As the disciples of the Xiantian Sect quarreled before the imposing golden door, a ripple of distortion appeared in the air, unnoticed inbetween their clamorous dispute.
From the shimmering tear in the void, Su Xiaobai stepped through, his expression one of disbelief.
What in the heavens...
He blinked, the scene before him entirely foreign.
Just moments ago, he had been quietly practicing in another location, and now, without warning, he found himself here.
How?
The question puzzled him, but there was no time to think. Voices sweet and annoying buzzed around him, and Su Xiaobai instinctively stifled his breath, concealing his presence entirely.
"Hm?"
He felt Elder Bai's sharp gaze flicker in his direction. His heart pounded in his chest.
If she noticed him, things would get messy—very messy. His body tensed, every muscle on high alert. Fortunately, her attention shifted back to the group, and Su Xiaobai silently exhaled.
He remained still as stone, watching from the shadows. 'Just stay quiet, and don't get caught...'
His eyes immediately landed on Lan Meiyu, who was draped—there was no better word for it—around Liu Zhenhai.
She wasn't offering much in terms of actual assistance; instead, she clung to him, her posture suggestive, the juicy red lips pouting ever so slightly.
Her robe was provocative loose, her soft "majestic white rabbits" almost spilling out for the world to see.
"Senior Brother Liu~!" she spoke in awe, her voice thick with false sweetness.
"Your understanding of these ancient runes is simply... incredible!" She leaned forward, giving Liu Zhenhai an exaggerated view of her cleavage, practically dangling her 'assets' in front of him. "How could anyone else hope to match your brilliance? We're all just waiting for you to guide us through~~!"
Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, a smirk threatening to form on his lips. 'Unbelievable. She's not even subtle about it.'
He could almost see her internal dialogue: Show enough skin and act clueless—surely he'll take care of the rest!
Liu Zhenhai, meanwhile, was soaking up the attention like a parched sponge.
He puffed out his chest, clearly enjoying the display. "It's nothing, Junior Sister," he said, feigning modesty, though his eyes lingered far too long on Lan Meiyu's exposed neckline.
"These runes... they're complex, yes, but manageable for someone of my level." He touched one of the glowing symbols on the door with a confident eyes, though Su Xiaobai could tell from his posture that Liu Zhenhai was in way over his head.
"See here?" Liu Zhenhai continued, pointing to another rune, "This one connects the Qi pathways. If we trigger it properly, we should be able to unlock the door."
Gasp!
Lan Meiyu, hanging on his every word, gasped dramatically. "Truly, Senior Brother? Only you could see through such mysteries! You must be a genius, no, a master of runes~~"
She edged closer, the wide sleeves of her robe slipping down just enough to reveal more of her smooth, porcelain skin. It was no accident.
Su Xiaobai nearly rolled his eyes. 'She's practically shoving herself at him!'
Lan Meiyu, undeterred by the lack of immediate reciprocation, pressed on. "Oh, Senior Brother, if only I could understand these ancient markings like you! Perhaps if you guided me—showed me how to read them up close—I could... learn so much from you~~" Her voice dripped with suggestion, her hand 'innocently' brushing against his arm.
Liu Zhenhai's face flushed slightly, though whether from the pressure of the runes or Lan Meiyu's body practically molding itself to his side was anyone's guess.
"It... it takes years of study, Junior Sister. Not everyone can comprehend such complex symbols." He cleared his throat, casting a quick glance toward Elder Bai, who remained impassive, her back turned to the whole absurd scene.
Despite his growing pride, it was clear that Liu Zhenhai's true aim was Elder Bai's approval, not Lan Meiyu's distractions.
But even so, her constant flattery seemed to inflate his already bloated ego.
Su Xiaobai found himself growing irritated. 'Look at him, basking in false praise like it's his due. And her, practically throwing herself at him—what a ridiculous scene.' The more he watched, the more his blood simmered with annoyance.
His eyes narrowed as Lan Meiyu giggled, pushing her chest even closer to Liu Zhenhai's arm.
"Senior Brother, your strength is so... inspiring~" She tilted her head, lips parted just slightly.
"It makes me feel so... protected." She gave him a sultry glance, her robe slipping even lower. If Liu Zhenhai leaned in any closer, her "white rabbits" might just escape.
Su Xiaobai clenched his fists.
'What is wrong with these people?' It wasn't just Lan Meiyu's desperate ploys—though they were irritating enough—but the way Liu Zhenhai's pride seemed to swell with every bit of undeserved admiration.
Su Xiaobai's temper flared hotter with each passing moment. 'How can he not see through her pathetic act?'
His gaze shifted to Elder Bai, who stood like an immovable force, her back radiating an aura of absolute confidence.
'Now that', Su Xiaobai thought, 'that's real power.' Her presence was like a mountain—unshakable, untouchable.
Yet, beneath the admiration, Su Xiaobai could feel his own pride surging. 'If I had her strength, I'd be far more arrogant than she is."
Suddenly, something stirred deep within him.
His sea of consciousness trembled, and energy began to coalesce into two distinct forms—two small, glowing seeds.
'What...?'
Su Xiaobai's eyes fluttered shut as he submerged his mind into his consciousness.
There, floating in the vast void, were two seeds, shimmering with power.
The first emitted an overwhelming aura that made him feel as though he stood atop a mountain, gazing down upon the world as nothing more than an insignificant speck.
Pride.
The word echoed through his mind, resonating deeply with the irritation he had been feeling.
His blood thrummed with the sense of superiority that swelled within him, as though the seed itself was feeding off his emotions.
The second seed pulsed, and the moment he laid eyes on it, an eruption of envy surged through him.
A deep, seething jealousy bubbled up, the desire for strength and power boiling over. It was no longer something he could suppress—it was a tidal wave that had been bottled up for far too long.
Envy.
The raw emotion hit him like a tidal wave. Su Xiaobai felt it crash through him, the desire for power, the resentment toward those who had what he craved.
For so long, he had pushed these feelings down, but now, they raged within him like an inferno.
At that moment, the ancient scripture stored in his spatial ring began to glow faintly.
The once blank pages filled with writing, words forming of their own accord.
But Su Xiaobai, consumed by the sudden surge of power and emotion, didn't notice.
His hands clenched tighter, his body trembling slightly as the emotions reached a boiling point.
But just before they could completely overtake him, his mind snapped back to the present.
Gasp!
Su Xiaobai's eyes shot open, his chest heaving. 'W-What just happened?' His heart raced as he looked around, half expecting someone to have noticed his inner chaos.
But no—Elder Bai remained focused on the door, Lan Meiyu was still draped over Liu Zhenhai, and no one seemed aware of his struggle.
He exhaled shakily, retreating back into his mind briefly to check on the seeds. There they were, still floating, but now, faint green branches were sprouting from them, growing slowly, but surely.
'What is all this...?' His mind was still spinning, but he forced himself to stay calm. Whatever was happening, he didn't have the luxury to analyze it right now.
He couldn't afford to lose control—not with Elder Bai so close, and certainly not with these fools bickering over the door.
For now, he would stay hidden, watching, waiting—and figuring out what these seeds meant for his path ahead.