—Li Xuan's Viewpoint—
Within the depths of his secluded cultivation chamber, Li Xuan opened his eyes.
His gaze was calm as a still lake, yet behind those unfathomable pupils swirled calculations, contingencies, and endless patience.
> [System Notification: One week remaining until next Stealth Reward.]
[Li Xuan – Current Cultivation: Early Foundation Establishment Realm]
[Life Span Remaining: 4,200 Years]
> "Just one more week."
He had long since reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, but delayed his breakthrough. He knew too well that power alone wasn't strength—concealment was.
The greater the world underestimated him, the greater his reward would be.
But lately… there were complications.
Yue Qingxue.
She'd grown curious.
Too curious.
She hadn't confronted him directly, but the occasional spiritual sense probing near his Dao Field, the lingering gazes, the sudden "coincidences" of her passing nearby—he had noticed all of them.
He sighed and stood up slowly, walking toward a jade mirror within his chamber.
With a thought, a curtain of mist swept across the mirror's surface, revealing images of disciples sparring, elders instructing, and inner sect disciples socializing.
In one corner of the scene, Yue Qingxue sat quietly in a garden pavilion, staring at a brush painting of a full moon.
> "She won't stop until she finds the answer."
---
Later – Outer Court Training Grounds
A few outer court disciples were gathered around a new bulletin scroll.
> "The Sect Master's decree? An Outer Disciple Sparring Challenge?"
Li Xuan stood in the crowd, his face emotionless as always, robe unassuming.
> "That's right! Inner court disciples will be watching. They're offering a chance to enter the Inner Court early!"
Exactly as he had planned.
This "decree" had been subtly planted by Li Xuan days ago, through manipulated rumors and an anonymous letter to a certain elder known for loving competitions.
A distraction.
A flame to draw eyes away from him—and toward the chaos of a fake opportunity.
---
Meanwhile – On a Rooftop Nearby
Yue Qingxue narrowed her eyes at the crowd.
She could sense Li Xuan's spiritual aura. It was so faint she almost missed it—but it was there.
Yet… nothing extraordinary.
He stood like a bystander. Ordinary. Forgettable.
Her eyes narrowed.
> "Why do you feel so… unreal?"
---
Back at the Seclusion Chamber
As dusk fell, Li Xuan returned to his chamber and activated his Dao Field—an unseen force that silenced all karmic threads and severed any probing from Heaven or cultivators.
Only within this perfect silence could he breathe freely.
> [System Notification: Deception successful.]
[All spiritual awareness redirected to Outer Court events.]
[Reward Progress: 95%]
He smiled faintly, settling into lotus position once more.
> "Let the others chase glory. I'll continue in the shadows."
> "One day… when they kneel before the true sovereign, they'll remember nothing but a shadow."