Dawn broke over the Azure Cloud Sect.
Mist curled around the mountain peaks like drifting spirits, quiet and indifferent—just like the world Lin Xuan had known.
But today…
Something was different.
At the foot of the mountain path—
Two figures emerged from the fading darkness.
Lin Xuan stepped forward slowly, his clothes still worn, his presence still calm.
Yet every step he took felt… heavier.
Not with burden.
But with something unseen.
Unspoken.
Behind him, Su Yao walked in silence.
Her gaze lingered on his back.
Last night's scene replayed in her mind—
The shattered coffin.
The overwhelming aura.
That power…
It wasn't something a human should possess.
"You're suppressing it," she said suddenly.
Lin Xuan didn't stop walking.
"…I have to."
His voice was quiet.
But firm.
A faint tremor passed through his hand.
For a moment—
Dark-golden energy flickered beneath his skin.
Then disappeared.
"If you lose control," Su Yao continued softly,
"you won't just hurt your enemies."
A pause.
"You'll destroy everything around you."
Lin Xuan finally stopped.
The mountain gate stood before them now.
Familiar.
Unwelcoming.
"I know," he said.
Then, after a brief silence—
"…That's why I won't."
Su Yao looked at him.
Really looked this time.
There was no arrogance in his words.
No pride.
Just… determination.
And something deeper—
Fear.
Not of death.
But of himself.
The sect gates opened.
Voices filled the courtyard.
Disciples gathered, chatting, laughing—living in a world that had never included him.
Until now.
Lin Xuan stepped inside.
And everything went quiet.
"Isn't that…?"
"The servant?"
"He survived the fall?!"
Whispers spread quickly.
Eyes turned toward him.
The same eyes that once ignored him—
Now filled with confusion.
And something new.
Unease.
A disciple stepped forward, blocking his path.
Tall. Confident. Smirking.
Zhao Feng.
An outer disciple who had once taken pleasure in humiliating Lin Xuan.
"Well, well," Zhao Feng said, arms crossed.
"Looks like trash doesn't die so easily."
Laughter followed.
Familiar.
Annoying.
Lin Xuan stopped in front of him.
For a moment—
He said nothing.
Zhao Feng's smile widened.
"What? Lost your voice ag—"
CRACK.
The sound echoed across the courtyard.
Zhao Feng's body slammed into the ground.
The stone beneath him shattered.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Lin Xuan stood there, his hand still slightly raised.
No one saw him move.
No one understood what happened.
Zhao Feng coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips.
His eyes were filled with shock.
"T-That's impossible…!"
Lin Xuan looked down at him.
His expression unchanged.
His voice calm.
"Move."
Zhao Feng's body trembled.
Not from pain.
From fear.
Slowly…
He crawled aside.
Lin Xuan walked past him.
Just like that.
As if nothing had happened.
But behind him—
The entire courtyard erupted.
"What was that?!"
"He didn't even use a technique!"
"How is this possible?!"
From a distance, several elders observed the scene.
Their expressions darkened.
"Strange…" one of them murmured.
"There was no Qi fluctuation."
Another narrowed his eyes.
"…Yet the power was real."
Above them, on a higher platform—
A figure stood in the shadows.
Watching.
He wore dark robes, lined with faint crimson patterns.
His face was calm.
Too calm.
"Interesting…"
His voice was soft.
Almost amused.
Beside him, a disciple bowed slightly.
"Senior Brother Mo Chen, should we investigate?"
Mo Chen.
The name carried weight.
An inner disciple.
A genius.
And someone feared more than respected.
Mo Chen's gaze remained fixed on Lin Xuan.
"No need… yet."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Let him grow."
His eyes darkened slightly.
Like something hidden beneath calm water.
"It's more entertaining… when prey thinks it's free."
Far below—
Lin Xuan paused for a brief moment.
A strange feeling passed through him.
Like being watched.
He turned slightly.
But saw nothing.
Su Yao, however…
Was already looking upward.
Her expression cold.
"…You've been noticed," she said quietly.
Lin Xuan didn't ask by whom.
He already understood.
The moment he chose power—
He also chose attention.
And in this world—
Attention…
Was the beginning of danger.
🌑 End of Chapter 3