The next day, Xu Qi woke up feeling revitalized, the effects of the Rejuvenating Pill from Ling Lian working wonders on his qi.
After stretching his body and understanding his enhanced strength after breaking through to the 2nd stage, he practiced his Elemental Whispering, feeling the elements around him and persuading them to help him in his cultivation. They entered his dantian, filling his progress towards the next stage.
He couldn't help but smile knowing that the gulf of not having enough cultivation talent had finally been bridged.
After a while, he left his quarters to test his strength on the practice dummy in the outer court training hall.
The primal element of wind seduced by him assisted the speed of his punch. The earth covered his fists protecting his skin and bones. And the meager element of fire present in the surrounding enhanced his punch's explosiveness.
The once-ordinary and lackluster Xu Qi seemingly transformed into a maestro of the elements.
He couldn't help but be pleased because the same as last night and this morning, the primal elements appeared to be more active around him.
An hour quickly passed and he started sweating. He only wanted to test but he fell into the rhythm of training. Xiao Yue and Elder He was expecting him to surprise them.
He wanted to make that a reality.
However, amidst his solitary training, Xu Qi suddenly felt a hostile gaze locking onto his back. It was as palpable as the heat from a roaring fire.
He turned around to find a young man with a scowl, his fists clenched as he stared at Xu Qi with burning eyes.
Of course, Xu Qi knew him. They're all from the same outer court, after all.
The man's name was Zhang Han. He was one among the other outer court disciples who had always ridiculed Xu Qi.
He was currently at 4th stage of the Elemental Awakener Realm. The qi raging around him could still put some pressure on Xu Qi.
Zhang Han took a step forward, his voice laced with malice. "What's going on with you, Xu Qi? Did you take some forbidden drug? Why are the elements responding to you so eagerly?"
Xu Qi turned to face him, his expression calm. "Perhaps the elements have simply come to appreciate my company. Am I bothering you, Brother Zhang Han?"
Despite his 'polite' response as opposed to his hostility, the fire in Zhang Han's gaze grew stronger. His jaw clenched as the qi around him seemed to start going berserk, eager to devour him.
In Zhang Han's mind, Xu Qi was nothing more than a worm that he could crush anytime.
"You're a two-faced snake, Xu Qi. How can a weakling like you try to charm an inner court disciple? And now you're even trying to seduce Ling Lian!"
Upon hearing that, Xu Qi understood his game. His lips twitched as ideas swirled in his mind.
"Huh? Quite the accusation there, Zhang Han. Don't tell me..." Xu Qi's voice trailed as a mischievous smirk turned up the corner of his mouth, "Are you jealous? What are you to Ling Lian anyway?"
Zhang Han's fists clenched tighter, the veins on his neck bulging with anger. "You dare speak of her like that! Let's see if you can smirk if I bash your face!"
His qi grew more aggressive, the very air around them seemed to crackle with the intensity of his rage.
And then, as he was about to lunge at Xu Qi, the woman in question, Ling Lian, herself appeared.
She dashed in from outside the training hall like a blast of wind, her eyes widening at the scene. She had felt a little disturbance in the qi from a distance and had come to investigate, thinking it might be a conflict between fellow disciples.
Little did she expect that she'd found the guy she encountered last night facing someone he wouldn't be able to beat yet.
"What's going on here?" Ling Lian demanded an answer, her voice a whip-crack of authority that made even the hostile air around them tremble.
Naturally, she was a stage higher than Zhang Han. She could easily restrict both of them.
Xu Qi wryly smiled at her, understanding that he had escalated things because of his words. On the other hand, Zhang Han became like a tamed cow at Ling Lian's presence. The hostility in his gaze diminished significantly.
"N-nothing, Sister Ling Lian," Zhang Han stuttered, his cheeks red with embarrassment. He then turned to Xu Qi and intensely glared at him. "You're just showing off, thinking you can get ahead because of some cheap tricks!"
He spat before storming away, leaving Xu Qi and Ling Lian to themselves.
Looking at the door of the training hall and at the other disciples who had witnessed the events, Ling Lian's pressurizing gaze lingered for a moment scattering them. After that, she turned to Xu Qi, the guy who was somehow starting to become like an enigma, sucking her in.
"What's gotten into you? Why did you suddenly act like you could take him on? Are you looking for a beating?"
Ling Lian's questions were reasonable but she didn't see how it all started.
"Oh, that's not how it looks like, Ling Lian." Xu Qi started. "He was the one who approached me first, barking like a rabid dog whose mate was about to get stolen away from him," Xu Qi replied honestly, but he knew the underlying reason why Zhang Han lashed at him.
It was this young woman. He fancies her.
Ling Lian didn't respond and raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to finish his explanation.
With an embarrassed smile, Xu Qi scratched his cheek, "It seems I've gotten under his skin. Maybe I should be more careful."
"Maybe? No, you should!" Ling Lian admonished, her eyes flashing with concern. "You're not ready to face someone like him, especially not in a fight. You're still two stages behind him."
Xu Qi nodded solemnly, knowing she was right. Yet, deep down, he felt like he just did the right thing. The former Xu Qi could only find the comfort of the shadows as the other disciples ridiculed him while people like Zhang Han strutted around thinking they were superior.
He's not that Xu Qi anymore.
It wasn't really arrogance on his part. He just knew he had to do something to exit the shadows of the old Xu Qi.