HBWnovel Chapter 7 – The Storm Begins to Gather
Chapter 7 – The Storm Begins to Gather
Chapter 7 – The Storm Begins to Gather
The pale glow of the twin moons cast a silver sheen over Azure Dragon Academy, their light reflecting off the grand pagodas and towering halls that stood as monuments to centuries of cultivation mastery. Despite the late hour, the academy was still alive with murmurs, whispers, and restless anticipation.
The news had spread faster than wildfire, reaching even the highest-ranked disciples:@@@@
Xiao Lin had accepted a public duel against Wei Tong.
At first, many dismissed it as an act of arrogance—an overconfident cripple who had forgotten his place. But then, as more details emerged—the brutal defeat of Zhao Yan and Li Jian, the terrifying ease with which Xiao Lin had overpowered them, the unshakable calmness in his eyes—the doubts began to creep in.
Could he really win?
And if he did—what did that mean for the Outer Court’s power structure?
No one had the answers, but one thing was certain:
The entire Outer Court would be watching.
But while the academy continued to buzz with speculation, the one person at the center of it all remained utterly unaffected.
Within the secluded training courtyard, Xiao Lin sat in quiet meditation, his breath steady, his focus unwavering.
After reaching Qi Gathering Realm, Fourth Level, he had not stopped cultivating.
For hours, he had continued refining his Qi, perfecting its flow, ensuring that his foundation was solid, unshakable. His Supreme Divine Dantian processed energy at an absurd rate, each cycle of Qi circulation condensing his strength further, sharpening it like a blade honed to a razor’s edge.
Strength alone would not be enough.
His movements needed to be faster.
His reflexes sharper.
His control over his power absolute.
The duel was not just about Wei Tong.
It was about sending a message.
That he was no longer the cripple they had cast aside.
That he had returned.
And that nothing—not Zhan Kanzi, not the Xiao Family, not the academy’s strongest elites—could suppress him anymore.
A sudden shift in the air pulled him from his thoughts.
A presence.
Faint, nearly imperceptible, yet undeniably there.
Xiao Lin’s golden eyes flickered open, calm and cold. He did not turn, nor did he speak.
He simply waited.
A few moments passed in silence. Then—
A shadow detached itself from the trees at the courtyard’s edge, stepping into the moonlight.
A man.
Not now.
Not ever.
Morning arrived with a sky streaked in shades of crimson and gold, the academy awakening to a day of restless anticipation.
Tomorrow, the duel would take place.
And for many, it was not just a simple match.
It was a spectacle.
A test of whether Xiao Lin’s return was genuine or merely an illusion.
For Wei Tong, it was a chance to reassert the hierarchy.
For Zhan Kanzi’s faction, it was an opportunity to crush an emerging threat before it could grow any further.
And for the watching disciples?
It was entertainment.
A fight between an elite-ranked cultivator and a rising anomaly.
The Outer Court was divided. Some believed that Xiao Lin’s strength had been exaggerated, that Wei Tong would teach him his place. Others had begun to suspect that something far more dangerous was unfolding beneath the surface.
But while the disciples gossiped, debated, and speculated—one man had remained completely silent.
Zhan Kanzi.
The young master of the Zhan Family.
The one who had crippled Xiao Lin.
For two days, he had said nothing.
But deep within the Inner Court’s highest pavilion, he sat in quiet contemplation, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his chair as his subordinates kneeled before him, relaying the latest reports.
Finally, he spoke.
"Interesting."
The single word was quiet, almost amused.
His head tilted slightly, dark eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
"Perhaps I should watch this duel myself."
Xiao Lin stood at the edge of the Outer Court’s largest battle platform, the wind tugging lightly at the folds of his robe.
Tomorrow, the duel would be held here.
And when it was over, the world would remember his name.
The challenge had been given.
The stage was set.
And the storm was only just beginning.