As Shen Yuan waited for them to continue, he could feel a strange feeling begin to wake up in him. It wasn’t fear or anger…., rather it was excitement. Excitement about how he would crave these elders into meat statues.

One elder, his voice gruff and condescending, spoke up, breaking the monotony. “What do we intend to do about Shen Yuan?” The elder’s voice was laced with something darker than irritation—there was fear, and something more calculating.

Shen Yuan’s pulse quickened as he leaned in, straining to catch every word.

“What about him?” another elder scoffed, as though the question were foolish. “He’s merely a disciple, a talented one, yes, but one who knows his place. Why concern ourselves with him?”

“He’s more than that,” the first elder replied, his voice laced with disdain. “He’s surpassed expectations with a speed that is… unnatural. He’s already a Heaven Path cultivator, and at this rate, he’ll overtake us within a year. Is it wise to ignore such potential danger?”

Shen Yuan felt a strange satisfaction at their acknowledgment of his rapid progress, but he kept his emotions in check, reminding himself of the gravity of their words.

A third elder, older and colder, spoke up. “If he’s truly so dangerous, then perhaps it’s time to cut him down before he grows beyond our control. We cannot risk his rise disrupting the balance of power within the sect.”

Shen Yuan’s chest tightened, excitement brewing beneath his calm exterior. They were so quick to turn against their own, fearful, petty men who would cut him down the moment he became inconvenient or too much for them to control.

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One elder, however, voiced a note of caution. “Are we truly considering such drastic action? He is only a young cultivator, and we have handled countless disciples before. Is this fear warranted?”

“It’s more than warranted,” the first elder replied sharply. “He’s already at the Heaven Path realm, and if he continues at this pace, he’ll become unstoppable. We have seen it before, young cultivators with unchecked potential. They become threats, rivals, and ultimately… enemies.”

There was a pause as the words settled, and Shen Yuan’s fingers curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms.

Another elder spoke in a low, venomous tone. “If we don’t act soon, we may miss our chance. If he becomes a threat, we must strike swiftly. And if necessary… we can use his blood for pills.”

The suggestion hung in the air, greeted by murmurs of agreement. Shen Yuan’s jaw tightened, and he fought to keep his emotions in check. These elders were discussing him as if he were nothing more than a resource to be used and discarded. Their willingness to betray him fueled his determination, hardening his resolve.

Then, a final voice entered the conversation—a voice older and colder than the others, one that carried an air of calm authority. “Patience,” he said softly, his words laced with deadly intent. “Let us observe. We do not act out of fear, but if he strays even slightly, we act without hesitation.”

The silence that followed was heavy, and Shen Yuan’s anger solidified into a burning determination. He would not let them control his fate. These so-called guardians of the sect would learn that he was no pawn to be used or cast aside.

As he prepared to slip away, the elder’s final words echoed in his mind: “Remember, he may yet become a monstrosity—one who will reshape or ruin us all.”

A dark smile touched Shen Yuan’s lips as he disappeared from the hall. And silently entered his abode with a chilling grin on his face.