Chapter 39 – The Awakening

  A cold rush of air filled Akari’s lungs as she jolted upright. Her body trembled, drenched in sweat.

  She was back in her courtyard.

  Tsubaki was crouched beside her, golden eyes filled with alarm. "You blacked out for an hour."

  An hour?

  Akari clutched her chest. Her heart was still beating too fast. The memory of the Seventh Gate lingered—its vast, endless presence, the entity beyond it.

  > "At last, a vessel worthy of my power."

  That thing—whatever it was—it had marked her.

  She took a slow breath. Her qi was still there, but something about it felt... different.

  Stronger.

  Darker.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Tsubaki studied her. "Your aura has changed."

  Akari flexed her fingers, watching as black mist coiled faintly around them before vanishing.

  Her power had shifted.

  And she had no idea what that meant.

  ---

  The Elders' Suspicion

  It wasn’t long before the rest of the sect noticed.

  By midday, whispers had spread.

  The morning sparring sessions halted when Akari entered the training grounds. The other disciples stepped back instinctively, their instincts screaming at them to avoid her.

  The elders were watching too.

  From the upper pavilion, a figure in dark robes observed her with piercing eyes—Elder Renshu, the one responsible for overseeing dangerous cultivation techniques.

  And he wasn’t the only one.

  The Sect Master himself, Lord Fushin, sat beside him, expression unreadable.

  Something was coming.

  Akari could feel it.

  ---

  A Test of Strength

  “Akari.”

  A voice rang out through the courtyard.

  She turned to see Jian Ren, one of the strongest core disciples, stepping forward. He was tall, sharp-eyed, and notorious for breaking those who crossed him.

  He smirked. “I heard you had some kind of… breakthrough last night.”

  She said nothing.

  Jian Ren unsheathed his sword. “Let’s see how strong you’ve become.”

  The crowd stirred.

  A public challenge.

  Refusing would be seen as weakness.

  Akari stepped forward.

  She wouldn’t run from this.

  ---

  The Battle Begins

  Jian Ren attacked first.

  A blur of motion—his blade gleamed as it sliced toward her.

  Fast. Too fast.

  But Akari’s body moved on its own.

  Her hand snapped up—

  And she caught the blade with her bare fingers.

  Silence.

  The crowd froze.

  Jian Ren’s eyes widened. “What—?”

  Akari barely heard him.

  Her vision flickered. For a split second, she saw the thing from beyond the gate, standing behind him, grinning.

  Her grip tightened.

  CRACK.

  Jian Ren’s sword snapped in half.

  The watching disciples gasped.

  Even the elders leaned forward.

  Akari dropped the shattered blade. She didn’t understand it yet, but one thing was clear—

  She had changed.

  And everyone knew it.