Li Yan held a pill between his fingers, its surface shimmering faintly as its refined essence pulsed within. His gaze lingered on it for a brief moment before a faint scoff escaped him.
"The ninety percent barrier…" His eyes narrowed slightly. "If this is the limit here… then it isn't the true limit."
Despite the scale of his achievement, his thoughts remained grounded. Now was not the time to reveal any of this. The memory of the attention he had drawn during the annual competition remained fresh. Exposure invited scrutiny, and scrutiny invited complications.
For now, silence was far more valuable. "That's enough for the first session."
He rose to his feet, his movements smooth despite the fatigue that lingered deep within his body. His muscles carried the weight of continuous effort, but his mind remained sharp, undisturbed.
Returning to his bedroom, he went directly to the bathroom and immersed himself in a warm bath. Steam rose gently around him, carrying a faint herbal scent that eased the tension in his muscles and calmed his senses.
By the time he stepped out, the exhaustion had softened.
After changing into a fresh robe, he retrieved a Spiritual Beast Egg from his storage ring. It rested quietly in his hands, its surface emitting a faint, rhythmic glow.
Alive.
He channeled his Qi into it in steady streams, feeling the subtle response from within. The egg pulsed softly, as if acknowledging his presence, a gentle warmth spreading through his palms.
"Soon, you'll awaken," he said quietly.
His gaze deepened, steady and certain. "And when you do… be ready." A brief pause followed. "The road ahead won't be gentle. Be ready. For the path I've chosen… For the world I'm about to conquer."
After a few more moments, he stored the egg away and lay down to rest. His breathing slowed naturally.
Sleep came without resistance.
Deep.
And without dreams.
*****
After several hours of rest, Li Yan opened his eyes.
There was no trace of drowsiness within them—only clarity. His mind had already settled, his thoughts aligned, as though sleep had merely reset the body while the will remained unbroken.
He rose and stepped out toward the Sect's food stall area.
The afternoon traffic had already thinned, leaving behind a quieter, more subdued atmosphere. Without delay, Li Yan selected what he needed, his attention settling on a higher tier than before.
Tier-4 meat.
Over the past two days, he had felt the difference.
Repeated consumption of Qi-rich meat had subtly elevated his cultivation. His recovery speed had improved, his internal circulation was smoother, and his reserves were more stable after each session.
The effect was not explosive, but it was undeniable. If Tier-3 could achieve this—
Then Tier-4 would accelerate it further.
The price reflected the difference. One thousand Shadow Points. Double the price for the same quantity.
Li Yan paid without hesitation. Value was not measured in cost, but in return.
Returning to his residence, he prepared a small portion and ate in silence. The Qi within the meat spread through his body with greater density than before, its warmth deeper, more grounded.
He guided the flow instinctively, circulating it through his meridians until it settled into a stable rhythm.
He stood again. His next session awaited.
Tier-1 High-Level pills. He moved toward the alchemy room, his focus narrowing as his thoughts aligned with the process ahead.
Then—
He stopped. A faint disturbance brushed against his perception, from within his storage ring.
Li Yan's gaze sharpened slightly as he summoned the source. A small artifact appeared in his palm, its surface emitting a soft, intermittent glow as it pulsed with residual Qi.
The Communication Artifact.
Given to him by Cao Lian.
Understanding immediately that Cao Lian had something to ask or tell, Li Yan channeled his Qi into it.
The artifact responded at once. A soft hum resonated, and then—
"Hello, Li Yan. I hope I didn't disturb you." Cao Lian's voice emerged, clear yet carrying a trace of caution, as though she were uncertain of the timing.
Li Yan answered calmly, "No, Elder Cao, I just woke up and am not doing anything important."
A subtle exhale came from the other side. "That's good then…" A brief pause followed before she continued, "Li Yan, I wanted to ask… have you begun your alchemy practice?"
Li Yan's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. The question was unnecessary.
He had already made his intentions clear the last time they met. She had even offered guidance herself. There was no reason for her to ask again—unless—
Something else was at play. Still, his tone remained calm. "Yes, Elder Cao. I have begun."
Silence lingered for a fraction longer than expected.
Then her voice shifted. It lost its directness, not toward him, but instead toward someone else. "See? I told you he started. Now do you believe me?"
Li Yan's gaze stilled. So he wasn't the only one included in this discussion.
There was another presence on the other side of the artifact—someone Cao Lian had been speaking to even before contacting him.
A disagreement? A verification? Or something more deliberate?
Before he could consider further, another voice entered. "Li Yan. Open your door. We're coming."
The tone was firm, direct, leaving no room for delay. Authoritative. Li Yan recognized it instantly.
Ji Hong.
Before Li Yan could respond, the artifact dimmed. The connection severed abruptly, leaving the room in silence once more.
Li Yan lowered his hand slowly, his expression thoughtful. "What happened to them…"
He stored the artifact and turned toward the door, his steps unhurried but deliberate. The air in the room felt subtly heavier now.
Not oppressive—
But expectant.
He had taken only a few steps when—
Knock.
The sound landed sharply against the quiet, precise, and controlled. Li Yan paused for the briefest moment to think that they had already arrived.
Then a realization surfaced.
Teleportation.
Ji Hong could teleport, even with someone else with him. He did it back then and brought Li Yan with him here as well.
Which meant—
They had arrived the moment the call ended.
Without further hesitation, Li Yan stepped forward and reached for the door.
As Li Yan opened the door, two familiar figures stood outside.
Ji Hong and Cao Lian.
Their presence carried weight—not in force, but in authority. Even standing casually, the air around them felt subtly compressed, as though the space itself adjusted to accommodate them.
Li Yan stepped aside. "Elder Ji. Elder Cao."
They entered without ceremony.
Cao Lian's gaze swept across the room as she walked in, her eyes taking in every detail—the arrangement of furniture, the absence of clutter, the quiet order that defined the space.
"Clean," she remarked, a hint of approval in her tone. "For someone your age, this is… unexpected."
Li Yan closed the door behind them, his expression composed. "I rarely stay here," he replied calmly. "Most of my time is spent in the Hunting Grounds. There isn't much opportunity to make a mess."
Cao Lian gave a faint nod, as if that answer aligned with her expectations. Ji Hong, however, had no interest in the surroundings.
His gaze settled directly on Li Yan.
Sharp. Assessing.
"We didn't come to observe your living conditions," he said, his tone steady but carrying an underlying firmness. "I want to confirm something."
A brief pause followed. "Why did you start practicing alchemy?"
The question was direct—without preamble, without softening. Before Li Yan could respond, Cao Lian's expression shifted slightly.
"And why," she interjected, her voice cool but edged, "do you sound as if that's a mistake?"
Ji Hong's eyes flickered toward her, irritation surfacing for a brief moment before settling into control. "It is a mistake," he said flatly. "At least for him."
The room grew quieter. Li Yan remained still, observing.
Ji Hong turned his attention back to him. "This boy," he continued, his voice lowering slightly, "awakened Sword Intent."
The words landed with weight. "At his age. A few days ago, during his visit to the Ancient Techniques Hall."
Cao Lian froze. For a brief moment, her composed demeanor cracked, replaced by unmistakable surprise. "Sword Intent…?" she repeated softly.
Her gaze shifted toward Li Yan, searching, measuring—trying to reconcile what she had just heard. "That's not something you misunderstand," she said slowly, her tone uncertain for the first time. "Husband… are you certain?"
Ji Hong did not answer her. He simply looked at Li Yan. The silence stretched.
Li Yan met his gaze calmly. "Yes," he said.
One word. No embellishment. No hesitation.
Cao Lian's breath stilled almost imperceptibly. This time, she did not question further.
Because she understood.
Sword Intent was not something that could be faked. It was not a matter of talent alone—it was insight, comprehension, a resonance with the blade that few ever touched.
And he had done so—
At this age.
Her gaze deepened.
For a moment, the room felt heavier.
Then—
Even so, she did not yield.
"And yet," Cao Lian said, her voice regaining its composure, though now carrying a quiet intensity, "he has chosen alchemy."
She turned toward Ji Hong. "That is his decision."
Ji Hong's expression hardened slightly. "His decision?" he repeated. "Or yours?"
The words were calm—but the accusation beneath them was not.
Cao Lian's eyes narrowed. "What are you implying?"
"That you influenced him," Ji Hong replied without hesitation. "That you saw his potential and chose to redirect it."
A faint chill slipped into the air.
Li Yan remained silent.
Observing. Measuring.
Cao Lian let out a short breath, her composure sharpening rather than breaking. "I gave him guidance," she said evenly. "Nothing more. The choice was his."
Ji Hong scoffed lightly. "A boy at his stage does not fully understand what he's giving up."
"And you do?" Cao Lian shot back, her tone tightening. "You see Sword Intent and assume that defines his entire path?"
"It defines enough," Ji Hong replied. "Genius in swordsmanship is rare. Wasting it on alchemy is—"
"Wasting?" Cao Lian interrupted, a trace of sharpness cutting through her voice. "You call mastering alchemy a waste?"
Their gazes locked.
Two paths.
Two convictions.
Neither is willing to yield.
Ji Hong stepped slightly forward, his presence growing more imposing. "With his talent, he could stand at the peak of the sword path," he said. "Do you understand what that means?"
Cao Lian did not step back. "With his mind, discipline, and control," she replied, "he could reach heights in alchemy that others cannot even comprehend."
Silence followed.
Heavy. Tense.
Neither argument was weak.
Neither perspective is unfounded.
And yet—
They were not speaking to each other anymore.
They were speaking for him.
Ji Hong turned toward Li Yan, his gaze firm. "You've already awakened Sword Intent," he said. "You know what that means. Continue down that path, and your future is clear."
Cao Lian followed, her voice calmer, but no less resolute. "Alchemy is not a lesser path," she said. "It grants control over resources, over cultivation, over life itself. It is stability, not just power."
Both of them fell silent.
Waiting.
Their attention settled fully on Li Yan.
For the first time since they entered the room—
The choice was placed before him.
Not as a suggestion.
But as a direction that would shape everything that followed.
For a brief moment, Li Yan said nothing.
He simply watched.
Ji Hong's firmness. Cao Lian's insistence. The subtle tension between them—neither hostile nor restrained, but deeply rooted in conviction. They were not arguing for themselves.
They were arguing for him. An unfamiliar warmth surfaced within Li Yan's chest.
In this world—still new, still uncertain—he had expected calculation, distance, self-interest. Yet here they stood, debating his future as if it mattered to them personally.
Less than two months.
And yet—
It felt… close.
Li Yan exhaled softly, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
"I'm grateful," he said, his voice calm but carrying a quiet sincerity. "To see both of you care this much about my path."
The tension in the room shifted slightly.
Then—
"But I've already made my decision."
Ji Hong's gaze sharpened.
Cao Lian stilled.
Li Yan met both of their eyes evenly. "I will walk both paths," he said. "Swordsmanship… and alchemy."
Silence followed.
This time, it was not tense—
But stunned.
The answer was not what either of them had expected.
Ji Hong's brows drew together almost immediately. Cao Lian's expression shifted into something more complex—surprise, followed by concern.