The sun rose lazily over the Xuanling Sect, illuminating cracked tiles and worn banners. Xuán Wèi stood at the top of the main hall, surveying his disciples as they trained in the courtyard. Every movement was precise, every stance deliberate.
He allowed himself a faint smile—discipline was growing, but the world beyond the mountains stirred faster.
Rival Sects Stirring
By mid-morning, a messenger talisman from a distant sect arrived at the foot of the mountain. Xuán Wèi read it carefully, committing every word to memory.
The Azure Cloud Sect had suffered losses in a minor realm, sealing their gates.
The Iron Banner Sect mobilized elders to recruit gifted disciples.
The Heavenly Furnace Pavilion had begun sending scouts to assess nearby territories.
None mentioned Xuanling Sect—but that was the advantage. Xuán Wèi's sect remained invisible, quietly growing.
The world is large, and impatience kills. Xuán Wèi's voice was soft, but it carried a sharp edge.
Disciples at Work
In the courtyard:
Wei Tian bent the Time–Void Dao, testing the boundaries of reality, while his sword glimmered faintly in the rising sun.
Yien endured the tortoise's gravity field, her body bending without breaking.
The other disciples honed elemental techniques, each under the guidance of their Immortal Teachers.
Xuán Wèi observed silently. He did not intervene unless necessary. The system had already suggested optimal growth methods, and he trusted the process.
[System Notification – Hidden]
Secret Realm activity detected in the near future.
Probability of manifestation: Rising
Access: Not recommended.
He did not move. Patience was key.
The Foreshadowing
By afternoon, whispers traveled the mountain slopes. Merchants, wandering cultivators, and scouts spoke of "a minor secret realm" opening in the Southern Plains.
Rumors of death, trials, and strange artifacts circulated.
Even minor cultivators felt the tension, as if the world itself were holding its breath.
Xuán Wèi's eyes glimmered faintly. The first test approached, but not yet.
His sect was not ready for direct confrontation, nor were all disciples sufficiently trained.
Let the world rush. Xuán Wèi's gaze swept across his students and Immortal Teachers.
We move when the time is right.
Strategic Decisions
That evening, Xuán Wèi convened the Immortal Teachers.
Zhen Wu the Tortoise nodded, slow but attentive, his centuries of wisdom evident in every gesture.
The Sword Sovereign stood silently, his blade resting against his shoulder, eyes calm yet assessing.
The Nine-Tailed Fox Immortal stretched languidly, tail flicking, her pride unmistakable.
Xuán Wèi outlined the plan:
Continue disciples' training under Immortal Teachers.
Build sect reputation through discipline and minor external actions.
Observe rival sects' reactions without revealing Xuanling Sect's strength.
Prepare for the Secret Realm, but only when readiness reaches optimal level.
"We are shadows now," Xuán Wèi said softly. "But soon, the world will see us. And when it does… it will remember."