"So this is the outsider?"
The voice carried open disdain.
Li Shen turned fully toward the entrance. Several disciples stood there, their robes neat, their posture straight, everything about them spoke of discipline and belonging.
This was everything Li Shen lacked.
At their front stood the tall young man. His gaze swept over Li Shen once, then lingered with clear contempt.
"He can't even gather Qi," the man said. "And yet he's allowed to stay in the pavilion?"
Lian Yue did not turn. "Leave."
The man smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it.
"Senior Sister, bringing in trash will only lower the standards of the pavilion."
Li Shen said nothing cause he had heard worse.
But the man stepped forward anyway.
His presence pressed down slightly, not overwhelming, but enough to make the difference clear.
He was stronger, far stronger.
"Since he's here," the man continued, "let me test him."
Lian Yue finally turned with calmed eyes
"Do not interfere with my training."
The man met her gaze without backing down.
"It's just a simple exchange," he said. "Unless… you're afraid he'll break too easily?"
A brief silence followed.
Then Lian Yue spoke again "…Do not go too far."
That was all he needed to hear and with a smile he said
"That's enough."
He stepped onto the courtyard eyes locked onto Li Shen.
"Stand properly," he said. "At least try to look like you belong here."
Li Shen adjusted his stance slightly.
His body still ached from yesterday's training and his breathing was not fully steady.
But his eyes remained calm.
"Begin," the man said.
He moved fast.
BAM!
Li Shen didn't even see the strike clearly when a fist slammed into his abdomen.
The impact folded his body instantly and he was lifted off the ground
Then thrown back, crashing hard against the stone.
Pain exploded through him instantly.
The disciples at the entrance watched silently.
Some watched with interest others with faint amusement.
"So weak," the man said calmly. "You can't even react."
Li Shen coughed, forcing himself up.
His body trembled but he stood.
The man didn't wait for Li Shen to get his footing
BAM!
Another strike.
This time to his shoulder.
Li Shen spun and fell again, his vision blurring.
"Too slow," the man said. "Too weak. Too unrefined."
Li Shen pushed himself up once more.
His breathing grew heavier, his body slower.
But he still stood.
The man frowned slightly.
"…Stubborn."
He stepped forward again.
BAM!
A kick landed cleanly against Li Shen's ribs.
A sharp crack echoed.
Li Shen was sent skidding across the ground, blood rising in his throat.
For a moment he didn't move.
"…Get up," the man said.
Silence.
Then
Li Shen's fingers twitched.
Slowly he pushed himself up again.
His body swayed slightly but he did not fall.
The man's expression darkened.
"…Why are you still standing?"
Li Shen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth he didn't answer.
He simply raised his guard and that answer was enough.
The man's eyes turned cold.
"Fine," he said. "Then don't blame me."
The air shifted.
For the first time
Qi appeared.
A faint aura gathered around the man's body, swirling lightly, controlled and precise.
The disciples at the entrance straightened slightly. They recognized it.
"A technique…"
The man raised his hand slowly.
Energy condensed sharper and denser.
"This ends now," he said.
Lian Yue's eyes widened.
"Stop."
But she was too far.
The man moved, faster than before.
His palm shot forward, wrapped in concentrated Qi.
This was a killing strike.
Li Shen saw it.
But his body could not move.
His body was too slow too damaged too weak.
Time seemed to slow down.
The strike closed in.
As it was about to hit him
The golden lines beneath his skin ignited.
BOOM!
A surge of power exploded from his body, the air shattered.
While the man's attack froze mid-motion.
It was not blocked not dodged.
It just... Stopped.
Golden light burst outward from Li Shen's body, forming a faint, radiant layer across his skin.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…I thought it was sealed.... How..."
The armor had activated forcefully without his will.
The man's expression changed instantly.
From shock to fear.
The golden energy surged forward.
Not gentle not controlled but hungry, it wanted to devour
BOOM!
The man was thrown back violently, his body slamming into the ground as the Qi around him shattered instantly.
A crack echoed as the stone beneath him fractured.
Silence fell over the courtyard.
The other disciples stared.
Stunned.
Li Shen stood where he was his body, still trembling.
But now
Golden light pulsed faintly across his skin.
His breathing was still uneven and unstable.
The energy around him flickered wildly.
"…What is that…" someone whispered.
Lian Yue had already moved.
She appeared beside Li Shen instantly her hand pressed against his shoulder.
"Calm down," she said sharply.
The golden light resisted.
For a moment
surged again then slowly it began to fade.
The lines sank back beneath his skin while the pressure disappeared.
Li Shen staggered slightly.
Lian Yue steadied him.
Her expression was no longer calm.
It was very serious.
Across the courtyard, the disciple struggled to sit up.
His face pale his breathing uneven.
He looked at Li Shen again but this time there was no arrogance only caution and fear
Lian Yue's voice broke the silence.
"…Training is over."
Her gaze swept across the watching disciples.
With cold gaze
"Leave, now!!."
No one argued.
They turned and left quietly.
The courtyard fell silent once more.
Lian Yue looked at Li Shen.
"…You almost lost control."
Li Shen steadied his breathing still shaking.
"…I didn't activate it."
"I know," she said.
She paused and continued.
"That's the problem."
Li Shen was silent.
His gaze dropped slightly.
For the first time he felt it clearly.
The armor…
Was not just protecting him it was deciding for him. Which means, he did not have control over the armor but the armor has control over him
And that
Was far more dangerous.