Four days had passed…
A full four days since that day inside the dining hall, since that brief confrontation that caused Faiser's name to spread throughout the sect far faster than anyone had expected.
But the strange thing…
Was that Faiser himself had completely disappeared since then.
He never left his room.
He never appeared in the training grounds.
He was never seen within the corridors.
Even the dining hall… he had not approached it even once.
It was as if the person who caused all that commotion… had suddenly vanished from the entire sect.
Meanwhile, inside his room—
The situation was completely different.
The silence there was not peaceful…
It was closer to a heavy and constant pressure.
Throughout the four days, Faiser remained seated in the lotus position most of the time, his eyes closed while the chi inside his body moved continuously without stopping.
Sometimes violently.
Sometimes with strange calmness.
At times, the air inside the room would tremble for brief moments, and at other times the walls themselves would emit faint sounds as though something were pressing against them from within.
As for the book—
It never stopped talking during those days.
Sometimes mocking.
Sometimes explaining.
And sometimes screaming because of Faiser's insane training methods.
"You lunatic… stop forcing the chi like that!"
Then hours later—
"Hah?! What do you mean you want to try the art again?!"
Then sometime later—
"You truly are not afraid of death at all…"
But Faiser…
Did not care.
In fact, as time passed, his gaze became calmer.
And colder.
As if something inside him had gradually begun to awaken.
Outside—
The entire sect was moving at a completely different pace.
Because the sect's grand competition… had finally drawn near.
The vast courtyards began changing day after day.
The sect's massive banners were hung above the stone buildings, and the large platforms around the main battle arena were being prepared, while dozens of disciples moved everywhere carrying equipment, tables, and flags.
The atmosphere was no longer that of ordinary training.
It had become closer to a massive celebration.
A celebration carrying within it… unmistakable tension.
Inside one of the corridors—
Shin stood among a group of disciples while watching them prepare the wooden seats around the arena.
He spoke in a slightly raised voice:
"No, not like that!"
Then he pointed toward one of the corners.
"The banners must be even… this is the sect competition, not some random marketplace."
One of the disciples sighed in exhaustion.
"But we've been working since morning, Shin…"
Shin immediately replied:
"Then keep working until night if you have to, because the elders will attend this time, and even guests from other sects may arrive, so stop acting lazy."
Then he crossed his arms and added:
"And if I see someone sitting instead of working… I'll personally throw him outside the arena."
Some disciples laughed nervously while everyone quickly returned to work.
Meanwhile, elsewhere inside the sect—
The situation was no calmer.
Because most participants in the competition were training like mad during the final days.
Inside one of the training grounds—
Kael was violently striking a massive stone dummy, chi bursting continuously from his fists until cracks spread across the dummy's entire surface.
His face was not calm.
It was filled with pressure and anger.
And every time he remembered Faiser…
His strikes became even more violent.
One of the disciples watching him nervously said:
"Kael has become even more terrifying…"
Another replied in a low voice:
"It looks like he plans to crush someone during the competition."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the sect—
Mira was training in a completely different way.
Inside a quiet courtyard filled with trees, she moved with lightness and fluidity while her hand sliced through the air with precise speed, as though drawing invisible lines.
Every movement was calculated.
Every breath steady.
But despite her calm appearance…
Her mind was occupied by something else.
She said inwardly as she paused for a moment:
"Faiser…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"He completely disappeared after that day…"
Then she added internally:
"But for some reason… I feel that his next appearance will not be ordinary."
Elsewhere—
Daren sat atop a tall rock near one of the sect's rear cliffs.
His eyes were closed.
And the chi around him moved with astonishing calmness and stability.
Unlike Kael…
His training was not violent.
It was calm in a way that made even watching him feel peaceful.
But suddenly—
He slowly opened his eyes.
Then looked toward the third generation residences.
Specifically…
Toward Faiser's room.
A brief silence followed.
Then he quietly said:
"That person…"
He paused briefly.
"I feel like his presence truly changed."
Silence returned once again.
While the breeze passed calmly across the heights.
Meanwhile, inside Faiser's room—
The situation was completely different.
The chi within the room had clearly become heavier than before.
Even the air itself seemed denser.
Faiser sat in the center of the room with his eyes closed while strands of energy slowly rotated around his body.
The book suddenly said:
"Hah… four whole days."
Then added mockingly:
"Even I'm starting to feel suffocated in this place."
Faiser did not open his eyes.
He simply replied calmly:
"That means the training was effective."
The book responded:
"No, that means you're insane."
Then it added:
"But… it seems you truly improved."
A faint smile appeared on Faiser's face.
Then—
He finally opened his eyes.
And the moment he did—
It felt as though the atmosphere inside the room changed for a brief instant.
He slowly stood up.
Then took a calm breath.
The book asked:
"So?"
"Are you finally ready to cause trouble?"
Faiser laughed softly.
"Trouble?"
Then his smile widened slightly.
"No…"
"What will happen in this competition is greater than mere trouble."
Outside—
The entire sect had finally gathered within the massive main arena.
The banners moved above everyone.
The voices of disciples filled the place.
And the gigantic stone platforms surrounding the arena were packed with spectators.
The entire atmosphere carried a heavy feeling of excitement and tension.
Then—
One of the elders appeared atop the main platform.
And the moment he appeared…
The voices gradually began to quiet down.
Until near silence spread.
The elder looked toward everyone, then spoke in a deep voice that echoed across the entire arena:
"Today…"
"The sect's grand competition begins."
In a single moment—
The arena exploded with noise once again.
Excitement.
Anticipation.
Tension.
Everything erupted at once.
As for the elder—
He calmly raised his hand until silence returned once more.
Then he said:
"And now… the first matches of the opening round shall be announced."
All eyes immediately focused on him.
Some disciples swallowed nervously.
Others smiled confidently.
As for Mira—
She remained calm.
And so did Kael… though his gaze carried unmistakable hostility.
Then the elder opened the scroll in his hand and declared clearly:
"The first match…"
The entire arena seemed to hold its breath.
Then—
"Mira… versus Kael."
And in a single instant—
The arena exploded with uproar.
The moment their names thundered across the arena—
Expressions changed instantly.
Some disciples' eyes widened in shock, others rose from their seats immediately, while whispers exploded in every direction.
"What?! From the first round?!"
"Kael against Mira?!"
"Damn… that's a final match, not an opening one!"
As for Kael—
He finally smiled.
But it was not a comforting smile.
It was the smile of someone who had finally found something to pour his anger into.
On the opposite side…
Mira remained calm, but slowly lifted her gaze toward the battle platform, her eyes gradually narrowing.
Meanwhile, atop one of the distant platforms...
The Sixth Elder silently observed the arena.
Then…
He smiled.
A very faint smile.
Cold.
As though he had finally seen something he liked.
But at that exact moment—
Amid all that noise…
Amid the shouting disciples and the excitement of the arena…
A person finally appeared at the entrance of the main arena.
With calm steps.
Without haste.
And without any clear expression on his face.
Faiser.
And the moment he entered—
More than one person felt something strange.
Not pressure…
Nor killing intent…
But an uncomfortable sensation, as though his very presence had become heavier than before.
Daren's eyes immediately locked onto him.
As for Mira—
She turned toward him for only a brief moment…
But her eyes widened slightly.
And above—
The Sixth Elder's smile gradually disappeared.
Meanwhile, inside Faiser's mind—
The book laughed softly and said:
"Hah…"
"It seems the play… has finally begun."