Ji Hong stepped closer, calm but firm authority radiating from him. "There's no need to pretend. I came to check the beast population… but I happened to see you. In fact, I've been watching for over thirty minutes."
His tone deepened. "Your darkness element control is exceptional. But just now, you used fire."
Li Yan's heart sank. "He saw it all…"
With a breath, Li Yan chose partial truth.
"Yes, Elder Ji," he said quietly. "I possess both Fire and Darkness affinities. Senior Yao Fuhuo was the one who instructed me to keep it secret—for now."
Ji Hong's expression shifted to her name. "So the goddess knows."
Li Yan nodded. "Of course. She helped stabilize the conflict between my affinities, allowing me to use both without backlash."
Silence followed—heavy, contemplative.
Finally, Ji Hong murmured, almost to himself, "So this… is why the goddess protects you."
Li Yan met his gaze steadily. "Perhaps."
Ji Hong studied him in silence. The earlier shock faded from his eyes, replaced by something deeper—curiosity, and a faint thread of concern.
"You're even more exceptional than I thought," Ji Hong said at last. "But understand this, Li Yan—dual affinities aren't simply a gift. They are a beacon. A double-edged sword."
"I know," Li Yan replied softly. "That's why I ask for your discretion."
Ji Hong offered a slow, deliberate nod. "I'll say nothing. But heed my warning: the more you grow, the more eyes will turn toward you. And not all will be benevolent."
"I understand," Li Yan said calmly, though inside he added, "Since the day I woke in this body, I've been preparing for such eyes."
Ji Hong exhaled lightly, gaze still steady. "If the goddess wishes this secret concealed, I will honor it. But before long, there are matters we must discuss—matters that may aid your cultivation, and perhaps… shape far more."
Li Yan lifted an eyebrow, guarded yet intrigued. "Something beneficial to my cultivation?"
"More than you realize," Ji Hong replied. "When you return to the sect, we'll speak in detail. For now, finish your hunt."
And with that, Ji Hong vanished. Silent. Precise. As though he had never stood there at all.
Li Yan remained still for a breath, letting the quiet settle again. The encounter had left more questions than answers, but hearing Ji Hong agree to conceal his dual affinity carried its own relief—a heavy danger diverted, for now.
Li Yan resumed the hunt with renewed clarity.
Hours passed.
His movements grew sharper, his steps quieter. Each beast he encountered forced him to refine instinct into precision.
Darkness and flame wound together around his blade like loyal hounds, responding with increasing fluency to his intent. His growth no longer reflected mere experience—it reflected acceleration. Evolution.
As sunset approached, Li Yan practiced Shadow Manipulation, refining the final ability tied to his Superior-Level darkness affinity, which allows shadows to transform into anything he desires.
Li Yan can use this ability during the day if shadows are available, but he wants to deepen his understanding of it, so he practices after sunset.
The hunt continued.
___
By the afternoon of the second day, storm clouds gathered above the valley.
Li Yan ended a clash with a pack of Frost Wolves, their ice-laced howls fading beneath a crackle of lightning. A mass of dark clouds swallowed the sun, and within moments, rain began to pour.
Drenched, Li Yan stood still for several breaths, face tipped toward the sky.
Water slid down strands of violet hair. With a faint murmur, he whispered, "This is the first rain I've seen since coming to this world."
The rainfall intensified—thunder rolling, wind tearing through trees. It felt like a ritual of cleansing, raw and grounding. He lingered a moment, letting the sensation settle into memory, then stored the beast core and corpses in his ring.
"I need shelter." He moved through the storm swiftly, sensing alertness.
After a short search, he caught sight of a dark cave mouth halfway up a rocky incline. Wind whipped against him as he ascended, the storm's force growing harsher by the second.
At the entrance, he paused.
Instinct took precedence—always.
He extended his Spiritual Sense into the cave. Within its thirty-meter reach, a presence immediately surfaced.
Someone was inside.
"Fourteen… maybe fifteen," Li Yan murmured internally. "Calm aura. Stable. Strong. At least two stages above me—or maybe Qi Gathering Realm (Stage-Peak)."
His brows pulled together slightly.
"According to the leaderboard, only six disciples have cultivation that strong. If I'm right… This is probably one of them."
After a brief moment of consideration, Li Yan stepped into the cave. Water dripped from his clothes, leaving wet footprints across the stone as he advanced with controlled, quiet steps—his aura sheathed, but vigilance sharp.
Inside, a small campfire cast a warm, wavering glow across the rough walls.
A young boy sat cross-legged beside it. White sect robes, short black hair still damp from the rain, lean build, steady posture. His expression was calm—until his eyes landed on Li Yan.
In a fluid motion, the boy summoned a slender sword from his storage ring. Cold light slid along its edge.
Li Yan halted, raising a hand in a gesture of peace. "Senior Brother, I've no ill intentions." His tone was calm, clipped, but unwavering. "I only seek shelter until the storm passes."
The sword remained poised for a heartbeat longer.
Then the boy slowly lowered it—though his vigilance did not fade.
Li Yan accepted it without offense. "If he's one of the top six… caution is the least I should expect."
He moved to a dry section near the wall, keeping a respectful distance. Sitting down, he removed his soaked outer robe and wrung it out, the fabric dripping steadily onto the stone.
Silence settled again. Only the fire's soft crackle and the rain's relentless assault filled the cave.
As Li Yan dried and redressed, he sensed the boy's gaze flickering toward him—measuring, analyzing, trying to place him.
Li Yan paid it no mind. From his ring, he summoned the basic herbalism manual he'd received from the Alchemy Hall days prior.
The firelight was faint, but light meant little to him. He directed a thread of Spiritual Sense into the book, and its contents unfurled within his mind—words, diagrams, herb properties—pouring into his sea of consciousness like cascading starlight.
Less than a minute passed before the manual was fully memorized. But memorization was only the first step.
With a flick of his fingers, it vanished back into his ring.
Li Yan closed his eyes, extending his Spiritual Sense across the cave. The boy remained seated, on guard but motionless. Satisfied, Li Yan slipped inward—into his spiritual sea.
A vast, tranquil blue ocean with a faint red hue—Killing Aura—awaited him.
He descended onto its surface and sat cross-legged once more. With a thought, an ethereal copy of the herbalism manual surfaced before him, pages turning as if caught by a gentle breeze.
He had already memorized it—but memorization was only the foundation. True mastery demanded comprehension, categorization, and absolute familiarity. That quiet, disciplined pursuit was what separated him from others.
___
Across the cave, the boy gradually eased his posture. Still, his gaze kept wandering to Li Yan—curiosity battling wariness.
This was Mu Fan—the strongest white-rank disciple before Li Yan entered the sect.
"Who is this guy?" Mu Fan frowned. "I've never seen him before. A new disciple, maybe… but a new disciple in the deep area…"
His eyes narrowed, focusing on the faint, controlled pulse of Qi around Li Yan.
His pupils contracted. "Qi Gathering Realm (Stage-7)?" he whispered internally.
"He is not a new disciple for sure." A realization slammed into him.
"Li Yan Tian. The new name at the top of the leaderboard… Could it be him?!"
Just a thought about Li Yan, Mu Fan's jaw tightened. His hand curled into a fist before he forced it open again.
Annoyance simmered beneath his calm—resentment he didn't want to acknowledge. His top position, held for the last two or three months, had been taken in two weeks.
Yet despite the turmoil churning in his chest, he remained still.
Li Yan sat in quiet meditation, unbothered, composed—almost indifferent to Mu Fan's presence.
That composure unsettled Mu Fan more than the storm outside.
Almost two hours later, Li Yan completed his study of the herbalism manual and cultivated Killing Aura. The deep-blue sea of his consciousness faded as he opened his eyes. Rain still roared outside the cave, a steady, unbroken noise.
He glanced toward Mu Fan, who remained seated, quiet and unmoving—disciplined enough not to intrude, and smart enough not to test him.
"He didn't make any move," Li Yan noted. "Even with higher cultivation, he didn't try anything foolish. Good."
Finally, Mu Fan spoke when he noticed Li Yan stir. "Hello, Junior Brother. I don't think I've seen you before. What's your name?"
Li Yan cupped his hands politely. "Senior Brother, I'm Li Yan Tian. I joined the sect recently—so it's no surprise we haven't met."
Mu Fan's expression froze for a moment. "So I was right… It's him."
His smile held steady, but frustration churned beneath the surface. "A newcomer… already at Stage-7? How is that even possible?"
He introduced himself with practiced calm. "I'm Mu Fan. It's good to meet you. But I must admit… your cultivation is unusually advanced for someone who joined not long ago."
Li Yan raised an eyebrow inwardly. "So this is Mu Fan—the former top White Rank disciple. I expected someone competent, but I didn't expect him specifically."
Outwardly, he remained composed, his expression unreadable.
"Oh, so it's Senior Brother Mu," Li Yan said with polite calm, cupping his hands again. "The pleasure is mine. As for my cultivation… let's say I'm a rare case. Certain circumstances aligned in my favor."
Mu Fan narrowed his eyes, but didn't push. "I saw your leaderboard score," he said slowly. "What you earned in less than two weeks is nearly double what I managed in almost a month."
His tone remained even, yet a thin thread of strain wound beneath it—frustration held in check by pride.
Li Yan caught it easily.
He smiled—not arrogant, not humble. Assured. "Senior Brother Mu, please don't take it personally. I didn't aim for first place, nor did I intend to challenge anyone."
Mu Fan studied him, searching for mockery. But Li Yan's sincerity was too natural to be feigned, too indifferent to be considered humble.
"Oh?" Mu Fan finally said. "Then what was your goal, Junior Brother? Because in the past few months, no one—absolutely no one—has come close to threatening my position."
He let that statement hang in the air.
Li Yan met his gaze, steady and unshaken. "Believe me or not, Senior Brother, but I wasn't trying to challenge you. And I've never measured myself through rankings."
A faint twitch crossed Mu Fan's brows.
Li Yan continued, voice light yet precise, "Rankings are just temporary numbers. People chase them, fear losing them, and forget why they cultivate in the first place."
Mu Fan's face stiffened.
Li Yan rested his hands on his knees. "You've held the top position for a long time. That's impressive. But I wonder—were you growing for yourself… or just to stay above others?"
The quiet question pierced deeper than any insult.
Mu Fan didn't answer at first.
Then, through tightly controlled breath, he muttered, "So you're strong… and sharp-tongued."
Li Yan chuckled lightly. "Not sharp—just honest."
The fire crackled softly, filling the charged silence.
Li Yan added, tone sincere, "I don't see you as a rival, Senior Brother. In fact, I hope we can learn from each other. I'm sure someone of your experience has insights worth learning."
Genuine words—yet the underlying truth remained: I do not stand beneath you.
Mu Fan's fists clenched before he forced them to relax.
He examined Li Yan for a long moment. "You're… different from what I expected. Most who surpass others at our age become arrogant or eager to provoke. You don't seem to care at all."
"I care," Li Yan said softly. "Just not about status or approval."
Mu Fan waited. Then, finally asked. "Then what do you care about?"
Li Yan paused. When he answered, his voice held a quiet finality. "I care about not being weak."