Chapter 6: The Spirit’s Secret

The next morning, a light mist blanketed the training grounds. The cold air bit into their skin, but all the new disciples were already assembled, standing straight in neat rows. At the front, Lu Ming stood in his dark blue training robe—his posture calm, yet carrying an invisible pressure.

"From today onward, your real training begins," Lu Ming announced. "There's no room for idleness. True strength is forged, not inherited. And here, only the worthy rise."

He raised a hand. From behind, a senior disciple stepped forward carrying a bamboo scroll.

"You'll be divided into five groups," Lu Ming continued. "Each will undergo different foundational training based on your performance in the entrance trials."

Yanzhi stood quietly. He didn't care which group he would be assigned to, but he stayed alert—some disciples were starting to look at him with more than just curiosity.

"Group Three: Yu Yanzhi, Mo Ran, Han Fei, Lin Shu…"

The names were called, and the group was led to the eastern part of the grounds—an open space surrounded by towering stone pillars, resembling an ancient arena.

Another instructor stepped forward—dressed in pure white, with sharp eyes that seemed to weigh each disciple like items on a scale.

"I am Instructor Bai Shen," he said coldly. "You're here because your potential is unstable. Today, we'll train physical strength and energy control—simultaneously."

He snapped his fingers.

Two of the stone pillars began to glow faintly, forming a circle of energy around them.

"First exercise: Walk against the flow of energy."

Without warning, a fierce wind slammed into them from the front. It wasn't just wind—it was raw spiritual pressure.

Several disciples stumbled back immediately, coughing. Yanzhi stepped forward, his body tense. Every step felt like dragging a mountain.

"Keep walking. Don't fall. Don't stop. Anyone who exits the circle will be counted as failed," Bai Shen's voice rang out.

Yanzhi clenched his jaw. His legs felt like lead. But inside, a faint flame sparked—not from any outside force, but from his own will.

"I'll prove I can walk with my own strength."

His first step felt like pushing through a storm. The force tried to crush his bones, to drive him to his knees. But he kept going.

Beside him, some disciples swayed unsteadily. Mo Ran, slim yet agile, gritted his teeth, resisting the wind with his body. But even he started to tremble.

Yanzhi leaned forward, each muscle straining, breath labored.

"This is… harder than I thought."

The fire spirit inside him remained silent. No aid. No push. Only him. And that was what he wanted.

"I need to do this. No outside help this time."

Step by step, he pushed forward. Slow, but steady. Cold sweat ran down his temples despite the icy air.

Outside the formation, Bai Shen watched with his usual blank expression. But his eyes sharpened as he saw Yanzhi still moving, despite his trembling limbs.

"That one…" Bai Shen murmured, too soft for anyone to hear. "His will is something else."

One by one, disciples began to fall. Some were pushed out of the circle. Others dropped to their knees, unable to continue.

Yanzhi could barely feel his legs. But he kept walking—fueled by his hatred for his own weakness.

"I'm no longer a burden…"

"I'm not someone to be discarded…"

"And I'm no one's puppet…"

His final step nearly dragged his knees to the ground. As he reached the edge of the formation, his body gave out and collapsed sideways, breath ragged.

But before he hit the ground, a firm hand caught his shoulder.

"You can stand," said a calm voice.

Yanzhi looked up slowly. Lu Ming stood beside him. He didn't smile, didn't offer praise. But the look in his eyes said everything: acknowledgment.

"You're not the strongest," Lu Ming said quietly. "But you walked the farthest."

Yanzhi grit his teeth, then forced himself to stand again.

"I'm not done yet."

Lu Ming gave a small nod, then gestured with his hand.

"Next, you'll face an energy control test. Strength and willpower alone aren't enough. Learn how to guide your power."

He stepped to the center of the arena and pressed his palm to the ground. A pulse of energy spread out, and a glowing orb appeared, floating in the air.

"Hold this energy orb for as long as you can. If you lose focus or drop it, you'll start over."

Instructor Bai Shen's sharp gaze flicked between Yanzhi and Mo Ran as the others prepared themselves.

Yanzhi exhaled deeply. His hands still trembled from the previous trial, but his resolve remained unshaken.

"This is my chance to prove I can do it on my own."

He raised his hand, reaching out to the orb. The moment he touched it, heat surged through his body, pulsing like a second heartbeat.

The first few seconds were fine. But soon, the orb demanded more—draining focus and stamina.

Yanzhi bit down on his lip, struggling to stay centered as sweat trickled down his face.

Around him, other disciples grunted and groaned—more and more losing control and dropping out.

Just as Yanzhi began to falter, a voice chimed in from beside him.

*Hey, not bad. Not many last past the thirty-minute mark."

He glanced over. Mo Ran stood next to him, still holding his orb, breathing heavily, but managing a crooked smile.

"You're doing well too," Yanzhi replied softly, trying to shift his attention from the growing pain in his arms.

Mo Ran nodded, then patted his shoulder.

"If you're up for it, maybe we can train together later. I think we could push each other to improve."

Yanzhi blinked in surprise, then gave a small nod.

"Maybe… I could use that."

They exchanged small smiles. For a brief moment, the tension in the air seemed to ease.

Yanzhi took a deep breath, focusing again on the orb now shrinking in his hands. His body still trembled—but his determination only grew stronger.

Instructor Bai Shen's voice cut through the moment.

"Good. But this is just the beginning. Next, you'll use the energy in attack and defense techniques."

Winds began to swirl faster, forming a vortex at the center of the arena. Yanzhi knew this wasn't over yet.

He centered himself, trying to feel the energy within, guiding it slowly.

"Control it… Don't let it control you."

After several attempts, the orb in his hands finally steadied, though it still pulsed faintly.

Bai Shen nodded in approval.

"Better. But remember—this training isn't just about power. It's about control and endurance."

Yanzhi nodded, bracing himself for the challenges ahead—his body tired, but his spirit burning bright.

---

The sky turned a warm shade of amber as the sun dipped behind the mountain peaks. Soft footsteps and quiet chatter echoed through the disciples' quarters, replacing the intense atmosphere of the day's training. The exhaustion lingered, but there was a sense of calm—like the sect itself was finally catching its breath after a long, grueling day.

On a wooden corridor facing a small garden, Yanzhi sat alone, his face buried in his arms. His breathing was slow, but his mind still echoed with images from the trials and the uncontrollable flare of flame that surged within him.

Before he could sink too deep into his thoughts, light footsteps approached.

Later that evening, as the disciples gathered at their dorms, the mood had relaxed slightly. Mo Ran made his way over to Yanzhi, his smile warmer this time.

"Maybe we should team up sometime," he offered. "With your mental strength and my physical ability, we might just survive this training a little easier."

Yanzhi looked at him for a moment, then gave a faint smile.

"I don't like relying on others. But... for now, I'll give it a try."

Mo Ran chuckled.

"That's already a big step, Yanzhi. Let's face this together."

That night, Yanzhi stared out the window of his room, watching stars flicker behind a thin veil of mist. The spirit's flame pulsed gently inside him, like a quiet reminder of the fire that once roared.

"I may be stubborn… but I need to grow stronger. Not just for me, but for those who are already gone."

Silence.

But soon, a familiar voice echoed inside him—low, sharp, and just a little mocking.

"Took you long enough to realize that, you slow brat."

Yanzhi blinked, then sighed. "You only show up to mock me, don't you?"

"If I stay quiet, you forget who you are. A hard-headed fool pretending to be tough. Still... at least you're slightly less stupid now."

Yanzhi snorted. "Thanks for the half-hearted compliment," he muttered, sarcasm thick in his voice. He leaned against the window frame, letting the night breeze touch his face. After a pause, his tone softened.

"Hey… I never asked before, but—what are you, really?"

The spirit didn't answer right away. Silence crept back in.

"I know you're not an ordinary guardian spirit," Yanzhi continued. "I can feel it. Since the day you woke inside me… that power—it's too much."

"Pfft. Finally using your brain? I thought it'd take another year."

"Don't dodge the question. Be serious. You're not just some random spirit, are you?" Yanzhi turned toward the darkness in the room, as if expecting to see the figure.

"That depends on what you consider 'random.' I'm definitely a cut above those wannabe spirits."

"Then who are you really?"

"That's not important right now."

"It is to me. I've been carrying your power, risking my life because of it, and I don't even know the truth about you." Yanzhi clenched his jaw. "If you have a name... a past..."

The spirit scoffed.

"Names are just labels. You're not ready to know mine."

Yanzhi frowned. "Not ready?"

"You're still too weak. Your body almost collapsed just from holding a fragment of my power. If I told you everything now, your curiosity might kill you."

"So you're hiding it?"

"I'm protecting you. Subtle difference."

Yanzhi went quiet. It sounded like arrogant nonsense—but underneath the sarcasm, he could feel it. The spirit was hiding something big. Something that wasn't just about its power… but its history.

He thought back to when they first bonded, when the spirit claimed to have lost its memories.

"You said your memories were locked away. But the more time we spend together, the less I believe that."

"Oh? You figured that out after catching two or three clues? Impressive."

"You always cut in with advice—strangely accurate ones. When I train or take exams, you know exactly what to do, like it's second nature."

"That's called natural brilliance. You should try it sometime."

Yanzhi ignored the jab. "If you really lost your memories, where does all that knowledge come from? You're not just powerful. You were something much greater, weren't you?"

"You're thinking too much this late at night. Go to bed. Your brain needs rest."

"You're dodging again."

"…I'm not lying completely."

"So you're lying partially."

"It means... there are things you're not ready to hear."

Yanzhi looked up at the darkening sky. In the stillness, one truth stood out more clearly than ever: the entity inside him wasn't just a strong spirit. It was something—or someone—shrouded in flame and sarcasm, hiding from its own shadow.

And Yanzhi swore to himself—sooner or later… he would uncover everything.