One Month Later Silent Leaves Pavilion
Packed.
Outer disciples.Inner disciples.Even Elders.
Everyone waited for the new Guest Elder.
"Do you think it's true?" a disciple whispered."That he looks like… a child?"
"Elder Shin confirmed it," another replied."Ten years old. Maybe twelve."
"Impossible…"
Everyone fell silent.
The doors opened.
And HE entered.
Sai.
Blond hair.Deep eyes.The appearance of a ten-year-old.
He walked calmly to the podium.
TOTAL silence.
Some disciples blinked, disbelieving.
"Is that… a child?" someone murmured."Is this a joke?"
The murmurs spread.
Sai stopped.
Looked at the audience.
Then released his Qi—
Not oppressive.Not violent.
Just CLEAR. STABLE. PURE.
The air changed.
The murmurs vanished instantly.
Because everyone felt it—and understood.
This isn't ordinary Qi.A Qi Absorption cultivator.A CHILD.
Sai spoke.A child's voice—but firm.
"Good afternoon. My name is Sai.""I am a Guest Elder.""Today, I will speak about cultivation."
He stepped down from the podium, walking among them.
Observing.
"To walk the path of cultivation," he said,"mortals require elemental meridians."
Some disciples nodded.Basic knowledge.
"But—" Sai raised a finger."—meridians are NOT an absolute limit."
Silence.
"There are methods to alter affinity.""To expand talent."
Shocked murmurs.
"Impossible…" someone whispered."How?!"
Sai didn't explain.
He continued.
"First Realm: Body Refinement."
He stopped in front of a young, nervous disciple.
"You."
The disciple froze.
"How many Qi channels have you opened?"
"I-I…""…three."
Sai nodded.
"Three is average."
"But—"
He looked him straight in the eyes.
"Did you force them open?"
The disciple's eyes widened.
"H-how—"
"Your Qi is unstable," Sai said calmly."Poorly formed channels.""If you continue like this…""…you will never reach the second realm."
The disciple went pale.
The crowd murmured.
He can see through us?
Sai returned to the podium.
"In this realm, cultivators open Qi channels.""But forcing them without preparation—"
Pause.
"Without proper physical foundation—""…advancing is suicide."
Many disciples exchanged uneasy glances.
Is my foundation… adequate?
"Second Realm: Qi Absorption."
Sai waved his hand.
VISIBLE Qi appeared.
Circulating.Gentle.Natural—like a river.
Eyes widened across the pavilion.
He's controlling external Qi.With this level of precision?!
"Here," Sai continued,"many fail."
"Why?"
He looked at the crowd.
No one answered.
"Because they FORCE it."
"Qi must not be forced.""It must be harmonized."
The Qi in his hand trembled—chaotic.
"Chaotic Qi creates instability."
The Qi stopped—stagnant.
"Stagnant Qi leads to decay."
It returned to a smooth, steady flow.
"Balance."
"Between speed.""Purity.""And control."
Many disciples felt something shift inside them.
As if—for the first time—they understood what they had been doing wrong.
An older disciple—an Outer Elder—stared in shock.
My bottleneck… was always this?I was forcing it too much?
He inhaled deeply.
Something CHANGED within him.
"Third Realm: Foundation Establishment."
The Elders leaned forward.
"In this realm, Qi becomes structured."
"In the Dantian, the cultivator builds a temple.""A foundation.""One that supports EVERYTHING that follows."
Pause.
"There are four types of foundations."
Sai raised his fingers.
"Unstable—barely functional.""Structured—solid, common.""Perfect—without flaws."
"And…"
He looked at the audience—especially the Elders.
"…In Harmony with the Dao."
"When the temple directly reflects one's path."
ABSOLUTE silence.
The Elders swallowed.
Foundation in Harmony with the Dao…We've never heard of this.
An Inner Elder trembled, clenching his fists.
When I form my foundation…I refuse to let it be ordinary.
Sai continued for hours.
Explaining.Detailing.
Channel opening.Qi circulation.Common mistakes.How to correct them.
The audience absorbed every word—
Like dry earth drinking rain.
As the sun began to set—
"Lastly," Sai concluded,"I will open a ceremony to accept disciples."
The pavilion stirred IMMEDIATELY.
"At Mount Four Rivers, I have prepared a test."
"Three days.""Reach the summit.""And you will pass the first stage."
He inclined his head.
"Thank you for your attention."
And left.
The pavilion EXPLODED.
"I'M GOING!"
"I HAVE to become his disciple!"
"You don't stand a chance!"
"SHUT UP!"
But some remained silent.
Processing.
---
The Outer Elder who felt his bottleneck was breathing heavily.
Balance… not forcing…
He closed his eyes—and FELT it.
Qi flowed differently.
Smoother.More natural.
He opened his eyes wide.
I… broke through?A five-year bottleneck?Just by listening?!
He stared at the empty podium.
Who… is that boy?
---
Another young disciple—Body Refinement, five channels opened—felt it too.
My Qi was always chaotic.That's why I never advanced.But now…
He circulated it consciously.
Slowly.Harmonizing.Not forcing.
For the first time—
True stability.
It works…It really works.
---
At the back of the hall stood an Inner Disciple.
Lin Xue.Grandson of a Central Elder.
He clenched his fists.
Unstable foundation… I must be careful.My family depends on me.
With resolute eyes, he stared at the empty podium.
I must pass this test.I MUST.
The hall continued to boil.
Disciples arguing.Planning.Some already running toward Mount Four Rivers.
Others stayed behind.
Thinking.
Because they knew.
That sermon had changed something inside them.
Permanently.