Chapter 9– The Future of a Monster
The soft glow of golden lanterns bathed the corridors of the Spirit Hall's inner sanctum in a warm yet eerie light. The recent events had shaken the entire faction to its core. Zhen Wuji's awakening had left an impact so great that even Qian Daoliu, the strongest man in Spirit Hall, had to reevaluate his understanding of talent.
Even now, elders whispered among themselves in hushed tones, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe, fear, and greed. The young boy who had once been considered an arrogant annoyance had turned out to be a divine monster in human form. But within the sacred hall, away from the prying eyes of others, Zhen Wuji sat with Qian Renxue, his only real companion in this world.
A Private Conversation
Qian Renxue stared at him, eyes filled with curiosity. Unlike the others, she wasn't afraid of him. No, she was intrigued. Her golden pupils locked onto his figure as he casually leaned against the ornate chair, his expression as playful as ever.
"You're awfully quiet, Renxue. Usually, you have a sharp tongue," Zhen Wuji teased, a smug grin forming on his lips.
Qian Renxue snapped out of her daze and pouted slightly. "I was just… thinking."
"Thinking about how handsome I looked during my awakening?" he smirked.
She rolled her eyes. "No! I was thinking about your powers. Everyone is terrified of you now, but you seem so… carefree."
Zhen Wuji chuckled, his bright blue eyes glowing with an unnatural light. "Why wouldn't I be? Fear and admiration are two sides of the same coin. Besides, I like watching these old men struggle to keep up with my existence."
Qian Renxue hesitated for a moment before finally voicing her thoughts. "Wuji… You explained your martial spirits, but something tells me you weren't entirely honest about your eyes."
Zhen Wuji raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what makes you say that?"
She leaned forward, her gaze unwavering. "I don't know how, but I felt it. Your Six Eyes aren't just at the same level as my Seraphim Spirit. They're… beyond that. Aren't they?"
For the first time in their conversation, Zhen Wuji fell silent. He wasn't expecting her to see through his deception so quickly.
'This girl's instincts are terrifying,' he thought.
A playful smile returned to his face as he shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. But why does it matter? Whether my eyes are above or below your martial spirit, I still look this good." He pointed at his face smugly.
Qian Renxue sighed in frustration but couldn't help the slight smile tugging at her lips. "You really are impossible to talk to sometimes."
Understanding His Powers
She crossed her arms and stared at him expectantly. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about your Six Eyes, then tell me about your dagger. You said it's called Thousand Demon Dagger?"
Zhen Wuji summoned the weapon into his hand. A dark, demonic aura emanated from it, but as soon as he tried to swing it—
Shatter!
The dagger broke into fragments before vanishing into thin air.
"See? Useless right now," he said casually. "It has no defense, and I can't attack with it unless I absorb a spirit ring or kill something. Until then, it's just a decoration."
Qian Renxue's brows furrowed. "But… doesn't that mean it has unlimited potential? If it grows stronger with every kill, then eventually—"
"It will become the deadliest weapon in the world," Zhen Wuji finished her sentence. He twirled the dagger in his fingers before making it disappear. "But that's a problem for the future. Right now, I can only use Infinity for six hours, and my Blue technique is at its weakest form."
Qian Renxue's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, you can already use Blue?"
He smirked and suddenly lifted himself off the ground.
She gasped as she watched him float effortlessly above the floor, his snow-white hair swaying slightly as if he were weightless.
"You can fly?!" she exclaimed.
Zhen Wuji grinned. "Of course. Who do you think I am?"
Qian Renxue looked at him with a complicated expression. She had always been proud of her own talent, but in front of him, she felt…
'No, I'm not jealous. I'm happy for him… right?' she thought.
Qian Renxue's Unnoticed Feelings
As Zhen Wuji landed gracefully, Qian Renxue looked away, trying to hide the blush creeping onto her face.
'He really is… different from everyone else.'
She didn't know what this feeling was. She had never trusted anyone before. Never relied on someone like this. And yet, Zhen Wuji's presence was the one thing that made her feel at ease.
A Change in Spirit Hall
Meanwhile, in the grand halls of Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji sat with the elders, his previous distaste for Zhen Wuji now completely gone.
"He must be protected at all costs," one elder said firmly.
Another nodded. "He is the future of Spirit Hall. With his talent, we might even surpass the heavens!"
Qian Xunji stroked his chin, his gaze deep. "I hated that boy before, but… his potential is terrifying. We cannot let him fall into the hands of our enemies."
But Qian Daoliu had different thoughts.
'This boy… if he becomes Renxue's husband, Spirit Hall will reach heights no one can challenge. I must… encourage their relationship.'
His old eyes gleamed with hidden intent.
Zhen Wuji's New Discovery
Later that night, Zhen Wuji sat alone in his room, staring at his Infinity Symbol.
It was different now. He could see something new.
Luck.
He now had the ability to see a person's luck value.
Each person's luck was represented by different colors:
White – Low Luck (50 Extraction Value)
Yellow – Average Luck (500 Extraction Value)
Blue – Medium Luck (5000 Extraction Value)
Red – High Luck (10,000 Extraction Value)
Purple – Genius (20,000 Extraction Value)
Gold – Peerless (50,000 Extraction Value)
He frowned. 'I can see everyone's luck, but… I can't see my own. It's like fate itself avoids me.'
Then, out of curiosity, he turned to Qian Renxue.
His eyes widened.
Luck Value: 25,000
'That's… higher than a genius?!'
For the first time in a long while, Zhen Wuji felt genuine curiosity. What kind of fate did Qian Renxue have for her luck to be this high?
Qian Renxue noticed his expression and frowned. "Wuji? Why are you staring at me like that?"
Zhen Wuji quickly snapped out of his thoughts. "Nothing. Just wondering how your face got so red. Are you falling for me?"
Qian Renxue's face immediately turned crimson. "Sh-Shut up!"