The crowd still murmured long after Lin Chen vanished down the corridor.
But their words barely reached his ears.
His mind was elsewhere—far beyond the outer sect's walls, beyond this minor squabble.
"Two layers of Qi Condensation… still so weak," Lin Chen muttered, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone path.
"At this pace, even before I reclaim my wives… I'll be dog meat to the true powers of this world."
His lips curled into a thin smile.
"But then again… when have I ever walked the easy road?"
---
As he rounded the next bend toward his modest quarters, a voice stopped him cold.
"Outer Disciple Lin Chen!"
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried.
Calm. Commanding.
Lin Chen turned—and his eyes narrowed slightly.
A figure in dark green elder's robes stood at the path's fork.
Face lined with age but eyes sharp as blades, the man regarded him with thinly veiled interest.
"Disciple Lin Chen is to report to Elder Mo's pavilion. Immediately," the elder intoned.
"Do not delay."
---
Lin Chen's heart gave a small, involuntary jump.
"Elder Mo…?"
That name carried weight.
Mo Wenhai, one of the inner sect's powerful elders, known for managing dangerous sect missions and secret trials.
Rarely did outer disciples even see him, let alone get summoned personally.
"Hah…" Lin Chen exhaled softly. "So my little display ruffled more than a few feathers."
---
"Understood," Lin Chen replied evenly, bowing with crisp formality.
"Lead the way, Elder's attendant."
---
The walk was long, winding through courtyards and corridors that Lin Chen hadn't stepped through in this life.
But his memories — ancient, from his past existence — flared as he passed familiar landmarks.
The cracked stone lion at the archway.
The jade bridge that once glittered under moonlight.
"So much time has passed… yet the bones of this place remain the same," he mused quietly.
---
At last, they arrived before a grand wooden pavilion nestled against a cliffside.
The wind here smelled different — sharper, colder, like the mountain itself watched him.
"Enter," the attendant said, stepping aside.
Lin Chen didn't hesitate.
He pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.
---
The room was dimly lit.
Scrolls and strange herbs filled the shelves, their scents mingling in the air.
And at the far end sat Elder Mo Wenhai — eyes half-lidded, fingers stroking his thin beard.
"So you are the one causing ripples among the outer sect," Mo's voice was quiet, but heavy.
"Lin Chen."
---
Lin Chen bowed.
"Disciple Lin Chen greets Elder Mo."
Mo's eyes flickered with interest.
"Calm. Polite. No arrogance. Hmph… better than the usual rabble."
He gestured lazily to a cushion. "Sit."
---
Lin Chen obeyed, lowering himself smoothly.
His posture was straight, his breathing slow — though inside, his mind spun like a storm.
"This old fox wouldn't summon me just for tea," he thought.
"He saw something. Wants something."
---
"Tell me," Elder Mo began, voice like the scrape of stone, "where did you learn your footwork?"
"Your strikes were precise — too precise. Beyond the level of outer sect trash."
His gaze sharpened. "Who taught you?"
---
Lin Chen's lips curved faintly.
He met the elder's gaze without flinching.
"Disciple trained hard in solitude," Lin Chen said evenly. "No master. Only perseverance."
A half-truth. And Elder Mo knew it.
The elder snorted softly, but did not press.
"Hmph. Fine. Keep your secrets."
"But I dislike wasting time."
---
Mo leaned forward slightly.
"Tell me, Lin Chen—do you wish to rise? Faster than the crawling pace of other ants?"
The air in the room grew heavier.
An unspoken weight pressed on Lin Chen's shoulders.
But he didn't waver.
His dark eyes gleamed faintly. "Yes."
---
Mo's thin lips twitched upward. "Good. I value ambition."
He flicked his sleeve, and a scroll floated through the air, landing before Lin Chen with a soft thud.
"This is a summons for the Inner Sect's 'Hidden Trials.'"
"A dangerous path — but those who survive…"
"Their cultivation soars."
His gaze pierced into Lin Chen like a blade. "Many die. Few succeed. But I sense… you might live."
---
Lin Chen's fingers closed around the scroll.
His pulse quickened — but his face remained still.
"A chance…" he thought. "This could accelerate my rise. But at what cost?"
---
Mo leaned back. "Of course… participation requires a token fee. One thousand spirit stones."
"And… discretion. This trial is not officially endorsed. You understand?"
Lin Chen's eyes flashed.
"An under-the-table trial? Hah… classic sect politics."
---
"Do you accept?" Elder Mo's voice was soft now. Deadly soft. "Or do you crawl back to sparring with outer disciples?"
---
The silence stretched.
Lin Chen's heart pounded once. Twice.
Then—
"I accept."
His voice was quiet. Firm. Unyielding.
---
Mo's thin smile widened. "Excellent."
"Report back here in three days. Prepare yourself — mentally and physically."
His fingers tapped the table. "And Lin Chen…"
"If you survive—"
"The heavens will open for you."*
---
Lin Chen rose, bowing once more.
"Thank you, Elder Mo."
As he turned to leave, a flicker of cold determination ignited in his chest.
"Hidden Trials…"
"Dangerous? Yes. Deadly? Likely."*
"But if I want to reclaim my throne… reclaim them…"
"I must risk everything."*
---
Far away… across the stars…
A woman shrouded in silvery mist sat on a frozen moon.
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she stared into the void.
"Chen'er… come back to us…"
"Please…"
---
[End of Chapter 6]