The sect returned to its usual hum of activity after the mission to the Obsidian Ridge. Wei Liang, Zhang Fei, and Han Xun sat in the outer disciples' courtyard, recovering from the ordeal. The Crimson Fang Core sat tucked safely in Wei Liang's satchel, its faint pulsing presence never far from his thoughts.
"Any plans for that core?" Zhang Fei asked, sharpening one of her daggers.
Wei Liang shook his head. "Not yet. I need to refine it first, and that'll take time."
Han Xun leaned back, sighing. "Time we don't seem to have. With all these missions, Elder Cai's combat training, and Elder Lin's Qi refinement lessons, I feel like we're being ground down into dust."
Zhang Fei smirked. "That's the point. Pressure creates diamonds—or crushes coal. It depends on how strong we are."
Wei Liang chuckled faintly but stayed quiet, his thoughts drifting. Something about the Crimson Fang Core and the Abyssal Shard gnawed at him. They felt… connected, somehow, as if the sect's missions weren't just random tests but part of something larger.
Later that evening, he decided to clear his mind with meditation by the Spirit Mirror Pool. The stillness of the water always calmed him, and tonight, he felt drawn to its quiet depths more than ever.
---
An Unearthed Secret
As Wei Liang approached the pool, he noticed something unusual. The faint glow of Qi that always emanated from the water seemed brighter, pulsing irregularly as if disturbed by an unseen force. He crouched by the edge, peering into the rippling surface.
"Strange," he muttered, activating Appraisal.
[Anomaly Detected: Energy Signature Hidden Beneath the Spirit Mirror Pool.]
The System's notification startled him. "Hidden beneath…?" he whispered, leaning closer.
He reached out, his fingers skimming the water's surface. As he did, the pool's glow flared, and the ripples parted, revealing something beneath the water—a faint outline of an object embedded in the rock.
Without hesitation, Wei Liang plunged his hand into the pool. The water wasn't cold as he expected but warm, tingling with concentrated Qi. His fingers closed around a small object, smooth and metallic, and as he pulled it free, the pool returned to its calm state.
In his hand was a strange artifact—a small, circular lens made of an unknown, iridescent material that shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
[Appraisal Activated.]
[Item: Lunar-Eye Lens]
[Type: Mythical Artifact]
[Description: A relic of unknown origin, the Lunar-Eye Lens grants the user the ability to see through solid objects and discern hidden energy flows. Prolonged use drains Qi and may cause mental strain.]
Wei Liang's heart raced as he stared at the lens. X-ray vision? Hidden energy flows? This was unlike anything he'd encountered before. The warnings about Qi drain and mental strain made him cautious, but the possibilities were staggering.
"Let's see what you can do," he muttered, holding the lens to his eye.
---
The Vision Beyond
As Wei Liang focused through the Lunar-Eye Lens, the world around him transformed. Solid walls became translucent, their shapes melting into faint outlines. The faint glow of Qi flows and spiritual veins lit up his vision, revealing the hidden architecture of the world.
He turned toward the Spirit Mirror Pool, and for the first time, he saw its true form. Beneath its surface, intricate arrays of ancient runes pulsed with energy, like a vast, beating heart.
"This pool… it's more than just a meditation site," Wei Liang murmured.
The System chimed.
[Insight: The Spirit Mirror Pool is linked to a forgotten sect formation. Further exploration required to uncover its purpose.]
Wei Liang lowered the lens, his mind buzzing with possibilities. If the lens could reveal secrets hidden in the pool, what else could it uncover?
---
The next day, Wei Liang decided to test the Lunar-Eye Lens during training. As the outer disciples gathered in the courtyard, Elder Cai barked orders, pairing them off for sparring matches.
"Wei Liang, you're with Zhang Fei," Elder Cai said, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Let's see if that shadow affinity of yours can keep up with her precision."
Wei Liang nodded, stepping into the sparring ring. Zhang Fei smirked, twirling her daggers. "Don't hold back," she said.
As the match began, Wei Liang activated the Lunar-Eye Lens. Instantly, Zhang Fei's movements became clearer. Her Qi flowed through her body like streams of light, illuminating her intent before she acted. When she lunged, her energy flared, and Wei Liang sidestepped her strike effortlessly.
"What the—?" Zhang Fei muttered, recovering quickly.
Wei Liang pressed the advantage, his sword striking where her defenses were weakest. He didn't overpower her, but he matched her step for step, something he'd never done before.
The crowd murmured as the match intensified. Even Elder Cai seemed intrigued, his arms crossed as he watched closely.
Zhang Fei's daggers flashed as she aimed for his shoulder, but Wei Liang parried, the Lunar-Eye Lens revealing her next move before she made it. He countered with a quick slash, the edge of his blade stopping just short of her side.
"Enough!" Elder Cai called, stepping forward. "Wei Liang, what's changed? You're faster, more precise."
Wei Liang bowed slightly, masking his excitement. "Just refining my skills, Elder."
Elder Cai's sharp eyes lingered on him for a moment before nodding. "Good. Keep refining."
As the crowd dispersed, Zhang Fei approached, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"You were reading me like an open book," she said. "What's your secret?"
Wei Liang hesitated but offered a faint smile. "Just a lucky day, I guess."
---
Later that evening, Wei Liang found himself wandering the sect grounds, the Lunar-Eye Lens tucked safely in his satchel. He couldn't shake the feeling that its power came with a cost—something the System hadn't fully revealed yet.
As he passed one of the training halls, he activated the lens out of curiosity. The walls faded away, revealing Lin Ziyan sparring with his entourage inside. His movements were sharper than ever, his Qi blazing like a wildfire as he overpowered his opponents one by one.
But something else caught Wei Liang's attention. Beneath Lin Ziyan's confident exterior, faint cracks in his Qi flow pulsed erratically—flaws that even Lin Ziyan might not realize were there.
The System chimed softly.
[Insight: Opponent's Qi flow is unstable under prolonged strain. Exploitable in future combat.]
Wei Liang lowered the lens, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Even he has weaknesses."
For the first time, he felt like the gap between them wasn't insurmountable. The Lunar-Eye Lens had given him a glimpse of what lay beneath the surface—and a chance to turn the tide in his favor.
But with its power came responsibility. And Wei Liang knew he would have to use it wisely.