Chapter 17: Dragon's Gaze

Chapter 17: Dragon's Gaze

The grand hall fell into a suffocating silence, the air itself growing dense and heavy as Elder Xiao Feng's voice reverberated through the chamber like a roar from a slumbering beast. His tone carried no anger, yet it struck like a thunderclap, the weight of his cultivation seeping through every word.

For the gathered geniuses, it was akin to facing a ferocious tiger in the wild — a single growl enough to freeze their blood. Elder Xiao Feng's aura, belonging to a peak stage Martial Grandmaster, leaked out in a moment of subconscious release, crashing down upon the room like a tidal wave.

Xiao Boyan, standing among the gathered youths, staggered back. His eyes widened in sheer terror, face pale as parchment. Sweat soaked his back, drenching his robes as his legs trembled uncontrollably. The strength he took pride in crumbled before the suffocating might of a true powerhouse. Fear, raw and unfiltered, gleamed in his eyes — and he was not the only one.

Several others faltered, their knees buckling as they struggled against the invisible mountain pressing down on their shoulders.

Yet, amid the sea of panic, a few remained standing — tense, but defiant. Xiao Han, Xiao Rongyu, and the twin prodigies clenched their fists, their jaws tightening. Veins bulged on their necks as they resisted the pressure, refusing to bend the knee even if their bodies screamed otherwise. Their eyes burned with unwillingness — not from fear but from sheer pride.

The difference was clear. Though they were all early-stage Martial Soul cultivators, the disparity in foundation and experience was laid bare.

Among them, Xiao Rongyu shone the brightest. Had it come down to a real battle, she could have trampled three of those frozen in fear without breaking a sweat. Her potential was undeniable, a future pillar of the Xiao Clan. Yet even she felt the weight, her breathing slightly ragged.

And then, there was Xiao Chen.

In the far corner of the hall, as isolated as a shadow cast by the dying sun, he sat — eyes closed, his aura hidden to the point of non-existence. At first glance, he seemed to have not even noticed the overwhelming pressure flooding the hall.

But then, his eyes opened — slowly, lazily, as if roused from a dream. A flicker of puzzlement danced across his features, his brow raising slightly as if wondering what all the fuss was about.

He blinked once.

And just as quickly, his eyes shut again, a sigh escaping his lips. It was as if the very pressure suffocating everyone else was nothing but a passing breeze to him.

None noticed this brief moment — none but Elder Xiao Mei.

The usually elegant and cold elder, famed for her piercing blue eyes and aloof demeanor, froze mid-breath. Her gaze locked onto Xiao Chen, disbelief flashing across her delicate features.

Impossible...

Even she, a late-stage Martial Grandmaster, would not be able to fend of Elder Xiao Feng's aura so easily. Yet this boy... this boy hadn't even flinched.

For the first time, shock rippled across Elder Xiao Mei's face.

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came. Instead, her sharp gaze bore into Xiao Chen, as if trying to peel away the layers of his soul, searching — no, demanding — answers.

Xiao Chen, as if sensing the intense gaze, opened his eyes once more.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, time itself seemed to stop.

And then, something shifted.

A golden hue bled into Xiao Chen's once-black pupils. His eyes shimmered like molten gold, ancient and otherworldly. A low, almost imperceptible rumble echoed through the air — not from his throat, but from his very blood.

A primal force surged forth, unseen yet undeniable.

Elder Xiao Mei's pupils shrank.

A dragon's aura — vast, untamed, and suffocating — washed over her senses. It wasn't the spiritual pressure of a mere Martial Soul Realm Cultivator. No, this was something far beyond her comprehension. A primordial power from the depths of time itself.

Her breath hitched.

Unknowingly, Xiao Chen had awakened an innate ability buried deep within his bloodline — Dragon's Gaze. A skill reserved for the highest echelons of dragonkind, awakened only by those with the purest of bloodlines.

For one heartbeat, she felt it — the suffocating majesty of the Heavenly Yin-Yang Dragon staring into her very soul. She saw mountains crumble, oceans part, and the heavens themselves bowing before that ancient, golden gaze.

Her knees almost buckled.

And then, just as quickly, it was gone.

The golden hue faded. Xiao Chen blinked, his eyes returning to their usual obsidian calm. To him, it was nothing — an unconscious reaction, like breathing.

But to Elder Xiao Mei...

She gasped, a trembling hand rising to her chest. Sweat dripped from her brow, her usual grace shattered. That one second — no, that one heartbeat — had felt like an eternity staring into death itself.

Her lips trembled as a single word escaped, barely a whisper.

"Monster..."

She staggered back a step, eyes wide with something she never thought she would feel toward a junior — fear.

Xiao Chen, oblivious to the impact he had just caused, stared at her, puzzled. He caught her gaze, saw the fear, the confusion... but he shrugged it off.

With a quiet sigh, he closed his eyes once more, retreating into his silent world.

The hall remained quiet, the tension lingering like the aftermath of a storm.

But from that moment, one thing became clear to Elder Xiao Mei — this boy was no ordinary genius. He was something else entirely.

A dragon hiding among mortals.

----

Laughter suddenly rumbled through the hall, breaking the heavy silence.

"Hahaha! Don't be so strict on them. They're just expressing their joy," Elder Xiao Jian laughed heartily, his voice booming like thunder.

"Hmph! With this attitude, they'll disgrace our family in the Elemental Dao Sect!" Elder Xiao Feng snorted, his face darkening.

The First Elder grunted in agreement, his expression stern and displeased. "He's right. Proper manners are a sign of good upbringing. It carries the family's reputation wherever you go."

The Third Elder, who had remained silent so far, could only smile ruefully, his slender fingers dancing across the beads in his hands. The beads clacked softly — the only sound that seemed calm amid the growing tension.

"Alright, enough," Elder Xiao Jian finally said, waving his hand lazily as the voices died down. His eyes narrowed, turning sharp like blades as they settled back on the gathered youths. "Let's get back to why I called you all here."

His gaze swept across the group — he noticed Xiao Chen standing apart, distant from the rest, his eyes closed as if the entire meeting was but a fleeting breeze to him. Calm, unbothered, indifferent.

Xiao Jian's eyes flickered, his brow furrowing. For a moment, it felt like a strange chill crept down his back. But he quickly shook his head, not wanting to draw the other elders' attention to that particular youth. That boy… he thought, before turning back to the gathering.

Once he was certain he had the attention of the remaining eight geniuses, he continued, his voice dropping lower — carrying a weight that forced everyone to listen.

"I know you are all excited about this news, but you must understand — there are conditions that must be met before you're even considered for entry into the Elemental Dao Sect."

Hearing that, the geniuses perked up, eyes gleaming with eagerness. They instinctively leaned forward, their expressions full of desire. After all, knowing the conditions meant knowing the path to their dreams.

"First!" Elder Xiao Jian's voice rang out. "The disciple must have awakened at least a High-Grade Spirit Rank Martial Spirit. Anything below that is unqualified to step through their gates."

His sharp gaze swept across the group, scanning each face as if searching for something — or someone. And sure enough, his eyes landed squarely on one of the geniuses — Xiao Niye.

A skinny youth with short black hair, Xiao Niye visibly tensed. Cold sweat beaded his forehead, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He was the only one among them who had awakened a Mid-Grade Spirit Rank Martial Spirit during the recent ceremony—which was also a weapon type martial spirit considered inferior to beast-type Martial Spirit at the same level

In a Grade Two influence, such a Martial Spirit was considered decent — even worthy of praise. But within a Grade Four influence like the Elemental Dao Sect, it wasn't even worth mentioning.

Xiao Niye bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, grimacing inwardly at his own fate. He had known this was coming, but hearing it confirmed still made his knees weak. I… I was already eliminated before I could even try…

The atmosphere turned heavy. The rest of the geniuses glanced at him — some with pity, others with scorn.

Xiao Rongyu merely shook her head, refusing to even spare him a glance. Destiny, she thought inwardly, sighing at his fate. Meanwhile, Xiao Han sneered openly, turning to glare at Niye with unabashed disdain.