The days following their return from the Mistwood were marked by tension in the Jade Peak Sect. Word of Elder Yan's appearance spread quietly among the outer disciples, though the elders gave few details. All anyone knew was that an exiled cultivator had reappeared, tied to the chaos in the Mistwood and the artifact Wei Liang's team had recovered.
Wei Liang sat outside the Spirit Mirror Pool one evening, staring at the faintly glowing water. The Lunar-Eye Lens pulsed faintly in his satchel, its presence always a steady reminder of the power—and danger—it carried.
Zhang Fei and Han Xun joined him, their expressions as pensive as his own.
"Elder Yan," Zhang Fei said quietly, breaking the silence. "Why do you think he showed up there? What was he looking for?"
Wei Liang frowned. "It wasn't just the shard. The Mistwood itself is tied to the ruins and the Jade Veil Sect. Whatever they left behind, it's not dormant anymore."
Han Xun leaned back, his spear resting across his lap. "And now we're stuck in the middle of it. Do you think the elders know more than they're letting on?"
"They have to," Zhang Fei replied. "They knew who Elder Yan was, and they didn't seem surprised he appeared. They're hiding something."
Wei Liang nodded slowly, his thoughts aligning with hers. "The shard isn't just dangerous. It's a piece of something larger—something the sect doesn't want us to know about."
---
A New Lesson
The next morning, the outer disciples were summoned to the main courtyard for training. Elder Lin and Elder Cai stood at the front, their expressions as stern as ever.
"You've all progressed well in your cultivation," Elder Lin began, her voice calm but commanding. "But progress requires refinement. Today, we will focus on advanced techniques to strengthen your Qi control and combat awareness."
Elder Cai stepped forward, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. "These techniques are the foundation of your future growth. If you fail to master them, you'll never advance beyond the Qi Gathering Realm."
The disciples straightened, the weight of his words sinking in.
Wei Liang, Zhang Fei, and Han Xun stood near the back, exchanging determined glances. After their missions, the importance of honing their skills was clearer than ever.
The lesson began with Qi refinement drills, each disciple channeling their energy into glowing spheres of light that hovered above their palms. Wei Liang focused on the shadow Qi lingering in his dantian, guiding it into the sphere. The Lunar-Eye Lens gave him an edge, allowing him to see the minute flows of energy and correct imbalances in real time.
"Your control is improving," Elder Lin said as she passed him, her tone approving.
Wei Liang nodded, though he felt the strain of maintaining the balance. The shadow Qi was powerful but volatile, and the Abyssal Core Shard's lingering influence made it harder to stabilize.
---
A Glimpse Beneath the Surface
Later, the lesson shifted to combat awareness. Disciples paired off to spar, their goal not to win but to anticipate their opponent's moves and exploit weaknesses. Wei Liang faced Han Xun, who grinned despite his exhaustion.
"Don't hold back, Wei," Han said, twirling his spear. "Let's see what that shadow Qi of yours can do."
Wei Liang activated the Lunar-Eye Lens as the match began. The lens highlighted the faint glow of Han's Wood Root Qi, showing the flows of energy that powered his strikes. When Han lunged, Wei Liang sidestepped smoothly, his blade striking at the gaps in Han's defenses.
"Cheating again, aren't you?" Han muttered, laughing breathlessly as he blocked another attack.
"Just using my strengths," Wei Liang replied, his focus unwavering.
The sparring match ended in a stalemate, though Wei Liang felt the Lunar-Eye Lens draining his Qi faster than expected. Its power was invaluable, but it came with a cost.
Across the courtyard, Lin Ziyan sparred with two disciples at once, his movements as sharp and precise as ever. Wei Liang watched him closely, activating the lens briefly to study his Qi flows again. The cracks in Lin Ziyan's aura were still there, faint but present—a sign of overconfidence or perhaps something deeper.
"What do you see?" Zhang Fei asked, stepping beside him.
Wei Liang deactivated the lens. "He's strong, but he's pushing himself too hard. If he keeps this up, those flaws will catch up to him."
Zhang Fei nodded thoughtfully. "Let's hope it happens before he decides to challenge you again."
---
That evening, Wei Liang returned to his dormitory, his mind buzzing with questions. The System had been strangely quiet since their return, offering no insights into Elder Yan or the Jade Veil Sect. The shard had been taken by the elders for safekeeping, but its presence lingered in Wei Liang's thoughts like an unspoken warning.
Sitting cross-legged on his cot, he activated the Lunar-Eye Lens and focused on the walls around him. The lens revealed faint patterns of Qi running through the sect's structures—evidence of ancient formations designed to protect and enhance the sect's grounds.
"Why would Elder Yan target the Mistwood?" Wei Liang muttered.
The System chimed softly.
[Insight: The Jade Veil Sect's remnants may be tied to the protective formations of Jade Peak Sect. Historical records suggest overlap in their cultivation philosophies.]
Wei Liang frowned. "So, the two sects were connected?"
[Affirmative. Historical data is limited. Further investigation required.]
Wei Liang exhaled, his frustration mounting. The elders clearly knew more than they were telling, but asking outright would likely lead to more questions than answers.
---
The next day, the disciples gathered in the courtyard again, this time for a formal duel. Jin Yue, the inner disciple overseeing their training, stepped forward to announce the match.
"Today's duel will feature Lin Ziyan and Zhang Fei," he said, his voice calm but commanding.
Wei Liang's heart sank. Zhang Fei stepped forward, her expression unreadable as she faced Lin Ziyan across the courtyard.
"Are you ready, Zhang?" Lin Ziyan asked, his smirk as confident as ever.
"Always," she replied, her daggers glinting in the sunlight.
The match began, and Wei Liang watched closely, activating the Lunar-Eye Lens to study their movements. Lin Ziyan's strikes were as precise as ever, but Zhang Fei's precision and speed allowed her to evade and counter with deadly efficiency.
The crowd murmured as the match grew more intense. For the first time, Lin Ziyan seemed to be on the defensive, his smirk replaced by a focused scowl.
Wei Liang's lens revealed the strain in Lin Ziyan's Qi flows—cracks that widened with each powerful strike he unleashed. Zhang Fei capitalized on his mistakes, her daggers slicing through his defenses.
But Lin Ziyan's raw power ultimately tipped the scales. With a final, Qi-infused strike, he disarmed Zhang Fei, sending her daggers clattering to the ground.
"The match is over," Jin Yue announced.
Lin Ziyan lowered his blade, his smirk returning. "Well fought, Zhang. But you're still a step behind."
Zhang Fei retrieved her daggers, her expression calm but her eyes burning with determination. "For now," she said quietly.
As the crowd dispersed, Wei Liang approached her. "You almost had him."
She nodded, sheathing her daggers. "Not this time. But next time, I will."
Wei Liang smiled faintly, her resolve mirroring his own. The gap between them and Lin Ziyan was narrowing—and it was only a matter of time before it closed entirely.