The gates of Mount Hua Sect rose against the mountainside like silent sentinels carved from centuries of pride.
Ancient plum blossom trees framed the stone archway, their pale petals drifting through the dusk like falling snow. Lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, casting warm halos of light upon engraved runes embedded within the stone pillars.
To the disciples walking through those gates, it was home.
To Xiao Jun—
It was positioning.
His gaze lifted slowly, not in admiration, but in calculation.
The stone archway was inscribed with layered detection arrays. The runes were faint, nearly hidden beneath decorative carvings of cranes and clouds.
But he saw them.
The first layer: spiritual fluctuation detection.
The second: demonic aura filtration.
The third: defensive repulsion trigger linked to the eastern ridge core.
Crude.
Inefficient energy routing.
Wasteful spiritual leakage.
But for a mortal sect?
Impressive.
"Brother Jun, what are you staring at?" Kim Feng asked, nudging him lightly.
"Just admiring the craftsmanship," Xiao Jun replied.
Truthfully spoken.
Senior Sister Ruo's gaze lingered on him for half a breath longer than necessary.
She had noticed.
As they stepped through the archway, a thin ripple brushed across his body.
The formation scanned him.
Searching for corruption.
Searching for demonic resonance.
Searching for something it could define.
The Chaos within him remained silent.
It did not flare.
It did not resist.
It simply… existed.
Because Chaos was neither righteous nor demonic.
It predated both.
A notification surfaced in his mind.
[Observation: Sect formation unable to classify Chaos fluctuations.]
A faint smile curved his lips.
Good.
They walked deeper into the sect grounds.
Training courtyards spread across terraced stone platforms. Disciples practiced sword forms beneath torchlight. The whistle of blades slicing air echoed rhythmically.
Some movements were sharp but rigid.
Others were fluid but wasteful.
He memorized stances instantly.
Kim Feng spoke proudly, "Outer disciples train here. Inner disciples cultivate further up the mountain. They have better techniques and denser spiritual energy."
"And the elders?" Xiao Jun asked lightly.
Luo Feng answered this time, voice low and steady.
"Peak of the eastern ridge. Only inner disciples and instructors are allowed there."
Hierarchy confirmed.
Servants — Outer disciples — Inner disciples — Instructors — Elder — Sect Master.
Standard structure.
Predictable.
They stopped before a modest wooden compound near the mountain base.
"This is the servant quarters," Senior Sister Ruo said. "You'll handle chores. Cleaning, wood gathering, assisting the kitchens."
Her eyes were searching again.
"If you behave well, you may attend public lectures. Some mortals have entered cultivation that way."
Kim Feng grinned. "Maybe you'll become a cultivator someday!"
Xiao Jun bowed slightly.
"If fate allows."
He did not believe in fate.
Only inevitability shaped by will.
That Night
Moonlight filtered through paper windows.
The quarters were quiet.
Xiao Jun sat cross-legged on a straw mat.
"System."
[Online.]
"Begin structural analysis of Mount Hua Sect."
A moment passed.
[Estimated Sect Strength:] • One Sky Realm elder (probable Sect Master)
• Three Yin-Yang Realm instructors
• Twenty-four Qi Condensing disciples
• Seventy-two Body Strengthening disciples
• Mortal servants: numerous
Sky Realm.
Even in his weakened state, the gap felt like a chasm.
But he did not feel fear.
He calculated.
"Activate Chaos Devouring Art."
The air shifted.
Invisible strands of ambient spiritual essence were drawn toward him.
Unlike orthodox cultivation, which absorbed pure spiritual qi, his technique tore apart its structure — unraveling it into something more primal.
Spiritual energy fragmented.
Refined.
Reconstructed.
Converted.
Pain coursed through his meridians — not explosive like before, but grinding.
Like forging iron beneath a hammer.
[Chaos absorption efficiency increased by 3%.]
His breathing steadied.
Then—
The plum blossom trees outside began shedding petals more rapidly.
Spiritual density thinned.
His eyes opened instantly.
"…I'm draining the environment."
[Correction: Chaos Devouring Art converts ambient spiritual essence into chaotic base energy.]
Meaning: the area around him would grow spiritually barren if sustained.
Suspicion would follow.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Modify output to stealth threshold."
[Concealment protocol engaged.]
The flow reduced drastically.
Inside his dantian, a faint black sphere rotated slowly.
Not solid.
Not stable.
But forming.
The embryonic Chaos Core.
This was not a spiritual dantian.
It was a singularity.
He exhaled slowly.
Lower Chaos Mortal Realm… nearing Mid stage.
Others cultivated in months.
He evolved in days.
But rapid growth meant instability.
And instability meant exposure.
He would not repeat past mistakes.
The First Crack in Peace
Three days passed.
Xiao Jun performed his duties flawlessly.
He chopped wood efficiently without appearing strong.
He carried water without revealing balance control.
He listened more than he spoke.
Information flowed freely when one appeared harmless.
On the fourth morning—
A disturbance erupted in the outer courtyard.
Voices raised.
Spiritual pressure flared.
Xiao Jun moved closer silently.
At the center stood a tall youth wearing silver-trimmed robes.
Arrogance radiated from him like perfume.
"Who is he?" Xiao Jun asked quietly.
A servant whispered nervously, "Zhao Liang. Elder Zhao's Grandson."
Understanding dawned instantly.
Not talent.
Backing.
Zhao Liang sneered at a kneeling outer disciple.
"You dare reject my challenge?"
The disciple trembled. "Senior Brother, I am injured—"
A kick sent him rolling across stone.
Weak.
Not the kneeling boy.
But Zhao Liang's insecurity.
Kim Feng stepped forward.
"That's unnecessary!"
Foolish.
Courage without strength invites humiliation.
Zhao Liang's eyes shifted lazily.
"Oh? The cheerful stray wants attention?"
Spiritual energy flared.
Lower Qi Condensing Realm.
Unstable.
Overconfident.
Kim Feng drew his sword.
The clash was brief.
Kim Feng blocked once.
Twice.
On the third exchange, he staggered.
Senior Sister Ruo intervened.
"Enough!"
Her cultivation was slightly higher — Mid Qi Condensing.
Zhao Liang smirked.
"Fine. I'll settle this during the Outer Assessment."
He turned slowly, projecting his voice.
"Anyone who stands with them… will regret it."
His gaze passed over Xiao Jun.
Dismissal.
Contempt.
He saw a servant.
Xiao Jun saw leverage.
Assessment.
Ranking.
Resources.
Promotion to inner court.
Access to techniques.
This was not conflict.
It was opportunity disguised as arrogance.
Strategic Consideration
That evening, Kim Feng sat bruised but smiling faintly.
"You didn't need to help me," he said to Xiao Jun.
Xiao Jun handed him herbal soup.
"Bravery has value," he replied evenly.
Kim Feng laughed. "Or stupidity."
Senior Sister Ruo approached.
"The Outer Promotion Assessment is in one month. Top three enter the inner court."
Her tone was controlled.
But she was worried.
Zhao Liang would target them.
Xiao Jun activated internal analysis.
"System. If I participate?"
[Host status: servant. Eligibility probability: 2%.]
"How to increase?"
[Demonstrate cultivation aptitude publicly.]
Revealing Chaos prematurely could cause suspicion.
But controlled revelation—
Would shift his status.
He would not beg entry.
He would force recognition.
Midnight Breakthrough
The mountain was silent.
Moonlight washed the cliff behind the servant quarters.
Xiao Jun stood alone.
"Remove suppression."
[Concealment threshold lifted.]
The air imploded.
Chaos surged outward like silent black flame.
Spiritual essence in the surrounding trees unraveled violently, converting into raw primal energy.
Plum blossoms withered slightly.
Not dead.
But drained.
Pain ripped through his meridians.
Not chaotic.
Not unstable.
Structured violence.
The embryonic core spun faster.
Cracks formed in his mortal shell.
Limits strained.
He pushed further.
Compression.
Condensation.
Control.
With a final internal detonation—
Silence.
[Host has reached Mid Chaos Mortal Realm.]
Wind burst outward in a controlled shockwave.
Not explosive.
Not wasteful.
Efficient.
He stood taller.
Stronger.
Still below Qi Condensing—
But no longer fragile.
A slow clap echoed.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
He turned.
Senior Sister Ruo stood at the edge of the cliff.
Eyes wide.
Not afraid.
But shaken.
"That aura…" she whispered. "You can cultivate."
Silence stretched between them.
Lie?
No.
Truth — sharpened and incomplete.
"I once had damaged spiritual roots," he said calmly. "Recently… something changed."
Her gaze sharpened.
"That wasn't normal qi."
"No."
She stepped closer.
"Are you demonic?"
His eyes became ancient.
"If I were, would your formation still stand?"
Confidence.
Unshaken.
Predatory calm.
That unsettled her more than any aura.
After a long pause, she spoke quietly.
"The assessment allows exceptional cases."
"You're recommending me?"
"I don't understand what you cultivate," she admitted. "But it isn't weak."
She hesitated.
"Don't betray Mount Hua."
The word lingered.
Betrayal.
A blade that had pierced him once before.
His voice softened.
"I won't."
Not unless they force my hand.
She turned and left.
He remained.
Chaos pulsed steadily in his core.
One month.
One month to grow.
One month until Zhao Liang learns that arrogance without strength is suicide.
He looked toward the inner peaks.
Then beyond them.
Immortal Court.
Sword Immortal.
The Heavenly Frost Prison.
"Sister… wait for me."
The petals scattered across the cliffside.
And beneath Mount Hua's tranquil exterior—
An ancient force had begun to awaken.
Quietly.
Relentlessly.