Before, it started shaking, the entire stone vibrating against the floor and making harsh scraping sounds.
I kept my hand pressed to the stone and did not pull away despite the shaking. Then light burst from it not the soft yellow glow from before but a deep blue black light growing brighter each moment and spreading across the hall, reflecting Elder Han and Elder Shen's faces as they stared at it.
"Hahahahaha!" Elder Han's laughter exploded as he jumped, a Golden Core elder acting like a child who had just discovered treasure.
"Frost soul constitution ! I was right! I was RIGHT!"
Elder Shen was staring at me, his face frozen in shock. I pulled my hand back and the light began to fade, the glow dimming until the stone turned dark grey again but what had just happened was clearly not ordinary.
"What is it?" I asked, looking between them.
"What does this mean?"
Elder Shen recovered first and steadied himself with a breath.
"You've achieved Frost Soul Constitution," he said, his voice measured but with an underlying excitement he couldn't quite suppress. "It's one of the Nine Supreme Constitutions, far above the normal grades."
"Brat! Haha! You're really, REALLY lucky! Hahahaha!" Elder Han couldn't stop laughing and couldn't contain himself. "Wait. Ah. I have to report this, it is a new discovery, a method to transform spiritual root quality through elemental pearl refinement."
"You're right, Elder Han." Elder Shen nodded. "This will be beneficial for the entire sect. If we can research this process deeply, understand the mechanisms... This could change everything about how we develop our disciples."
They were already planning ahead, but my mind was somewhere else.
Frost Soul constitution. It was a massive upgrade from the low grade yellow I'd had before. But how? Why? Was this really just…coincidence, a fortunate incident, or something else?
(I have a bad feeling about this.)
This was beyond anything I could anticipate.
The heavens or whatever force governed this world had never supported me before, then why now? Why give me this?
Was it really related to Chen Wu, and if so why would I receive such a supreme upgrade, how could it possibly stop me…( stop me… stop?)
My eyes widened as the realization struck me while the two elders were still talking. I stepped forward and immediately dropped to one knee before Elder Han.
They both stopped and looked at me.
Elder Han hummed and smiled looking pleased. "Mm mm. Good disciple. You know how to show proper respect for—"
"Master, can you not tell anyone what happened here?"
"HA?!" Elder Han's smile froze.
I stayed silent with my head down and waited.
"What…are you saying?!" Elder Han's voice rose, shock clear on his face. "You'll become famous and the sect will reward you, your name will be imprinted in the sect's history as the first person to achieve Constitutional transformation, this is glory and recognition, everything a disciple could want!"
I remained on one knee and said nothing.
Elder Han looked ready to burst while Elder Shen stepped forward and cut through the tension.
"Why?" Straight to the point, no anger and no confusion, just one question.
"Master..." I kept my voice respectful and quiet. "I know this is a huge outcome and I'm very happy about it , but I don't want my name attached to this discovery. Please."
"But—"
Elder Shen continued, practical as ever. "We need proof to show that the method worked, Fu Yang, evidence that Constitutional transformation through elemental pearl refinement is possible, and right now you are the only successful case, so without you as evidence this is just theory."
SILENCE.
What he said is correct, yes I have become the only proof, the only one case..
"I understand that, and I also understand what this means for the sect." I let the weight of that settle before continuing. "But I've just realized what this result really means."
I could feel their confusion and their questions forming, but I didn't explain that part, so instead I shifted direction.
"Master, I know what Elder Shen said is true, but please, if this news leaves the sect and other sects learn what I've achieved, I'll be..."
I paused deliberately. "Hunted by others."
Elder Han grunted. "No one will do that, and the sect will always protect you since we're not weak and Clouded Peak has the strength to guard its disciples."
"Yes, Master. But—"
"NO, you know nothing, you are still young."
The words were absolute and final.
Elder Han's face had shifted from confusion to decision as his tone hardened and left no room for argument.
"Also."
Mm?
"you are NOT allowed to leave the sect now, and that expedition you signed up for? Forget it. You're staying here under protection and observation until we fully understand what's happened to your spiritual roots and what it means."
Shit…
The word screamed through my mind, but my face remained calm, respectful, disappointed but accepting.
Elder Han turned and strode toward the broken door without looking back.
"I'm reporting this to another bra… I mean sect head."
Then he was gone, moving fast with purpose in every step.
Elder Shen remained there for a second, looking at me with an unreadable expression. While I stayed kneeling with my head bowed.
"Elder Han is right, you cannot go on that expedition now, since your value to the sect has increased too much and the risk is too great."
With that he turned towards the door and also left, both leaving me alone in the meditation room.
Complete silence surrounded me.
I stood up, processing everything that had just happened….The system or whatever wasn't just a passive mechanism. It was...something that could indirectly influence anything just to save its chosen one. " Shit… this will mess up everything."
But there was nothing I could do now….
****
I didn't wait long before a guard came to me.
"Fu yang, you have been summoned by the sect head."
"Tch!"
Grand Assembly Hall
I stood with the guard outside the hall and in front of me was the big golden gate, maybe four times the size of mine.
It opened as I entered through it. (What a show off.)
The hall was already full with all twenty three elders of the sect present, seated in a wide semicircle facing the center while the Sect Head sat at the highest seat.
When I entered, every head turned and the hall fell completely silent.
They were all staring, their eyes locked onto me with Curiosity.
I didn't need to guess why.
My appearance had changed completely, silver hair catching the colored light from the windows, white skin almost glowing in the rainbow illumination. Features, striking in a way that drew attention whether I wanted it or not.
"Elder Han." The Sect Head's voice carried across the hall. "You requested an emergency council meeting."
Elder Han stepped forward and turned to address all the assembled elders.
"Just last night, I conducted an advanced cultivation technique which was created by our Ancestor….on my disciple Fu Yang. The Three Element Pearl Refinement method."
Murmurs rippled through the assembled elders.
"Three elemental method!"
"Is that Fu Yang?"
"What? Is that the same person?"
"Ahem! The process was successful," Elder Han continued and everyone quieted down. "Fu Yang advanced two full cultivation stages"
"However," Elder Han's voice grew more intense, "an unexpected effect occurred. The elemental essences didn't just boost his cultivation, they transformed his spiritual roots."
SILENCE
Elder Han gestured toward me, knowing the reason for the sudden silence. "Test him with the soul jade stone and see for yourselves."
Elder Tian stood from his seat carrying a larger version of the testing stone I had used earlier.
He placed it on the floor in the center of the hall and looked at me. "Is it really you…"
I nodded.
The surprise was clear on his face. Still, I placed my hand on the stone again.
The reaction was immediate. The stone shook violently, glowing with the same deep dark blue light. Then slowly the light faded as I pulled my hand away.
Elder Tian stared at the stone, his expression filled with disbelief. "Frost Soul Constitution… How?"