The academy bell rang five times—five days remained until the academic test.
Most students studied late into the night, memorizing formations, alchemy codes, and combat patterns. But Zhen Zenin wasn't among them.
Instead, he knelt on the edge of a cliff near the academy's spirit boundary, absorbing the natural Qi from moonlit air. The Demonic Fist of Requiem had begun reshaping his meridians, compressing raw power into precise force.
His body ached. His soul buzzed. But his eyes were calm.
"I'm close… Qi Gathering is near."
---
Inside the academy, Lin Yue was cornered by two robed students from the elite Sky Pavilion.
"You've been seen with Zhen Zenin," said one. "You should choose your allies more carefully."
Yue met their gaze. "Should I choose cowards instead?"
The taller student grabbed her collar, but before his hand closed, a shadow stepped between them.
Zenin.
In silence, he raised a single finger. A thin strand of white flame formed in the air—small, but crackling with killing intent.
"Touch her," Zenin said coldly, "and I'll send your ashes back to your master."
They backed off without another word.
Yue exhaled. "You really know how to make friends."
Zenin gave a rare smirk. "I'm better at making enemies."
---
That night, he returned to the clan estate. His mother and sister still avoided him. The elders still ignored him. But none of that mattered anymore.
In his room, he sat cross-legged and focused. The pain surged, but he endured.
And then—crack!
A thunderous pulse burst from within. His veins shimmered blue. The first wisp of Qi flowed steadily through his body.
Qi Gathering Realm – First Layer.
A subtle grin touched his lips. The real path had begun.
---