Chapter 8: Factions of the Sky-Severing Sect

The Gathering Clouds

Something was changing in the Sky-Severing Sect. Tianhai could feel it. The air was heavier than usual, and even the disciples who once moved through the sect carefree now spoke in hushed voices. Tension seeped into every corner like an unseen mist.

Maybe it was his imagination. Maybe it was just the natural order of things—sects always had internal conflicts, right? But still, something about this felt... different.

For Tianhai, the days were becoming a blur of training and quiet observation. His cultivation had advanced quickly, faster than even he expected. His Qi flowed stronger, smoother, and he was beginning to grasp things that had once seemed impossible. He was close to breaking into the Foundation Realm, but he knew that wasn't enough—not in a place like this. Strength alone wouldn't get him far.

That much was becoming clearer with each passing day.

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Factions and Shadows

Jian Xuan never talked much about sect politics. But Tianhai was starting to see the unspoken battle lines being drawn.

Xue Wei and his faction weren't just arrogant disciples trying to push him down. No, this was bigger than that. Xue Wei's master was a powerful elder, one who had long opposed Jian Xuan's ideals. Their rivalry wasn't just between two disciples—it was a reflection of something much deeper.

Tianhai wasn't naive. He had never been part of a sect before, but he had lived long enough to know how the world worked. Power meant influence, and influence meant survival. If he wasn't careful, he'd become nothing more than a pawn in someone else's game.

Still, no matter how much he tried to ignore it, he was already part of that game. Just by being Jian Xuan's disciple, he had been dragged into the struggle. And Xue Wei wasn't going to stop testing him.

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Strength in the Making

Training with Jian Xuan had become more intense. The elder rarely praised him, but Tianhai didn't need words of encouragement to know he was improving. His body was stronger, his Qi was purer, and his understanding of combat had sharpened like a whetstone grinding steel.

One evening, after an exhausting round of sparring, Jian Xuan finally spoke.

"You're ready."

Tianhai wiped sweat from his brow, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. "Ready for what?"

Jian Xuan studied him for a long moment before turning toward the sky. The setting sun bathed the mountains in deep crimson, casting long shadows across the training grounds.

"To step beyond Qi Refining," he finally said. "To establish your foundation."

Tianhai's heart pounded. He had been working toward this, but hearing it aloud made it feel real.

Breaking into the Foundation Realm wasn't just about gathering enough Qi. It was about reinforcing his body, stabilizing his meridians, and refining his spiritual awareness. It was a transformation—a step toward something greater.

That night, he sat in meditation, absorbing the energy around him, steadying his breath, and allowing his Qi to settle into place. Hours passed. Then a shift. A deep, resounding stillness settled in his core, like a mountain anchoring itself into the earth.

Then came the surge. His Qi expanded, spreading through every fiber of his being. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and something inside him... changed.

He had done it. He had reached the Foundation Realm.

Tianhai opened his eyes. The night sky above was endless, the stars stretching far beyond what he could see. But for the first time, he felt like he had taken a step toward something just as vast.

A path that had only just begun.

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Storm on the Horizon

The sect's internal conflicts weren't dying down. If anything, they were getting worse. And now that Tianhai had advanced, he knew he would be expected to play a larger role—whether he wanted to or not.

Xue Wei wouldn't take his growth lightly. Neither would the elders who opposed Jian Xuan.

Tianhai didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear: he wasn't just fighting for himself anymore.

And that meant the real battles were only beginning.