The Crimson Serpent Sect was vast, but rumors traveled faster than sound.
By noon, every corner of the outer sect was buzzing with one name: Su Chen.
A no-name outer disciple had defeated Meng Fan—rank83—and done so without injury, using unknown techniques and movements so strange that even the officiating elder had been visibly unsettled.
And now, Su Chen's name had crossed the invisible boundary that separated common disciples from the elite.
---
In the upper levels of Serpentwind Pavilion, home to Elder Miao's direct disciples, the air turned tense.
"You're certain?" Ji Liang asked coldly, fingers tapping the carved edge of a jade table.
His attendant, a thin youth with sunken eyes, nodded. "Meng Fan collapsed in three strikes. No one's seen Su Chen use those kinds of techniques before. Some are calling it 'Void Palm.' Others think he turned invisible."
Ji Liang's eyes narrowed.
That wasn't possible.
He remembered Su Chen well—quiet, stubborn, a lowly herb boy who had dared to challenge him over a broken cauldron. A nobody with no wealth, no connections, no lineage.
So where did he get such power?
> Unless… he had been hiding it all this time.
Or worse—he had found something ancient.
---
Meanwhile, Su Chen sat cross-legged in his herb shed.
The System screen shimmered faintly before him.
> [System Panel: Status Update]
Name: Su Chen
Realm: Late Qi Channeling
System Points Available: 1
Unlocked Arts: Voidflow Step, Mirror Pulse, Soul Veil
New Art Available: Void Shard – Minor Offensive Art
Optional Quest: Enter Inner Sect Within 30 Days (Progress: 0%)
Bonus Objective: Win an Inner Disciple's Favor (Not Yet Triggered)
Su Chen's gaze lingered on the last line. That was the true challenge.
He couldn't just brute-force his way into the inner sect—not yet. Entry required a recommendation, or victory in the sect's Tri-Monthly Outer Trials.
He had missed the last one by three weeks.
But there were other ways.
"I need a sponsor," Su Chen muttered. "Or leverage."
His mind began to turn like a rotating formation array.
One name surfaced: Elder Qingxue. Known for favoring rogue alchemists, outsiders, and talented misfits. She was also Elder Miao's rival, often taking in disciples that Ji Liang's faction discarded.
And in three days, she would attend the Twin Spirit Bloom Festival—an event where disciples showcased alchemy, rare herbs, and innovation.
If Su Chen could present something unique… something unprecedented, he could catch her eye.
But he would need something potent.
And dangerous.
---
That night, Su Chen slipped from the herb shed and made his way to the Poison Grove.
A forbidden area for outer disciples.
But his identity no longer mattered.
He wore a spirit-concealing veil, his presence suppressed, his steps soundless. The path twisted through dead trees, where grotesque mushrooms oozed violet mist.
He scanned the roots, checking each stone and crevice.
And then he saw it.
Moonbane Root—a rare toxic herb known to paralyze spiritual flow. Nearly impossible to refine safely. A single mistake would be lethal.
> [Item Acquired: Moonbane Root – Fresh]
[System Insight Unlocked: Forbidden Fusion Recipe – Spirit Bane Elixir (Tier 2)]
Su Chen's lips curled into a cold, satisfied smile.
"Perfect."
---
Elsewhere, in Serpentwind Pavilion, Ji Liang was no longer composed.
He knelt before a tall, imposing figure in dark crimson robes—his master, Elder Miao. Broad-shouldered. Sharp-eyed. A cruel mouth always just shy of smiling.
"You lost the fragment," Elder Miao said calmly, sipping tea. "Or someone's copied it."
Ji Liang's back stiffened. "I have it. No one could—"
"Don't play dumb, boy," Elder Miao cut in, eyes narrowing. "You're sloppy. And now rumors of Void Techniques spread across the sect. Coincidence? I think not."
Ji Liang lowered his head, jaw clenched.
"What… do you wish me to do?"
Elder Miao set down his teacup with a sharp clack.
"Crush this Su Chen before he reaches the inner sect. Quietly, if possible. Permanently, if not."
The air turned cold.
---
Back in the herb shed, Su Chen placed the Moonbane Root into a sealed cauldron and lit a thin blue flame beneath it. His hands moved with unwavering rhythm—guided by ancient memory and System assistance.
The potion simmered.
Minutes turned to hours.
And then—at dawn—it was done.
> [Spirit Bane Elixir Created – Tier 2 Poison-Type Support Pill]
Effect:Temporarily disables spirit sense and impairs meridian control. Undetectable when dissolved in wine or tea.
Su Chen slipped the black elixir into a jade vial, sealing it with wax and a faint warding rune.
Then, another System prompt appeared.
> [Optional Objective Progress: Rare Pill Created – Gained Elder Interest Flag (Elder Qingxue)]
He rose slowly, turning to face the north peak gardens.
In the distance, he could already hear the early stirrings of the Twin Spirit Bloom Festival—laughter, music, fluttering banners.
He would attend.
He would gain their attention.
And he would start climbing from the shadows—just like before.
But this time, he would not stop.
Until the heavens themselves bowed before him.