Unveiling the Dantian

The stone platform, one of twelve arranged in a 4x3 grid within the expansive training grounds, was no longer a place of quiet practice but a judgment stage. The air, once filled with encouragement, had grown thick and heavy, suffocating under the unyielding gaze of Elder Wu.

Alex remained cross-legged at its heart, the elder's spiritual pressure a palpable weight on his shoulders. Elara, Jay, and Lily stood at a respectful distance, their postures stiff with apprehension. The supportive smiles they had worn moments ago were gone, replaced by masks of taut concern. They could offer no more guidance; the assessment was now under the cold, impartial authority of an elder who already viewed Alex with contempt.

The commotion had drawn onlookers. Whispers slithered through the growing crowd of disciples gathered at the edge of the training area.

"A mortal... in our sacred grounds?"

"He didn't even bow to Elder Wu. Utterly disrespectful."

"How could the Elders allow such a disgrace? This is an insult to the sect."

A low growl rumbled from the elder. "Begin."

The single word was a whip crack. Alex flinched, taking a shaky breath and closing his eyes. He tried to shut out the world, but the jeers of the crowd and the sheer weight of the elder's stare felt like physical forces, boring into him even through his closed eyelids. He recalled Elara's words about the dantian, the focal point, the gateway, but the search was no longer a calm exploration; it was a frantic scramble through a vast, unknown internal landscape.

Alex delved deeper into the recesses of his inner self, seeking his dantian. It was supposed to be the focal point, the center of spiritual energy, a gateway to unlocking the higher realms of cultivation. As he navigated the depths of his being, he felt nothing.

Every second that passed felt like an eternity. The pressure mounted, and a thread of panic began to coil in his gut. He found nothing but a hollow void.

Every jeer from the crowd, every ounce of pressure from the elder's gaze, seemed to hammer the truth into him. There was no hidden power, no dormant seed. Only a vast and empty space where a cultivator's core should be.

The fight went out of him, replaced by a chilling certainty. 'He was right. I'm just a mortal.' His focus blurred, the world fading to a dull hum as one final, hopeless question echoed in the abyss of his mind: 'So why... why am I even here?'

His desperate thoughts snagged on the last tangible thing he possessed: the cool, smooth surface of the spirit stone he'd been clutching since the assessment began. It was a low-grade crystal from his monthly allowance, barely a spark in this world of cultivators, but it was something. He poured all his focus into it, not trying to meditate anymore, but simply trying to feel. To connect with the only source of spiritual energy he could touch.

As he did, he felt a faint, subtle warmth resonate deep in his lower abdomen, a flicker of light in the overwhelming darkness.

In the depths of his meditation, golden words materialized in his mind: Immortal's Qi Cultivation Technique. The characters shimmered with an ethereal brilliance...

Jay, familiar with this same sense of hopelessness he could feel coming from Alex, softly spoke some words of encouragement, "It might take some time, Alex. Don't rush the process. Cultivation is about patience and self-discovery."

As Alex continued his introspection, the spiritual energy of the spirit stone seemed to respond. A subtle warmth emanated from his lower abdomen, and he honed in on the source. It was as if a dormant seed within him was beginning to stir, responding to the call of cultivation.

Elara, sensing a breakthrough, smiled encouragingly. "You're close, Alex. Trust your instincts and allow the energy to guide you."

In the depths of his meditation, the golden characters that had appeared shimmered with an ethereal brilliance, carrying ancient wisdom and profound insights. As if guided by an unseen force, Alex absorbed the essence of this celestial cultivation technique.

The moment the golden words imprinted themselves in Alex's consciousness, a profound transformation resonated through the training platform. Spiritual energy surged like a tide, weaving a harmonious dance around the disciples. The azure plum blossoms seemed to sway in response to the newfound power that enveloped the circle.

Elara, Jay, and Lily, their eyes wide with astonishment, felt the influx of spiritual energy. Jay, who had reached the eighth level of the Qi Condensation Realm, sensed an unprecedented intensity in the air. His cultivation, finely tuned to the nuances of spiritual energy, responded to an inexplicable force.

Jay took this opportunity to take a seat where he stood and began cultivating

Alex, unaware of the external reactions, felt an unprecedented surge within him. The dormant seed in his dantian, touched by the essence of the Immortal's Qi Cultivation Technique, blossomed with unparalleled vitality. The initial low stage of Qi Condensation swiftly elevated to the mid-stages, reaching the fifth level in an instant, like a spark igniting a fervent flame.

The disciples, witnessing this rapid ascension, exchanged incredulous glances. Alex, now at the mid-stage of Qi Condensation, surpassed the expectations set by the normal progression of cultivation. The stone platform, resonating with the collective awe and disbelief, became a testament to the extraordinary turn of events.

The jeering whispers from the crowd died instantly, replaced by a collective, sharp intake of breath. A heavy silence descended, thick with disbelief. Then, the murmurs returned, but their tone had shifted entirely from scorn to stupefied awe.

"A mortal... reaching the fifth level in an instant?" one disciple stammered to his friend, who could only shake his head in bewilderment.

"What kind of freakish talent is that?" another whispered, their eyes wide. "Did you feel that surge of spiritual energy? It was so strong and pure!"

While the disciples were lost in awe, Elder Wu's stony expression remained, but his eyes had narrowed to dangerous slits. The contempt he held for a "mortal" had been vaporized, replaced by a chilling suspicion. This wasn't talent; talent didn't shatter the fundamental laws of cultivation. This was an anomaly. His spiritual sense swept over Alex again, not with disdain, but with a hunter's scrutiny, searching for the source of this impossible feat, a hidden treasure, a forbidden art, anything. He found only a roiling sea of newly formed Qi, shockingly potent and pure.

He recalled Elder Zheng's warning in the council meeting, the caution about outsiders, and the potential for disruption. At the time, Wu had dismissed it as Zheng's usual paranoia. Now, watching the boy who had just defied all logic, he felt a cold certainty. Zheng hadn't been paranoid; he had been right to be wary. This newcomer wasn't just an outsider; he was an unknown variable of immense and terrifying potential.

Elara, breaking the stunned silence, spoke with a mix of amazement and joy. "Alex, you've not only found your dantian but also shot through the Qi Condensation Realm and instantly reached the mid-stage. I suggest you stop here for now and familiarize yourself with any changes."

Just as she finished, Jay let out a slow, shuddering exhale. The torrent of pure spiritual energy that had washed over him finally settled, leaving his own Qi feeling more solid and potent than it had in three long years. He opened his eyes, a dazed look slowly sharpening as he focused on Alex.

Pushing himself to his feet, Jay swayed slightly, still a bit unsteady from the sudden shift in his cultivation. A storm of emotions warred across his face. There was the undeniable, electric thrill of feeling his stubborn bottleneck loosen for the first time in ages, a surge of pure, unadulterated joy. But that joy was laced with a bitter, metallic tang of envy as he looked at the boy who had done in a single morning what he could not. And beneath it all, a powerful, humbling wave of gratitude, because Alex's miracle was the very reason for his progress.

He ran a hand through his unkempt hair, a rough, conflicted chuckle escaping his lips. He finally met Alex's gaze, his smile a twisted, complicated thing. "Impressive," he said, the word heavy with all three feelings. "Seems you're a natural."

Lily sternly added, "Well done, Alex. It's a rare occurrence to witness such a leap in cultivation. Cherish this moment; the path of cultivation is not an easy one, so don't let this go to your head."

Alex nodded, the awe of his breakthrough still settling in. He turned to Elara, his natural guide in this strange new world. "So what should I do now, then?"

Elara's face beamed with pride, and she opened her mouth to suggest a period of rest and consolidation, but a single, heavy step from Elder Wu silenced the entire platform. The thud of his boot on the stone was amplified by a sudden intensification of his spiritual pressure, making the air crackle.

"The assessment is not over," Elder Wu declared, his voice as cold and unyielding as granite. His piercing gaze was locked on Alex, missing nothing. "We proceed to the Elemental Attunement Stone."

He strode past the stunned group, his mind a whirlwind of cold calculation. 'Such a leap from nothing... It's impossible. This is no mere talent, no latent gift. It reeks of a forbidden technique, a blood art, perhaps, or a soul-devouring method that grants explosive but unstable power.'

While the other disciples saw a miracle, Wu saw a potential heresy.

'The Elemental Attunement Stone is pure,' he thought, his gaze hardening. 'It reflects the fundamental nature of a cultivator's Qi. If his energy is tainted by malevolent forces, the stone will react. It will expose him.'

Elara, Jay, and Lily exchanged worried glances. The celebratory atmosphere had vanished, replaced once more by a chilling tension. This was no longer an assessment of potential; it felt like an interrogation. Silently, they followed the elder toward the towering, rune-etched stone at the far end of the training grounds.

As they walked, Lily slowed her speed to let Jay, who was now looking at the floor, pass her, and as he did, she slapped him on the back. "OWW!" Jay screamed out, turning to face Lily as he rubbed his back. "What was that for?" Lily looked at Jay and walked past him to catch up with the others. "I was just thinking it's not good to compare oneself to monsters."

As they walked, Lily slowed her speed to let Jay, who was now looking at the floor, pass her, and as he did, she slapped him on the back. "OWW!" Jay screamed out, turning to face Lily as he rubbed his back. "What was that for?" Lily looked at Jay and walked past him to catch up with the others. "I was just thinking it's not good to compare oneself to monsters."

At this point, they had reached their destination. Before them stood a massive, round stone, ten feet tall, its surface covered in ten concentric circles carved into the rock. The entire disc was split into four even quadrants, and a perfectly smooth, round piece of jade was embedded in its very center.

Elara, trying to restore some normalcy to the tense situation, stepped forward to explain. "Alex, this is the Elemental Attunement Stone. It's a vital tool for us to understand our affinities. Each quadrant represents one of the core elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. The circles…"

"That is enough, disciple," Elder Wu's voice cut across Elara's, sharp as winter ice. He stepped forward, his imposing presence making Elara fall silent instantly.

He fixed his stony gaze on Alex. "The procedure is simple. Place your palm on the central jade. Channel your newfound Qi into it. The stone will reveal your true nature." His voice lowered slightly, carrying an unmistakable weight. "It does not make mistakes."

Under the elder's scrutinizing gaze, Alex took a slow breath and stepped toward the towering artifact, keenly aware that this was not just a test of affinity, but a trial.

Alex placed his palm on the stone's surface. A sudden surge of energy erupted, and the entire Elemental Attunement Stone glowed in a blinding golden light. The symbols, circles, and quadrants merged into a brilliant radiance, leaving everyone, including Elara, Jay, and Lily, momentarily confused.

The disciples shielded their eyes from the dazzling display, unsure of what to make of this unexpected phenomenon. As the golden light gradually faded, the Elemental Attunement Stone returned to its normal state, leaving an air of bewilderment among the group.

Elara, recovering from the surprise, looked at Alex with a mix of astonishment and curiosity. "I've never seen the Elemental Attunement Stone react like that. It seems your connection to the elements is truly exceptional, Alex. Let's examine the results now that the light show is over."

However, to everyone's surprise, the Elemental Attunement Stone did not emit any other light or show signs of attunement. The symbols, circles, and quadrants remained inert, leaving the disciples puzzled.

Silence. The disciples saw a failure, but Elder Wu saw an impossibility. His stony face paled slightly, his mind racing through ancient texts he had read in the sect's deepest archives. A blinding flash of pure, unattuned energy... followed by an absolute void. It wasn't a lack of affinity. It was something else. Something that defied the very laws of nature.

It's not that he has no affinity... Wu thought, a cold dread creeping into his heart. It's that the stone cannot comprehend what he IS. Is this... the legendary All-Element affinity? Or worse... a Chaos Root? An abomination.

He strode forward, his suspicion now laced with a thread of genuine fear. He placed his hand on the stone; it glowed with its usual calm, white light. The artifact was pure. Therefore, the heresy was in the boy.

He turned to Alex, his voice dangerously low. "The Elemental Attunement is... inconclusive." He chose the word carefully, not wanting to cause a panic among the other disciples. "We will move on to the next phase. Physical training."

His voice then boomed across the training grounds, addressing the gawking crowd. "A cultivator's Qi is only half the measure of their strength! The body must also be tempered. I require a volunteer from the outer disciples to spar with the newcomer and demonstrate his physical aptitude."

A malicious energy cut through the crowd before anyone else could react. Chen strode forward, parting the other disciples like a ship's bow through water. He stopped before the platform, offering Elder Wu a deep, almost fawning bow.

"Elder Wu, I would be honored to assist," Chen said, his voice dripping with false humility. "A senior brother must guide his juniors. I will be sure to give him a... thorough lesson." His gaze flickered to Alex, a cruel, predatory glint in his eyes.

The trio's reactions were instantaneous and grimly predictable.

"Of course," Jay muttered, his jaw tight with disgust. "The hyena always shows up when there's an easy meal."

Lily's hand rested on the hilt of her whip, her playful demeanor replaced by a cold, watchful readiness. "This isn't a spar," she said in a low voice to Elara. "This is an execution."

Elara's face flushed with protective fury. She stepped forward, planting herself between Alex and Chen. "Elder Wu, this is inappropriate!" she declared, her voice ringing with defiance. "Alex has only just formed his Qi foundation and has no combat training. Chen is renowned for his aggressive style. This is not a fair assessment!"

Elder Wu met her protest with an unyielding stare, his spiritual pressure flaring slightly, a silent warning. "Your objection is noted, Disciple Elara. However, the world outside our sect is not 'fair.' It is dangerous." He fixed his cold gaze on Chen. "You will not maim him. But you will demonstrate the consequences of facing a true cultivator without having proper skills or training."

He then turned his full attention to Alex, who stood frozen on the platform. "Prepare yourself, newcomer. Your true test has just begun."