"Whoo…" Xiao Chen exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes. Within his meridians, a thread of true essence, no thicker than a strand of hair, slowly circulated. Despite its minuscule size, the sensation filled him with joy.
Though he hadn't slept through the night, his spirit was invigorated. Even the numbness in his legs had faded thanks to the mysterious restorative effects of the true essence. This faint glimmer of power, weak as it was, offered immense encouragement.
The first step is always the hardest.
After sensing spiritual energy for the first time, Xiao Chen immersed himself in cultivation. For days on end, he did little other than sit cross-legged, eating only when necessary. Progress was slow, but the faint thread of energy within him grew steadily stronger.
One morning, Xiao Chen completed a cycle of the Mantra of the Living Grass and Wood. Just as he opened his eyes, a message talisman appeared in his room, igniting on its own. Yaodaozi's voice came through the flickering flames:
"Xiao Chen, come to my room."
Xiao Chen's heart surged with admiration. The ability to use such talismans was a privilege reserved for those who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage or higher.
After greeting a few acquaintances along the way, Xiao Chen arrived at Yaodaozi's room and respectfully called out, "Master, your disciple Xiao Chen requests an audience."
"Enter," came the calm response from within.
Pushing open the door, Xiao Chen saw Yaodaozi sitting cross-legged on a cushion, his eyes closed. Despite his serene posture, a faint, almost imperceptible pressure emanated from him, making Xiao Chen feel small and somewhat uneasy.
Yaodaozi opened his eyes, his gaze landing on Xiao Chen with a hint of curiosity. "How have you progressed with the Mantra of the Living Grass and Wood over these past days?"
Xiao Chen lowered his head, his expression tinged with embarrassment. "Master, this disciple is dull and without a spiritual root. Though I've trained diligently for over ten days, I've only managed to sense external spiritual energy and draw a faint trace into my body."
Yaodaozi nodded slightly, a sigh of resignation passing through his mind. Xiao Chen's tenacity and aptitude were undeniable. To comprehend the mantra and generate even the smallest thread of true essence in such a short time was a testament to his extraordinary potential. Yet his lack of a spiritual root meant his efforts would always yield far less than they should.
Suppressing his frustration, Yaodaozi waved dismissively. "Here is your identity token. Go to the outer sect registry and collect two Windwalking Talismans. You'll accompany the returning disciples back home for a brief visit. Remember, you must return within five days, or you'll face punishment under sect rules."
"Yes, Master," Xiao Chen replied, bowing deeply. Excitement flickered in his eyes as he carefully accepted the token and left.
As he walked, Xiao Chen's thoughts drifted to his father in Xiao City. Has Father been bullied by the Xiao family? Concern quickened his steps. Turning a corner, he suddenly glimpsed a flash of white fabric and moved to step aside.
Unfortunately, the other person was faster. A cold glare met him as Ji Yuewu stood a few paces away, her expression tinged with irritation.
"Senior Sister Ji…" Xiao Chen stammered, his face flushing with embarrassment. He had been so preoccupied that he hadn't noticed her approach. As they passed each other, he'd accidentally brushed against something soft, and the realization made his gaze drop for a fleeting moment.
"Humph!" Ji Yuewu's cold snort pulled him back to his senses.
"Ah! Senior Sister, forgive me," Xiao Chen blurted, retreating a step. "Master instructed me to register in the outer sect and return home briefly. I was too hasty and acted carelessly. Please forgive my offense."
Ji Yuewu's expression softened slightly, though her demeanor remained frosty. "It's fine."
"Thank you, Senior Sister." Xiao Chen gave an awkward smile before quickly excusing himself.
Far from Ji Yuewu, Xiao Chen let out a sigh of relief, shaking his head at his own clumsiness. Senior Sister Ji is a cultivator blessed with extraordinary talent. I can't afford to offend her. Reassuring himself that the situation wasn't too serious, he continued toward the outer sect registry.
"Is Brother Liu here? I am Xiao Chen, here to see him," Xiao Chen called out at the registry.
Liu Tao, a mid-thirties man with a friendly demeanor, soon appeared. He was a sixth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator and one of the most senior disciples in the outer sect.
"Ah, Xiao Chen? You must be the disciple of Elder Yaodaozi! Please, come in!" Liu greeted warmly, ushering him inside.
Xiao Chen bowed politely. "Greetings, Senior Brother."
Liu waved his hands modestly. "No need to call me that. You're a disciple of Elder Yaodaozi, destined to soar far above us. Let's not stand on ceremony. Call me Liu Tao, or simply Brother Liu, if you wish."
"Brother Liu is too kind," Xiao Chen replied with a smile.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Chen explained his purpose.
"So you wish to return home? No problem at all," Liu Tao said. "The most I can authorize is ten days of leave, but it's your choice."
"Five days will suffice. Master was clear on the time limit. Before I go, I'd like to request two Windwalking Talismans for my return trip," Xiao Chen said.
"Of course! Wait a moment." Liu disappeared briefly, returning with five yellow talismans.
"Each talisman allows the user to travel 1,000 miles per day. These five should more than suffice. Additionally…" Liu hesitated, then produced a finely crafted red talisman. "This is a Fireball Talisman, capable of ten attacks. Each fireball is equivalent to a strike from a fifth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator. Use it for self-defense."
"Brother Liu, this is too much!" Xiao Chen protested.
"Take it!" Liu insisted, his tone firm. "If you refuse, are you saying you look down on me?"
Reluctantly, Xiao Chen accepted the talismans, silently marveling at Yaodaozi's influence.
Soon after, Xiao Chen joined the group of disciples preparing to return their charges to their homes.
"Xiao Chen, you're here. We haven't been waiting long," said the leader, a senior disciple named Wang. "I've been in the sect four years longer than you. Call me Brother Wang, and I'll personally ensure your safe journey."
"Thank you, Brother Wang."
As Xiao Chen and the others set out, the other youths—especially those from the Xiao family—watched with complex emotions. Xiao Lin, in particular, clenched his fists. Though both he and Xiao Chen were nominal disciples, their masters were worlds apart.
This wasn't supposed to happen… Xiao Lin thought bitterly, a foreboding sense of change settling in his heart.