Chapter 22: The Aftermath of the Battle

Chapter 22: The Aftermath of the Battle

The battlefield was silent.

The disciples of the Inner Sect stood frozen, their eyes locked onto the motionless body of Fei Yuan.

The once-mighty genius, the disciple of the Sect Master himself, lay sprawled on the shattered stone, his body trembling from the backlash of his own corrupt Qi.

Leon Xian stood over him, his golden aura flickering as he exhaled slowly. The fight was over.

But the storm that would follow?

It was only beginning.

---

The Disciples React

Murmurs spread through the crowd, hushed whispers filled with disbelief.

"He… He really beat Fei Yuan?"

"Not just beat him. He broke him!"

"This isn't normal… How can a newly promoted Inner Disciple fight like that?"

Among them, a few figures stood out.

Jiang Tian, a senior disciple, narrowed his eyes. He had seen Fei Yuan's strength before. There was no doubt—Leon was now a threat.

Meanwhile, Wu Mei, another rising star of the Inner Sect, smirked. "Interesting… Very interesting."

Even the normally indifferent Qin Yue found herself staring at Leon with a complicated expression.

"He didn't just win," she muttered. "He… absorbed Fei Yuan's power mid-fight and countered it perfectly."

That level of battle instinct and adaptability…

It wasn't normal.

It was monstrous.

---

Fei Yuan's Humiliation

A groan echoed from the ground.

Fei Yuan struggled to lift his head, his face contorted in pain. The arrogant genius who once stood above countless disciples now looked… pathetic.

Leon crouched down, his golden eyes glowing.

"You talked big," Leon said, his tone almost casual. "But in the end, you relied too much on your master's strength instead of your own."

Fei Yuan's fists clenched in rage.

"You… you don't understand…" he spat, his voice weak.

Leon simply smiled. "Oh? Then let me make it simple."

He leaned in slightly, his voice low but sharp as a blade.

"Next time we fight… You won't have the chance to surrender."

Fei Yuan's entire body shuddered.

Leon stood up and turned away.

His message was clear—Fei Yuan was no longer worth his attention.

And that hurt more than the battle itself.

---

The Sect Master's Attention

Far away, deep within the Sect Master's Hall, a pair of ancient, piercing eyes opened.

The Sect Master, a towering figure with long silver hair and an imposing presence, slowly placed down his cup of tea.

His disciple had lost.

Badly.

The room was silent as a hooded figure kneeled before him.

"Fei Yuan… was defeated," the figure reported.

The Sect Master's fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair.

"And the boy who did it?"

The hooded figure hesitated. "Leon Xian. Newly promoted Inner Disciple. His talent is… abnormal."

A pause.

Then—

The Sect Master smiled.

"Interesting."

His voice was calm, but the air in the room felt heavier.

"Let's see how far he can rise before the real trial begins."

The hooded figure bowed and disappeared.

---

Qin Yue's Conflict

As Leon walked toward the Inner Sect quarters, Qin Yue followed behind him.

"Leon," she finally called out.

He glanced back. "Hmm?"

She hesitated. She had seen countless geniuses before. Yet none had terrified her like Leon.

Not because of his strength.

But because he kept growing.

"That technique you used… The way you merged your Qi with Fei Yuan's demonic energy. That shouldn't be possible."

Leon just grinned. "And yet, here I am."

Qin Yue narrowed her eyes. "You're playing with fire."

Leon chuckled. "Fire's fun."

She sighed. "You don't get it. If the Elders find out you used demonic Qi, they might not care if it was an accident. They'll see you as a threat."

Leon's smirk didn't fade. "Then let them come."

For a moment, Qin Yue felt chilled.

Leon Xian wasn't just confident.

He was daring the entire sect to challenge him.

And that was terrifying.

---

The Hidden Shadow Moves

As night fell, a group of masked figures gathered in a hidden chamber beneath the sect.

A man in dark robes sat at the center, his aura suffocating.

"The Sect Master is watching the boy," one of the figures reported.

The leader scoffed. "Of course he is. A talent like that only appears once in a century."

A sharp gleam flickered in his eyes.

"Prepare the assassins."

The air in the room turned murderous.

Leon Xian had caught the attention of the wrong people.

And now…

They were coming for him.