Li Chen had barely settled into a steady cultivation rhythm when the sect's inner communication formation pulsed softly.
His eyes opened at once.
The formation was subtle, designed to transmit information only to those with sufficient authority—and more importantly, only to those whose names had been specifically engraved into its matrix. Li Chen frowned slightly. Few people knew how to reach him directly.
With a careful flick of his finger, he activated the formation.
A wavering image appeared above the stone table, resolving into the face of an elderly steward from the lower-realm branch sect. The man's expression was tense, his voice urgent even through the distortion.
"Reporting to… Senior Core Disciple Li Chen."
Li Chen straightened. "Speak."
The steward swallowed. "It concerns your… sword carrier. Xu Ming."
Li Chen's gaze sharpened instantly, but his tone remained calm. "Continue."
The steward nodded hurriedly. "Three days ago, during a routine training rotation in the outer training grounds, Xu Ming was challenged by several inner candidates from the Iron River faction. They accused him of abusing your name and stealing cultivation resources."
Li Chen's fingers tightened slightly against the stone.
"And?" he asked.
"At first, it was only a verbal dispute," the steward continued. "But it escalated. Xu Ming refused to back down when they demanded his resources. A fight broke out."
Li Chen closed his eyes briefly.
He didn't retreat, he thought. Good. But dangerous.
"The result?" Li Chen asked.
The steward hesitated. "Xu Ming… won."
Silence followed.
"Explain," Li Chen said quietly.
"He was outnumbered—three against one. All were at peak Bone Forging. Xu Ming had just stabilized his own Bone Forging cultivation. Despite this, he fought defensively at first, then counterattacked with remarkable precision. One opponent suffered a fractured arm, another lost consciousness, and the third fled."
Li Chen exhaled slowly.
So he's learning.
The steward's expression grew more complicated. "However… during the fight, Xu Ming's qi fluctuated abnormally. Several elders sensed a chaotic elemental resonance—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth cycling in unison."
Li Chen's heart sank.
Too early, he thought grimly. Far too early.
"The elders are suspicious," the steward continued. "In the lower realm, such resonance is… misunderstood. Some believe it to be a flawed spirit root. Others fear it may be an unrefined physique."
Li Chen opened his eyes, cold light flashing within them.
"Where is Xu Ming now?" he asked.
"He has been confined to his residence for 'observation,'" the steward said quickly. "No punishment yet. But factions are watching him closely. Some are pressing for his removal from the sect."
Li Chen stood.
The air in the room shifted subtly—not violently, not enough to trigger alarms, but enough for the formation lights to flicker in response.
"Has he been injured?" Li Chen asked.
"Minor injuries only. He refused medicinal assistance beyond basic treatment," the steward replied. "He said… he would wait for your instructions."
Li Chen was silent for a long moment.
Then he spoke, each word deliberate.
"Tell the elders of the lower realm this: Xu Ming is under my protection. His cultivation method was personally approved by me. Any further action against him will be considered a direct challenge to my authority."
The steward paled. "Y-Yes, Senior Li. I will relay the message immediately."
"And," Li Chen added, "send Xu Ming a sealed jade slip. Tell him to cease open combat for now and focus on internal stabilization. I will return soon."
The steward bowed deeply as the image faded.
Li Chen remained standing, his expression unreadable.
The Chaos Physique has begun to reveal itself, he thought. Faster than I anticipated.
The lower realm's ignorance would become Xu Ming's greatest danger—not his weakness, but his potential.
Li Chen clenched his fist slowly.
Hold on, he thought again. Just a little longer.
Outside, the sect's night bell rang softly.
Inside, Li Chen began preparing—because this time, running from trouble would not be an option.