Time seemed to stop for a moment… or at least, that was how it felt to Shin.
Faiser slowly rose from the bed. His movement was neither heavy nor rushed—it carried that strange calm that does not come from rest… but from control. With his first step, the violet aura around him flowed smoothly. It was not random energy—it looked like an extension of his will, wrapping around him and following him like a living shadow that would never leave.
He took one step… then another.
Until he stood directly in front of Shin.
A brief silence. Steady gazes.
But this time—
Faiser did not pressure the situation… he simply let it be normal.
Then he spoke simply, in a completely natural tone:
"What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost, hahaha."
An ordinary sentence… but his calmness—that was what felt strange.
Shin hesitated for a second, then his voice slipped out before he could stop himself:
"W-Who the hell are you? And where did you really come from?! This… has made me even more curious, because what I just saw… can't be explained easily. Not your speed of growth… nor this aura that doesn't resemble someone who just reached the Pulsating Seed level!!"
Faiser let out a light laugh, short, as if the matter did not deserve such complication.
"Me? Nothing special… it just seems like you're exaggerating a bit. I've been refining my spiritual power all night, so you might notice a slight difference."
He said it as if deliberately simplifying the matter, leaving no room for mystery.
Then he added in a lighter tone:
"Anyway… I don't think it's worth all this concern."
Silence.
But Shin was not convinced. His mind began working rapidly, and he thought:
"Calm down, Shin… focus more."
"Haah…" he exhaled…
Shin took a slow breath, his eyes still fixed on Faiser.
"He was at the Dormant Seed level… the lowest level… so his rapid growth could be due to the strong energy within the sect caused by that thing. Hmm… that could accelerate his foundation, since he's already a grown youth. His delayed growth in childhood might explain this sudden speed… yes, that's normal then…"
He paused.
"But… not like this."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"But… this is not the aura of a beginner refiner… this is a stable aura… compressed… as if it had already been brought under control… that doesn't happen to someone who just advanced."
He looked at him again.
"This is closer… to the aura of someone at the Root level."
He swallowed, paused for a moment, then shook his head internally.
"No… I shouldn't exaggerate… maybe it's just a rare case… or he has an extraordinary talent for refinement… that's possible. There are many possibilities that explain this… I shouldn't rush to judgment."
Then came the thought that ended his internal debate—the sentence Shin always used to justify anything about Faiser and silence his doubts:
"He saved Shirin."
He breathed slowly.
"And that… is enough for now."
He raised his gaze, regaining his composure, and said in a calmer tone:
"It seems you… benefited a lot from the night."
A faint smile.
"Anyway, there's no point standing here analyzing what happened. Get dressed… there's somewhere I want to show you."
Faiser nodded simply, without objection.
He walked to his clothes and began putting them on calmly, as if what had happened was just a natural step, not even worth mentioning.
While doing so, he said casually:
"Maybe… the atmosphere here in this sect helps more than I expected… I think it suits me… I like it."
A simple sentence.
But it was enough to close the topic.
Then he added lightly, with a side smile as he looked at Shin—his calm expression not quite like that of a normal person:
"You know, Shin… it's truly interesting how a person, when pushed to their limits, suddenly starts discovering things within themselves they never knew existed. As if all they needed was a moment of pressure… just one moment… to force themselves beyond what they thought was impossible… and I like those moments."
Shin watched him silently.
"This person…"
He stopped.
"Strange."
But he didn't say it.
He turned.
"Let's go."
He moved through the corridor, and Faiser followed with steady steps. The aura around him was barely noticeable now, as if it had disappeared… or been carefully concealed.
And in that calm… everything seemed normal.
But inside Shin—
it was anything but.
As for Faiser…
he walked behind him calmly, his expression ordinary…
but inside him, there was a clear certainty:
That the best way to hide difference…
is not to deny it.
But—
to make it seem… normal.
They continued walking quietly through the corridor…
Morning light began to slip through the high windows, drawing faint lines across the stone floor. The silence between them… wasn't entirely comfortable, but it wasn't heavy like before.
Shin's steps were steady, familiar, as if he knew the place well… while Faiser walked behind him evenly, his eyes moving calmly, observing details without haste.
The walls, the engravings, the direction of airflow—even the placement of shadows.
"Everything here… is organized… that's good."
The thought passed quietly through his mind.
"Not chaotic as it appears from the outside."
Shin suddenly stopped.
He half-turned, looked at Faiser briefly, then said:
"Before we arrive… there's something you should know."
His voice was calm, but more serious than before.
"The Celestial Phoenix Sect is not just a training place. Everything here—from the arena, to the halls, even the corridors we're walking through—is tied to a clear system. Everyone inside has a place… and limits."
He paused, then continued:
"Anyone who wants to stay here… must understand this system. Or at least… not cross it."
Faiser listened without interrupting, then said calmly:
"That makes sense… places without a clear system usually don't last long."
Shin nodded slightly, as if that answer was enough.
They continued walking.
Shin walked normally ahead, but inside he was not the same.
As for Faiser…
he walked as if the place… temporarily belonged to him.
His back straight, steps steady, gaze never lingering too long…
And then—
Shin spoke, trying to break the silence:
"I was thinking… instead of staying in your room or the library all the time, it might be better for you to see the training ground. There, you'll understand practically how disciples move and apply what you've read. Because knowledge alone… isn't enough here."
Faiser didn't look at him directly.
He simply gave a faint smile, barely visible, then said in a calm tone… carrying subtle arrogance:
"Knowledge is always enough. The problem isn't knowledge… it's those who don't know how to use it. As for me… I prefer to understand first before I act. Because acting without understanding… is just empty display."
He paused.
Then added while looking ahead:
"But… fine. Watching others try… might be an interesting experience."
Shin froze for a moment.
Not because of the words—
but because of how they were said.
"Try…?"
he repeated internally.
"This person… talks as if he's completely outside this system."
But he didn't comment.
"You'll see for yourself."
Moments later, the corridor opened into a wide arena.
The same one they saw yesterday…
But this time—
it was different.
The sound of swords was louder, movements faster, and the air itself… charged with visible energy.
Third-generation disciples were training seriously, their breaths heavy, sweat falling, every movement carrying clear intent.
Faiser stopped and observed closely, but his expression… did not change.
"Hmm…"
"So this is their actual level."
His eyes moved between the disciples—silent analysis.
"Direct movements… no complexity… energy… not fully stable… control… primitive… tsk, ridiculous…"
He paused.
Then—
smiled slightly, but this time… it wasn't warm.
Shin said while watching his reaction:
"These are third-generation disciples. Most are between Pulsating Seed and Cracked Seed, some approaching the Root level… so don't underestimate them."
Faiser tilted his head slightly.
Then said in a very calm tone… carrying almost provocative confidence:
"I don't underestimate anyone… I just see things as they are."
He paused.
Then added:
"And what I see now… isn't worth exaggerating."
A brief silence.
Even the air… grew heavier.
But—
Faiser didn't stop. He stepped forward without permission or hesitation, as if the place imposed no rules on him.
One disciple noticed him, stopped training, and said:
"You… you're not a disciple, right?"
Faiser turned to him slowly.
Looked at him calmly…
but it was enough to make the disciple hesitate.
Then Faiser said with a slight smile:
"Is it that obvious?"
The disciple laughed lightly:
"Yeah… your clothes are different."
He paused.
Then added:
"But if you're interested in training… you can watch, or even try later."
Behind them… Shin watched silently.
But inside—
not calm at all.
"Faiser doesn't seem to be trying to adapt… nor prove himself… he acts as if all this is beneath him… even though that disciple is at the late Cracked Seed level."
He looked carefully.
"Is it confidence… or something else?"
Faiser still looked at the disciple.
Then—
smiled a bit wider and said:
"Try…?"
He paused.
Then continued slowly:
"Maybe… when I decide it's worth it."
A short silence…
but this time, it carried something hidden… something spreading between gazes without words.
The disciple…
didn't smile.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"When I decide it's worth it…?"
he repeated internally.
Then—
he smiled, but this time sharp, tilted—clear provocation.
"Oh… I see."
He said it aloud, tilting his head slightly:
"Seems like you're more confident than you should be… especially for someone who hasn't even stepped into a place like this, or tested its simplest rules."
He stepped forward slowly. His presence changed—subtle pressure spread.
"You know…?"
he added calmly, but heavy:
"Usually, those who talk like that… either have something to back it up… or they're just… showing off."
Faiser didn't move. Didn't react.
He just—
looked at him calmly… coldly…
as if it was meaningless noise.
Then smiled faintly.
"Does the difference matter?"
he said slowly.
"In the end… the result alone explains everything. No need for long introductions or boring explanations."
The air changed.
Several disciples stopped.
Eyes gathered.
Something… was about to begin.
The disciple straightened fully.
No longer casual.
"But you prefer actions over words…"
he said quietly.
Then—
"Good. Because I don't like long talks either when things can be settled more clearly."
He raised his wooden sword. Spiritual energy gathered faintly… but clearly.
At that moment—
Shin moved.
One step.
Then stopped.
His eyes shifted between them.
The disciple—whose level he knew well.
And Faiser—still, in everyone's eyes… just a beginner.
"This… isn't good…"
"If this starts now…"
He hesitated.
He wanted to intervene.
But—
something stopped him.
Faiser's calm gaze… that strange confidence…
Or—
curiosity.
Deadly curiosity.
"What if…?"
He stepped back slightly.
And watched.
Faiser noticed—but said nothing.
Just looked at the disciple again.
His calm… didn't change.
It deepened.
"You want to take the short path…?"
he said quietly.
"Fine… just make sure you're ready for the ending you chose yourself."
The disciple smiled widely.
"Don't worry…"
he said firmly.
"I never start something… unless I'm ready to finish it."
The energy thickened.
The ground… waited.
Shin stood between action and silence.
But—
he didn't move.
And when the sounds faded… breaths lowered… eyes gathered—
it was clear.
What would happen next…
would not be training.
But—
a clash.
A clash… no one could ignore.
And most importantly—
someone…
would be forced to redefine what they believed was "impossible."