High above the spirit forest, clouds moved slowly. In the sky floated a huge platform made of jade. On it stood the elders of the sect, their robes shining with power. From here, they could see everything that happened in the trial.
One elder stroked his beard. His eyes were sharp as he watched the battles below. "This group of disciples is decent. Some are weak, some show talent. But..." He paused, eyes narrowing. "That boy... Li Ming."
Another elder laughed softly. "The trash disciple? The one who could not even beat a chicken? Look again."
The elders all turned their eyes to the glowing screen in the air. It showed Li Ming standing on top of the huge silver tiger he had just knocked out with his fist. He was smiling like it was nothing. In his hand was a bun.
"Yes," the first elder said slowly. "That boy. Look at his aura. He is only Qi Refining 3rd Stage... yet he defeated a 10th Stage beast with his bare hands." Follow current novᴇls on novᴇlfire.net
Gasps spread among the elders. Even the normally cold and proud ones leaned forward, shocked.
"This is impossible."
"No pill can give this much power. No talent at that level can do this."
Down below, Li Ming stretched and yawned. "What a boring fight. Let’s get going, Senior Sister. Maybe the next beast will taste like chicken."
The elders almost coughed blood.
"He calls that boring?!"
"That beast has destroyed disciples at the 9th Stage before!"
But one elder, a woman with sharp eyes, smiled faintly. "This boy is hiding something. His spirit is strange... his strength grows too fast. He might be a once-in-a-thousand-years genius."
Another elder shook his head. "Or he might be a monster. We must be careful."
The sect master, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was calm but heavy. "Do not be blind. The boy has already drawn the eyes of fate. Whether genius or monster, he will shake the sect."
All the elders grew silent. They watched as Li Ming walked through the mist with Lan Yue by his side. The boy looked carefree, laughing and eating, but his steps were steady, his aura wild and untamed.
One elder muttered, "If he grows too fast, he could threaten even the core disciples."
Another added, "And yet... isn’t that what we need? Someone to reach where no one has gone before? None of us have touched the peak. Maybe this boy..."
The sect master raised his hand, silencing them. His gaze stayed fixed on Li Ming’s glowing figure in the screen.
"Prepare the inner court. This boy’s path will not be simple. From today onward, keep your eyes on Li Ming."
Lightning flashed in the sky. The forest shook below. The trial was still going, but already the whole sect was whispering one name—