The Baihua Sect mirrored the austere and rugged natural beauty of the vast, white mountain range.

Its sprawling compound was carved directly into towering cliffs and swift-flowing streams. White stone pavilions with sweeping eaves rose like frozen blossoms, their sharp angles catching the light like glistening petals.

The main hall stood at the sect's heart, a wide terrace overlooking deep valleys shrouded in mist, evoking the purity and strength of blooming flowers amidst harsh terrain.

Paths meandered through groves of pale-leafed trees and delicate violet blossoms that perpetually bloomed regardless of season, their scent faint yet persistent in the crisp mountain air.

Bamboo fences and whitewashed walls encircled peaceful courtyards where children silently trained, their footsteps muffled on smooth stone.

The disciples' quarters were simple but dignified, with rows of lodging tiled with slate, their interiors sparring yet functional, housing weapon racks lined with gleaming swords.

Stone statues of past Sect Leaders and other legendary Magi who went on to make a name in Yen-Lu stood proudly at key junctions, reminding disciples of their hallowed heritage.

As dawn broke, mist rolled through the vast compound like living flowers, cloaking the entire sect in a dreamlike, almost ethereal aura befitting its name…

The Baihua Sect.

Sitting on the tiled roof of the guest quarter, Adam watched the children training nearby. He had a gentle smile on his face as he witnessed the determination on these kids' faces.

These children are hardworking, he thought to himself.

They have been training since before the sun rose. Very good. It is apparent that the Magi of Yen-Lu place an emphasis on building a sturdy body.

A powerful body will result in a powerful vessel capable of holding mana.

Hmm, their instructor is at the Mana Liquefaction Rank and has a good and powerful physique. Very good technique!

As Adam observed the Mana Foundation Magi training in the courtyard, he couldn't help but come to admire how sturdy their foundation was.

He suddenly felt the urge…

Not to laugh.

It was something else.

He hadn't felt this way in a long, long time. It reminded him of the good ol' days.

"Auhh." He rose to his feet and dusted his hands.

Oh, well. Elder Zhen Ren said I shouldn't leave the compounds, and this place is huge, so I guess I can do that…

The next moment, his figure disappeared.

***

Adam wore white silk robes, matching cotton trousers, and bamboo shoes. These were the items he had been given upon arriving at the guest quarters last night. Needless to say, he quite appreciated Baihua Sect's hospitality.

His hands, feet, chest, neck, and head were covered in white strips of cloth. Moreover, he was also wearing the mask he'd purchased the other day. After witnessing the reactions of those who saw his deep scars, Adam had become slightly insecure about them. So he chose to cover the exposed parts of his body.

However, right now, such petty things were out of his mind.

After witnessing the children practice, a strange feeling bubbled up inside his heart. The last time he had felt this way was when he had joined the Clover Academy and embarked on the path of a Magus.

He burst into laughter. He was happy. He was excited. So very excited.

This was the thrill of martial arts and the longing for arcana that he felt in that moment.

Using his mobility technique—Stellar Steps—he found a more secluded region within the enormous compound of the sect. This region was filled with plum blossom trees and was located at the edges of the compound. There was no one here other than him.

He found a small clearing inside the plum blossom forest, then inhaled a deep breath. He clutched at his chest and grinned widely. He was so excited that he almost spoke comprehensible words.

The leaves of the trees rustled, as if in anticipation of what was about to come.

Adam inhaled. Then, he exhaled.

He repeated this process until he was in perfect sync with the rhythm of the leaves.

He inhaled. He exhaled.

The leaves of the plum blossom trees rustled.

The wind picked up, swirling around Adam's motionless figure.

The Way teaches that being one with nature meant living in harmony with the natural world by aligning oneself with its rhythm and processes, rather than opposing them.

For the first time in a very long time, the ravings of the Faceless Mask gradually faded away from his shattered mind. All Adam could hear was the sound of his own breathing.

And then…

He began the Phantom Dance!

The youth moved with fluid grace through the clearing, his mana combat technique unfolding like the natural extension of the world around him.

Each step he took was light and deliberate, as if in sync with the gentle rustle of leaves all around him. His movements rippled softly like a breeze, weaving through branches, ethereal and almost invisible, embodying the essence of a dancer seamlessly merging with nature's rhythm.

His combat techniques were not just a display of power, but a profound harmony with the environment.

It was a poetic dialogue between Adam and the plum blossom trees. Every punch and every kick tore through the air, producing vibrations. His body flowed with the same effortless energy as the swaying branches, embodying the profundity of the Way.

His dance was beautiful. It was mesmerizing. It was as if he was channeling the invisible currents of wind and mana that coursed through the forest, responding with precise and fluid strikes, dodges, and spirals that mirrored the organic patterns in nature.

A sudden glide, then a soft turning motion, as if vanishing like a spectre amidst the violet flowers.

In that moment, Adam became one with the forest, a living embodiment of madness and harmony, of the union between the human spirit and the natural world.

The Phantom Dance was his silent conversation with the flowers, the trees, the sky, the world.

Minutes turned to hours, yet he continued to dance away under the shade of the plum blossom trees. It was as if he had fallen into a beautiful trance.

And unbeknownst to him…

An elderly figure stood atop a cliff, hands clasped behind his back, watching Adam's breathtaking dance with nature.

Though he appeared old, but was, in fact, filled with vitality. His presence alone was as deep and profound as the mountain Baihua Sect occupied.

This man was undoubtedly a Mana Core Magus!

And right now…

He had his eyes on Adam.

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