onto the stone platform ahead and raised his voice.
"Listen well, disciples! From today forward, you are outer disciples of the Cloudsky Sword Sect. That does not mean you are safe. Many of you will be expelled within the year, some even before the next season. But for those with resolve—there is endless opportunity."
The elder gestured toward the mountain peaks in the distance.
"There are five main peaks in our sect: Cloudveil Peak, where the sect master resides; Thunderblade Peak for sword cultivation; Verdant Mist Peak for alchemy; Stormwind Peak for body refinement and movement arts; and finally, Emberflame Peak—for fire and lightning cultivators."
Lin Xuan's ears perked at the last one. Fire and lightning—my affinities.
The elder continued, "Outer disciples reside at the foot of Stormwind Peak. You will complete your training and missions there. Promotions are earned—do not expect kindness from this world."
A middle-aged man in steward's robes stepped forward next.
"I am Steward Fan, in charge of resource allocation for outer disciples. Step forward in groups of ten to receive your monthly allotment."
When Lin Xuan's turn came, he accepted the small wooden box without complaint.
> Inside: – 10 Qi Gathering Pills
– 5 Spirit Stones
Modest, but usable. He already had a cultivation manual far superior to most inner disciples, so these resources would be enough to maintain rapid progress.
Next, they were led to the Mission Hall—a grand, circular structure carved into a cliff face.
Another elder greeted them with a stern look.
"Here lies the heart of your responsibilities. All outer disciples must complete at least one mission per month. Fail to report, and your cultivation rights will be stripped."
Missions were categorized:
F-class: Beast hunting, herb gathering
E-class: Escorting sect caravans, cleaning array formations
D-class and above: Dangerous—mostly for inner disciples and elites
"For you," the elder continued, "you will start with F-class missions. Complete enough and you may request an upgrade."
As Lin Xuan glanced at the mission board, rows of available tasks glowed with light inscriptions:
> [Herb Gathering: Spirit Nettle — 15 plants — Reward: 5 Qi Gathering Pills]
[Beast Hunt: Wild Claw Rabbits — 3 rabbits — Reward: 3 Spirit Stones]
[Resource Escort: Outer Sect Warehouse to Inner Sect Armory — Reward: 1 Contribution Point]
Lin Xuan nodded. "A good place to start."
---
As the crowd began dispersing, Lin Xuan turned to leave—only to feel a gaze like ice pierce his back.
He slowly turned.
Xu Qingyu stood at a distance, arms folded, expression unreadable. Her lips curled slightly—not in a smile, but a warning.
Their eyes met once more.
This time, she said nothing. She simply turned and walked away.
Lin Xuan sighed.
"One misunderstanding, and now I'm on the radar of a top-ranked inner disciple..."
He looked down at his clenched fists.
"Well, I suppose I just need to rise fast enough that no one dares question me again."