The hotel suite was quiet, almost unreal in its stillness. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked a sleeping city below—silver highways, distant skyscrapers glittering with the last hints of nightlife, and pale moonlight spilling across the marble floor like liquid ice. The room smelled of polished wood, fresh linen, and the faintest trace of sandalwood from the diffuser near the bedside table.
But the calm shattered.
A low hum vibrated through the air—soft at first, then growing, like a heartbeat echoing through the walls.
Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the Persian carpet, torso bare, sweat rolling down his spine. His breaths came slower now, shallow, uneven.His veins glowed faintly beneath his skin, like silver-blue threads being pulled tight.
And then— BOOM.
A pulse of Qi burst from his body, rattling the glass windows. The floor lamp flickered violently.
Silvery-blue threads of energy—thin as mist, cold as moonlight—began swirling around Lin Feng's body started appearing
LIN FENG (gasping, shouting): "Maste...! Master.... —what's happening to me?M..my veins—They're freezing—!"
The room temperature dropped.
From the corner of the room, the shadows stirred. A tall figure stepped forward, robes slightly crumpled, hair unkempt as if he had just rolled out of bed. His eyes, however—calm, sharp, ancient.
YE LINGYUN (dry tone, half-annoyed, half-amused): "You idiot disciple… You absorbed the purest form of Yin Qi without stabilizing your foundation first
Lin Feng's jaw clenched, his fingers digging into the carpet.
LIN FENG (strained, desperate): "Then why didn't you tell me sooner?! Do something—my veins feel like they're going to burst!"
Ye Lingyun clicked his tongue and squatted down beside him.
YE LINGYUN: "Alright, alright. Don't cry. Listen carefully—breathe slow. Guide the Qi in a spiral, not straight lines. Think of it like drawing a circle inside your lower dantian, compress—then release."
Lin Feng swallowed hard, closed his eyes.
Moonlight slid across his skin.
Silvery-blue Qi spiraled across his arms, his back, seeping into his veins like winter water invading warm flesh.
And then—something darker whispered.
A voice—not Ye Lingyun's—cold. Familiar. Inside his head.
?? (whisper, cold, merciless): "You can't save your loved ones...heh… heh… heh… haaa…"
The memory struck like glass under foot. Images—faces he had failed to protect, the smell of smoke, the weight of helplessness—flickered behind his closed lids. He tasted bile.
His eyes snapped open.
LIN FENG (voice trembling, internal): "N-No… n-not again… I-I won't… I won't lose them… n-not this time… n-not ever… a-again…"
Thunder rumbled inside his soul.
YE LINGYUN (sharper voice now): "Focus, Lin Feng!"
He gritted his teeth, followed Ye Lingyun's instructions—Qi spiraled, compressed, twisted violently.
Then—
WHOOM!
A pillar of Qi shot upward, invisible yet heavy enough to make the entire building groan. Curtains flew back. Papers fluttered. The chandelier trembled.
But the energy wasn't golden—not yet.
It was silvery-grey. Storm-like. Chaotic, yet… Calm.
YE LINGYUN (eyes widening): "What—White Qi…? The Path of FrostDao…?"
Lin Feng didn't answer. He couldn't. His consciousness teetered.
Then—
—BOOM.
A silent explosion.
Qi roared inside his body like a tidal wave under skin. The chandelier above swayed violently. Curtains whipped back from the sudden pressure. The glass windows thrummed as if struck by invisible thunder.
Inside his dantian—an explosion of light. Meridians expanded. Bones quivered. Heartbeat pounded like war drums.
Suddenly, one barrier shattered.
—Crack. Fifth Stage.
Another.
—Crack. Sixth Stage.
Pain seared through his ribs. His vision blurred.
In his mind that —voice whispered again.
"You can't save them."
"You're too weak."
"You failed before. You'll fail again."
LIN FENG (with blood on his lip, whispering):
"Shut. Up."
He pulled every strand of Yin Qi, compressing it tighter, tighter—into the moon in his core.
His body arched backward—
Stage 7 – Qi Refining Peak.
Silence.
The storm calmed. The air around him shimmered faintly. His body exhaled golden mist—soft, warm, glowing like dawn light over snow.
Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes.
They were no longer just brown… but ringed with faint silver—like frost kissing warm earth.
A soft mist rose from his mouth as he exhaled.
YE LINGYUN (staring, quiet disbelief): "In one night… you touched Pure Yin Qi and forced your way to the seventh stage. You Lunatic monster.."
Lin Feng exhaled, shoulders relaxing
,and he gave a weak, tired smile.
LIN FENG (smirking weakly): "Master… if I'm a monster… you're the one who raised me..huh."
Ye Lingyun stared at him for a long moment—then, unexpectedly, chuckled.
One hour later…
The room had calmed. The air was dense—but soothing. Qi flowed naturally like a quiet river. Lin Feng now sat in perfect meditation posture, hands forming a sphere shape—golden energy resting between them like a small sun.
The city lights outside the window faintly bent toward him… as if the world itself responded to his breath.
Ye Lingyun stood by the window, arms folded.
YE LINGYUN (softly): "This world is vast, boy. And tonight… you've taken your first real step into it. You've seen this city's beauty… don't you want to test your strength against it?"
Lin Feng's lips curved into a calm, dangerous smile.
LIN FENG: "Yes, Master."
He stood, walked to the open window of the 13th floor. The cold wind whipped his hair.
Qi bloomed behind him—white, silent,calm,yet terrifying. Lin feng said nothing more—he simply stepped back, and jumped out of the window.
Lin Feng (excited):
"Waaahooooooo!"