A week had passed since Van Thien Phong crushed the young master of the Bai family in front of thousands. His name had begun to echo through the sect like a haunting whisper. Some called him bold, others insane. But all agreed on one thing — he was not the same person they once looked down upon.
And now, sitting within the Mist Veil Forest, under the cold moonlight, Van Thien Phong meditated silently. The air around him shimmered faintly with the aura of spiritual energy. Within his dantian, the once-depleted core now pulsed steadily, absorbing energy at a rate even seasoned elders would envy.
Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes broke the silence.
"Who's there?" he asked coldly, eyes still closed.
A slender figure emerged. It was Bai Xiao Nian — the younger sister of the crippled young master and… the sect's fourth-ranked inner disciple.
She wore white, her face like sculpted jade, yet her eyes held a flicker of fire. "Van Thien Phong," she said, "I didn't come to fight."
"Then what do you want?" He opened his eyes, the cold in his gaze causing her to flinch — just slightly.
"To make a deal," she said. "You humiliated my brother. Our family won't let that slide. But… I'm not here on their behalf. I want to work with you."
He raised an eyebrow. "Work with the sister of the man I beat half to death? Sounds like a poor strategy."
Her lips curved slightly. "Not if the enemy of my enemy… is useful."
Intrigued, Phong stood up, brushing the dust off his robe. "I'm listening."
"There's someone stronger than both of us. Someone who's been pulling strings in this sect for years — Elder Feng. He's the real power behind the Bai family's influence. He's also the one who crippled my mother to keep her from competing for the sect master position."
Van Thien Phong's eyes narrowed. So the web of power ran deeper than expected.
"And you want me to help you bring him down?" he asked.
She nodded. "He's too strong for me alone. But together… maybe not impossible."
Phong smirked. "I'm not interested in justice or revenge. But chaos… now that's something I can work with."
Their alliance was sealed with silence — no need for formalities between those walking the edge.
Days later, rumors spread that Elder Feng would appear during the selection ceremony for the inner court's top disciples. A chance for Phong to show the sect that the 'new' him wasn't just talk.
When the day arrived, the arena was filled with disciples, elders, and even outsiders. The stage was set for a spectacle. And standing atop the platform… Elder Feng himself, an imposing figure with sharp features and piercing eyes.
He raised a hand, and the crowd quieted.
"Today," he said, "we welcome a new generation of cultivators. Let the trials begin."
One by one, challengers faced each other in combat. Then came Phong's turn.
He stepped onto the platform, facing off against Xu Li — a famed prodigy and Elder Feng's direct disciple.
As they bowed, Van Thien Phong whispered, "Tell your master… I'm coming for him."
Xu Li scoffed. "You'll have to survive me first."
The battle was a blur of fists, qi blasts, and sword light. But Phong danced through it like a phantom, his style unpredictable, almost… unorthodox.
Then, with a single strike, he disarmed Xu Li, shattered his defense, and left him unconscious on the ground.
The crowd erupted. Elder Feng's smile faded.
Van Thien Phong looked up, his voice echoing across the arena:
"This is just the beginning."
And in the shadows, Bai Xiao Nian watched, a faint smile on her lips.
But as the crowd cheered and elders murmured in surprise, no one noticed the figure clad in black robes, watching from the highest pavilion — a man with a mask of bone and eyes like endless night.
He whispered one word: "Interesting…"
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[end of chapter 3]