The Sun family estate was alive with the crackling sounds of cultivation—swords striking against the earth, fire blazing, and the determined grunts of those who sought to push their limits. At the heart of this spectacle, there was a figure—though not actively participating, nor even watching with the same intensity as the others. His stance was far removed from the rest in a way that many failed to notice.
Sun Luo stood at the edge of the courtyard, slightly apart from the rest. His gaze never wavered from the training grounds, where his cousins and siblings wielded swords and manipulated fire with ease. His posture, though relaxed, held a quiet intensity—one that many could no longer appreciate or understand.
Once, at the age of seven, Luo had been heralded as a genius for reaching **Body Tempering Level 2**, an achievement beyond his years. But at fourteen, he stood still, his cultivation frozen, his once-promising future tarnished by an inexplicable stagnation.
"Hey, Luo!" A familiar voice cut through the noise. **Sun Jian**, his older cousin, appeared before him with a smirk. "What are you doing standing there? Watching us train? Maybe you think you'll pick something up by osmosis."
Luo didn't respond. His silence only fueled Jian's arrogance.
"Luo's probably too weak to even light a spark anymore," added **Sun Hao**, Jian's younger brother. He flicked his fingers, conjuring a small flame before snuffing it out. "Remember when he was the genius of the family? What a joke."
Luo's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. The words stung, but he had long since learned that reacting only made it worse. He stood motionless, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
"Enough!" A sharp voice broke through the tension. **Sun Mei**, Luo's elder sister, stepped forward, her fiery gaze cutting through the air. "You should be ashamed of yourselves. Luo doesn't need this."
But Jian only smirked, turning to his younger cousin. "Maybe we should get him a leash. He's practically a servant now anyway."
The words hit harder than any strike, and Luo felt his chest tighten. They were right—he couldn't deny it. His failure was all they saw.
Mei stepped in between them, her voice quiet but firm. "Stop it, both of you. He doesn't need to be reminded of his place."
"Why bother defending him, Mei?" Jian shot back. "He can't even light a flame anymore. The Sun family's *forgotten genius*."
Luo couldn't bear it anymore. The memories of his past—of the flames he had once controlled so effortlessly—burned at the back of his mind. But no more. This time, his silence would be his last.
"You want to see a fire, Jian?" Luo's voice was low but cold. His eyes narrowed, a spark of something unknown flaring within him.
"Luo, don't—" Mei began, but it was too late.
With a sudden movement, Luo thrust his palm forward. The air around him shimmered with intensity, and in a split second, a powerful burst of flame erupted from his hand. It crackled in the air, brighter than any of them had seen from him in years.
Jian froze, his smirk faltering. Hao's eyes widened in disbelief.
But just as quickly as it appeared, the fire disappeared. The courtyard fell silent, and Luo stood still, the faint scent of scorched air lingering around him.
Without a word, Luo turned and walked away, his footsteps heavy with unspoken words.
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**Ending Hook**:
As he walked away, Luo's fists clenched. *That fire was only the beginning. They have no idea what I'm capable of.*
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