The heavy title hung in the stale air of the dorm room, an invisible weight pressing down on their shoulders.

  Xia stood frozen, her mouth slightly ajar, the golden invitation trembling in her grip.

  Her eyes darted back and forth, processing the sheer scale of the name

  Han.

  For a long, agonizing minute, the only sound was the distant hum of the sect outside.

  Then, her shoulders slumped.

  She let out a long, deflating sigh.

  Bi Kan’s eyes narrowed into slits.

  Raising his right hand, slowly curling his fingers into a fist that promised a painful knock on the head.

  Xia flinched, her hands shooting up in surrender. "W-Wait! Wait! I was kidding..."

  A nervous, dry chuckle escaped her throat, sounding too loud in the quiet room.

  "You should really stop joking around, Xia," Bi Kan muttered, keeping his fist raised for a second longer before lowering it.

  He pressed his palms against his forehead, rubbing at the tension there. "My patience doesn't recover that fast."

  Slap!

  Xia’s hands cracked against her own cheeks, leaving red marks on her pale skin.

  She shook her head violently, her pink pigtails whipping around.

  "Alright, no more jokes," she declared, her voice steadying. "Just my pure and honest thoughts about this!"

  She inhaled deeply, her chest expanding, before letting the question rush out in one breath.

  "Is this Han Family... the Grand Elder... err... Grand Elder Han..." She spun on her heel, scanning the corners of the room and the crack under the door for any eavesdroppers.

  Seeing shadows but no spies, she wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. "...are they as strong as Grand Elder Linghu Qixia?"

  The question floated in the space between them. Bi Kan leaned back against the rough wooden wall, sliding down slightly until his shoulders found a comfortable groove.

  "That's a hard question," he murmured, crossing his arms over his chest. "But strictly speaking... Grand Elder Han has a far superior cultivation realm than Linghu Qixia."

  Xia’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. Her posture straightened, brimming with an excitement she could barely contain. "T-Then—"

  "Not so fast."

  Bi Kan’s hand shot forward, palm open, halting her rising enthusiasm. "I didn't confirm anything yet."

  He tilted his head back, staring at the water stains on the ceiling.

  "That's only the case because Grand Elder Han has been cultivating for a long time. If we were to compare their achievements relative to the age Qixia is at now... he'd be way, way beneath her."

  Xia’s throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. "S-So, The Grand Elder Linghu... has far more potential than... Grand Elder Han?"

  Bi Kan nodded slowly. "Of course. Linghu Qixia is a prodigy."

  She's like Ming Mei, he thought, the image of the lavender-haired girl flashing in his mind.

  But born into a family of immense wealth and prestige.

  Though that does not undermine her terrifying natural talents.

  "Elder Han has lived past a hundred years," Bi Kan continued, his voice flat. "It's only natural for him to be ahead right now."

  Xia’s jaw dropped. The excitement vanished, replaced by a look of utter distaste.

  "T-That must mean he's old!" She wrinkled her nose. "I don't want a washed-up old man as my mentor!"

  Bi Kan stared at her. The silence stretched.

  Then, a laugh bubbled up from his chest—a genuine, amused sound that was foreign to his usually cynical demeanor.

  Xia shivered, hugging herself. "H-Hey... you're acting weird."

  Bi Kan wiped a stray tear from the corner of his eye, his shoulders shaking slightly. "Nothing, It's just..."

  His face snapped instantly into a mask of deadpan stoicism.

  "You're really dumb."

  The insult hung there, simple and blunt.

  Flash.

  Golden light erupted in the dim room.

  The Dragon-Fang Spear materialized in Xia's grip, the tip leveling at Bi Kan’s nose.

  Bi Kan’s hands flew up to defend his face, his eyes widening. "L-Listen! I just did alchemy! My core is empty! Have mercy on this Senior Brother!"

  Xia clicked her tongue, shaking her head with mock disappointment. "Very well. This Junior shall spare her Senior's life. For now."

  She dissipated the spear.

  They looked at each other, smirks tugging at the corners of their mouths before they both broke into quiet chuckles.

  "Okay, Okay," Bi Kan exhaled, waving a hand to clear the air. "Enough jokes."

  The lighthearted banter acted like a balm on the frayed edges of Bi Kan's nerves.

  The suffocating weight of the "Han" name, which had momentarily paralyzed his paranoid mind, began to lift.

  He looked at Xia, whose grin was as bright and oblivious as the midday sun.

  She really is an anchor he thought, feeling his heart rate steady.

  Without her, I’d be drowning in worst-case scenarios right now.

  He cleared his throat, stepping back into the role of a lecturer.

  "The Grand Elder isn't old," Bi Kan said, gesturing vaguely to his own face.

  "They say as you traverse through the higher realms, the impurities of the mortal body are shed. Your face becomes like Jade—pristine and youthful."

  Xia leaned in, inspecting his face with critical eyes. She nodded sagely.

  "Uh-huh. So you better climb up soon, Bi Kan. Your tired form has really gotten exhausting to look at! You look like a walking corpse."

  Bi Kan’s eye twitched at the smugness radiating from her, but he chose to ignore the jab. "And secondly..."

  His gaze dropped to the floorboards, gathering his thoughts, before snapping back to meet hers with renewed seriousness.

  "The Grand Elder isn't likely to teach you personally."

  Xia gasped, clutching her head with both hands. "Huh?! Then what's the point of inviting me with this glamorous letter?!"

  Her eyes sparkled with a sudden, manic delusion.

  "Isn't the intent so that they'll recruit me?! A frog would soon turn into a god, encompassing the whole body of creation and the laws of causality before landing on a prodigy like me!"

  Bi Kan stood frozen, his mouth slightly open.

  For a second, he was rendered completely speechless by the sheer scale of the blasphemy she had just uttered.

  "A-Ahem." He regained his composure, shaking his head. "Dumbass."

  He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a lecture tone. "Prodigy as you may be, you're still an Outer Disciple, and you are not of their lineage.

  At best, you'll be taught by the previous Grand Elder by the time you become a Core Disciple. But more than likely, as you are now, your mentor would be an established Junior Elder."

  Xia nodded thoughtfully, then struck a dramatic pose, hand on her hip.

  "Then, would that handsome gentleman who carried the royal air possibly be my mentor! My master!"

  Bi Kan rubbed the back of his neck. "Y-Yeah... I guess..."

  He reached out, placing both hands firmly on her shoulders.

  The playfulness vanished from his eyes.

  "But, if we're being serious here, Xia, this won't be simple."

  His fingers tightened against the fabric of her robes, the pressure grounding her, forcing her to look past the glamour of the invitation.

  "We're walking into the Lion's Den here. Inviting a prodigy over simply for recruitment? That's not the only agenda they have."

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  He looked toward the window, toward the distant peaks where the elite families resided.

  "The Han Family is testing their own young generation. They want to see if their bloodline is fit to rule their family or take over the position as Grand Elder."

  He looked back at her, his gaze sharp.

  "So it's possible that they're sizing up their children by throwing an outsider into the mix. You are an obstacle in their path, Xia. A whetstone."

  His voice lowered to a warning whisper. "The Han's Young Generation won't be so lenient towards you."

  Xia frowned slightly, absorbing the warning, but she didn't look scared. Just focused.

  Bi Kan turned away, pacing a few steps. "Although it's next to impossible for someone with no connections to the family to take the throne..."

  He paused, a strange look crossing his face.

  "That doesn't mean it won't happen."

  A faint smile touched his lips, one of grudging respect.

  "The previous Sect Master had already proven this to be true. He didn't come from the established families of our sect. He came out of nowhere, in fact."

  "He was just bright," Bi Kan murmured, staring at the dust motes dancing in the air.

  "Brighter than any sun. Although I only caught a few glimpses of him... he has no peers among his generation."

  His eyes narrowed. "I don't have the accurate details of his journey to being Sect Master, but he did establish the Annual Tournament."

  Xia’s eyes widened, the pieces clicking together.

  "T-Then it all makes sense! The tournament has been halted because he's been missing!"

  Bi Kan nodded.

  "Yes, that is the case. Though it was something recently added to the sect, it had always been held every year with excitement."

  A nostalgic look entered his tired eyes. "I attended one back then, when I was still a mortal. It was expensive getting those tickets..."

  "T-Then! Did you see the Sect Master at the tournament?!" Xia leaned close to Bi Kan, practically vibrating with curiosity.

  Bi Kan shook his head. "N-No. It's been years since he has personally attended to it. He's always been... an ambitious man."

  He looked out the window again, staring at the highest peak of the sect. "The last time he made an appearance was years ago..."

  Ambitious... Maybe he's already ascended to the Upper Worlds...

  The thought drifted through Bi Kan's mind, only to be shattered by a presence far older and colder than his own.

  The Celestial Wolf’s golden eyes pierced through the void, burning into the back of Bi Kan’s consciousness.

  Its form loomed in the Soul Sea, a colossal mountain of silver fur and ancient power.

  "Foolish boy," the Wolf's voice rumbled, shaking the very foundations of Bi Kan's mind.

  "Shall I enlighten you on how far the Upper Worlds truly are?"

  The great beast scoffed, a sound like tectonic plates grinding together.

  "A mere Sect Master of this barren world... even those you hail as prodigal overlords are incomparable to the seeds in the Upper Realms. At best, your Sect Master is dead in a ditch. Or... he is still stuck in that world at war."

  Bi Kan spun around in his spiritual form, his eyes wide.

  "Hey!"

  Unlike the cautious Wei Zing, the terrifying scope of the universe didn't cow him.

  It ignited a spark of hunger.

  "Wait! I need to know more!" Bi Kan shouted into the void. "Does this mean... beyond the Golden Core realm, it isn't even a single step into the Upper Realms?!"

  The Celestial Wolf rose, standing atop a ginormous wave of dark water, looking down at the speck that was Bi Kan with utter disdain.

  "The world as you know it is a mere grain of sand in the desert of the Upper Realms," the Wolf intoned.

  "And the whereabouts of your previous Sect Master? He has merely moved from a grain to a pebble."

  Bi Kan’s mind reeled. A world at war...? You're telling me that beyond this so-called barren world isn't even the true Upper Realms?

  He turned, a faint, distorted sound catching his ear.

  "He...yy..."

  His Soul Sea began to rumble.

  The dark ocean churned violently, waves vibrating with an unseen frequency.

  Geysers of spiritual steam erupted from the endless depths, hissing into the void.

  "What's happening..." Bi Kan murmured, looking around wildly.

  "Listen..." the voice whispered again, closer this time.

  Bi Kan spun toward the sound. "Who's the—"

  SMACK!

  A stinging pain exploded across his cheek.

  The Soul Sea shattered like a broken mirror, the Wolf and the waves dissolving into shards of light.

  Bi Kan blinked, the wooden walls of his dorm room slamming back into focus.

  His cheek throbbed hotly.

  "Hey! Are you even listening?! Stop spacing out!"

  Xia stood over him, her hand still raised, her face a mask of annoyance.

  Bi Kan rubbed his stinging face, the echo of the Wolf's words still ringing in his ears.

  "S-Sorry," he mumbled, shaking his head to clear the fog. "I got distracted..."

  "Okay, we'll leave the dinner stuff for later," Xia said, rubbing her palms together. "We still have a patient to cure."

  She tossed the cream-colored letter into the air.

  With a flick of her wrist, it vanished into her spatial ring with a soft shimmer.

  "Then, let's get to Mi Jin," Bi Kan said, pulling the door open.

  Their journey through the sect was surprisingly smooth.

  The usual chaos seemed to part around them, perhaps sensing the singular purpose in their stride.

  No ambushes, no sneering rivals—just the rhythmic crunch of their boots on stone.

  Just as they reached the ornate archway marking the boundary of the Inner Court, a figure stepped into their path.

  "Get out of the way," Xia said flatly, not breaking stride. She dismissed the disciple holding out his palm with a wave of her hand.

  The boy flinched. His blonde hair caught the breeze, and his distinct purple eyes widened in embarrassment.

  "H-Hey! Why are you brushing me off immediately?! I haven't even said anything yet!"

  Xia kept walking, shaking her head. "It's obvious you're just going to ask for a duel, Lu Pu! I'm busy!"

  Lu Pu. He had recently gone under the training of a wandering sword master.

  He looked sharper, cleaner, but to Xia, he was still the same swordsman she had toyed with.

  "Come on, Xia! This time it isn't for a duel!"

  He scrambled to keep pace, clasping his hands together in a pleading gesture. "J-Just listen to me for a second!"

  Bi Kan stepped in, his arm shooting out to create a barrier. "We're busy. Ask her another time."

  His gaze was piercing, devoid of any warmth. It hit Lu Pu like a physical wall, forcing him to skid to a halt.

  "Y-You are..." Lu Pu took a step back, his eyes darting over the tired, unassuming disciple who radiated such intense pressure.

  "I'm Bi Kan."

  The name landed heavily. Lu Pu’s posture straightened instinctively.

  He watched in silence as the duo walked past him, leaving him in their dust.

  "T-Then!" he shouted at their retreating backs.

  "Please come over to Lu's Fine Wares when you're free! We'd love to have you, Bi Kan and Xia!"

  As they disappeared around the corner, Lu Pu let out a shaky breath.

  That's him...! That's who my cousin Tian was talking about...! He really is scary!

  He clenched his fists, staring at the empty path.

  Xia... I must invite you. We need two more members for the expedition! This treasure hunt will be worth both our whiles...!

  The atmosphere in the Inner Court had shifted.

  As Xia and Bi Kan walked the manicured paths, the gazes that followed them weren't filled with the usual disdain or jealousy.

  They were heavy with respect.

  News traveled fast. The girl who had driven off a Rogue Cultivator capable of bisecting an Inner Disciple and had slain a Body Tempering beast in the process.

  She was no longer just a "Pink Whirlwind." She was a recognized powerhouse.

  Disciples stepped aside, offering nods of acknowledgment.

  They reached the secluded gates of the Sacred Dormitories.

  Ruo Yu stood at his post, his posture impeccable.

  "Welcome back," he said, offering a small, elegant bow. "Sister Mei is expecting you."

  He led them through the serene gardens without a word, guiding them straight to Ming Mei's door.

  The heavy stone door creaked open. Inside, Mi Jin moved through a series of forms, his sweat flying as he punched the air.

  He stepped back, coiled, and lunged, driving a fist toward an invisible opponent's throat.

  "Hah!"

  He froze, sensing the intrusion. He turned, his chest heaving.

  "Oh!" Mi Jin’s face lit up. "If it isn't my benefactors!" He immediately dropped his stance, folding his arms and bowing deeply.

  From the shadows of the room, Mi Shui stepped forward. Her aura had sharpened since the last time they met, dense and heavy like iron.

  "What impeccable timing," she said, dusting off her sleeves. "I was just stabilizing my Qi."

  Bi Kan’s eyes swept over her. She’s stronger. Body Tempering Stage 3... Peak.

  "So." Mi Shui crossed her arms, fixing her sharp gaze on the duo. "I'm guessing you finally have the cure, Bi Kan?"

  She tried to maintain a mask of skepticism, but the desperate hope in her eyes betrayed her. A faint tremor in her fingers gave her away.

  Mi Jin mirrored her excitement, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

  "Yes," Bi Kan said calmly. "And no, there won't be any side effects. Other than the fact that you might feel a little... 'normal' than usual."

  Both siblings tilted their heads, confusion wrinkling their brows.

  Xia stepped in with a grin. "That means you might feel a little off. You're talented, aren't you, Mi Jin? Getting used to being unburdened might be strange."

  She glanced past them, spotting lavender hair in the corner. "Mei! I have something to tell you!"

  With a blur of pink motion, she abandoned the medical procedure entirely, dashing off to gossip with Ming Mei.

  Bi Kan watched her go, a flicker of thought crossing his mind.

  Both of them are geniuses in their own right. Mei has long past my cultivation realm... she really is amazing. She might be our generation's Linghu Qixia.

  He turned back to the siblings, holding out his closed fist.

  He slowly unfurled his fingers to reveal the violent purple pill resting in his palm.

  "Here. The recipe wasn't that complex. Luckily, that creature isn't totally unknown."

  It's just unheard of in this region, Bi Kan thought grimly. Even Wei Zing was shocked to see it roam the Screeching Croak. Could it be...?

  Mi Shui snatched the pill from his hand before he could finish the thought. "Let me take a look at that!"

  She held it up to the light, narrowing her eyes and nodding sagely as if inspecting a rare gem.

  "S-Sis..." Mi Jin whispered loudly. "I don't think you know anything about alchemy pills..."

  "Hey!" Mi Shui snapped, flushing red. "I'm an Inner Disciple! Of course I do! There's Qi Pills... and, err..."

  She faltered, then resorted to violence. She clenched her fist and rapped her knuckles sharply against Mi Jin’s forehead.

  "Agh! Sis! I'm still poisoned! Stop!"

  "What's that got to do with anything?" Mi Shui huffed, crossing her arms.

  "It's not like the symptoms will get severe just because of a little love punch from your big sis."

  "Love punch...? Yeah, right..." Mi Jin rubbed the red spot on his forehead, letting out a long exhale.

  He reached out, taking the pill from her hand. His expression shifted, the playfulness vanishing into solemn resolve. "I'm ready."

  He looked at the pill, then at Bi Kan. But in his mind’s eye, a second silhouette stood beside the alchemist.

  A phantom of his Senior Brother, holding out a pill bought with his last contribution points.

  Brother... Bi Kan... Senior Brother...

  Mi Jin clenched the purple sphere tight.

  Thanks to you both! I'm able to bounce right back up!

  He popped the pill into his mouth and swallowed.

  The reaction was instant.

  "Ugh..."

  Mi Jin’s legs gave out. He collapsed to his knees, his hands slapping against the cold stone floor to anchor himself.

  His skin flushed a sickly gray as the antidote waged war on the venom in his blood.

  Mi Shui dropped into a crouch beside him, her hands hovering, glowing with red Qi, ready to intervene.

  The poison within him... Bi Kan watched dispassionately.

  Wei Zing mentioned this reaction. It strips the body's defenses to flush the toxin.

  This is why disciples can't cure this specific venom mid-battle. It leaves you defenseless.

  Bi Kan sighed internally. This is how vulnerable you are right now.

  "Guh!"

  Mi Jin coughed violently, slamming his fist against the floor. A vein bulged in his neck.

  I-I can do it! Senior Brother! Once I get better... I'll join you again!

  Suddenly, the gray flush receded. His eyes dilated, then snapped into sharp focus.

  He let out a long, shuddering exhale of relief as his posture straightened naturally.

  His body shifted seamlessly into a lotus position.

  The air in the room began to hum.

  "H-Hold on..." Mi Shui took a step back, her eyes wide. "He's breaking through?!"

  A vortex of Qi swirled around the boy.

  It wasn't the erratic, desperate energy of a poisoned cultivator fighting to survive.

  It was pure.

  Vibrant.

  Mi Jin’s aura spiked, shattering the ceiling of his previous limits.

  BOOM.

  A shockwave of spiritual pressure rippled outward, fluttering Bi Kan’s robes.

  Mi Shui turned to Bi Kan, a grin splitting her face.

  She landed a heavy, enthusiastic punch on his shoulder.

  "Not bad! Not bad at all! Your pill not only cured him! It allowed my little brother to break through!"

  She clenched her fists, staring at Mi Jin with the beaming pride of an elder sister.

  Bi Kan stood stoic, absorbing the blow. He sighed, shaking his head slightly, though a cold glint remained in his eyes.

  This boy... is talented. How did he gain enlightenment from my pill?

  It's just... purely a cure. It took me three tries to get it right. I barely have any venom left.

  He felt the near-empty sensation in his Soul Sea where the venom sac resided.

  But... she credited me. I won't refute it.

  Mi Jin’s eyes cracked open. The sickly pallor was gone, replaced by the glowing vitality of a true cultivator.