The sun dipped behind the jagged peaks of Dead Mountain, casting long shadows across the temple courtyard. A gentle breeze swept through the garden, rustling the leaves and carrying the faint sound of Lim Kris's training as she sparred with water constructs.
Chen Franz stood at the edge of the courtyard, gazing toward the horizon. His expression was calm, but beneath the surface, he was already preparing for the confrontation that would soon arrive.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"Fire Elder and his warriors… they'll be here in two days."
He could already sense their blazing energy approaching like a wildfire, steadily closing the distance between them.
Chen Franz (smiling faintly):
"Fifty warriors and an elder against a lone Level 1 cultivator in a hut? I can't let them know what's really waiting for them."
He turned his gaze toward the temple, the very air shimmering faintly with immortal energy radiating from the structure.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"Too flashy… they'll sense this from miles away."
Sealing The temple Aura
With a flick of his wrist, Chen Franz began weaving his spiritual energy around the temple grounds. The golden glow that surrounded the temple faded instantly, the once radiant garden becoming more subdued, resembling a humble shrine.
The immortal aura that once flowed freely across the mountain now seemed no stronger than a farmer's cottage.
Chen Franz (nodding slightly):
"That should do it. To them, this will look like nothing more than an ordinary shack on the mountainside."
As he worked, Lim Kris noticed the shift from the center of the courtyard.
Lim Kris (pausing her training):
"Master… something feels different. Did you do something to the temple?"
Chen Franz glanced over his shoulder, offering a faint smile.
Chen Franz (calmly):
"I'm simply concealing the temple's energy. There's no need to let unwanted visitors sense what lies here."
Lim Kris wiped her forehead, looking around curiously.
Lim Kris:
"It feels… ordinary now. Why hide it? Wouldn't it scare them off if they sensed how powerful this place really is?"
Chen Franz chuckled softly, shaking his head.
Chen Franz:
"Fear is only temporary. If they believe there's nothing worth fearing here, they'll lower their guard."
Lim Kris (grinning):
"So… you're baiting them?"
Chen Franz (smiling):
"Something like that."
Concealing His Power
Chen Franz stretched his arms and exhaled softly. Now that the temple was hidden, there was one more thing to take care of – himself.
His aura, even when dormant, burned brighter than any cultivator on the continent. If the Fire Clan sensed even a fraction of his true strength, they would flee without question.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"I'll hide everything. Let's make this interesting."
He closed his eyes, and slowly, the immense energy that flowed through his body began to recede.
One layer at a time, he suppressed his cultivation, shrinking his presence until it disappeared completely.
When he opened his eyes, even Lim Kris blinked in confusion.
Lim Kris (staring at him):
"Wait… Master… your power… it's gone?"
Chen Franz (grinning):
"What power?"
To Lim Kris's senses, Chen Franz now felt like an ordinary man. There wasn't even the faintest trace of spiritual energy around him.
Lim Kris (narrowing her eyes):
"You're messing with me… aren't you?"
Chen Franz shrugged, walking toward the temple entrance.
Chen Franz:
"To the world, I'm just a humble man living on this mountain. Even if they come looking, I'll look like nothing more than a slave with no cultivation."
Lim Kris (laughing softly):
"Master, if you lower your presence any more, even I might start bossing you around."
Chen Franz (playfully):
"I'll keep that in mind."
Over the next few hours, Chen Franz took the preparations even further. He cloaked the entire mountain in an illusion, reshaping the towering temple into a run-down hut.
The magnificent phoenix statues guarding the entrance became simple wooden poles, and the streams running through the garden turned into shallow creeks.
Even the lush immortal plants shifted into ordinary shrubs and weeds.
Lim Kris (looking around):
"I can't believe this is the same place… it really looks abandoned now."
Chen Franz smiled as he inspected his work.
Chen Franz:
"It's fitting, don't you think? A forgotten place hidden in the mountains. Let them underestimate us."
Lim Kris crossed her arms, clearly amused by the lengths Chen Franz was going to hide their presence.
Lim Kris:
"So, you're going to pretend to be some low-level cultivator with a broken-down hut?"
Chen Franz (grinning):
"Exactly. I'll even chop firewood if it helps sell the act."
As Lim Kris resumed her training, Chen Franz stood near the entrance, quietly observing her.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"Even if I could make her powerful instantly, it wouldn't matter unless she could handle pressure. This will test how strong her mind truly is."
He had no intention of stepping in unless necessary.
Even when Fire Elder and his warriors arrived, Chen Franz planned to let Lim Kris fight first.
Chen Franz (thinking):
"If she can stand on her own against the Fire Clan, she'll be ready for far greater threats."
His eyes flickered as he sensed the Fire Clan closing in. Two days remained.
Chen Franz (softly):
"Let's see how you handle the flames, Lim Kris."