Xia Hongyi gasped for air, his heart pounded as he recalled his encounter with the cultivaotr. He wanted nothing more than to run home and hide, but his legs trembled, refusing to cooperate. If not for his uncle's kindness in carrying him to safety, he would still be in danger.

"Xia Hongyi."

"Y-yes, uncle?" Xia Hongyi stuttered.

"Did you try to set me up? To get me killed?"

Xia Hongyi's eyes widened. "W-what are you talking about, uncle? You're my family, and I respect you. I would never set you up!"

His uncle's piercing gaze settled on him. "That mark on your left eye. He didn't punch you there."

"He did hit me on the chin," he finally admitted. "But he didn't touch my eye." The black eye he sported was self-inflicted.

After Liu Xing had knocked him unconscious with a blow to the chin, Xia Hongyi had awakened, feeling deeply ashamed, filled with hatred and a desire for revenge. Though arrogant, he knew he could not defeat Liu Xing. So, he had punched himself in the eye, rushed to his uncle's training ground, and spun a false tale. His uncle, a stoic man rarely seen due to his constant travels to cultivate and refine his martial skills, tended to dote on him. After Xia Hongyi claimed someone had hit him in the eye, his uncle marched straight to where Liu Xing was and prepared to confront him.

"Tell me about your meeting with him again," Xia Shizi demanded. "This time, no lies."

"All right," Xia Hongyi replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He recounted the whole story. How he had seen Xia Weiyuan sneaking around the clan compound like a thief, then disgracing the Xia clan by trying to modify the simple yet elegant Golden Tiger Punch.

Offended by this, Xia Hongyi had attacked him, intending to demonstrate the true might of the Xia clan's fighting style.

"That's when Liu Xing showed up," he continued, describing their fight and the wisdom Liu Xing had imparted before knocking him out.

As he finished his tale, a deafening explosion rocked the air, making Xia Hongyi's ears ring. The spinning top-like spirit beast suddenly burst into thousands of tiny fragments. Xia Hongyi's eyes widened again. That spirit beast had seemed invincible, yet it had shattered like glass struck by his uncle's fist. Before he could process this, each shard transformed into an upside-down triangle with a single eye at its center. They hovered around Liu Xing before rushing toward him like a swarm of angry wasps, each shooting a concentrated beam of yellow light. The beams formed a cage around Liu Xing, but Liu Xing moved with incredible speed, zigzagging between the attacks and slicing through each miniature spirit beast with his blade of lightning.

"Was he right?" his uncle asked, breaking the tense silence.

"About what?"

"About your feelings toward your father and Xia Weiyuan."

Xia Hongyi clenched his jaw and was tempted to lie, but the thought of betraying his uncle's trust held him back. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to nod, feeling the weight of his decision settle heavily on his shoulders.

"All right. Let's leave this place."

Xia Hongyi decided to ask the question that had been nagging at him. "Is he stronger than you, uncle?"

"Yes. Comparing me to him is like comparing a pebble to a mountain," his uncle answered without hesitation.

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Xia Hongyi could not believe it. "Surely you're exaggerating. You're just a step away from the Core Splitting realm."

Xia Shizi gazed at the distant battle, then shook his head. He hoisted Xia Hongyi onto his shoulder and leaped from the branch where they stood. When they landed, Xia Shizi set Xia Hongyi down, and they ran between swaying trees, their leaves rustling violently from the shockwaves of Liu Xing's fight.

As they ran, his uncle finally spoke. "Have you heard of the Purple Moon Sect?"

Xia Hongyi's mind froze for a moment. "Don't tell me Liu Xing is a disciple of the Purple Moon Sect?"

"Indeed," his uncle replied, his tone serious. "There are rumors of disciples of this sect suddenly roaming the entire continent. My contacts have mentioned some kind of race or test taking place."

Xia Hongyi's mind went blank. The Purple Moon Sect was a great sect. Xia Shizi, the most brilliant Xia clan member in several generations, could have become a patriarch if he wanted, and even he had not been accepted as a disciple by that sect.

"In that sect, a master of the Core Splitting realm is merely a disciple."

"No way!" Xia Hongyi exclaimed. In the Twelve Sun Empire, a Core Splitting cultivator has tremendous influences and power.

"But the most terrifying thing isn't how many Core Splitting masters they have, it's how strong each disciple is. That man, Liu Xing, is only at the sixth level of the Lock Opening realm, but his power is far beyond his realm."

Another shocking revelation made Xia Hongyi's head spin.

"You're lucky to be alive," his uncle added.

Xia Hongyi stopped running and sucked in a deep breath. His uncle also halted, leaning against a moss-covered boulder.

Xia Hongyi was used to being the most important person in the room. Only when his uncle or father were present did he take second place. That was why he dared to do whatever he wanted without considering the consequences. Beating Xia Weiyuan had seemed as inconsequential as squashing a bug. But in doing so, he had encountered someone who could have ended his life with a mere gesture. And yet, he had not died. Instead, he had been given wisdom.

"Xia Hongyi," his uncle called, and he turned to face him.

"Do you really hate Xia Weiyuan for monopolizing your father's attention?"

Xia Hongyi clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. He remembered Xia Weiyuan's sloppy kicks and punches, which his father met with smiles and encouragement. Meanwhile, when Xia Hongyi executed a punch or kick with perfect form, he didn't even get a nod.

"Yes."

"There's a reason why your father treats Xia Weiyuan that way. But I think his kindness goes too far. That doesn't mean I agree with you bullying Xia Weiyuan."

"That adopted kid is so annoying. I can't help myself."

"Still not a good reason," his uncle said, his voice firm. "Do you want to be strong? Liu Xing saw you bullying Xia Weiyuan. From your story, I can tell he hates bullies. And yet, instead of killing you, he gave you a piece of wisdom."

"He told me to be strong, smart, and wise. To be a better version of myself. That way, I'd get my father's attention," Xia Hongyi added.

Xia Shizi nodded, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "I think he saw something in you, Xia Hongyi."

"Do you think so?" Hope crept into Xia Hongyi's voice.

"Yes. After me, you have the most potential to unlock our bloodline."

Xia Hongyi's heart raced. In the past, the Xia clan had not lived in the Twelve Sun Empire, but in the west, in the area now controlled by the Heavenly Thunder Sect. Legend said that his clan once rivaled that sect in power. Xia Hongyi had thought it was just an exaggeration. But if there was any truth to the story, unlocking his bloodline could make him a peerless genius in the entire Twelve Sun Empire. Perhaps he could even join one of the five great sects.

"I can teach you," Xia Shizi said, his voice low and serious. "You can become my disciple."

Xia Hongyi's eyes widened. Many in the clan had sought to be Xia Shizi's disciple, but all had been denied.

"As long as you follow my direction, I will teach you everything. What do you say?"

Xia Hongyi realized this was the most important decision of his life. He had potential, talent, and now an opportunity to become stronger. But accepting this offer would change his life completely. Xia Shizi disliked being confined to the clan compound. He preferred to travel, train, challenge others, and fight spirit beasts. If Xia Hongyi became his disciple, he would live that way too.

Be strong. Be smart. Be wise. Be a better version of yourself.

The words echoed in his mind as he contemplated his future.

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