The early dawn bathed Qingyang City in soft gold, the peaks of the mountains casting long shadows over the Ye Family estate.
Ye Chen stood at the edge of the garden, eyes tracing the horizon. Spirit beasts rested quietly, the once chaotic courtyard now calm.
Inside, his mind wandered to the Book Realm, which pulsed with gentle energy. The Hidden Sect Scroll had opened yet another passage:
> "The Saint's Path: First Steps of Ascension"
The words glowed faintly, as if urging action.
> "A Saint begins not with might, but with understanding.
Gather allies, comprehend rivals, prepare the mind, the qi, and the spirit.
Only then can storms be weathered and mountains moved."
---
Ye Chen considered the Jianghu:
The Black Tiger Clan, bitter and vengeful.
The Silver Lotus Sect, observant and powerful, with motives hidden beneath calm surfaces.
The Heavenly Sword Sect, watching him quietly, weighing his potential.
> "Each faction is a page… each rival a chapter," he thought.
"I must read them all before they act, or the plot will be written without me."
He began to plan. The first step was consolidation within the Ye Family. Many inner disciples still doubted him, and a shaky foundation could crumble under pressure.
---
At dawn, Ye Chen called the core family disciples to the courtyard.
> "From now on," he said, voice calm yet commanding, "we are no longer merely a family with reputation. We are a family that cultivates intelligence, insight, and strength in balance.
Every action, every decision, every battle… must be understood before it is acted upon."
Ye Qin, still recovering pride from previous defeats, scowled but said nothing. The younger disciples listened in awe, realizing a new leader was emerging—one who commanded respect not through fear, but through comprehension and quiet authority.
---
That night, Ye Chen meditated beneath the plum tree.
Inside the Book Realm, new books had appeared:
> "Strategies of the Jianghu"
"The Dance of Rivals: Anticipating Moves Before They Occur"
"Saintly Mind: Harmonizing Qi and Thought"
Each tome shimmered, revealing layers of subtle techniques—both martial and intellectual.
He reached for the Hidden Sect Scroll, now pulsing with silver and gold threads of light.
> "The guardians have awakened… but there are still pages I have yet to read," he murmured.
"The Jianghu is a book, the rivals are words, and I… am the reader who will write the ending."
A faint whisper echoed through the Book Realm:
> "Preparation is the first step. Observation is the second. Action is the third. The storms draw near, Ye Chen… and the Saint's path is no longer a dream."
Ye Chen's eyes gleamed under the moonlight.
> "Then I will prepare, I will observe, and I will act. Let the Jianghu come. I am ready."