The sun was sinking behind the mountains, casting long shadows over the Li Clan's training grounds. Moist air shimmered with a milky hue, energy so thick it seemed on the verge of condensing into rain. The anticipation among the juniors betrayed what was emerging—the Spiritual Pool.

The pool had, in a single soak, transformed even the weakest of bodies into formidable cultivators. For the chance to bathe in its waters, many had perished, some were crippled, and yet the victorious had become legends, transcending mortality. But none of this mattered to the eager crowd surrounding the shaking ground. No one spared a glance at the littered bodies and anguished cries; their eyes remained glued to the faint, trembling surface of the pool.

With each rumble, their hearts raced, and their gazes grew fervent. It was as if the pool itself were taunting them, never fully emerging, teasing them into further zeal. And yet, none of them showed impatience—they knew this was the final test: patience and self-control.

In the air above them, the supervising elder gave a silent nod, but as his gaze turned to the defeated juniors sprawled on the ground, he paused and transmitted his voice through the air.

"Don't be discouraged; the tournament will be open for you next year, and it's not like there haven't many, after failing in succession, achieved success in a single night." His short speech instantly ignited the dying battle intent in their juniors eyes. Indeed, they had been such people in the past, but who knew what the real reason behind their success was?

Sensing the fluctuating auras, he gave a cold smirk. For such a big clan, how many talented individuals would be born each year? And how wishful was it to hope the competition would have decreased. In his eyes, their worth only lay in the crucible they'll offer to the upcoming generation, nothing more.

Such was the cultivation world, a dog eat dog world. And yet, approaching such a tense and glorious atmosphere was Li Feng. His unhurried pace and the flowers he held in his hands betrayed his awareness. They were neither spiritual nor held special meaning in cultivation, and yet, in his eyes, they seemed to contain all the wonders and joys of the universe.

As the crowd's gaze remained focused on the pool, someone noticed Li Feng approaching, tugging at his neighbor's sleeve.

"Hey, isn't that the infamous dog son of the Dragon and Phoenix pair?" a young cultivator in opulent robes scoffed, instantly drawing attention.

Li Feng's notoriety was almost on par with the clan head himself. The difference? His fame was anything but revered. His parents had been models for every generation—fearless, powerful, and blessed with talent. They were known as the Dragon and Phoenix pair of the clan. By all rights, their child should have been a prodigy.

Yet, Li Feng had been born with a mental defect, his intelligence a shadow of a newborn's.

As the crowd recognized him, their fervent gazes dimmed, quickly turning to contempt. They knew why he was here.

Rumors had spread about his entitlement to clan resources, but few had truly believed it. Now, witnessing his casual arrival, the rumors became undeniable.

Instead of being shunned, as one would expect for someone so unworthy, Li Feng had been sheltered. Despite his limitations, he received a share of every cultivation resource—from pills to rare herbs. In any other clan, he'd have been cast off as dead weight. Here, however, his lineage shielded him.

"Feeding an idiot like him while we fight for scraps?" someone muttered. "Even a dog has to hunt for its meal."

Riots had flared up in the past over the clan's treatment of Li Feng, yet someone always stepped in to silence them. But today, someone's restraint finally snapped.

However, before he could step forward, a sound reverberated throughout the plaza.

"Silence!" A force from above rippled through the air, instantly quelling the riotous auras of the gathered generation.

The elder's expression was severe as he scanned the crowd, his gaze sharp and unwavering. To allow this chaos today would bring shame to his position. Under his intimidating stare, none of the geniuses dared to even breathe.

"The decision of the elders is final. Who here dares to challenge it?" The elder's tone was cold, his eyes flashing daggers as he paused to glare at two specific youths. Though they trembled, he spared them further humiliation. They were related to powerful figures in the clan and since he'd made his point, he slowly withdrew his aura and assumed the bearing of an expert

"Cough, cough. Alright, alright, the Li hour has arrived. Everyone ent—" But before he could finish, a figure had already moved past him, entering the pool. It wasn't punctuality but pure instinct—Li Feng, of course. The crowd merely rolled their eyes and scoffed, trailing behind him into the pool.

With a sigh, the elder retreated back into the sky, thick-skinned against the awkward moment.

At the edge of the pool stood Li Feng. While everyone else was seated in meditative positions, absorbing the miraculous liquid, he simply stood there, expressionless. It wasn't an act—he was incapable of fathoming the whole situation around him. All his actions have been based on a routine he had been made to follow since young.

Minutes passed, and just as the allocated time was nearing its end, something unusual happened.

A vortex of energy began to swirl around Li Feng, the pool's liquid rushing toward him. It was a sight that shouldn't have been possible for him, yet no one seemed impressed or curious.

They had seen this happen before—brief bursts of energy activity surrounding Li Feng, only for nothing to come of it.

They had seen this before—brief bursts of activity around Li Feng, only for nothing to come of it. They dismissed it as Li feng body developing some affinity with the pool after soaking in it for years. So ingrained was this belief that many had even considered refining him into a pill for cultivation.

Yet, thanks to the influence of Li Feng's aunt, the clan members had never dared to act on their thoughts. As they recalled the one behind Li Feng—his aunt—they stifled their wandering minds and returned their focus to themselves.

And as they had guessed, the energy surge around Li Feng soon faded. The same pattern continued throughout the session—short bursts of suction, followed by abrupt stops, like an engine cranking but failing to start.

While most dismissed it as expected, one pair of disbelieving eyes locked onto Li Feng, observing his every move. Li Feng's unresponsive gaze flickered ever so briefly, a shudder running through him. None of this escaped the elder's sharp eye.

For the elder, however, the brief movements sparked a glimmer of understanding. He had heard whispers from his superiors about the true purpose of the pool, though he had never grasped its full meaning—until now.

As he observed closely, he noticed faint strands of energy drifting from the bodies of the geniuses into the depths of the pool. For each strand siphoned away, a milky substance would emerge, replacing it into their bodies. When he compared this with Li Feng's sudden bursts of energy absorption, his eyes sparkled with delight, like a child finally piecing together a long-unsolved puzzle.

—————–

Fan Section (whispering I could draw but…)

Lose a battle, and you're weak. Lose everything, and you're wise.

Copy one person; it's plagiarism. Copy 100; it's research.

Who's really the mad one? The world or...