The morning was born peaceful in the Verdant Sword Sect. The wind cut through the mountains, carrying the mist that rose from the valley.

The silence in the central courtyard was interrupted by firm footsteps.

Mei Ran appeared before Kyrian's residence and announced in a clear voice.

"Kyrian, the sect leader awaits you."

Kyrian, who was already awake, was not surprised. He had already expected to be summoned. Then, he walked in silence, following Mei Ran to the main hall.

The polished wooden doors of the hall opened before him, revealing Feng Yuan seated on the sect's throne. The hall was empty, with no elders or disciples, only the two of them.

Kyrian advanced, each of his steps echoing and filling the environment.

Feng Yuan's gaze narrowed. He immediately noticed it. The faint pressure, subtle but impossible to hide. Kyrian had crossed into the Liberation Realm.

The vigor of the energy was noticeable just by looking into his eyes.

"You are already at this level." Feng Yuan murmured more to himself than to Kyrian.

"At this pace, in little time you will reach the other core disciples. An innate talent is… as the legends say, truly terrifying."

Kyrian remained silent until he approached and then spoke simply.

"Master, there is something I need to show."

He raised his hand, revealing the mark engraved on his skin, and, afterward, pulled out a spiritual herb, the treasure found in the ravine. As soon as it appeared, a wave of pure energy spread through the hall, exuding a fragrance truly unique and ancient.

Feng Yuan stared for a long moment.

His eyes fixed on the condensed energy the plant emanated.

He recognized it immediately.

"This is indeed a rare spiritual herb. I estimate it to be at least eight hundred years old, perhaps even more." Feng Yuan said, slightly excited.

"How did you find this?"

Kyrian showed the mark on his hand.

"The mark… it is larger, isn't it?" Feng Yuan asked.

"Yes. Suddenly, I felt an urgent call from the mark and followed it to discover what it was. In the end, it was another natural formation." Kyrian began recounting the brief events.

"…"

"Behind the barrier, there was this herb. I managed to repair the natural formation, and the barrier disappeared, and then I took the herb and returned to the sect." Kyrian recounted the events simply, but Feng Yuan frowned.

"Took it?" The leader asked, for Kyrian had mentioned the cultivators present, but now he said he simply took the herb.

"Yes, I took it." Kyrian replied in a simple tone, not bothering to tell the details he judged unnecessary.

"And now, the signal I feel from the mark is just an extremely faint presence, and I sense it is at an absurd distance from the sect." Kyrian completed.

Feng Yuan only listened, not knowing what to say. That was truly something special, of which he had no idea how it worked.

"Alright. How do I use the spiritual herb?" Kyrian asked suddenly.

"There are two paths." Feng Yuan replied without hesitation.

"It is not a very aggressive spiritual herb, so it can be consumed directly. But it would be nothing more than a waste if you tried to absorb it without preparation."

"To absorb the true value of the herb, it is necessary to enter a state of deep meditation. The ambient Qi must be abundant. Only then will the body and dantian be able to withstand the concentrated energy of the herb."

Kyrian nodded.

"I understand. How many spirit stones would be necessary for that?"

Feng Yuan thought for a few seconds. Then, with a subtle gesture of his hand, a pile of spirit stones appeared before Kyrian, shining under the light.

"Use the stones during the absorption of the herb. I believe you will give it to someone. Soon, we will probably have another core disciple because of it."

Feng Yuan said with a rare hint of expectation.

"The rest, use for your cultivation. I believe it will be sufficient for some time."

Kyrian lowered his head slightly in respect.

"Thank you." Kyrian said.

His gratitude was simple and direct, as was practically everything about him. He stored the spirit stones and the herb in his spatial ring, gave a brief bow, and turned to leave.

As soon as he left, the hall's door closed. Feng Yuan then closed his eyes once more, but a smile touched his lips.

The future of the Verdant Sword Sect was becoming more and more interesting.

"I am truly excited for the Domain Gathering this time…" Feng Yuan murmured lightly.

*********************************

Kyrian had barely taken a few steps outside the hall when a familiar figure appeared on the other side, approaching with hurried steps.

It was Long Xue. She stopped a few meters from him, her breath slightly uneven. A broad and genuine smile illuminated her face in a way he had never seen before.

"You… you came back." She said, her voice carrying palpable relief.

Kyrian stopped and observed her. The happiness stamped on her features was undeniably easy to recognize.

"Yes." He replied in a direct tone, as always.

"Are you well?" She asked, her eyes scanning him quickly in search of injuries or something of the sort.

"I am well. And you? Your memories, have you recovered some?" Kyrian asked briefly.

Long Xue's smile softened a little but did not disappear.

"No, I still don't remember anything from before. But… I have already gotten used to the sect and the others. I have also learned and returned to cultivating."

"The sect leader and the others said that… I am even better than before. My talent seems to have been increased for some reason."

Kyrian studied her with a renewed small interest.

He observed and realized she seemed more vibrant. Her cultivation is more solid. And then he noticed. She had broken through a barrier.

"Congratulations." He said, in a tone of genuine recognition.

She had broken into the 5° stage of the Qi Liberation Realm.

Her smile became a little more shy under his direct praise.

"Thank you. And… where are you going now?"

"I will return to my courtyard." He replied, beginning to turn.

Long Xue hesitated, as if she wanted to say more, but in the end only nodded.

"Alright. Rest well."

Kyrian nodded back and continued his path, alone.

As he walked, his mind, now notably clearer, turned to an absence.

His courtyard was empty. Yanyu and the fox were no longer there.

"Where is Yanyu?" He murmured. The question echoed in his mind insistently.

The stillness of his courtyard became a little strange without her around, as if something was wrong.

He then prepared to head back to the courtyard again, quickening his steps, a new mission rising in his mind. To find her and deliver the herb.

But he did not need to. For, at the exact moment he opened his door, he found himself face-to-face with Yanyu.

Yanyu, whose arms were loaded with a profusion of cloth bags exuding tempting aromas of fresh herbs, rare vegetables, and beast meat. Her face, upon seeing Kyrian opening the door at the exact moment she touched the handle, was one of slight surprise.

But then, a broad and slightly relieved smile appeared.

"You finally came back." She exclaimed, her voice a mix of joy and gentle reproach.

Kyrian simply nodded, his face impassive, but his eyes flickered for an instant at the sight of the amount of ingredients.

"Come in, come in." She said suddenly, passing by him without ceremony and entering through the door.

"I heard yesterday while walking through the inner sect that you had returned. So I went out at dawn to get the best ingredients from the inner market to celebrate."

"You must be tired, exhausted, and hungry. Today, we are going to eat a lot." She raised her arm, showing the bags proudly.

Kyrian could not avoid it. A brief smile, almost imperceptible, touched his lips before disappearing. He gave way for her to pass, his body relaxing a little from the rigid posture he had maintained since the ravine.

The fox, Luz, entered behind Yanyu, its fluffy tail swaying with an air of supreme disdain.

As if saying it was doing a great favor by gracing the place with its presence.

But then, Kyrian felt it. A subtle, distinct, and wild pressure emanated from the small creature.

His eyes narrowed.

'As I thought. She has already entered the Liberation Realm, just like me.'

Luz had broken through. She had not grown much, maybe only a few centimeters. But her fur, white as snow, was now marked by two bright golden stripes running along her back, pulsing with latent energy.

A strange will arose in Kyrian. A desire to test his strength against that tiny and now more powerful beast.

But he decided to bury that feeling deep in his mind for now. It was only a curious instinct about the fox's strength.

Kyrian then went to a simple sofa and sat, watching Yanyu move with practical efficiency through the area she had turned into a fully functional kitchen in his courtyard.

She knew that, besides becoming stronger, one of the few things that genuinely pleased Kyrian was eating.

Especially a well-prepared meal.

In little time, the air of the courtyard was filled with the aroma of cooking. The sizzle of oil, the scent of roasted spices, and the rich perfume of simmering broths created a strangely calming place.

Kyrian simply watched her, his mind, previously occupied with the mark, with the formation, and with the killings, now quieting, focused completely on the promise of a good meal.

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