The night began quietly in the Rael estate. While preparations for the Clan Gathering continued, the hustle and bustle were far from Raiden's mind. The elders were engrossed in their strategic planning for the event, the servants busied themselves with final arrangements, and the vast estate hummed with tension. For most, this was simply another gathering, but to Raiden, it was a pivotal moment. A moment that could decide his fate in the cultivation world.
And now, standing at the precipice of a breakthrough, Raiden had withdrawn to the secluded cultivation chamber, away from prying eyes and judgmental whispers. His Chaos Root, the hidden key to his future, pulsed with raw, untamed power. He could feel the energy within him surging, demanding release.
"Tonight is the night," Raiden murmured to himself, settling into a meditative position. The time for his spirit root to reach mid-level had come.
Elsewhere in the estate, the Rael family members continued their evening routines, unaware of the forces stirring beneath the surface.
In the outer courtyard, Elder Ji stood with a few of the more senior servants, discussing the final touches for the banquet. His gaze briefly lifted to the sky, catching the faintest tremor in the air, though he dismissed it as nothing more than a passing breeze.
"We must ensure everything is in order for the Gathering. The elders of the other families will not tolerate even the smallest mistake," Elder Ji said firmly, his voice carrying the weight of his authority.
The servants nodded in response. One of them, a young man, hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Elder Ji, there are rumors about the Vidar family… that their heir, Eirik, intends to use the Gathering to pursue alliances."
Elder Ji's expression darkened slightly, though he didn't allow himself to be distracted. "The Vidar family is always scheming. Eirik's ambitions will be kept in check. What's important now is that the Rael family is prepared."
Meanwhile, deep in his secluded chamber, Raiden's cultivation had reached a critical point. The energy around him thickened, swirling with such intensity that it pressed down on his body, as if the heavens themselves had turned their gaze upon him. Raiden grit his teeth as his Qi surged, racing through his meridians with overwhelming force. The breakthrough was close, but something was wrong. A violent pressure bore down from above, growing heavier with each passing second.
And then, the sky outside darkened.
Clouds gathered ominously above the estate, swirling as if summoned by some invisible force. The wind began to howl, rattling the windows and causing the trees to bend under its might. The earth trembled, and a crack of thunder split the night, sending a shockwave rippling through the estate.
In the cultivation chamber, Raiden felt the heavens' suppression. His Chaos Root was no ordinary spirit root, and the heavens themselves sought to smother it before it grew too powerful. But Raiden had no intention of stopping.
"I will not be denied," he whispered, his voice filled with resolve.
With a final, explosive push, Raiden shattered the barrier that held him back. His Chaos Root surged to mid-level, and the sky above roared in protest. The storm intensified, but Raiden held firm, riding the wave of power until the pressure from the heavens finally receded. The clouds above began to part, the winds calmed, and the earth stilled. It was over.
Raiden sat in the center of the chamber, his body covered in sweat, his breathing heavy but controlled. He had done it—he had broken through. The energy that coursed through him now was stronger, more refined. And yet, the questions gnawed at him. Why had the heavens reacted so violently? Why had they tried to stop him?
As the storm settled, the rest of the estate began to stir.
Elder Ji, standing in the courtyard, felt the tremor in the earth and saw the sky churn with power. His eyes narrowed. "What in the heavens…?" he muttered to himself.
Beside him, the servants exchanged nervous glances. They had never seen anything like this before, and though they remained silent, their fear was palpable. "Could this be a sign, Elder Ji?" one of the older servants asked, his voice trembling.
Elder Ji's gaze remained fixed on the sky. "It's more than a sign," he said, his voice heavy with unease. "Something is amiss. But what could have caused such a disturbance?"
In another wing of the estate, Torrin stood by a window, watching the remnants of the storm with narrowed eyes. He had felt the immense power that had shaken the earth, and like the others, he couldn't pinpoint its source.
"A natural storm, perhaps," he murmured to himself, though he didn't believe it for a moment. Torrin was no fool—he knew power when he felt it, and what he had felt tonight was unlike anything he'd encountered before.
As the Rael family members and servants whispered amongst themselves, trying to make sense of the phenomenon, another topic began to emerge in hushed conversations—the Vidar family.
The Vidars had long been a powerful force in the cultivation world, known for their ruthless ambitions and vast influence. Their heir, Eirik, had his eyes set on Lillia, the rare beauty whose family remained shrouded in mystery. Few had seen her, but those who had spoke of her ethereal grace, her unmatched power, and her reclusive nature.
"The Vidar heir seeks an alliance with her family," one elder remarked to another, their conversation hushed in the hallway. "He believes marrying Lillia will strengthen his family's position."
"But will her family agree? They are not ones to be easily swayed by such ambitions," the other elder replied, casting a wary glance toward the sky as if expecting the heavens to descend once more.
Lillia's family, though reclusive, was powerful in ways that few understood. And while Eirik's pursuit of her was no secret, it was unclear whether her family would allow such a match. Lillia herself rarely made appearances, and her opinions on the matter were even more enigmatic.
"It will all come to light at the Gathering," the elder finished with a nod. "Until then, we can only wait."
As the night settled into quiet once more, Raiden lay in his quarters, his body and mind still reeling from the breakthrough. He had felt the heavens try to suppress him, felt the world itself fight against his growth. And yet, no one knew that it had been him. The elders speculated, the servants whispered, but none suspected that Raiden Rael—the 'weak' son of the family—was the source of the disturbance.
But Raiden knew that his time in the shadows was limited. The Clan Gathering was fast approaching, and with it, new challenges would arise. Torrin's growing animosity, Eirik's scheming, and Lillia's hidden power were just a few of the forces he would have to contend with.
For now, though, Raiden allowed himself a moment of rest. He had overcome the heavens tonight, but there would be more battles to fight, more storms to weather. And when the time came, Raiden would be ready.
"They won't see me coming," he whispered to himself, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Not until it's too late."