Morning light slowly crept over the ruined house, touching broken wood, torn cloth, and scattered dust.
Keal opened his eyes to the same sight that had greeted him the night before.
Nothing had changed.
The house still looked like a storm had torn through it.
For a moment he lay still, staring at the cracked ceiling.
Then reality returned.
"They're coming today…"
He sat up quickly.
Across the room, his little sister sat near the wall, hugging her knees. Her name was Liora Venshale, seven years old, thin, quiet, and far too used to hardship. Her eyes lifted when she saw him.
"Brother… you're awake."
Keal forced a small smile.
He was Keal Venshale, sixteen, thin from years of struggle but with eyes that held stubborn determination.
"They didn't come again at night, right?"
Liora shook her head. "No… but they said morning."
Keal stood slowly, his body still sore from training in the forest. He stepped carefully over broken wood.
Before he could say anything—
A calm voice came from outside.
"They're already nearby."
Arion.
Keal turned instantly.
Arion stood at the broken doorway, tall and relaxed, as if he were simply watching the sunrise. His long dark hair moved slightly in the wind. His eyes were half-closed, but alert.
"Master…?" Keal asked.
Arion didn't look back.
"Stay inside. Watch."
Footsteps approached.
Heavy. Confident. Arrogant.
Three figures appeared at the entrance.
They wore long azure robes with silver patterns at the edges — symbols of the Azure Sky Academy, the most powerful cultivation academy in this region.
Floating behind each of them were swords.
Not held.
Floating.
Keal felt his chest tighten.
Cultivators.
The first stepped forward, tall and sharp-faced.
Ravik Sen, outer disciple of Azure Sky Academy.
Beside him stood a broader man with cold eyes — Daman Korr.
The third, lean with a mocking smile, was Seth Varun.
Ravik looked around the destroyed house with open disgust.
"So this is the place."
Daman kicked aside a broken stool. "Pathetic."
Seth smirked at Keal and Liora. "Where's the payment?"
Keal clenched his fists.
"I… I need more time."
Ravik stepped forward slowly.
"The academy gave you time yesterday. You failed."
Daman raised a hand.
A faint cultivation pressure filled the room. Not crushing, but heavy enough to force submission.
Liora trembled.
Keal's shoulders felt heavier.
Seth smiled. "No money… then we take something equal. That's the rule."
Before anyone could move—
Footstep.
Arion walked inside calmly.
Not hurried. Not tense.
Just calm.
The three disciples turned.
They sensed nothing from him clearly — and that itself felt wrong.
"And who are you?" Ravik asked coldly.
Arion glanced around at the broken house instead of answering.
"You destroyed this place yesterday?" he asked mildly.
Daman frowned. "Move aside. This doesn't concern you."
Arion finally looked at them.
"I dislike rude guests."
Silence.
Ravik's eyes hardened. "We are disciples of Azure Sky Academy. We collect what is owed."
Arion tilted his head slightly.
"Oh. So academy dogs."
The insult landed like a slap.
Seth's face twisted. "You dare—"
He moved.
His sword shot forward like lightning toward Arion's throat.
Clang.
Two fingers rose.
The blade stopped between them.
Just… stopped.
No shockwave. No effort.
The three froze.
Arion examined the blade lazily.
"Too slow," he said.
He flicked his fingers.
The sword flew back faster than it came, stopping a hair's breadth from Seth's throat. Seth froze, eyes wide.
Arion stepped forward.
Each step echoed softly.
Daman roared and sent two more flying blades from behind. Ravik followed with another strike.
Three blades from different angles.
They never reached.
Midair — they froze.
As if space itself refused to let them pass.
Arion walked through them casually.
The swords dropped to the ground with dull clanks.
No sweat.
No heavy breathing.
Nothing.
The three disciples felt their hearts pound.
This wasn't a fight.
They couldn't even force him to move seriously.
Arion stopped in front of them.
"Leave," he said quietly.
Ravik's pride burned. "You think this ends here? You've humiliated Azure Sky Academy."
Arion gave a faint smile.
"Then report it clearly."
A heavy invisible pressure descended for a second.
Just one second.
Their knees almost buckled.
They understood instantly.
If he wanted — they would already be dead.
Ravik swallowed.
"…This isn't over."
Without another word, the three jumped onto their flying swords and shot into the sky.
Inside the house, silence returned.
Keal exhaled slowly.
"Master…"
Arion turned away calmly.
"They'll report. Then the elders will come."
Liora clutched Keal's arm. "Will they… kill us?"
Arion looked back slightly.
"My disciple doesn't bow to anyone," he said quietly.
"Let them come."
Azure Sky Academy
High above the region stood a massive mountain academy carved into stone cliffs. Floating platforms connected tall towers where cultivators trained.
Ravik, Daman, and Seth landed at the central hall, faces tense.
Inside sat several elders.
One opened his eyes slowly.
Elder Varos — tall, thin, and known for strict discipline.
Beside him sat Elder Myr, a woman with sharp eyes and immense aura.
At the center sat Grand Elder Kaelth, one of the academy's three ruling masters.
Their voices echoed softly.
"What happened?"
The three disciples knelt instantly.
Ravik spoke, voice tight.
"We… were humiliated."
The hall grew cold.
They described everything.
The ruined house.
The unknown man.
Their swords being stopped effortlessly.
Their inability to even force him to move.
Silence followed.
Then—
A wave of pressure spread through the hall.
Elder Varos stood.
"In our own territory… someone humiliates academy disciples?"
Elder Myr's eyes narrowed.
"And you couldn't resist at all?"
Daman lowered his head. "He didn't even sweat…"
Grand Elder Kaelth finally spoke.
"Prepare."
His voice was calm but heavy.
"We will go personally."
Back at Keal's house
The sky above the small town darkened slightly as powerful auras approached.
People in nearby streets looked up nervously.
"Academy elders…"
"Who angered them?"
Whispers spread.
Soon, three elder figures descended before the broken house. Their robes flowed with authority.
Grand Elder Kaelth.
Elder Varos.
Elder Myr.
Their presence alone made the air heavy.
Neighbors gathered at a distance, whispering.
"That's Keal's house…"
"What did they do?"
"They angered the academy…"
"They're finished…"
Inside, Keal felt it first.
A crushing pressure.
His knees trembled.
Liora gasped and dropped to the floor.
The door creaked as if pushed by invisible force.
"Come out," a voice echoed.
Keal tried to stand straight but his body forced downward. His knees hit the floor.
Liora fell beside him.
Outside, the elders stood like mountains.
"Those who defy Azure Sky Academy," Elder Varos said coldly, "kneel."
The pressure increased.
Keal gritted his teeth, struggling to rise — but couldn't.
Then—
Footstep.
Arion walked out.
Calm.
The moment he stepped forward—
The pressure vanished.
Like it never existed.
Keal and Liora could breathe again.
Arion stood in front of them.
"My disciple," he said quietly, "never bows to anyone."
The elders' eyes narrowed.
Grand Elder Kaelth spoke slowly.
"You are the one who humiliated our disciples."
Arion gave a small nod.
"They were noisy."
A ripple of anger spread.
Elder Myr released stronger pressure.
The ground cracked slightly.
But around Arion — nothing changed.
He simply stood there.
Elder Varos' voice turned cold.
"You humiliated our academy publicly. Do you understand the consequence?"
Arion's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Do you understand who you're talking to?"
Silence.
Tension thickened.
The elders exchanged glances.
They realized something dangerous.
They couldn't read his cultivation.
Not at all.
Fighting here… might not end well.
Grand Elder Kaelth slowly raised a hand, signaling the others to stop.
His voice changed tone.
"Very well," he said.
"Let us settle this differently."
He looked at Keal.
"A new disciple."
Then back at Arion.
"Within six months, the Grand Academy Contests will be held across all regions. Alchemy and combat for new disciples."
Elder Myr continued, "If your disciple participates under Azure Sky Academy's name and reaches top ten… we will accept him. According to academy law, accepted disciples owe no collection payments."
Elder Varos' eyes sharpened.
"But if he fails…"
The pressure returned slightly.
"He kneels before the academy and begs forgiveness."
Silence filled the area.
Villagers whispered nervously.
Keal's heart pounded.
Six months.
Top ten… among world disciples?
Impossible.
Arion suddenly spoke.
"If he doesn't reach top ten?" he said calmly.
"No."
He stepped forward.
"If he isn't rank one in both alchemy… and combat—"
Even the elders stilled.
"I will cut off my own head and hand it to you."
Shock spread across the gathered crowd.
Even the elders' expressions changed.
Madness.
Absolute madness.
Grand Elder Kaelth stared at him deeply.
Then slowly… he smiled.
"…Agreed."