Beauty and Might: Heavenly Flames

With steady steps, he headed toward the third door. The faint hum of Qi in the air grew stronger as he entered a spacious hall filled with the scent of beast blood and preserved materials.

Rows of shelves and tables displayed cores, scales, pelts, claws, and other trophies from countless creatures—each sorted with meticulous care.

At the far end of the room sat a tall, broad-shouldered man behind a dark-wood desk. His green robes contrasted sharply against the dim glow of the crystals embedded in the walls.

He was absorbed in a thick book, his brows drawn tight, though the corners of his mouth twitched as if the text amused him.

Li Yan approached, steady and confident. The calm, practiced air of a former businessman lingered around him. The boardrooms of his old world had long vanished, yet the lessons of composure and timing remained.

”Good morning, Elder,” Li Yan greeted, bowing slightly.

The elder looked up, sharp eyes narrowing for a moment before softening with recognition. ”Ah… Li Yan. Good morning.” His tone was warm, measured. ”I didn’t expect you this early. What brings you here?”

This elder, responsible for overseeing the sect’s resource division, and from his words, Li Yan was sure—this elder was well aware of his special entry.

”I came to sell the Tier-1 beast bodies I hunted in the Hunting Ground,” Li Yan said.

The elder’s brows lifted. ”Already begun your hunt?” He reached for a storage ring resting on the desk, slid it toward Li Yan, and said. ”Good. Use this—transfer the bodies here.”

Li Yan nodded. Placing the storage ring given by the Elder with his own, as they connected, he channeled his Qi. Threads of light rippled between them as the contents flowed from one space to the other. When the glow faded, he returned the elder’s ring.

The elder infused his Qi into it to inspect the contents. A moment later, his posture stiffened. His eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face. He rose to his feet.

”Could this be right?” he murmured, checking again.

The results didn’t change.

”Li Yan…” he said at last, unable to contain his astonishment. ”These… you hunted them alone?”

”Yes, Elder,” Li Yan kept his tone even. ”I hunted for three days and nights without rest.”

The elder stared at him, assessing the quiet confidence behind those words.

The number of the Tier-1 beast’s bodies inside the storage ring was so many that even disciples at the Qi Refining Realm (Qi Practitioner) cultivation would struggle to match in this short time.

After a pause, the elder straightened, his voice regaining its calm authority. ”You’ve hunted five hundred and fifty-eight beasts. At five shadow points each, that totals two thousand seven hundred and ninety shadow points.”

Li Yan gave a slight nod of acknowledgment and waved his hand, summoning his disciple badge. The faint glimmer of Qi surrounded it as he extended it toward the elder.

Qiu Xuan picked up a dark-golden badge from the table and tapped it gently against Li Yan’s. A soft pulse of light rippled between the two badges, signaling the transfer’s completion.

Elder Qiu retrieved his badge, a faint smile lingering on his face. ”The transfer is done. You can verify your points if you wish.”

Li Yan tucked the badge away without even glancing at it. ”There’s no need to check. I trust you, Elder.”

After a brief pause, he added, ”May I know your name?”

The elder’s smile deepened, impressed by Li Yan’s steady composure. ”As the sect leader said, you’re not like the others. My name is Qiu Xuan.”

His tone carried weight—more than just courtesy. It was a quiet acknowledgment of respect, as though he sensed something exceptional about the young disciple before him.

Li Yan cupped his hands politely. ”Thank you for your time, Elder Qiu. I’ll take my leave.”

”Take care, Li Yan,” Qiu Xuan replied with a knowing smile. ”Until next time.”

As Li Yan departed, the elder’s gaze followed him thoughtfully. ”Just three days… and over five hundred beasts?” His brows furrowed slightly. ”What kind of disciple has the strength—or endurance—to accomplish that at his current cultivation?”

The elder’s thoughts churned with curiosity, a spark of intrigue lighting within him. Li Yan was unlike any disciple he had ever seen.

Meanwhile, Li Yan walked down the main hallway of the sect, his quiet footsteps resonating in the stillness. Ahead stood a pair of massive, ornate doors, their surface etched with swirling runes and ancient sigils.

This was the Artifact Treasury—a sacred hall where the sect stored its most valuable treasures, accessible only through shadow points.

Li Yan’s expression was calm as he approached. ”With the shadow points I’ve earned, I should be able to get a higher-tier storage ring.”

He paused before the grand doors, feeling the ancient aura flowing from within. Then, without hesitation, he pushed them open and stepped inside.

The Artifacts Treasury was vast and dimly lit, filled with rows of shelves stacked with glimmering treasures—armor, weapons, and shields, each radiating faint darkness Qi. The air hummed with restrained power.

Behind a counter, Han Yujie sat in flowing green robes, sipping tea with a relaxed grace. Her sharp eyes flicked up when Li Yan entered.

”Oh, Li Yan,” she said, a teasing note in her voice. ”Back so soon? I didn’t expect you to need more artifacts already.”

”Looking for something stronger, perhaps?”

Li Yan smiled faintly and walked to her desk, his calm presence as steady as ever. ”Yes, Elder Han. I need a higher-tier storage ring.”

Han Yujie raised an eyebrow. ”A storage ring?” she repeated, mildly surprised. ”I thought you’d come for weapons or armor, considering your assigned task.”

”What happened to the one you received earlier?”

Li Yan shook his head slightly. ”It lacks the capacity I need. The space isn’t enough for storing the beasts I’ve hunted.”

Her fingers paused above her cup. For a brief moment, curiosity flashed through her eyes. Someone at his level shouldn’t have needed more space so soon—but Han Yujie knew better than to underestimate this boy.

Her thoughts stirred, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she leaned back slightly, a faint, knowing smile on her lips.

”Well,” Han Yujie said, rising gracefully as her robes fluttered around her, ”you already possess a Tier-1 storage ring. Currently, we have rings ranging from Tier 2 to Tier 7. Which are you interested in?”

Li Yan paused, considering his options. He had more than enough shadow points after selling the beast bodies, but he wasn’t about to spend recklessly.

”What are the prices for each tier?” he asked.

Han Yujie replied without missing a beat, as if she’d memorized them long ago. ”Tier-2 rings cost seventy-five shadow points, Tier-3 costs two hundred, Tier-4 costs five hundred, Tier-5 costs one thousand, Tier-6 costs two thousand five hundred, and Tier-7 costs five thousand.”

Then, with a teasing smile, she added, ”But for you, Li Yan, considering your special status, you can have any of them free of charge.”

Li Yan smiled politely and shook his head. ”Thank you for your kindness, Elder Han. I’m aware that Elder Ji has informed the elders about my special entry, but I’d rather follow the same rules as the other disciples.”

”I don’t want to grow dependent on favors.”

Han Yujie laughed softly, eyes bright with amusement. ”You truly are different. Most would leap at the chance to claim free treasures—but you’re right. There’s no true growth without effort.”

”Resources are only tools,” Li Yan replied calmly. ”They’re meaningless unless earned through experience and persistence.”

For a moment, Han Yujie simply studied him. His composure, his words, his clarity of thought—they were far beyond his apparent age. Finally, she inclined her head. ”Very well. Which tier will it be?”

”A Tier-4 storage ring will suffice.”

Han Yujie nodded and led him toward the far shelves. After a brief search, she selected a sleek black ring etched with silver symbols and patterns that shimmered faintly under the light. ”This is a Tier-4 storage ring,” she explained. ”It holds twenty thousand cubic meters—ideal for beast bodies.”

Li Yan slid it onto his finger beside his first ring. The moment it touched his skin, he sensed the vast space within. ”That’s perfect.”

”Let’s handle the payment,” Han Yujie said, producing her dark-gold elder badge. Li Yan summoned his disciple badge, and the two connected with a soft pulse of light as five hundred shadow points transferred.

When the glow faded, Han Yujie smiled. ”All set. Is there anything else you need?”

Li Yan considered, then asked, ”Elder Han, could you direct me to the sect’s library?”

Han Yujie nodded, setting her badge aside. ”Of course. Exit the core hall and follow the right-side mountain path. You’ll find the library carved into the cliff face. Once you reach there, ask for Elder Shen Tao, who oversees it.”

Li Yan cupped his hands respectfully. ”Thank you for your guidance, Elder Han.”

She waved dismissively, though her eyes shone with admiration. ”You’re welcome, Li Yan. I’ll be watching your progress with interest. Don’t disappoint me.”

Li Yan bowed once more before leaving the Artifact Treasury. The echo of his footsteps faded into the corridor as Han Yujie watched in silence, a thoughtful look lingering in her eyes.

”There’s something different about him,” she mused. ”Perhaps something even we and the sect leader cannot yet see.”

As Li Yan exited the main mountain, the towering peaks of the sect loomed overhead, casting long shadows across the stone path that led toward the library mountain. The gentle chatter of disciples mingled with the rustle of leaves and the rhythmic echo of footsteps.

The stone-paved trail wound through trees whose leaves shimmered with subtle traces of Qi. The mingled scent of earth and energy brought a calm clarity to Li Yan’s mind. Despite his composed expression, a quiet anticipation stirred within him as he neared the library.

After a short walk, he reached the base of the mountain. Carved directly into the cliff, a majestic stone entrance stood so seamlessly crafted that it seemed part of the mountain itself.

Above it, the words Shadows Knowledge Pavilion (Yǐng Zhī Gé) were etched in flowing ancient script. The faint aura radiating from the inscription carried an ageless weight—proof of the wisdom preserved within.

Disciples moved in and out of the vast entrance, their faces filled with focus, curiosity, and reverence.

Without hesitation, Li Yan followed them inside.

The air shifted instantly.

The tunnel walls were engraved with intricate reliefs—scenes of cultivators meditating amid swirling Qi, warriors locked in fierce combat with colossal beasts, and master smiths forging divine artifacts beneath celestial flames.

Each carving pulsed faintly, as if the echoes of those long-departed cultivators still lingered in the stone.

The tunnel gradually darkened as he went deeper, the energy thickening like a veil. At its end stood no stone door, but a teleportation portal—a swirling gateway of shimmering light. Li Yan took a steadying breath and stepped forward.

A wave of energy swept over him. In the next instant, he emerged on the other side.

The Shadows Knowledge Pavilion was far grander than he imagined. Endless rows of towering shelves stretched beyond sight, packed with scrolls, jade slips, and ancient tomes that seemed to breathe with their own Qi.

Floating orbs of warm light drifted lazily above, casting a soft golden glow that reflected across the polished wooden floor.

The scent of aged parchment mingled with traces of Qi—a fragrance both calming and invigorating. The space was almost silent, broken only by the faint rustle of scrolls and the soft murmur of incantations as disciples studied.

The sheer depth of knowledge here was overwhelming, yet exhilarating. Countless generations had refined their understanding of Qi, cultivation, and enlightenment within these walls.

To his left, a male disciple in black robes sat behind a desk, idly flipping through a book. Noticing Li Yan’s arrival, he raised his head. ”Show me your token.”

Li Yan shook his head lightly. ”Senior, it’s my first time here. I want to meet Elder Shen Tao.”

The disciple nodded knowingly. ”A new disciple, then. You’ll need an access token for the pavilion. Follow the main corridor—Elder Shen’s study is at the far end.”

Li Yan cupped his hands in gratitude. ”Thank you, Senior.”