Lin Mei's words hung in the air of Tae-Won's quarters, the mention of the Great Martial Festival casting long shadows across his thoughts.
"The festival occurs once every hundred years," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Representatives from all major academies across the continent gather to showcase their talents, exchange knowledge, and forge alliances."
Tae-Won observed her carefully, noting the tension in her shoulders and the way her eyes darted occasionally toward the window. "Why tell me this? Surely all disciples are informed of such an important event."
A wry smile crossed her lips. "The official announcement comes tomorrow. I thought you deserved... advance warning."
"Warning?" Tae-Won raised an eyebrow. "Not preparation?"
"Both." Lin Mei glanced toward the door before continuing. "The festival brings opportunities—rare scrolls, cultivation resources, connections with powerful sects. But it also draws attention. First-tier disciples are automatically entered into the tournament portion."
Understanding dawned on Tae-Won. "And as yesterday's highest-scoring candidate, I'll be particularly visible."
Lin Mei nodded. "Precisely. Talents like yours don't go unnoticed—or unchallenged." She hesitated. "There's something else. Below the academy—"
A distant bell tolled, signaling the evening curfew. Lin Mei straightened immediately.
"I've said enough for tonight. We'll speak again." She moved toward the door, pausing briefly. "Be careful with your cultivation. The air feels... wrong tonight."
After she departed, Tae-Won returned to his meditation mat, pondering her cryptic warning. The subtle wrongness he'd sensed earlier still lingered at the edges of his perception—a discordant note in the academy's otherwise harmonious Qi.
[System Notification]
Quest Alert: Investigate the source of demonic essence.
Reward: 800 Cultivation Points.
Warning: This quest involves significant risk.
Tae-Won's eyes narrowed at the notification. The system rarely issued warnings with quests—the danger must be substantial. Yet the mention of demonic essence aligned with what he'd sensed. Something dark lurked beneath the academy, and it seemed to be affecting the surrounding Qi.
Rather than immediately pursuing the investigation, he turned his attention to his cultivation. The breakthrough to Qi Condensation represented a significant milestone, but Lin Mei's warning and his own experiences today had highlighted a crucial reality: in this new realm of cultivation, he was once again a novice.
"Body Refinement was about strengthening the vessel," he murmured to himself. "But Qi Condensation requires an entirely different approach."
He opened one of the scrolls from the library, studying the detailed meridian diagrams. Unlike Body Refinement, where progress came through repeatedly pushing one's limits, Qi Condensation required precision, control, and a profound understanding of one's own energy pathways.
As he settled into meditation, Tae-Won attempted to guide his Qi according to the scroll's instructions. Immediately, he encountered resistance. His Qi, now denser and more potent than before, refused to flow through the pathways with the same ease it had during Body Refinement.
"Interesting," he muttered, opening his eyes after an hour of minimal progress. "It's like learning to wield a heavier sword. The principles remain the same, but the execution requires greater strength and finer control."
He spent the remainder of the evening experimenting with different approaches, making modest progress through trial and error. By the time exhaustion forced him to rest, he had managed to complete a single cycle of the basic Qi Condensation technique—a humbling reminder that this new stage would not yield to brute force or talent alone.
----------------------------------------
Dawn broke over the academy with an unsettling stillness. As Tae-Won made his way to the morning assembly, he noticed several disciples moving with obvious discomfort, their faces pale and drawn. At the gathering point, whispers spread among the assembled students.
"Third-year Liu collapsed during night training—"
"My roommate woke screaming about shadows in his meridians—"
"The infirmary is already half full—"
Master Wei arrived to conduct the assembly, his expression grim. After the standard announcements, he added: "All disciples experiencing unusual symptoms—headaches, cold sweats, disturbed dreams, or Qi disruptions—are to report to the infirmary immediately. This is not optional."
As the disciples dispersed to their respective training areas, Tae-Won noticed increased activity among the academy elders. They moved with purpose between buildings, their expressions grave. Something significant was occurring behind the scenes.
In his specialized training area, Scholar Joon appeared distracted as he lectured on meridian theory. Midway through the session, the scholar paused, noticing Tae-Won's intense focus.
"Young man, you seem particularly attentive today," he remarked. "What insights have you gained from our discussion?"
Tae-Won considered his response carefully. "I've been contemplating the fundamental difference between Body Refinement and Qi Condensation stages. It seems the former is about expansion—increasing capacity and strength—while the latter requires compression and refinement."
Scholar Joon's eyebrows rose slightly. "An astute observation. Many disciples fail to grasp this distinction, attempting to progress through Qi Condensation as they did through Body Refinement—through force of will and endurance alone."
"I experienced this difficulty last night," Tae-Won admitted. "My Qi resisted the pathways described in the scrolls."
The scholar nodded thoughtfully. "Because you've only just begun to understand the true nature of Qi Condensation. Tell me, what happens when water vapor condenses?"
"It transitions from a dispersed gas to a liquid, becoming denser and more concentrated."
"Precisely. And what is required for this process?"
Tae-Won considered. "A reduction in energy—cooling—and a surface upon which the condensation can occur."
"Excellent." Scholar Joon's eyes gleamed with approval. "Your Qi now requires similar conditions. The 'cooling' comes from mental discipline and precision, while your meridians serve as the condensation surface. But unlike water vapor, which condenses passively, your Qi must be actively guided. This requires a completely different mindset than Body Refinement."
The explanation resonated with Tae-Won's experiences. He had been approaching Qi Condensation with the same forceful determination that had served him well in Body Refinement, rather than the measured precision it actually required.
Their discussion was interrupted when a junior instructor burst into the training area, his face pale. "Scholar Joon, your presence is requested by the Headmaster. Urgently."
The scholar's expression darkened. "I see. Continue your studies, disciples. Focus particularly on the Three Harmonies method described in your scrolls."
As Scholar Joon hurried away, whispers erupted among the disciples. Tae-Won remained silent, absorbing both the cultivation insights and the growing signs of trouble within the academy.
During the midday meal, Tae-Won spotted Lin Mei across the dining hall. She caught his eye, giving a barely perceptible nod toward the library. The message was clear—their conversation would continue there.
When training sessions concluded for the afternoon, Tae-Won made his way to the library's east wing. Lin Mei was already there, seemingly absorbed in a scroll about water-attribute techniques.
"Three more disciples collapsed during morning training," she said without looking up as he sat across from her. "All complained of cold sensations in their meridians before losing consciousness."
Tae-Won selected a scroll from the nearby shelf, opening it casually. "The elders seem concerned."
"Terrified would be more accurate." Lin Mei's voice remained low and casual, as if they were discussing academic matters. "This has happened before, though not in our lifetime. The last occurrence was during the Great Martial Festival exactly one hundred years ago."
"What exactly is 'this'?" Tae-Won asked, turning a page in his scroll.
Lin Mei's eyes flicked briefly to his before returning to her reading. "There's something beneath the academy—an artifact of immense power and malevolence. The elders call it the Demon Head. It's kept sealed in the lowest level of the underground chambers, behind barriers erected by cultivators far more powerful than anyone currently at the academy."
"Yet something's leaking through," Tae-Won observed.
"Yes. The Qi disruptions began three days ago—subtle at first, but growing stronger. Only those at Qi Condensation and above can directly sense it, but even Body Refinement disciples feel its effects." She hesitated. "The timing is suspicious. Five days until the festival begins, and suddenly the seal weakens?"
Tae-Won contemplated this information, connecting it with his system's detection of demonic essence. "Has this connection between the festival and the seal been established before?"
"According to restricted records I... happened to access, yes. The last two festivals coincided with seal weakening." Lin Mei's expression remained neutral. "The academy believes it's cyclical or so they say—that the seal naturally degrades over time and must be reinforced."
"But you suspect otherwise."
A ghost of a smile crossed her face. "You catch on quickly. The festival brings together thousands of young cultivators, creates chaos and competition, and diverts attention from the academy's deeper chambers. It would be the perfect cover for someone attempting to access the Demon Head."
Before Tae-Won could respond, a commotion erupted near the library entrance. Several disciples rushed in, faces flushed with excitement.
"The Headmaster's called an emergency assembly!" one announced loudly, earning a sharp glare from the librarian. "Everyone to the main courtyard, immediately!"
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Lin Mei and Tae-Won exchanged glances before joining the stream of disciples heading toward the courtyard. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the gathering crowd as Headmaster Lu Wei took his position on the central platform, flanked by the academy's senior instructors and elders.
The Headmaster's voice carried across the courtyard without the need for amplification formations, a testament to his cultivation level. "Disciples of Heavenly Cloud, I address you regarding a matter of grave importance. As some of you have noticed, several of your fellow students have fallen ill in recent days."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
"This illness is not natural," the Headmaster continued, his expression severe. "It stems from a disturbance in the academy's Qi. Those with weaker constitutions or particular sensitivity to demonic energy are most affected."
The murmurs intensified at the mention of demonic energy. Tae-Won noticed several elders exchanging significant glances.
"Precautionary measures are being implemented immediately. First, a protective formation will be activated around all dormitories. Second, no disciple is to train alone—you must remain in groups of at least three at all times. Third, any unusual sensations, dreams, or Qi disturbances must be reported to an instructor without delay."
Headmaster Lu Wei paused, his gaze sweeping across the assembled disciples. "Finally, despite these circumstances, the Great Martial Festival will proceed as scheduled. In five days, representatives from academies across the continent will arrive at our gates. As hosts, we will demonstrate both our strength and our resolve."
After the assembly dispersed, Tae-Won made his way back to his quarters, mind racing with implications. The academy clearly knew more than they were sharing with the disciples. The Headmaster's announcement had been carefully worded—acknowledging the problem while revealing minimal details.
As he rounded a corner, he nearly collided with two senior disciples carrying a third between them. The unconscious student's face was deathly pale, with dark veins visible beneath his skin.
"Make way!" one of the seniors snapped. "He needs the infirmary, now!"
Tae-Won stepped aside, catching a glimpse of the afflicted disciple's arm as they passed—the skin around his meridians had darkened to a sickly purple, as if something malevolent flowed through his veins.
[System Notification]
Warning: Demonic essence concentration increasing.
Current levels: 0.8% above normal background detection threshold.
The notification confirmed what his senses were already telling him—the situation was deteriorating. Whatever lurked beneath the academy was growing stronger, its influence spreading through the very Qi disciples absorbed during cultivation.
Reaching his quarters, Tae-Won found Ho-Jin and Sung-Min waiting outside his door, their faces brightening at his approach.
"Big Brother!" Sung-Min called out, rushing forward with excitement that temporarily pushed aside Tae-Won's darker thoughts.
"We brought you celebratory dumplings," Ho-Jin explained, holding up a small package wrapped in bamboo leaves. "For becoming a first-tier disciple."
Tae-Won felt an unexpected warmth spread through his chest at the gesture. "Come inside," he invited, checking the corridor before ushering them in.
As they shared the simple meal, the children's animated chatter about life at Taekyung's estate provided a welcome distraction from the academy's troubles. Ho-Jin had begun basic cultivation exercises, showing remarkable progress for his age and previous circumstances.
"The formation is still working," Ho-Jin reported proudly. "Ji-Yeon and Min-Su take turns maintaining it, just like you showed us."
"Very good," Tae-Won nodded, noting how Ho-Jin's Verdant Vine Constitution had responded well to proper cultivation. The green-tinged Qi visible just beneath his skin indicated healthy meridian development.
As the conversation continued, Sung-Min suddenly shivered, rubbing his arms. "It's cold in here, Big Brother."
Tae-Won frowned. The room temperature was mild, and neither he nor Ho-Jin felt any chill. "Cold how? Like the air is cold, or like you're cold inside?"
"Inside," Sung-Min replied, looking confused by his own sensation. "Like cold water running through my arms and chest."
Concern flashed through Tae-Won. The symptoms matched those of the afflicted disciples. Quickly, he took Sung-Min's wrist, sending a thin thread of his Qi to investigate the boy's meridians.
What he found alarmed him—traces of dark energy had begun infiltrating Sung-Min's nascent Qi pathways. The contamination was minimal, but present nonetheless. Somehow, the demonic essence had reached even those with undeveloped cultivation.
"Ho-Jin," he said calmly, masking his concern, "take Sung-Min back to the estate immediately. Tell the others not to practice any cultivation until I return. And keep the formation active—it seems to be providing some protection."
Ho-Jin, perceptive beyond his years, nodded solemnly. "It's getting worse, isn't it? The sickness people are talking about in town?"
"Yes," Tae-Won answered honestly. "But you'll be safer away from the academy. Go now, and stay together."
After seeing them off, Tae-Won returned to his quarters, his determination hardening. The situation had escalated beyond academic curiosity—now it threatened those under his protection. Whatever was happening beneath the academy needed to be addressed before the festival brought thousands more potential victims into range of the demonic influence.
He settled into meditation, focusing not on cultivation progress but on understanding the nature of the contamination. His dual constitutions—Azure Phoenix Meridians and Martial Body—seemed to provide some resistance to the demonic essence, but even he could feel its subtle influence attempting to infiltrate his Qi.
As night fell, a knock at his door interrupted his meditation. Opening it, he found Taekyung standing outside, his expression grave.
"Walk with me," the older disciple said without preamble. "There are things you need to know."
They moved through the academy grounds in silence, eventually reaching a secluded pavilion overlooking the valley below. Distant lights from the town twinkled in the darkness, a reminder of the ordinary world that continued beyond the academy's troubles.
"It has begun again," Taekyung said finally, his voice low. "The seal is weakening, just as it did one hundred years ago."
"The Demon Head," Tae-Won replied, confirming he was already aware of its existence.
Taekyung's eyes narrowed slightly. "You've been busy. Yes, the Demon Head—an artifact from the Demon Realm that somehow crossed the boundary into our Mortal Realm centuries ago. Its true nature is unknown, but its effects are well-documented: corrupted Qi, physical deterioration, mental instability, and eventually, complete possession."
"The academy keeps such a thing beneath its halls?" Tae-Won asked, though it was more statement than question.
"Better here than elsewhere," Taekyung responded. "The academy stands at the intersection of powerful ley lines that help contain the artifact's influence. And the original seal was created by a coalition of the most powerful cultivators of that era, including a Spirit King."
Tae-Won considered this information. "Yet now it's failing, despite these precautions."
"Twice times in the past two hundred years, always during the festival." Taekyung's expression darkened. "The official explanation is that the increased cultivation activity during the festival puts strain on the seal. But I suspect deliberate interference."
"From where?"
"That's the question." Taekyung gazed out over the valley. "The nobles? The sects? Foreign powers? All have reason to desire such an artifact, despite its dangers—or because of them."
They stood in silence for a moment, the implications hanging heavy between them.
"Why tell me this?" Tae-Won asked finally. "I'm merely a first-year disciple, regardless of my tier."
A hint of a smile crossed Taekyung's face. "Come now. We both know you're far more than that. Your rate of advancement is unprecedented, your combat instincts honed beyond explanation, and your knowledge of cultivation theory exceeds most third-year disciples."
His expression grew serious again. "Besides, you've involved yourself by accepting those street children into your protection. The boy who visited today—Sung-Min—he's showing symptoms, isn't he?"
Tae-Won nodded, unsurprised by Taekyung's awareness of the visit. "Minor contamination. I've sent them back to the estate."
"A wise precaution, but temporary at best. The essence is spreading, and the festival will only accelerate the process." Taekyung turned to face him directly. "The academy elders are divided on how to proceed. Some advocate postponing the festival and focusing all resources on reinforcing the seal. Others insist the festival must continue to maintain appearances."
"And where do you stand?"
"I believe the festival should proceed, but with heightened vigilance. Whoever is targeting the seal will act during the chaos of the competition. That presents an opportunity to identify them."
Tae-Won recognized the strategic thinking. "Using the festival as bait."
"Precisely." Taekyung nodded. "But it requires eyes everywhere. As a first-tier first-year, your tournament rounds will finish early. My father has already spoken with the Headmaster - several core formation disciples from the Jin clan will be watching as well. All the upperclassmen sense something is wrong too."
"So I'm to investigate as soon as my matches conclude?" Tae-Won asked.
"And a few others I trust." Taekyung produced a small jade tablet from his sleeve. "This will grant you access to the second level of the underground chambers. No further—the lower levels are heavily warded. Watch for anyone attempting to bypass those wards during the festival."
Tae-Won accepted the tablet, weighing both the responsibility and the opportunity it represented. "And if I find something?"
"Signal me through this." Taekyung handed him a second item—a small communication talisman. "Do not engage directly unless absolutely necessary. Whoever is behind this has been planning for years, perhaps decades. They will not be easily thwarted."
As they concluded their meeting and parted ways, Tae-Won felt the weight of his new responsibility settling alongside his existing concerns. Tomorrow would mark five days until the festival—five days to prepare for whatever dark schemes were unfolding beneath the academy.
[System Notification]
Quest Updated: Investigate the source of demonic essence.
Additional objective: Identify potential saboteurs during the Great Martial Festival.
Reward increased to 1000 Cultivation Points.
In his quarters that night, Tae-Won returned to his cultivation practice with renewed focus. The challenges of Qi Condensation had initially frustrated him—the density of his Qi resisting the refined control required at this stage. But Scholar Joon's analogy had provided crucial insight. He needed a completely different approach than what had served him in Body Refinement.
"Condensation requires cooling and a surface," he murmured, recalling the scholar's words. "Mental discipline provides the cooling, meridians the surface."
He adjusted his breathing, slowing it deliberately while visualizing his Qi not as a powerful force to be directed, but as vapor seeking condensation. The change in perspective yielded immediate results—his Qi began flowing more smoothly, responding to gentle guidance rather than forceful command.
By midnight, he had completed three full cycles of the basic Qi Condensation technique. Progress was slower than during Body Refinement, but each cycle yielded greater refinement and control. Quality over quantity—another fundamental difference between the stages.
As he prepared for sleep, Tae-Won reflected on the lessons of the day. His rapid advancement through Body Refinement had perhaps created unrealistic expectations for Qi Condensation. This stage would require patience and precision, not the relentless drive that had characterized his earlier progress.
Outside his window, the Phoenix Star pulsed faintly in the night sky, a distant reminder of his unique constitution and the path that lay ahead. Below, in the depths of the academy, the Demon Head's influence continued its subtle spread, a creeping shadow that would soon force confrontations long in the making.
Five days until the festival. Five days to master new techniques, investigate the spreading contamination, and prepare for the storm brewing beneath their feet. For once, even Tae-Won's remarkable talents would be stretched to their limits by the challenges ahead.
[System Notification]
Cultivation Progress: Qi Condensation I (8%).
Qi Control: Improving.
Warning: Continued cultivation during increased demonic essence exposure carries risks of contamination.
Tae-Won closed his eyes, allowing sleep to claim him. Tomorrow would bring new challenges—and perhaps, new allies in the growing shadow war.