The Rising Storm

Li Yuan stepped off the stone platform, his body still tingling from the intense battle with Sun Yi. Sweat clung to his skin, but he felt invigorated rather than exhausted. Each fight sharpened his instincts, refining his combat sense in ways he had never imagined. However, he barely had time to revel in his victory before a familiar voice rang out.

"You're quite impressive, Li Yuan," a cold yet amused tone reached his ears.

Turning, he found himself face to face with Jiang Hao. The older disciple stood tall, arms crossed, his sharp eyes locked onto Li Yuan with an intensity that sent a faint chill down his spine.

"Winning against Sun Yi is no small feat," Jiang Hao continued. "But don't let it get to your head. There's a vast difference between us."

Li Yuan smirked, masking the unease in his heart. "I appreciate the advice, Senior Jiang, but I prefer to find out differences firsthand rather than just hear about them."

The crowd tensed. Jiang Hao's reputation as a top outer disciple was well known, and Li Yuan's words had undoubtedly challenged him.

Jiang Hao's smirk widened slightly, but his eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint. "Interesting. You'll get your chance soon enough."

Before Li Yuan could respond, an elder approached the stone platform, his deep voice silencing the murmurs around them.

"The next round of battles will be held tomorrow. All participating disciples should prepare accordingly," the elder announced. "Those who remain standing will earn the right to challenge the top disciples of the outer sect for a chance to enter the inner sect."

A wave of excitement spread through the gathered disciples. This was what they had been waiting for—the true test that could elevate them beyond mere outer disciples.

Jiang Hao cast one last glance at Li Yuan before turning away. "Enjoy your victories while they last," he said before vanishing into the crowd.

Li Yuan exhaled, the weight of the upcoming battle settling on his shoulders. He had no delusions—Jiang Hao wasn't just strong, he was leagues ahead of most outer disciples. If they clashed, it would be the hardest battle he had faced yet.

But fear had no place in his heart. He had come too far to hesitate now.

---

That evening, Li Yuan returned to his secluded training ground near the dried-up blood pond. The memory of his transformation still lingered in his mind—the red cocoon, the searing pain, the rush of Yuan Qi coursing through his meridians.

Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and began circulating his Yuan Qi.

The energy within him moved like a living thing, flowing through his meridians with newfound vigor. He had only recently started cultivating, yet his progress was staggering. It was as if his body had been waiting for this moment, absorbing and refining Yuan Qi at an astonishing rate.

As he meditated, strange visions flickered through his mind—dark shadows twisting in the void, a crimson light pulsating at the center of it all. A voice, ancient and distant, whispered in a language he couldn't understand.

His eyes snapped open, heart pounding.

"What was that?" he murmured, his breath uneven.

The experience felt too real, too vivid to be a mere illusion. Yet there were no answers, only questions piling onto the mysteries surrounding him.

A rustling sound pulled him back to reality.

Li Yuan's eyes narrowed as he sensed a presence nearby. He stood up, his muscles tensing as he scanned the area. A soft chuckle echoed from the trees, and a figure stepped into the dim moonlight.

It was a woman—tall, graceful, and exuding an aura of dangerous charm. She wore a deep purple robe that clung to her curves, and her long black hair cascaded down her back like silk. But what struck Li Yuan the most was her eyes—amber and feline, gleaming with a predatory amusement.

"You're quite the interesting one," she mused, folding her arms. "I've been watching you."

Li Yuan's instincts screamed at him. This woman was dangerous. Not in an overtly aggressive way, but in the way a predator watches its prey before deciding whether to strike.

"Who are you?" he asked cautiously.

The woman tilted her head. "You may call me Yue Qing," she said, her lips curling into a smirk. "And you, Li Yuan, have piqued my curiosity."

His grip on his sword tightened. "I don't recall giving you my name."

Yue Qing laughed softly. "Oh, please. A rising star in the outer sect, someone who defeated Sun Yi in a direct confrontation? Did you think your name wouldn't spread?" She stepped closer, her movements slow and deliberate. "But you… you're different from the others. I can smell it."

Li Yuan frowned. "Smell it?"

Yue Qing's smirk deepened. "Secrets have a scent, and yours is particularly intoxicating."

His heart pounded, but he kept his expression neutral. "If you're here to fight, then let's not waste time with words."

Yue Qing chuckled. "So impatient. I didn't come here to fight. Not yet, at least." She walked past him, trailing her fingers lightly along the rough bark of a tree. "I simply wanted to meet the boy who defies expectations."

Li Yuan didn't let his guard down. "And now that you've met me?"

Yue Qing stopped, her back to him. "Now, I wait and see if you survive the trials ahead." She turned her head slightly, her amber eyes glinting. "Make sure you don't disappoint me, Li Yuan."

With that, she vanished into the darkness, leaving only the faintest trace of her scent in the cool night air.

Li Yuan exhaled slowly, tension leaving his body.

Another mystery. Another person who seemed to know more than they let on.

The path ahead was growing more treacherous by the day.

And he had no choice but to walk it.