Base of the Mountain of the Four Tributaries
The sun had just risen. A faint, pale light gave shape to the rocks and trails. A ten-year-old boy with golden hair walked slowly, the cold wind fluttering his clothes. He brought his hands to his mouth and yawned.
The path was familiar. A few minutes later, he stopped.
Before him lay a common landscape: rocks, earth, trees, and wild plants. To any ordinary eye, nothing seemed different. But Sai saw something else entirely.
The rocks formed an invisible line. The trees followed the same pattern. Even the placement of the shrubs felt deliberate.
Too perfect.
Sai smiled.
— A natural formation. It's time.
He approached the center of the clearing and knelt. Dry earth trickled through his fingers. He placed his palm flat against the ground.
A pulse of light erupted.
Energy from every corner of the landscape began converging toward the center where Sai stood. A metallic sound echoed—the grinding of ancient gears. The ground opened slowly, revealing a mechanism that had likely been hidden for centuries.
A stone staircase began to form, descending deep into the soil. Sai stretched his arms and started to descend, relaxed and whistling a tune.
---
Four-Leaf Clover Sect — Hours Later
It was a sunny day. Outer disciples repeated precise movements with various weapons while Elders observed from the front. Everything was proceeding normally—just another mundane day.
Until it wasn't.
— Hm?
One of the instructors murmured. He closed his hand as if trying to grasp something forming in the air around him. His eyes widened in shock.
An assistant disciple noticed his change in demeanor.
— Elder Mu? What is it?
— The Qi... it's increasing!
The instructor lost his usual composure, his voice cracking.
The same phenomenon was happening across the Sect grounds. Elders in the Qi Absorption Realm perceived it first, followed shortly by the disciples.
The entire Sect fell into an uproar. The density of Qi had already doubled, and it was still rising.
---
Palace of the Ancestors
It didn't take long for the three to gather. This time, the Sect Leader himself, Lin Yao, was present.
— Ancestors!
Lin Yao's voice was trembling.
— What is happening?!
It was hard to tell if his tone held joy or sheer terror. Guo Zhen was the first to speak, his single eye narrowed.
— Guest Elder Sai.
Mu Chen let out a booming laugh.
— HAHAHA! With this, our Sect will finally dominate the province!
Pure excitement was written all over his wrinkled face. Han Xun, however, only sighed.
— This isn't necessarily a good thing. The Flaming Battle Sect won't just sit by and watch us grow.
His voice sounded ancient, weary. Mu Chen slammed his hand onto the table.
— Bah! Those barbarians don't scare anyone! Let them come!
Guo Zhen turned his attention to Lin Yao.
— Organize all the Elders. We must prepare so we aren't caught off guard.
His face still bore the marks of his encounter with the assassin—a white bandage wrapped diagonally across his face, covering his lost eye.
— Yes, Ancestor!
Lin Yao bowed and hurried out. Mu Chen laughed again.
— HAHAHA! Guo Zhen, Han Xun... soon we shall see our old friends again!
Han Xun raised his head, staring at the ceiling as if his gaze could pierce the clouds.
— Was this truly the right choice?
---
Mountain of the Four Tributaries
Yan Li was painting—or trying to. But the ink glowed faintly on the paper, as if it were drinking the Qi directly from the air. She furrowed her brow in confusion.
— This isn't normal.
---
Wei Lian was practicing a movement technique. His steps felt lighter, as if the air itself was providing better support. He stopped, staring at his own hands.
— Master Sai... what did you do?
---
Wang Tao felt it first, even before he opened his eyes. The Qi hadn't just increased—it felt purer, like filtered water. He clenched his fists, feeling his body respond with newfound efficiency.
With this... perhaps...
He didn't finish the thought. But the seed was planted.