Chapter 21: Emerging from Seclusion
At the age of nineteen, Denny Cing emerged from his extended seclusion with an air of mystery surrounding him. He had transformed into a light-skinned, handsome man with eyes as sharp as a sword and a flawless, cold demeanor that left the girls in the sect captivated.
As he reentered the bustling world of the Bull Fight Sect, he couldn't help but notice the remarkable progress of his fellow disciples. Most of the inner disciples in the age range of eighteen to twenty had reached the third level of the War Realm. The five most talented among them had already attained the Law Realm—a level of mastery that marked them as the great treasures of the sect, destined to become influential figures in the future.
Grand Elder Han welcomed Denny with a knowing smile, his eyes reflecting pride. "Denny Cing, you have emerged stronger and wiser. However, you must understand why we had you suppress your cultivation. Your potential was so great that you were on the cusp of reaching the Sky Realm. Such a leap would have created an earth-shaking disturbance that could attract the attention of our enemies, possibly leading to assassination attempts."
Denny absorbed this revelation, appreciating the wisdom behind Grand Elder Han's decision.
The grand elder proceeded to explain the structure of HQI City and the Zie Chi Nation. HQI City was situated at the heart of the nation and housed the most formidable martial forces: the Bull Fight Sects, the Blue Whale Sect, the Demon Fist Sect, the Ghost Skull Sect, the Yin Corpse Sect, and the Blood Hound Sect. At the helm of the Zie Chi Nation stood the powerful Imperial family, the Zie Clan.
Intriguingly, the crown prince election was underway, and the two most promising sons of Emperor Dean Zie were vying for the throne: Del Zie and Xio Zie. Denny learned that the Bull Fight Sect, along with the Demon Fist Sect and the Blue Whale Sect, supported Xio Zie's bid for the throne, while the other sects backed Del Zie.
Grand Elder Han elaborated on the brutal and cutthroat nature of the election, where brothers schemed and plotted against each other to gain favor in their father's eyes. The sons had to prove their strength, cunning, and ability to secure support from external forces.
As Denny absorbed this complex political landscape, he realized that his future in the Bull Fight Sect was intricately intertwined with the fate of the Zie Chi Nation. The challenges ahead were not limited to the martial world; they extended into the realm of power, politics, and destiny.