The morning sun glimmered across the Iron Flame Sect's mountain spires, casting long golden streaks over the training grounds.
Kael woke early, his body still buzzing from the previous day's battles.
Peak Mortal Body gave him confidence, but the presence of cultivators surrounding him made him realize just how far behind he truly was.
He stepped outside into the crisp mountain air. Everywhere he looked, disciples practiced.
Sword slashes cut through the air, energy flows shined in hues of red and gold, and the aura of power from the sect elders pressed down like invisible mountains.
Kael clenched his fists. Origin Energy surged inside his body, responding instinctively to the pressure around him.
It was then he noticed her.
A figure atop the stone stairs, radiating an aura far stronger than the outer disciples. Golden robes clung to her form. Her eyes, sharp as a hawk, were fixed on him.
"Who is that?" Kael muttered.
The guiding disciple who had brought him yesterday approached.
"That… is Seraphine. She's an Inner Disciple, ranked among the top ten of her generation. And she doesn't take kindly to outsiders."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Outsider? She doesn't know me yet."
The moment Kael stepped further into the courtyard, Seraphine descended the stairs gracefully. Each step radiated energy, and the ground itself seemed to acknowledge her presence.
"You're the one Elder Taron called a 'special trainee'?" she asked, her voice low but cutting.
Kael nodded. "Yes."
Her gaze swept over him.
"A boy without Aether, and yet you defeated the Ironhorn Tyrant? Do you take us for fools?"
Kael smiled faintly. "No.
I take you seriously. But I'm not here to fight anyone today."
Seraphine's eyes glimmered dangerously. "That's fortunate… for now."
She turned sharply and vanished from sight in a swirl of golden light.
The disciples nearby whispered among themselves, nervous about Kael's first encounter with an Inner Disciple.
The guiding disciple placed a hand on Kael's shoulder.
"Be careful. She doesn't forgive arrogance or weakness. And at the moment… you appear both."
Kael's grin widened slightly. "Good. Then I'll just have to prove her wrong."
The system pulsed inside his mind.
Main Quest Updated:
Objective: Gain Recognition Among Inner Disciples
Sub-Quest: Survive Seraphine's Observation
Reward: Access to Ancient Sect Ruins
Kael exhaled. The sect was already shaping him into a battlefield chess piece.
But he didn't mind. Each challenge only pushed him closer to his ultimate goal: awakening the Origin Core.
As he practiced quietly in the courtyard, the system whispered a hint:
"Origin Energy responds more efficiently in ancient or sacred grounds."
Kael's eyes gleamed.
If the Ancient Sect Ruins existed, it would become his next playground.