The mountain was quiet again.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that came right after trouble left and promised to return with friends.
I stood at the sect gate, arms folded behind my back, watching the snow-covered path where Mo Tianyu and his entourage had disappeared.
The image of him getting blasted by the formation still replayed in my mind.
I had to admit—
It was deeply satisfying.
Behind me, Lin Xiaoyu was still laughing.
Not normal laughter.
The kind where someone bends over and can barely breathe.
She held her stomach and pointed dramatically toward the mountain path.
"His hair!"
She gasped for air.
"It was standing straight up like a porcupine!"
I tried to maintain my dignity.
"As expected of the All-Hail Sovereign Sect."
That only made her laugh harder.
I coughed and turned away.
The truth was, my heart was still racing.
That had been a gamble.
If the formation had failed, we would've been in serious trouble.
The system screen appeared.
WARNING
Stone River Sect hostility increased
Estimated retaliation: High probability within 24 hours
There it was.
I sighed.
"Of course."
Xiaoyu finally calmed down and walked over.
Her golden eyes still carried that mischievous shine.
"So."
I glanced sideways.
"So?"
"They're definitely coming back."
Straight to the point.
I liked that.
"Yes."
"And stronger."
"Yes."
She cracked her knuckles.
"Good."
I stared.
"…Good?"
She grinned.
"I've wanted to hit someone since yesterday."
Right.
I kept forgetting that my first disciple was basically a tiny battle maniac.
Still, confidence alone wouldn't save us.
I pulled up the sect status panel.
ALL-HAIL SOVEREIGN SECT
Rank: 8500Members: 2Disciples: 1Spirit Stones: 600Protection Formation: ActiveResources: MinimalThreat Level: Rising
Not exactly reassuring.
The system chimed again.
NEW MISSION
Survive the Stone River Sect's retaliation
Reward: Spirit Herb Garden + Sect Rank IncreasePenalty: Severe soul pain
I narrowed my eyes.
"System, give me useful advice for once."
There was a pause.
Then—
[Recommended strategy: stop provoking stronger sects.]
I clenched my jaw.
"Very funny."
[Secondary recommendation: use Host's brain.]
"…Rude."
Still.
It wasn't wrong.
I had to prepare.
I turned toward Xiaoyu.
"Training."
She blinked.
"Now?"
"Yes, now."
She stretched lazily.
"Thought you'd never ask."
For the next few hours, the ruined courtyard became our training ground.
Snow fell softly around us.
Xiaoyu stood in the centre of the cracked stones, fists raised.
The faint golden aura around her had grown more stable since yesterday.
Every time she moved, I could feel traces of dragon blood energy in the air.
The system screen hovered beside me, acting like a coach.
DISCIPLE TRAINING MODE
Recommended focus: body control + spiritual circulation
I relayed the instructions.
"Control your breathing."
Xiaoyu rolled her eyes.
"You sound like an old martial arts grandpa."
"Respect your sect leader."
She smirked.
"Make me."
Before I could respond, she lunged.
Her fist shot toward me.
I barely dodged in time.
"OI!"
She grinned.
"You said training."
This girl—
I immediately retreated three steps.
"Training does not mean attacking your sect leader!"
She shrugged.
"Same difference."
The golden aura around her fist flared.
Even I could tell she was improving fast.
Frighteningly fast.
That dragon blood was no joke.
The system chimed.
DISCIPLE COMPREHENSION INCREASED
Lin Xiaoyu has entered Body Tempering 2nd Layer
I stared.
"…Already?"
She blinked.
"Is that good?"
I nearly coughed blood.
Good?
This was monstrous.
Most beginner cultivators took weeks just to stabilise the first layer.
She had broken through in less than a day.
A grin slowly spread across my face.
Good.
Very good.
If trouble was coming, at least we had some teeth now.
But just as I was starting to feel confident—
The sky darkened.
Not naturally.
A wave of pressure rolled down the mountain.
The snow itself seemed to freeze midair.
The system flashed red.
ALERT
Multiple hostile cultivators are approaching
Estimated count: 8
Right on schedule.
I stepped toward the sect gate.
Xiaoyu stood beside me.
Her golden eyes gleamed.
This time, there was no fear in them.
Only excitement.
The footsteps came first.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Then figures emerged from the snowy path.
Mo Tianyu was back.
His hair was thankfully no longer standing up.
Unfortunately, his expression looked like he wanted to murder me.
Behind him stood seven cultivators in Stone River Sect robes.
And at the centre—
An older man.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Cold eyes.
Unlike Mo Tianyu, this one radiated real pressure.
The system immediately identified him.
TARGET IDENTIFIED
Name: Elder HanRealm: Qi Refinement 2nd LayerThreat Level: High
My stomach tightened.
This was bad.
Very bad.
The protection formation could repel enemies below. Qi Refinement 3rd layer—
But only within the sect boundary.
Meaning if they forced us outside, we were dead.
Mo Tianyu stepped forward.
His voice was ice cold.
"Sect Leader."
I smiled pleasantly.
"Ah, the roasted chicken returns."
Xiaoyu immediately snorted.
Mo Tianyu's face darkened.
Elder Han raised a hand, stopping him.
The older man looked at the sect gate.
Then at me.
Then at Xiaoyu.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment too long.
Dangerous.
Calculating.
"I am Elder Han of the Stone River Sect."
His tone was calm.
But beneath it, there was unmistakable hostility.
I bowed slightly.
"Welcome."
He ignored the greeting.
"You attacked our young master."
Mo Tianyu immediately pointed at me.
"He ambushed me with a formation!"
I smiled.
"You entered without permission."
Elder Han's eyes narrowed.
"Words will not solve this."
Of course they wouldn't.
This was a cultivation novel.
Violence was basically diplomacy.
He took a step forward.
Snow cracked beneath his feet.
"The girl comes with us."
Xiaoyu's fists clenched.
Golden light flickered around her knuckles.
I stepped in front of her.
"No."
Elder Han's expression darkened.
"You dare refuse?"
I smiled.
"This is the All-Hail Sovereign Sect."
I pointed toward the plaque above the gate.
"We don't hand over our disciples."
Mo Tianyu sneered.
"Trash sect arrogance."
Elder Han lifted his hand.
A wave of spiritual energy surged outward.
The air trembled.
The pressure slammed against the sect gate.
BOOOOM!
The formation lines beneath the ground lit up instantly.
Golden light spread across the courtyard.
The barrier activated.
A translucent dome of light surrounded the sect.
Elder Han's eyes widened slightly.
"A protection formation."
I smirked.
"Surprised?"
He snorted.
"A beginner-grade formation."
He raised his palm.
Then struck.
BOOM!
The barrier shook violently.
Cracks of golden light rippled across its surface.
My heart dropped.
One hit had already weakened it.
This was much stronger than Mo Tianyu.
Xiaoyu stepped beside me.
"Let me fight."
I glanced at her.
"You're still too weak."
Her golden eyes narrowed.
"I'm stronger than before."
Before I could answer—
Elder Han attacked again.
BOOOOOM!
The barrier trembled harder.
More cracks spread.
The system screen flashed urgently.
WARNING
Barrier durability: 63%
Damn.
At this rate, the formation wouldn't last long.
Mo Tianyu smirked from behind the elder.
"Let's see how long your trash sect survives now."
Xiaoyu's aura suddenly flared.
The dragon blood responded to her anger.
Golden energy burst around her like flames.
Even Elder Han paused.
The system chimed.
BLOODLINE RESONANCE
Ancient Dragon Bloodline reacting to hostility
Interesting.
Very interesting.
I slowly smiled.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
This revenge visit was about to become another face-slap.
I looked at Xiaoyu.
"Fine."
Her eyes lit up.
"You fight."
A grin spread across her face.
The kind of grin that promised violence.
Perfect.