No one dismissed my words.
Not because they agreed.
Because they felt it.
The distortion trembled.
Sharper than before.
Not responding to movement.
Not responding to power.
Responding to intent.
Gu Chen's expression did not change.
But his aura—
Shifted slightly.
More restrained.
Zhao Ren noticed.
Zhao Ren spoke quietly.
Zhao Ren said you are pulling back.
Gu Chen replied calmly.
Gu Chen said I am removing unnecessary influence.
Su Yan exhaled softly.
Han Wei frowned.
Lin Yue's eyes remained fixed on the distortion.
Li Feng stayed silent.
For the first time—
They began to suppress not just their Qi—
But their thoughts.
The effect was immediate.
The distortion slowed.
Its tremor weakened.
Like a flame deprived of wind.
System spoke softly.
System confirmed decrease in external stimulus.
Chen Xu replied inwardly temporary.
Because this—
Could not last.
Silence stretched.
Longer than before.
Then—
Footsteps.
From beyond the formation.
Everyone turned.
Not fast.
But together.
At the edge of the formation—
A figure appeared.
Young.
Calm.
Wearing light grey robes.
His presence was steady.
Foundation Establishment Eighth Stage.
But refined.
Controlled.
He did not force his way in.
He stopped at the boundary.
Hands behind his back.
Watching.
Su Yan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Han Wei frowned.
Lin Yue's grip tightened.
Li Feng stiffened again.
The man bowed slightly.
His tone polite.
But deliberate.
Qin Luo spoke I did not expect to find so many seniors gathered here.
Gu Chen did not respond.
Zhao Ren remained silent.
Su Yan spoke instead.
Su Yan said identify yourself.
The man smiled faintly.
Qin Luo replied Qingfeng Sect, Qin Luo.
A small sect.
But not irrelevant.
Han Wei muttered quietly.
Han Wei said they came fast.
Lin Yue added.
Lin Yue said too fast.
Zhao Ren finally spoke.
Zhao Ren said you should not be here.
Qin Luo did not move.
Qin Luo said yet I am.
A brief silence.
The distortion pulsed.
Slightly.
As if acknowledging the new presence.
Qin Luo's eyes flickered toward it.
Just once.
Then returned to the group.
Qin Luo spoke calmly.
Qin Luo said word spreads quickly when something… unusual appears.
He chose his words carefully.
Not provoking.
Not denying.
Gu Chen's gaze sharpened slightly.
Gu Chen said what have you heard.
Qin Luo smiled faintly.
Qin Luo said that something here defies understanding.
A pause.
Then—
Qin Luo added.
Qin Luo said and that someone is at the center of it.
Silence.
The air tightened again.
Su Yan's fingers tensed.
Han Wei exhaled slowly.
Lin Yue shifted his stance.
Li Feng looked at me again.
The information—
Had already spread.
Too fast.
System spoke quietly.
System detected external information propagation.
Chen Xu replied inwardly expected.
Zhao Ren spoke.
Zhao Ren said leave.
Simple.
Direct.
Qin Luo did not move.
Qin Luo said I intend no interference.
Gu Chen replied coldly.
Gu Chen said your presence is already interference.
Qin Luo's smile faded slightly.
But not completely.
Qin Luo said then I will remain at the edge.
He took half a step back.
Still within view.
But outside direct range.
Watching.
Always watching.
The distortion reacted.
A faint tremor.
Not strong.
But present.
Su Yan spoke under her breath.
Su Yan said more observers…
Han Wei finished quietly.
Han Wei said more instability.
Lin Yue said nothing.
But his grip tightened again.
Gu Chen turned slightly.
His voice calm.
Gu Chen said this is no longer contained.
Zhao Ren replied.
Zhao Ren said it never was.
Silence.
Qin Luo spoke again.
Qin Luo said then perhaps containment was never the goal.
Su Yan looked at him sharply.
Han Wei frowned.
Lin Yue's eyes narrowed.
Li Feng tensed.
Gu Chen asked.
Gu Chen said then what is.
Qin Luo's gaze shifted.
Toward me.
Calm.
Measured.
Qin Luo answered.
Qin Luo said understanding him.
The distortion pulsed.
Sharper.
Closer.
The formation flickered slightly.
System spoke.
System detected rising resonance.
Chen Xu replied inwardly they are aligning again.
Zhao Ren stepped forward.
Just slightly.
Zhao Ren said enough.
The air stabilized.
Barely.
Gu Chen did not move.
Qin Luo remained at the edge.
Su Yan, Han Wei, Lin Yue—
All held position.
No one acted.
But something had already changed.
The circle—
Had expanded.
Not physically.
But in influence.
More eyes.
More thoughts.
More intent.
And all of it—
Centered on me.
I looked at Qin Luo.
Then at Gu Chen.
Then Zhao Ren.
Chen Xu spoke quietly.
Chen Xu said you are already too late.
Silence.
No one asked what that meant.
Because they could feel it.
The distortion—
Was no longer forming.
It was waiting.
For something beyond them.
And whatever came next—
Would not be controlled.