Chapter 10

A Rising Storm

Wang Xiaofeng returned to the village before sunrise, his body sore from the night's training.

The moment he stepped through the door, he collapsed onto the bed.

"So exhausting… but worth it."

The old man's technique had changed everything. Now, instead of blindly absorbing soul power, he could refine it.

It wasn't perfect yet, but he was one step closer to creating his own soul ring.

His eyes fluttered shut as sleep overtook him.

A New Opportunity

For the next few days, Wang Xiaofeng maintained his usual routine.

By day, he trained under Wang Daniu's basic cultivation method.

By night, he secretly refined his soul power using the old man's technique.

It was slow progress, but progress nonetheless.

Then—

One evening, as he was practicing, his father called out to him.

"Xiaofeng, come here."

Wang Xiaofeng walked over, noticing a rare seriousness in Wang Daniu's expression.

"There's an envoy from Wuhun Hall coming to the village tomorrow."

Wang Xiaofeng's heart skipped a beat.

Wuhun Hall? Already?

Wang Daniu continued, "They heard about your innate level 5 soul power and want to test you further. If you pass, they might recommend you to Wuhun Hall's academy."

Wang Xiaofeng clenched his fists.

This was the opportunity any young soul master would dream of—

But for him, it was dangerous.

If they examine me too closely, they might notice something unusual about my martial soul…

He forced a smile. "I understand, Father. I'll prepare."

Wang Daniu patted his shoulder. "Good. This is a great chance for you."

A Late-Night Meeting

That night, Wang Xiaofeng rushed to the forest, meeting the old man at their usual spot.

"You're late," the old man said, leaning on his cane.

"Something happened," Wang Xiaofeng replied. "Wuhun Hall is coming tomorrow."

The old man's relaxed expression disappeared.

"…So soon?"

Wang Xiaofeng nodded. "They want to test my talent. What should I do?"

The old man tapped his cane thoughtfully. "If you refuse, it'll be suspicious. But if you go… they might discover your martial soul's true nature."

Wang Xiaofeng took a deep breath. "Is there a way to hide it?"

The old man smirked. "There is. But it won't be easy."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

"You need to learn concealment techniques."

The Art of Concealment

For the rest of the night, Wang Xiaofeng trained under the old man's guidance.

"Instead of releasing all your soul power at once, suppress it. Let only a small portion leak out."

It was a delicate balance.

Too much suppression, and it would look like he had low talent.

Too little, and the Wuhun Hall members might sense something was off.

After hours of trial and error, he finally got the hang of it.

"Good," the old man said, nodding in approval. "This should be enough to fool them—if you don't panic."

Wang Xiaofeng wiped his sweat. "I won't."

The old man smiled. "Then tomorrow… let's see how well you can deceive the world."

The Test Begins

The next morning, the entire village gathered at the square.

A carriage with the Wuhun Hall emblem had arrived, carrying two soul masters.

One was a middle-aged man with a calm expression. The other was a young woman, likely an apprentice.

Wang Xiaofeng stood at the front, suppressing his soul power just as the old man had taught him.

The middle-aged man stepped forward.

"So, you are Wang Xiaofeng?"

Wang Xiaofeng nodded. "Yes, sir."

The man gestured to the crystal ball. "Place your hand here. We will test your soul power again."

Wang Xiaofeng took a deep breath and pressed his palm against the crystal ball.

A faint light flickered inside—

Then, it shone slightly brighter than before, but not too much.

The middle-aged man stroked his chin. "Innate level 5, just as reported."

The young woman beside him nodded. "A decent talent for a small village."

Wang Xiaofeng let out a silent sigh of relief.

They bought it.

An Invitation

After testing, the middle-aged man turned to Wang Xiaofeng.

"With your talent, you qualify to enter Wuhun Hall's junior academy. You will receive proper training, resources, and guidance to become a true soul master."

The villagers murmured in excitement.

For a small village like Calabash Village, this was a rare honor.

But Wang Xiaofeng hesitated.

If he joined Wuhun Hall… wouldn't it be even harder to hide his abilities?

Still, refusing would raise suspicion.

Before he could answer, the young woman spoke.

"Of course, you don't have to decide immediately. We will return in three days. Think it over carefully."

Wang Xiaofeng bowed. "Thank you for the opportunity."

A Difficult Choice

That night, Wang Xiaofeng met with the old man again.

"So? What will you do?" the old man asked.

Wang Xiaofeng was silent for a moment.

"…If I join Wuhun Hall, I'll gain access to their resources. I might be able to learn more about cultivation and soul rings."

The old man chuckled. "But you'll also be walking straight into the lion's den."

Wang Xiaofeng clenched his fists. "I know. That's why I need to be careful."

He looked up, his eyes filled with determination.

"If I want to change the world, I can't stay hidden forever."

The old man studied him for a long moment. Then he grinned.

"Good. Then let's make sure you're ready."

A Dangerous Path Ahead

The next three days were filled with intense training.

Wang Xiaofeng refined his concealment technique, strengthened his absorption ability, and prepared himself mentally.

By the time the Wuhun Hall envoy returned, he was ready.

Standing before them, he took a deep breath and spoke.

"I've made my decision."

The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Wang Xiaofeng smiled.

"I will join Wuhun Hall."

The villagers erupted into cheers.

The young woman nodded approvingly. "A wise choice."

As Wang Xiaofeng stepped into the carriage, he glanced back toward the forest.

The old man stood there, watching.

This was just the beginning.

And deep inside his soul—

His martial spirit stirred.

A storm was coming.