The Hall of Elders was silent
Large stone pillars lined the chamber, each engraved with ancient flame patterns symbolizing the history of the Iron Flame Sect
At the center of the hall sat Elder Taron
His sharp gaze rested on Kael as if examining something rare
"So," the old man said slowly, stroking his beard, "the boy from Veyron Village returns."
Kael stepped forward calmly
"I remember you," Elder Taron continued. "You were the one with no Aether during the awakening ceremony."
Rylan bowed slightly
"Elder, we discovered him standing beside the corpse of the Ironhorn Tyrant in Beast Valley."
The elder's eyebrows lifted slightly
"The valley tyrant?"
Rylan nodded
"Yes, Elder."
For a moment the room fell silent
Elder Taron slowly stood up
His cultivation aura spread outward like invisible pressure
Kael immediately felt the difference
This was not like the outer disciples
This was a true cultivator
Powerful
Experienced
Dangerous
The elder stepped closer
"You claim you defeated the Ironhorn Tyrant?"
Kael answered honestly
"Yes."
The disciples behind him shifted uneasily
Even they found the statement difficult to believe
Elder Taron extended his hand
A small sphere of golden Aether appeared above his palm
"Place your hand here."
Kael hesitated briefly, then complied
The moment his hand touched the energy sphere, Elder Taron's eyes narrowed
"No Aether."
He checked again
The result did not change
Kael truly had no Aether channels
Yet something strange caught the elder's attention
Inside Kael's body flowed a faint but unfamiliar energy
It was subtle
But incredibly dense
"What is this…" the elder murmured quietly
Kael remained silent
The Primordial System inside his mind displayed a warning
High-Level Energy Scan Detected
Origin Energy Concealment Active
Elder Taron removed his hand
His expression had become thoughtful
"If you truly defeated the Ironhorn Tyrant…"
He gestured toward the open training ground outside
"Then prove it."
Rylan and the other disciples immediately understood
A test
Elder Taron looked at one of them
"Rylan."
"Yes, Elder."
"Fight him."
Rylan blinked in surprise
"Elder… he's not even a cultivator."
Taron's eyes remained calm
"That is precisely why I want to see this."
Rylan nodded reluctantly
"As you wish."
The group walked outside to the training courtyard
Several disciples nearby noticed the gathering and stopped their practice
Within minutes, dozens of eyes were watching
Kael stood across from Rylan in the center of the courtyard
The outer disciple drew his sword
"Don't worry," Rylan said calmly.
"I'll go easy on you."
Kael said nothing
Inside his body, Origin Energy began circulating slowly
Elder Taron raised a hand
"Begin."