No one moved.
Not after what they had witnessed.
The air felt heavier.
Not from pressure—
But from awareness.
Something was here.
And it was no longer ignoring us.
I stood where the fracture had vanished.
Calm.
Thinking.
It had changed.
Not randomly.
Not instinctively.
It reacted.
Chen Xu lowered his gaze slightly. So it learns.
System responded without delay. Confirmed. Behavioral deviation observed.
Chen Xu remained still. Then it is no longer just a phenomenon.
System paused briefly. Incomplete conclusion.
Chen Xu gave a faint smile. It is enough.
Behind me—
The others remained tense.
Han Wei broke the silence first.
He looked around sharply, voice low. It stopped.
Su Yan's eyes narrowed. No. It chose to stop.
Lin Yue said nothing.
But his gaze moved—
Between me…
And the empty space.
Good.
He was starting to see.
Chen Xu turned slowly. Now you understand the problem.
Han Wei frowned. Speak clearly.
Chen Xu met his gaze. It is not hunting blindly.
Chen Xu paused briefly.
Then continued. It is observing, deciding, and adapting.
Silence.
That was enough.
Su Yan exhaled slowly. Then it is no different from a cultivator.
Chen Xu shook his head slightly. No.
He looked forward again.
Chen Xu spoke calmly. It has no presence. No Qi. No form.
A brief pause.
Chen Xu continued. And yet it acts.
That contradiction—
Was the problem.
System spoke again. Conceptual inconsistency confirmed.
Chen Xu nodded slightly. That is why you cannot find it.
Han Wei's expression darkened.
Han Wei clenched his jaw. Then how do we deal with it?
Chen Xu did not answer immediately.
Instead—
He looked at Lin Yue.
Chen Xu spoke calmly. You saw it hesitate.
Lin Yue nodded slowly. Yes.
Chen Xu continued. That means it can be influenced.
Su Yan's gaze sharpened. Influenced… or provoked.
Chen Xu gave a faint smile. Both.
Before anyone could respond—
A sudden fluctuation.
Sharp.
Violent.
Not from the villagers.
From them.
Han Wei froze.
For a split second—
His body stiffened.
Su Yan reacted instantly. Han Wei.
Too late.
A fracture appeared.
Closer than ever before.
Right behind him.
Lin Yue moved.
Too slow.
Han Wei's aura surged violently.
Instinct.
Resistance.
But—
It meant nothing.
His body trembled—
And began to fade.
Not instantly.
Not cleanly.
Slower than before.
As if—
Something was struggling.
Chen Xu's eyes narrowed.
Chen Xu stepped forward. So you chose a cultivator this time.
System reacted. Target strength increased. Instability rising.
Han Wei tried to speak.
His voice distorted. This… thing…
His arm disappeared first.
Then his shoulder.
Su Yan's expression changed for the first time.
Not fear—
But shock.
Lin Yue clenched his sword tightly.
He did not move.
He understood.
Moving would change nothing.
Chen Xu watched closely.
Not the man.
But the process.
The distortion was unstable.
Not smooth like before.
It hesitated.
Adjusted.
Chen Xu spoke quietly. You are testing limits.
The fracture trembled.
System recorded fluctuations. Response irregular.
Chen Xu continued. You are unsure.
For a moment—
Han Wei's body stopped fading.
Half of him remained.
Half—gone.
A horrifying stillness.
Su Yan whispered, almost unconsciously. This is impossible…
Chen Xu stepped closer.
Closer than anyone else dared.
Lin Yue spoke sharply. Stop. That is too close.
Chen Xu ignored him.
Chen Xu focused. If you can hesitate…
Void Eyes activated.
Not to erase.
Not to destroy.
But to interfere.
Directly.
For the first time—
Contact.
Not physical.
Conceptual.
The distortion twisted violently.
The ground cracked beneath my feet.
System issued a warning. Direct interference detected.
Chen Xu remained calm. I see you.
The fracture shook.
And then—
It vanished.
Completely.
Han Wei—
Dropped to the ground.
Breathing.
Alive.
But barely.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Because what just happened—
Should not be possible.
Su Yan stepped forward slowly.
Her voice low. He… survived…
Lin Yue stared at me.
Not with suspicion anymore.
But something else.
Uncertainty.
Chen Xu looked down at Han Wei.
Then spoke calmly. It is not invincible.
System responded. Temporary conclusion.
Chen Xu nodded slightly. Enough for now.
He lifted his gaze.
Chen Xu spoke again. Now it knows.
Silence deepened.
Su Yan frowned. Knows what?
Chen Xu answered without hesitation.
Chen Xu met the empty space ahead.
Chen Xu spoke calmly. That I can reach it.
The wind stopped again.
And somewhere—
Beyond perception—
Something shifted.
Watching.
Not with curiosity anymore.
But—
With intent.
Chen Xu smiled faintly.
Chen Xu spoke quietly. Good.
This time—
It would not be one-sided.