Li Chen never intended to cultivate quickly.
From the moment he entered the lower realm, his plan had been painfully simple:
Lay low. Cultivate slowly. Avoid attention. Survive.
Unfortunately, cultivation had other ideas.
While Xu Ming immersed himself in body refinement, Li Chen retreated into the quiet of his residence, sealing the courtyard formations personally—three layers, all defensive, all designed to hide fluctuations rather than block attacks.
Only then did he sit.
Cross-legged.
Back straight.
Breath shallow.
"Alright," Li Chen muttered. "Just a little Qi Condensation. A very normal amount."
The elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect had sealed most of his aptitude before he descended. His meridians were restrained, his dantian compressed, his Supreme Sword Physique muted to a fraction of its true nature.
Even so—
The moment Li Chen began circulating spiritual energy, the world responded.
The thin spiritual qi of the lower realm flowed toward him, obedient and eager, slipping past the formations like mist through a crack. It entered his body effortlessly, aligning itself without conflict, refining itself without resistance.
Li Chen froze.
"…That's not normal."
Qi Condensation was supposed to be difficult. Mortals spent years sensing qi, months guiding it, and decades stabilizing it.
Li Chen did not sense it.
He recognized it.
Sword qi, spiritual qi—it was all the same at its root. Intent given form. Order carved from chaos.
The Divine Art of Silent Severance stirred on its own.
Without flaring.
Without sound.
Without phenomenon.
Qi flowed.
One strand.
Then ten.
Then a hundred.
They gathered in his dantian, compressing gently, smoothly, like snow settling instead of crashing.
Li Chen's heart began to race.
"No, no—slow down," he whispered. "You're going too fast."
The qi ignored him.
Within a single night—
The first layer of Qi Condensation formed.
Then stabilized.
Then refined.
Then thickened.
Li Chen opened his eyes at dawn, staring at his trembling hands.
He was in the Qi Condensation Realm.
Truly.
Completely.
Perfectly.
He sat there for a long time.
"…I'm a monster," he said softly.
Xu Ming arrived soon after, carrying breakfast and excitement.
"Master!" Xu Ming said, then froze. His eyes widened. "Your aura—"
Li Chen immediately suppressed it.
"You felt nothing," he said quickly.
Xu Ming swallowed. "You… you entered Qi Condensation, didn't you?"
Li Chen sighed.
"…Yes."
Xu Ming stared at him like he was looking at a legend carved into human skin.
"That's impossible," Xu Ming whispered. "Even geniuses take years."
Li Chen rubbed his temples.
"That's the problem."
He stood and paced.
"If anyone finds out, things will escalate. Challenges. Duels. Assassinations. I'll be forced to fight."
Xu Ming hesitated. "But… isn't this a good thing?"
Li Chen stopped.
He looked at Xu Ming seriously.
"Power is good," he said. "Attention is fatal."
Xu Ming nodded slowly.
"I understand," he said. "Then we hide it."
Li Chen exhaled in relief.
"Good. We pretend I'm still in Strength Training. Or… something equally unimpressive."
Xu Ming smiled faintly.
"Don't worry," he said. "I'll protect your secret."
Li Chen paused.
"…You can't protect me from myself," he muttered.
That night, Li Chen reinforced his seals again—tightening the locks placed by the higher realm patriarchs.
Above the Azure Leaf Sect, the stars shimmered subtly, as if something had shifted.
In the depths of the lower realm's heavens, a record was quietly amended:
A variable has entered Qi Condensation.
The heavens waited.
Li Chen did not notice.
He was too busy worrying about not dying tomorrow.