The morning bell rang clear and sharp, pulling Riverstone Regional Academy from the grip of night.
A thin veil of mist still clung to the stone paths, and distant footsteps echoed as disciples emerged from their quarters.
Lin Wei stepped out of his quarters, robe fresh and unmarred, the faint pink lines of yesterday's wounds hidden beneath the fabric. His aura felt subtly different—deeper, more contained—but he suppressed it deliberately, letting only the barest hint of Middle Qi Refining show. Enough to be noticed by those who looked closely, not enough to raise alarms.
The silver qi in his dantian rotated steadily, calm and obedient, responding to his control without resistance.
The outer training grounds were already filling with disciples. Drills would begin soon, but the air carried a different weight today. The rankings were fresh in everyone's minds, and with them came the first waves of realignment—groups forming, invitations extended, rivalries kindled.
Quiet conversations paused and resumed as figures passed by, each disciple measuring the others with renewed caution.
Chen Yu was waiting near the entrance to the field, leaning against a stone pillar with his practice spear propped beside him. His eyes sharpened as Lin Wei approached.
"You look... different," Chen Yu said quietly, falling into step. "Smoother. Like you've settled into something new."
Lin Wei glanced at him. "Observant as always."
Chen Yu's brow furrowed slightly. "Did something happen last night? Your qi feels steadier. Deeper."
Lin Wei considered how much to reveal. Chen Yu was perceptive, but not prying. "A small advancement. Nothing dramatic."
Chen Yu nodded slowly, but his gaze lingered. "Middle stage? Already? That's more than small. Be careful—people will notice."
"They already are."
As they joined the lineup for drills, Lin Wei felt the eyes on him. Not overt stares, but fleeting glances from outer disciples ranked below him, a subtle appraisal from a few inner prospects. Even Instructor Han's sharp gaze paused on him during roll call, though the man said nothing.
A faint crease appeared between the instructor's brows—gone as quickly as it came.
The session was standard—forms and qi circulation—but Lin Wei moved with newfound ease. His strikes carried a fraction more weight, his recoveries a touch faster. He kept it restrained, blending in, but the difference was there for those who knew to look.
Sweat never lingered long on his skin; his breathing remained even throughout.
Afterward, as the group dispersed, Mu Xueyi approached from the side path leading to the herb pavilion. She carried a small basket of fresh clippings, but her expression was focused.
"You've broken through," she said softly, stopping beside him. It wasn't a question.
Lin Wei met her gaze. "Last night."
She glanced at his shoulder—where the panther's graze had been—then back to his face. "And you're unharmed?"
"Mostly."
Mu Xueyi's lips pressed into a thin line. "The forest?"
He nodded once.
She exhaled quietly. "Risky. But effective, clearly. Your qi is cleaner now. More... refined."
There was a hint of relief beneath her calm tone.
Lin Wei allowed a faint smile. "Practice helps."
She handed him a small vial from her basket—clear liquid swirling with faint green qi. "For any lingering strains. Drink it later. And Lin Wei... the Zhao family is watching closer now. With your rank and this change, they might push harder."
"I expect they will."
Satisfied with his calm, she nodded and continued on her way, disappearing into the flow of disciples moving toward their duties.
The day unfolded in fragments: a lecture on qi refinement techniques, where Lin Wei absorbed the basics while noting the instructor's occasional glances his way; midday herb tending, where he purified a few low-grade plants in secret, testing the enhanced qi flow; and afternoon sparring, where he paired against a ninth-ranked disciple and ended the bout with economical precision—no flair, just efficiency.
Each encounter reinforced the same truth: his control had deepened alongside his power.
By evening, the whispers had grown.
"Seventh place, and now he's stronger..."
"Did he find a treasure in the ravine?"
"The Zhao are interested—heard they sent another messenger."
Lin Wei ignored it all, returning to his quarters as the sun dipped low.
Lanterns flickered to life along the walkways as dusk settled over the academy.
He sat cross-legged once more, the sealed King Artifact sword unsheathed before him. The blade's progress had ticked up slightly from the night's combat, but it hungered for more.
The faint hum from the metal resonated with his qi, patient but expectant.
Then he turned inward.
Life Essence Extraction.
The unlocked technique waited, dormant but accessible.
Its presence felt precise—structured, awaiting intent rather than impulse.
He had no urge to test it immediately—no craving, no pull. The system had unlocked it without fanfare, a tool rather than a command.
But curiosity—and strategy—demanded exploration.
He retrieved a low-grade spirit herb from storage—a wilted Seven Leaf Grass, barely pulsing with faint vitality.
Its life force flickered weakly, close to fading entirely.
Plants carried negligible risk.
Lin Wei extended a thin, controlled thread of qi toward it—not aggressive, but probing.
The technique activated smoothly.
A faint draw began—vitality pulling from the leaves, coiling into a raw, misty essence that hovered in the air before him.
The grass crumbled to ash, its remaining life gently stripped away.
It felt... natural. Controlled.
But the essence was impure—streaked with faint decay, chaotic wisps of wild qi.
He enveloped it with his purification light.
Black impurities rose and evaporated. What remained was a small orb of flawless green energy, pure and stable.
He absorbed it.
Qi flowed in—minimal gain, but clean. No backlash. No deviation.
The first use: successful.
A soft chime confirmed it.
[Life Essence Extraction – Initial Usage Complete]
[Risk Level Reduced for Future Applications]
[No Complications Detected]
Lin Wei exhaled.
The breath carried away a tension he hadn't realized he was holding.
The technique was viable.
But beasts—and eventually stronger targets—would test its true limits.
Outside, the night deepened.
Somewhere beyond the academy walls, unseen eyes turned toward Riverstone.
The Zhao family would make their move soon.
And when they did, he would have more than just a sword to answer with.