The cool night air brushed against Lin Xuan’s skin as he stepped out of the Elder’s hall. His mind was still processing everything that had just happened. The overwhelming power of the Heavenly Script, the battle with Zhou Bei, and Elder Wu’s cryptic warning—all of it pointed to a path that was far more treacherous than he had anticipated.

He had taken his first step into a larger world.

And he was ready for whatever came next.

But readiness alone wasn’t enough. He needed strength. Real strength. The kind that could carve his destiny in stone.

The sect grounds were quiet at this hour, only the occasional flicker of lantern light guiding his path. The Inner Disciple Courtyard was a vast expanse of stone pathways, training arenas, and meditation halls. He had been an outer disciple only days ago, but now, his rise had begun.

Lin Xuan reached his assigned courtyard, a small but comfortable space reserved for promising disciples. He pushed open the wooden doors and sat down cross-legged on the mat, his mind calm but focused.

“The first step is foundation.”

The battle with Zhou Bei had shown him the gap between his current strength and the true elites of the sect. He had barely tapped into the Heavenly Script’s power, and yet, it had already granted him an unimaginable advantage. But power without control was no different from a blade with no hilt—dangerous to everyone, including himself.

Lin Xuan closed his eyes, steadying his breath. He let his consciousness sink into his dantian, where a faint golden glow pulsed—traces of the Heavenly Script’s energy lingering within him.

“What are you?” he wondered. “And why have you chosen me?”

No answer came. Only silence.

His cultivation base was currently at the Qi Condensation Ninth Stage, and he knew that breaking into Foundation Establishment would be his true first step into the greater realms of cultivation. The difference between the two was like heaven and earth. Foundation Establishment wasn’t just about accumulating Qi—it was about forging an unshakable core, one that determined the path of cultivation for the rest of a cultivator’s life.

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“I need a breakthrough.”

Fortunately, he had an idea.

THE TEMPERING GROUNDS

The next morning, Lin Xuan left his courtyard and made his way toward the sect’s most well-known training grounds—the Tempest Gorge. It was a sacred place within the sect, known for its brutal conditions that tested one’s endurance and willpower. The disciples who trained there were the ones seeking to harden their bodies and spirits.

As he approached, he could hear the distant sound of wind roaring like a beast. A deep chasm cut through the sect’s mountains, where violent wind currents formed a natural barrier of resistance. Training there wasn’t just a test of one’s physical limits but also of one’s control over their Qi.

When Lin Xuan arrived, he saw other disciples engaged in rigorous training. Some stood with their arms spread wide, letting the wind pummel them, forcing their bodies to adapt. Others meditated within the storm, honing their control over Qi flow.

He spotted a familiar face among them—

Xu Rong.

One of the top inner disciples, and a known prodigy within the sect.

Xu Rong noticed Lin Xuan’s arrival and smirked. “Didn’t expect to see you here so soon, Lin Xuan. Inner disciples usually take their time before attempting the Tempest Gorge.”

“I don’t have time to waste,” Lin Xuan said, stepping onto the training platform.

Xu Rong’s eyes gleamed with interest. “Ambitious. I like that. But the Gorge isn’t kind to those who overestimate themselves.”

Lin Xuan took a deep breath and stepped forward. The moment he crossed into the wind barrier, a force slammed into him like a crashing wave. He staggered, feeling as if countless invisible blades were cutting into his skin.

“So this is the Tempest Gorge…”

The wind carried an overwhelming pressure, making even standing difficult. Every step forward felt like wading through a raging storm. He gritted his teeth, planting his feet firmly into the ground, channeling his Qi to resist the force.

Disciples watching from the sidelines whispered among themselves.

“Isn’t he the one who defeated Zhou Bei?”

“He’s already attempting the Gorge? That’s insane.”

But Lin Xuan didn’t hear them. His focus was absolute. He wasn’t here to impress anyone—he was here to grow.

He reached the first marker within the Gorge, a stone pillar inscribed with ancient runes. It was said that anyone who could withstand the wind’s pressure at this point was considered an elite among the inner disciples.

His bones ached, his muscles screamed, but he stood firm.

“Not enough.”

Lin Xuan pushed forward, deeper into the storm.

“I need to go beyond my limits.”

He took another step.

And then another.

The wind roared, but so did his determination.

As he reached the second marker, he knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning.

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