On the stairways, the silence was only broken by the rhythmic steps of Kyrian and the sect leader. The cutting wind blew against Kyrian, but now it was only like a cold breeze.

He no longer felt the slight discomfort he once did. Now, his body knew exactly how to stand against that cutting wind present throughout the sect.

Kyrian walked firmly behind the man he would now call master.

His eyes, still green, reflected more about the valley and what had really happened, what had passed in such a short time for him to arrive at this situation.

The memories of when he was in the pavilion came to his mind, making him relive the last moments in the Leaf Sword Pavilion.

After resisting the weight of the formation inside the pavilion and reaching the invisible cut, the cut made of pure sword intent was completely absorbed by his eyes.

And it was there that everything changed.

The cut was not only the remnant of the comprehension of a sect ancestor but also the core that maintained the entire formation of the pavilion.

It was the key that regulated the balance of the walls, the space, and the sharp Qi present in the pavilion.

When the intent disappeared inside his eyes, the entire pavilion began to destabilize. The silence was replaced by cracks and muffled small explosions.

Kyrian woke up a short time later, still dazed, but it was at that moment he felt five overwhelming presences fall upon the pavilion.

Each of them was immense, making his heart race.

Kyrian immediately concluded that they must be the sect elders.

The entire pavilion shook with the five pressures. But soon after, something even more terrifying arose. A presence that seemed calm but could cut everything into two parts. And suddenly, the walls and the chaos in the pavilion ceased completely before Kyrian's eyes.

At that moment, Kyrian's mind raced in dangerous directions.

'If they discover that I absorbed the intent left by a sect ancestor… they won't just expel me. I may be destroyed right here.'

The choice was made in an instant by him.

Pretending ignorance about it would be useless. Sooner or later, as soon as they entered the pavilion, they would discover it.

So Kyrian decided to show it, to reveal without fear what he had achieved. This was already his idea from the beginning. To show enough talent so that resources would fall into his hands.

But now this was even more necessary. It was the easiest way to survive, it was to show an indispensable talent.

And that is what he did. When he opened the door, he burned every strand of Qi present in his dantians. His eyes exhaled the pure sword intent, which spread like an invisible wave through his vision.

That could not hurt anyone, but it was enough to show. The swords vibrated at his call.

Then came the leader's attack. A cut too fast for any disciple to follow. But Kyrian knew, at the same instant. It was not an execution, but a test. And that could not escape his sight.

Using every drop of what remained of his Qi, he recreated a cut identical to the one he had absorbed. Simple, direct, but charged with pure intent.

In the end, the leader accepted him as a disciple. Kyrian's gamble worked.

…

"Kyrian." The leader's voice suddenly rose, interrupting his thoughts.

The man in black robes walked ahead without looking back.

"I am Feng Yuan, current leader of the Verdant Sword Sect." He spoke simply, as if only reminding of something obvious, without ceremony.

But it had indeed been useful. For Kyrian had no idea of his name.

Upon hearing, Kyrian bowed slightly.

"Disciple Kyrian pays respect to the master."

The man then continued climbing the stone steps. The path seemed endless, winding up the mountain. When the wind blew even stronger than in the inner sect, his voice returned, calm and sharp.

"Boy… what really happened in the pavilion?"

Kyrian watched him from behind. He did not think of concealing the truth. There was no reason, if that man wanted to do him harm, he would have the strength to do so without Kyrian being able to retaliate.

"I still don't know exactly, master. In the pavilion, I saw a cut… a pure intent. When I absorbed it, everything around me began to collapse. And when I realized, my eyes had changed."

Kyrian's voice sounded simple and without hesitation.

For a moment, Feng Yuan did not respond. Only the sound of steps filled the air. Then, with a clear tone of curiosity, he asked.

"Before… your physique… no, your innate talent was aligned with ice. Was it not?"

Kyrian then nodded.

"Yes. Since I awakened my innate talent, my Qi and my intent have always been linked to ice. But now… something different arose when I absorbed the sword intent."

"So, you destroyed the ancestral heritage…" The leader's voice sounded lower, almost a murmur. But Kyrian felt it was not an accusation, only a statement.

Kyrian kept the same gaze, prepared for anything.

"That is what happened." Kyrian replied calmly.

The silence continued until the leader let out an almost inaudible laugh.

"I don't think you destroyed it, boy. You inherited it. The comprehension that belonged to the ancestor now dwells in you. That cut is only possible upon comprehending the sword's intent left by the ancestor. But no one had ever managed to comprehend it fully."

"Not even I. I only comprehended half. But that already placed me above many in my generation, and I ended up becoming the sect leader."

"But since then, no disciple talented enough has emerged…"

He then stopped on the stairway, looking at the distant horizon. The morning sun was already spreading among the clouds.

"An innate talent that once followed the path of ice, but now wields a blade… I don't see it as an accident but as a pleasant coincidence of destiny."

Kyrian remained silent. Not knowing what to answer.

"Boy. Do you know what you are? What does it mean to have an innate talent?" The leader suddenly asked, turning to him.

Kyrian thought and did not truly know how to answer. He had heard the term from Wei Feng and knew it was extremely rare among mortals, allowing them to cultivate. But he did not know much beyond that.

"I am not sure. Master." Kyrian replied.

Feng Yuan's gaze wandered over the horizon.

"I imagined, or you wouldn't have tried to enter a sect like mine." He said before turning to Kyrian again.

"An innate talent is not something common… it stands above most special physiques that so many cultivators dream of having. The only ones comparable are celestial physiques, which, when awakened, can transform a useless one into a supreme genius capable of reigning above all."

He took a short pause before continuing.

"But an innate talent is even rarer. Born among the almost extinct mortals. Like myths or legends. Each innate talent is completely different and unique. All mortals bearing innate talents became figures of extreme power."

"A talent upon which even the supreme forces in the northern territory would turn their attention when they discover it."

Kyrian listened in silence. But gradually understanding what it really meant to possess his eyes.

The leader then resumed walking, climbing the last steps, his voice carrying a different weight.

"This domain, this sect. No, not even the forces above. All of this, soon, will be too small for you. But while you are here, I will teach you everything I know."

"I will not restrict your path nor bind you to this place. When you decide there is nothing more here and decide to depart for greater places, I will accept it."

He turned, staring at Kyrian intensely.

"I only hope that, while you are here, you represent my Verdant Sword Sect with your blade."

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