Chapter 32: Silent Ascension: The Path of Shadows

As Xu Mo reveled in the newfound power he had never experienced before, he also contemplated how to inform the sect master or Elder Long that he was ready to be released from jail. He had previously told them it would take seven months or less. Due to his unique abilities, the Qi within him remained perfectly still, like a dead sea, with no fluctuations even when he moved.

He was akin to an assassin, though with one key difference: while assassins required years of training and techniques to erase their presence, Xu Mo could do so innately. No matter the situation—even if he were caught off guard or lost his composure—he would never leak Qi. His very attacks were imbued with the essence of Silence.

I must reduce the number of words I speak from now on, Xu Mo thought.

He had always known this, but the more he remained silent, the faster he would progress toward mastering the first stage of the Dao of Silence.

Yes, Xu Mo had not only touched the rudimentary level of the Dao but had also glimpsed the consequences of prioritizing quantity over quality during his trial. Pride and arrogance had blinded him to what was right or wrong. Yet, he found himself in a dilemma: should he believe what the trial revealed about the true nature of people? Moreover, he had not encountered the mysterious, hidden-faced girl as he had expected. Instead, he was immediately named the True Successor, bypassing the outer sect entirely.

Now, Xu Mo was about to embark on a path that many who had become mere footnotes in history had walked. He was no longer the arrogant Xu Mo from the trial, who believed himself superior to everyone. He now understood that Jin Meiyu and Jin Wuyuan came from significant backgrounds, considering even the Hidden Dragon Sect one of the top sects in the region. He was impressed by the audacity of the trial version of himself, who had courted death so recklessly. If he were in his own shoes, he wouldn’t dare even glance at someone of such high status.

This wasn’t about degrading himself. People of the same status should associate with those of similar standing. Those from powerful backgrounds were nothing but trouble. It was clear that Jin Wuyuan had faced some grave danger, forcing him to leave his granddaughter, Jin Meiyu, in a remote region—a danger severe enough to threaten the annihilation of his entire family.

Clang, clang—

"Here, still alive. Your food," the guard said, delivering his meal.

Xu Mo approached the iron bars, the light falling on his facial features. His robes and inner clothes were tattered from sleeping on the hard, dirty bed. For a moment, the guard noticed nothing unusual.

"How long have I been locked in here?" Xu Mo asked, curious about the passage of time.

"What?! Have you finally lost your mind? It was only yesterday that we brought you food," the guard replied, bewildered.

What? Xu Mo was stunned. He had spent what felt like years inside, yet only a day had passed. He stretched out his hand to take the tray of food.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Thank you," he said.

"Where did the Qi-dissipating bracelets go?" the guard’s voice turned cold, shifting from indifference to suspicion.

The guard glanced around, checking if someone had infiltrated the cell. He sensed no Qi from Xu Mo, confirming he was still a mortal. But when he looked up again, he noticed the smile on Xu Mo’s face and the sharper, more defined contours of his cheeks. What terrified him more was Xu Mo’s appearance—covered from head to toe in a black, sticky substance. The guard recognized it as the impurities expelled when one first condenses their Qi. However, the amount on Xu Mo was far greater than usual.

Xu Mo grabbed the iron bars, trying to explain with a smile, but the thick, heavy iron rod was already in his hand.

"Ahhh!" The guard screamed and fled without looking back.

Xu Mo stared blankly at the rod in his grasp and the retreating guard.

Did I become so strong? But I didn’t even exert any strength.

He knocked his head, realizing he had forgotten to remain silent.

Xu Mo followed the guard, who glanced back repeatedly. When he saw Xu Mo had left the prison cell, he ran even faster.

Swoosh—

The guard’s extreme speed created a whooshing sound as the air split around him.

Sigh—

The guard reached the dungeon’s exit before Xu Mo, who was leisurely strolling through the cell.

Meanwhile, the guard, with anxious steps, rushed to Wei Han’s office.

Bang—

The guard barged in, disregarding discipline.

"S-sir... T-that... That..." he panted, struggling to speak.

Wei Han gazed at the guard, noticing his sweat and irregular pauses. Something had clearly terrified him.

"Calm down. Tell me what happened," Wei Han said, his voice soothing.

The guard inhaled deeply, trying to steady his breathing and his pounding heart.

Knock, knock—

Xu Mo knocked on the open door to draw Wei Han’s attention. Wei Han was shocked, not only because he couldn’t sense Xu Mo’s presence but also because Xu Mo’s appearance was worse than a beggar’s.

"How did you get out?" Wei Han asked, but Xu Mo remained silent. He instinctively wanted to speak but held himself back.

"Sir, h-he’s been hiding his strength all along," the guard stammered, pointing at Xu Mo while edging closer to Wei Han.

"Have you condensed your Qi?" Wei Han asked.

Xu Mo nodded. Though it might seem arrogant, he knew he had to get used to keeping his words short.

"Take him to have a bath first," Wei Han ordered. Shortly after, two guards entered the office and escorted Xu Mo to clean up.

Meanwhile, over the past five months, many changes had occurred within the Hidden Dragon Sect. A new Saintess had emerged, and a new inner disciple named Long Chen was making waves with his rapid breakthroughs. Long Chen was cultivating a high-level technique that required extensive meditation.

Rumors about the Saintess’s beauty and identity had spread throughout the sect. Many had used their connections to gather information about this sudden newcomer. Even the maids who tended to her were cornered and questioned. Initially reluctant, they eventually divulged details when offered enough spiritual stones.

Those who received the information embellished it with their own imaginations. Some claimed the Saintess hailed from a powerful domain outside their own—the Heavenly Sovereign Prefecture. Many hadn’t even heard her real name. Soon, a group of self-proclaimed fans emerged within the sect, though they were little more than perverts obsessed with her beauty.

Long Chen gritted his teeth whenever he saw these individuals. He considered the title "Saintess" disrespectful when uttered by such unworthy beings. In his mind, he was the protector of beauty, and the Saintess was already his property. No one else should dare even glance at her.

Rumors circulated that the Saintess had broken through to the first level of Qi Condensation within a week and was now nearing its peak. Many could only envy her, as she achieved in days what others spent lifetimes striving for.

Upon hearing this, Long Chen would simply say, "That’s my future wife." He was, quite clearly, delusional.