The applause faded slowly, replaced by a low hum of murmurs. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of dust and tension. Li Xuan stood still, his breath steady but shallow. His cheek burned fiercely where the strike had landed, and though he had stood his ground, the sting of that slap refused to fade.
Around him, whispers moved through the crowd like wind through dry grass. Some voices carried awe, others mockery.
At the edge of the courtyard, Feng Lei's jaw tightened. Every echo of applause grated on him like metal scraping against stone.
"That beggar…" he muttered, his voice low and sharp. "He thinks one trick makes him a hero?"
Li Xuan ignored the stares as he brushed the dust from his sleeves. The pain had settled into a dull throb, but something deeper hurt more—humiliation. He turned to leave, wishing for quiet, but before he could take a step, a soft voice called out behind him.
"Li Xuan!"
The sound was light, almost melodic, yet it struck something familiar.
Xiao Fengqi walked toward him, her steps measured and graceful. The afternoon sunlight caught her hair, scattering threads of gold through the dark strands. She smiled faintly as if she was the queen of the academy beauties
"You saved us from being dumped into Class 1H," she said, stopping in front of him. "That deserves something."
Li Xuan blinked, unsure how to respond. Her tone wasn't teasing; it carried sincerity, the kind that disarmed him more than a blow could.
He looked away, scratching lightly at his sleeve.
Her smile deepened. "Maybe. Still, you might join me for dinner. Just a simple meal."
Across the courtyard, Feng Lei's fists tightened. His face went rigid. "What?" he hissed, his nails digging into his palms until his knuckles turned white.
Li Xuan turned slightly, catching Feng Lei's glare from the corner of his eye. He could practically feel the jealousy boiling in him—and part of him wanted to make it worse.
He sighed. "Dinner with fancy girls? Sounds exciting for your fan boys. Sorry, maybe next time."
He walked off without another glance, shoulders heavy from the day's strain. The sunlight behind him stretched long shadows across the cracked courtyard stones.
Xiao Fengqi stood there for a moment, blinking in disbelief. It almost looked like she had just been turned down by a lover in public. Then, realizing who it was, she huffed, brushed a strand of hair from her face, and skipped away as if nothing had happened.
Feng Lei was already storming toward her. His anger burned hot, but as soon as she turned to face him, his fury melted into a practiced grin.
"Hey," he said smoothly. "Did I hear that right? Finally inviting me to dinner at your aunt's place?"
Xiao Fengqi bit the inside of her cheek, forcing a polite smile. "Yeah right. Maybe next time."
She turned and walked off, her laughter fading into the breeze.
Feng Lei's grin collapsed the moment she was out of sight. He clenched his fists so tightly that his veins stood out. "Ungrateful witch," he spat, his eyes burning with humiliation.
One by one, the students drifted away. The courtyard emptied until only silence remained, broken occasionally by the rustle of leaves.
Li Xuan walked toward the training yard, the soles of his shoes scraping softly against stone. The place was quiet now—a series of small pavilions floating above a shallow spirit pool. Once, this had been one of the academy's core beginner zones, but it still held traces of condensed energy, perfect for refining techniques.
He stepped onto a lone stone platform beneath an old willow. Its leaves brushed lightly against the water, their tips shimmering faintly with spiritual light. The air here was calm, heavy with the scent of moss and spirit cores buried beneath the pool.
He sat down cross-legged. The willow's faint spiritual pulse resonated in his chest, easing the ache in his cheek. The energy wasn't pure, but it was dense—its source likely from a few spirit-heart cores embedded deep below. Even diluted, such energy cost thousands of emerald coins to gather.
He closed his eyes. The golden afternoon light filtered through the branches, painting soft shapes across his face.
That palm strike...
He lifted his right hand, replaying the motion in slow rhythm. A faint shimmer of energy coiled around his palm, thin and uncertain. He guided it gently, tracing its flow through his veins, feeling where it faltered and where it burned steady.
Each breath drew the memory sharper—the instructor's perfect strike, the weight behind it, the precision that seemed to shake the air itself. His own felt light, unstable, a mere echo.
Still, he repeated it again and again until sweat gathered at his brow. He wasn't trying to imitate—it was something deeper. He wanted to understand why it worked, what made it real.
When he finally opened his eyes, the sun had dipped lower. The water in the pool shimmered orange and gold. He exhaled slowly and rubbed the side of his face.
"Guess I'll need a new face before going home," he muttered under his breath, his voice dry and tired.
"Need a new face? Hah! You need a new body!"
The voice was loud, mocking, and far too familiar.
Li Xuan didn't even look up at first. There were few arrogant enough to insult him directly but one in particular enjoyed it.
He raised his head slightly. Feng Lei was walking up, grinning as if nothing had happened.
"Li Xuan, Li Xuan," he said, stopping near the pool. "You never stop surprising me. Still trying to win Xiao Fengqi's heart?"
Li Xuan gave him a flat look. "I've never tried to impress your disobedient toy. Maybe learn how to be a man and in the process, maybe grow two."
Feng Lei froze, his grin faltering. Then his finger trembled as he pointed forward. "You… you've grown wild!"
A surge of energy burst from him, spreading like poison through the air. The aura was dark purple,dense and foul. It spread outwards polluting the entire surrounding,even when it touched the green plants around the pools,they all withered
Li Xuan felt it immediately. A cold pressure clung to his skin, trying to seep inside. "Poison attribute," he murmured, then added casually, "You sure you want to pollute the meditation pool? The supervisors might love to hear about that."
Feng Lei's smirk flickered, but he quickly forced it back. "You think you're untouchable? You've mastered one fake technique even a rat could manage that."
Li Xuan tilted his head slightly. "If a rat could, then what does that make you? An ant?"
Feng Lei's fury exploded. "How dare you!" His aura surged again like a maniac.
"I'll show you—you're nothing but a beggar!"
He slammed his fist into the ground. The pool water rippled violently, then began to bubble as the corruption spread.
Li Xuan just smiled, unbothered.
Feng Lei saw it and sneered. "Let's see how arrogant you are now—Scarlet Devil Lotus Flower!"
He raised his hand, and a red lotus spun into existence . His spiritual energy exploded outwards, emerging with the lotus flower until it reached at least two meters in diameter .
Li Xuan inhaled, calm as ever. He raised his palm up into the air making a golden colored palm to materialize in the air just as Feng Lei launched the attack.
The lotus shot forward. Li Xuan's spirit-palm met it midair—
"Enough!"
The single word struck like thunder. Both attacks froze instantly. A chilling aura swept across the meditation pool, so cold that even the water stilled. Li Xuan recognized that presence—the same one that had intervened earlier that morning.
The lotus and golden palm rose into the air, suspended for a heartbeat, before shattering in silence.
"This is not a place for fighting," the voice said, deep and distant, yet sharp enough to pierce bone.
"Yes, Spirit Instructor," Feng Lei replied quickly, his tone suddenly respectful.
"Leave this place. Now."
The voice faded, leaving only silence.
Li Xuan sighed, watching Feng Lei turn away with clenched fists. Saved again, he thought bitterly. He didn't know how powerful Feng lei cultivation base is , but someone who qualified to earn a place in class 4H was not to be messed with even though he had to show no fear in front of such arrogant brats
He stood and brushed off his robes, leaping lightly from the stone pavilion. The air had cooled, and as he started to walk away, that same chilling aura returned .
The willow leaves rustled though no wind blew. Ripples spread through the pool as if something unseen stirred beneath the surface.
Li Xuan paused, glancing back over his shoulder. For a moment, he thought he saw a figure reflected in the water but the mediation pool contained numerous traces of spiritual energy even those of dead cultivators.
He frowned, uneasy, and turned away. The chill lingered long after he left the courtyard.