The forest slept uneasily under a waning moon. Somewhere in the distance, a beast howled—a long, lonely sound that echoed through the empty hills. Lin Xuan adjusted the tattered satchel over his shoulder and walked alone along the dirt path leading north.
He had buried the corpses of the Blood Shadow Sect hunters beneath the roots of a massive banyan tree, their blood soaked into the earth like a silent offering. For now, the trail was cold—but he knew better than to linger.
The world thought he was dead.
He intended to keep it that way.
---
A Day Later – Outside the Sect of Broken Stars
Nestled at the edge of the Verdant Cloud Mountains was a small sect—humble, faded, and mostly ignored by the powerful clans and empires of the cultivation world. The Sect of Broken Stars had once produced a Nascent Soul cultivator a hundred years ago, but now, it was a crumbling relic of its former self.
Perfect for hiding.
Lin Xuan stood before the crumbling stone gate, where two sleepy disciples blocked the entrance. Both wore faded grey robes and carried chipped spears.
"Halt," one of them yawned. "Who are you?"
"I'm here to join the sect," Lin Xuan said.
The two guards blinked at him. "You're serious? With… that rusty sword and no qi signature?"
Lin Xuan lowered his eyes, feigning embarrassment. "I've been practicing in the mortal realm… but I can sense spiritual energy now. I only seek a place to cultivate."
The other guard snorted. "We're not exactly the Azure Sky Pavilion, kid. You sure this is the sect you want?"
Lin Xuan nodded. "I'm sure."
The guards exchanged shrugs and waved him in.
---
Within the Sect Grounds
The Sect of Broken Stars was built around a ruined starlight formation—shattered pillars marked with ancient runes that no one could read anymore. Its disciples trained lazily in the courtyards, while elders mostly drank wine and told stories of the sect's former glory.
Lin Xuan was assigned a sleeping mat in a straw hut shared with three outer disciples. He kept his head down, observing everything.
At night, he cultivated silently. The Chaos Core devoured the ambient spiritual energy that leaked from the broken formation, refining it faster than even top-tier Heaven-grade techniques.
By the third night, his progress had already surpassed every outer disciple.
---
On the Fourth Day – A Challenge
A cocky outer disciple named Wei Long approached him during sword practice. He was known for bullying newcomers and flexing his minor Qi Gathering abilities.
"You," Wei Long said, pointing at Lin Xuan. "You've been dodging sparring for days. What are you, scared?"
Lin Xuan glanced at him, calm. "I was told the sparring here is optional."
Wei Long laughed. "It is. But if you don't fight, everyone will think you're just another useless beggar."
Murmurs spread through the training field. A small crowd gathered.
Lin Xuan saw it for what it was: an opportunity.
He stood. "Very well."
---
Sparring Arena
Wei Long smirked and unsheathed his blade, swirling it with exaggerated flair. "Don't cry when you hit the ground."
Lin Xuan didn't bother drawing his sword.
A hush fell over the crowd.
Then Wei Long lunged.
Lin Xuan stepped to the side and tapped his opponent's wrist lightly—almost like a whisper.
A ripple of black qi spread up Wei Long's arm, seizing his meridians. His sword dropped. The crowd gasped as he stumbled, clutching his chest, coughing violently.
"What did you do to me?!" Wei Long gasped, falling to one knee.
Lin Xuan stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly with dark light. "Your technique is flashy. But shallow."
The senior overseeing the arena intervened before things got worse.
"That's enough!" he barked. "The spar is over!"
He glanced at Lin Xuan warily. "What technique was that?"
Lin Xuan bowed slightly. "A variation of palm disruption I developed in the mortal realm."
"Hmm…" the elder narrowed his eyes. "Report to the inner courtyard tomorrow. The Sect Master may want to see you."
---
That Night – Alone in the Forest Again
Lin Xuan sat under the stars, meditating beside the ruined formation stones.
The Chaos Core pulsed.
[Progress: Qi Gathering – 42%]
[New Trait Acquired: Adaptive Absorption – Increases cultivation speed in chaotic environments by 25%]
He opened his eyes slowly.
The world was beginning to take notice. His disguise had held, but only barely. He needed to grow stronger—faster—before the next assassin came.
He raised his hand and summoned a small orb of chaos energy. It danced above his palm like a living shadow.
"In my past life," he whispered, "I sought to ascend and protect those I cared about."
He clenched his fist.
"This time… I'll tear down the heavens if I must."
---
[Quest Progress Updated: Hidden Within the Sect – 1/5 Objectives Completed]
Next Objective: Access the Inner Sect's Library to Learn More About the Star Formation]
Warning: Hidden Surveillance from Blood Shadow Sect Detected – Proceed with Caution