Li Yan stood before the towering door, his gaze steady as he observed its surface. After a brief moment of thought, he raised his hand again.
This time, instead of relying on force, he released a strand of his Spiritual Energy and guided it toward the door. The tower was inside the Spiritual Consciousness, which is why he wouldn't use his elemental Qi here. He left the Spiritual Energy as an option to try.
The moment his Spiritual Energy made contact—
The tower responded.
A faint ripple spread across the surface of the door, subtle yet unmistakable. The ancient structure seemed to acknowledge his presence, as if recognizing the energy he carried.
Li Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. "So it reacts to Spiritual Energy…"
Without hesitation, he increased the flow.
His Spiritual Energy surged forward in a steady stream, pouring into the door. The runes carved into its surface began to glow faintly, responding to the influx.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
A low, almost imperceptible sound echoed.
The door shifted.
Just slightly.
A thin gap appeared.
Li Yan's eyes flickered with focus. "It's working."
He immediately increased his Spiritual Energy output, directing more of it into the door. The glow of the runes intensified as the ancient mechanism responded.
As the gap widened, the resistance surged abruptly—no longer passive, but opposing him directly. Each fraction of movement demanded a significant amount of Spiritual Energy.
Li Yan did not stop.
He continued to push, his Spiritual Energy maintaining a steady flow as he forced the door to open further.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
The door crept open little by little.
But so did the strain.
Li Yan's brows furrowed slightly as he felt the drain on his Spiritual Energy. The vast blue sea beneath him stirred faintly, its calm surface disturbed by the continuous output.
Still, he persisted.
Until—
His Spiritual Energy began to run dry. The flow weakened.
The glow of the runes dimmed. The door, which had only opened a few inches, stopped moving entirely.
Li Yan exhaled slowly and withdrew his hand.
The moment his Spiritual Energy ceased—
The door closed.
The narrow gap vanished as the heavy structure sealed itself once more, returning to its original state as if nothing had happened.
Li Yan stood in silence, observing it. "So it requires Spiritual Energy to open…" he murmured. "And not a small amount."
From what he had just experienced, it was clear. His current amount of Spiritual Energy was insufficient.
Even after exhausting it whole, he had barely managed to open the door a few inches.
For now, forcing it further would be meaningless. Li Yan's expression remained calm as he stepped back.
"I'll leave this for later," he decided. "Or… I'll ask Yao Fuhuo about how to enhance my Spiritual power once she arrives."
With that thought, he turned away from the tower. The matter was not urgent. Rushing would only lead to wasted effort.
Li Yan moved a short distance away and sat down cross-legged upon the surface of his Spiritual Sea.
The vast blue expanse beneath him slowly calmed as he closed his eyes. Drawing in the ambient Spiritual Energy around him, he began to replenish what he had expended.
His breathing steadied.
His mind quieted.
And the gentle waves of his Spiritual Consciousness gradually returned to stillness.
____
Time passed quietly within the Ancient Techniques Hall.
Ji Hong stood to the side, his gaze occasionally shifting toward the bracelet in his hand. The allotted time had already ended, yet Li Yan remained seated at the center of the platform, completely still.
He had not awakened. His consciousness was clearly elsewhere.
Ji Hong did not move to disturb him.
After everything he had witnessed today, he had no intention of interrupting the boy. Li Yan had already proven himself to be far beyond an ordinary prodigy. Forcing him out of his state now would only be a loss.
At the same time, Ji Hong could not dismiss the other three champions either.
If he ended the session for them while allowing Li Yan to continue, it would raise unnecessary doubts. Favoritism—whether real or perceived—was something he could not allow within the sect.
So he waited.
Silently.
Minutes passed.
Then, at last, Li Yan's eyes opened.
A faint hum of spiritual fluctuation pulsed subtly around him before fading, as though something within had just settled. The change was not something Ji Hong could fully perceive, yet he could sense that something had shifted.
Li Yan had recovered.
Not only that—within his Spiritual Consciousness, he had already begun testing both his Sword Aura and Sword Intent, albeit only briefly.
Ji Hong observed him from a short distance, his eyes narrowing slightly.
At first, it seemed like simple meditation. Now, it clearly wasn't. There was a difference. A depth. Something he could not quite grasp.
Li Yan raised his hand slowly and brushed his sleeve aside, glancing at the bracelet on his wrist.
"Time's up?" he murmured, a faint trace of surprise crossing his face.
Then he turned toward Ji Hong, his expression calm. "Elder Ji, how much extra time passed?"
Ji Hong blinked once before answering. His voice was steady, though his thoughts were anything but. "Only a few minutes."
He paused briefly, then added, his gaze sharpening, "More importantly… Did you… understand it?"
Li Yan rose to his feet in one smooth motion. A thin layer of sweat still clung to his brow, but his posture remained steady, his presence composed.
"Yes, Elder Ji," he replied with a small smile. "I gained some insight into controlling my Sword Aura."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Ji Hong studied him carefully before finally speaking, his tone carrying a trace of reluctant admiration. "Li Yan… you are truly remarkable. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it."
Li Yan dipped his head slightly. "I just followed the flow, Elder Ji. Opportunities like this are rare. I simply made the most of it."
Ji Hong let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Fortunate? No… that's not fortune. That's monstrous comprehension."
His expression grew more serious as he continued, "To comprehend the Sword Inscription and gain control over Sword Aura in a single day… that alone is already something most cultivators could never achieve."
Li Yan's lips curved faintly. "Elder Ji," he said lightly, "I should correct something."
Ji Hong frowned slightly. "What is it?"
"It wasn't just the Sword Word," Li Yan replied calmly. "It was two."
Ji Hong stiffened. "Two?" he repeated.
Li Yan nodded. "I comprehended the Inscribed Word 'Spirit' first."
For a moment, Ji Hong froze completely. "What…?" The word escaped him in a near whisper. "Then… you didn't focus on the techniques at all?"
"I did," Li Yan answered evenly. "But I didn't spend much time on them."
He paused briefly before continuing, his tone thoughtful. "With my current cultivation, I cannot execute even the first move of a Divine-tier technique. So I tried to understand one… just the beginning. The rest… wasn't within reach yet."
Ji Hong fell silent.
What Li Yan said was logical.
Practical.
And yet… hearing it from someone his age felt almost absurd.
After a moment, Ji Hong exhaled slowly and nodded. "You're right. Very few would think that far ahead."
He glanced toward the surrounding pillars before adding, "When your cultivation improves, if you wish to study these techniques again, you need only ask. I will open the Ancient Techniques Hall for you at any time."
Li Yan gave a slight bow. "Thank you, Elder Ji," he said.
Then he lifted his head, his voice calm but firm. "But there's no need. I will earn the right to return… just as I did this time."
Ji Hong paused.
For a brief moment, he simply looked at him.
Then he let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head with a faint smile. "Alright," he said. "Have it your way… as always."
Li Yan turned slightly, his gaze steady as he spoke. "Elder Ji, there's a question that's been lingering in my mind. May I ask?"
Ji Hong glanced at him, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Go ahead. What is it?"
Li Yan paused briefly before continuing. "If Divine-Tier techniques once existed in this world… then doesn't that imply higher cultivation realms existed as well? Realms beyond the Mortal path we know? If I'm not mistaken, those are called the Divine Realms… aren't they?"
Ji Hong's brows lifted. It was not just the question that surprised him—but the insight behind it.
He studied Li Yan for a moment before nodding slowly. "You are correct. Very few people know of this. Only those who have studied ancient records or inherited such knowledge from their lineage."
His tone grew more thoughtful as he continued, "Yes… There are realms beyond the Mortal path. They are known as the Divine Realms."
Ji Hong paused briefly, as if recalling fragmented memories. "My knowledge is limited. But what I do know is this—there are nine known Divine Realms. Just like the Mortal path, each realm is divided into nine stages."
He exhaled softly before adding, "Of those nine, I only know the names of the first three: Divine Rebirth Realm (Divine Adept), Divine Essence Realm (Divine Disciple), and Divine Aura Realm (Divine Master)."
Li Yan listened quietly. A faint glint passed through his eyes—not surprise, but confirmation.
The path did not end here.
It only began.
He cupped his hands respectfully. "Thank you, Elder Ji. Even a glimpse of such knowledge is invaluable."
Ji Hong waved his hand dismissively, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "It's nothing. Consider it a small reward for what you've shown today."
With that, he casually released a ripple of Qi.
The air within the hall distorted slightly, like heat waves rising from stone. The invisible pressure spread outward, reaching the other three champions.
One by one, they stirred.
Their eyes opened almost simultaneously, awareness returning as the subtle pressure washed over them.
Each instinctively glanced at the bracelet on their wrist.
The timer had ended.
One frowned slightly, a trace of frustration flickering across his face. Another remained quiet, his expression thoughtful. The third exhaled slowly, accepting the outcome.
None of them carried the same calm certainty that Li Yan now possessed.
One of them glanced at Li Yan, a trace of unease flickering in his eyes. Whatever he had gained…it was not something they could measure.
Ji Hong's voice echoed through the hall, calm yet authoritative. "Time's up. I trust each of you gained something from this opportunity. Even if you could not fully comprehend the techniques, do not be discouraged."
He paused briefly before continuing, "In the future, if you perform well in competitions—or one day rise to the rank of elder—you will have another chance to return."
The three champions nodded silently.
They understood.
Without further words, they began gathering together.
Ji Hong turned and walked toward the exit, his robe swaying lightly with each step. The others followed behind him, their footsteps soft against the polished stone floor.
No one spoke.
Yet the atmosphere carried weight.
Each of them was lost in thought—reflecting on what they had seen, what they had gained, and what had slipped just beyond their grasp.
As they stepped out of the Ancient Techniques Hall, one thing was certain.
None of them would leave unchanged.
The heavy doors of the Ancient Techniques Hall closed behind them, and a quiet hush settled over the surroundings. Only the soft echoes of footsteps remained as the group made their way toward the center of Ji Hong's chamber.
The air carried a subtle weight—anticipation mixed with something deeper, like the calm before a storm.
By the time they arrived, Ji Hong's sharp senses had already detected the presence waiting outside. Without pausing, he spoke in a calm yet commanding voice, "Elder Yu, don't remain outside. Come in."
The doors creaked open as Yu Long stepped inside, his long robes brushing lightly against the floor. He cupped his hands respectfully. "Greetings, Sect Leader."
Ji Hong gave a brief nod. "Elder Yu, take them to collect their rewards."
Yu Long inclined his head. "Understood." Turning toward the four champions, he gestured lightly. "Follow me."
Li Yan and the others moved without hesitation, leaving the chamber behind after thanking Ji Hong. The door closed softly, and for the first time since their return, Ji Hong was alone.
He stood still for a moment before letting out a slow breath, his gaze resting on the space ahead. "This boy's future is unpredictable," he murmured.
"If he continues like this…even this sect won't be able to contain him."
Even for someone like him, Li Yan's path could not be measured. And that uncertainty… was what made it most unsettling.