The atmosphere in the hall had turned dense and somber. Adrian stepped away from his mother, a composed determination in his eyes. He drew in a measured breath, looking at everyone before speaking.
"And as for Miya…Mother, I have strong reasons to believe she is worthy of becoming your disciple. She holds a rare kind of potential. If she's properly trained and given a chance, she could rise to heights most people never even dream of."
For a moment, a sharp glint crossed his gaze.
"And in the same way, I already know that Elder Zhu is a traitor to our clan. We only need a bit of patience—and the right trap to catch him."
A silence settled in the chamber. No one dared question him further. Each of them understood—if Adrian was saying this so calmly, he must have evidence.
Victor was the first to break the stillness. He exhaled slowly and spoke in his deep, resonant voice.
"Son…you could have told us all of this earlier. When you first regained consciousness. Why wait until now?"
Adrian lifted his shoulders in a small, unbothered shrug and smiled lightly.
"Oh, Father…you know, I lost all my memories. I was still trying to figure out who everyone was and what was happening around me. And how exactly was I supposed to explain all this to you? You asked me just now—so I'm telling you now."
The way he said it carried a disarming simplicity, almost as if he were saying, "Why are you even asking me? I don't know who any of you are—if you want answers, you'll have to ask me directly."
Victor's face froze for a moment. No words came to him. Seeing his expression, Evelyn pressed a hand to her lips, trying not to laugh outright.
Adrian's tone turned thoughtful again as he continued.
"Mother, I truly hope you'll accept Miya as your student. She was never meant to remain a servant. If she stays in this role, all her potential will simply be wasted."
Selena studied her son's eyes, weighing the earnestness she saw there. Finally, she nodded solemnly.
"If you are convinced of this, Adrian, then I will take her as my disciple. I will teach her everything I can."
Adrian turned to his father. His voice grew a shade more serious.
"Also, Father…I'll need some funds."
Victor's reply was simple and without hesitation.
"Whatever you require, take it from your mother."
Adrian inclined his head respectfully in agreement. He was about to leave when Evelyn glanced toward Victor and spoke up.
"Husband…now that Adrian's dantian has fully recovered—and his cultivation is already at the seventh layer of the Mortal Master Stage—shouldn't we host a grand banquet? Invite our friends, our allies, and all our relatives? This is the happiest occasion we've had in years."
Selena immediately voiced her support.
"Yes, Sister is absolutely right. After everything…this deserves to be celebrated with everyone."
Victor looked as though he was about to agree. But before he could speak, Adrian—who had reached the doorway—turned around, his voice clear and firm.
"Mother…Father…you mustn't do that."
They looked at him, surprised, but he didn't let them interrupt.
"Today, when I went into the city…I observed more carefully. What's happening out there runs much deeper than bandit raids or random unrest. There's something behind it—an intent, a scheme. Someone is orchestrating this."
Evelen and Selena exchanged glances, their faces darkening. They already suspected trouble brewing in the city. But Victor's expression became the most severe of all—he had long sensed that these problems were too deliberate to be coincidence.
Victor spoke in a low, controlled voice.
"Adrian…do you believe someone is deliberately targeting our family?"
Adrian knew he could not reveal the mission the system had given him. The system's warning had been explicit: If this mission fails, everyone dies. That alone made the truth clear—whoever was behind this didn't merely wish to create disturbances. They intended to annihilate the clan itself.
He exhaled—a weary, bitter breath.
"I only wish…it was as simple as someone stirring up trouble."
That was all he said before turning and walking away. His figure disappeared down the corridor, leaving a heavy silence behind.
Victor stared after him, voice rough with resignation.
"…Then my suspicion was right."
Evelyn looked at him sharply.
"What suspicion?"
Selena, too, watched him intently.
Victor's gaze turned grim and resolute.
"Adrian knows the truth…that this is no ordinary turmoil. Someone is orchestrating it to weaken us, bit by bit. I began to suspect the same—that's why I sent you both to see the Mayor of Sphere City. In the hope we might secure allies before it's too late."
The two women exchanged a somber look. The weight of this realization pressed on all of them.
Meanwhile, Adrian reached his quarters. He closed the door behind him and drew a slow, steadying breath. His palm lifted—and a faint glow spread across the air. A moment later, he stepped into his Self-Dimensional Space.
There, the energy was thick, pristine, alive in a way the outer world could never match. He looked around slowly, feeling its power seep into every pore.
"…The Qi here…is nothing like outside," he murmured.
The system's voice resonated calmly.
"Host, this Qi is equivalent to that of the upper dimensions. Comparing it to the ambient energy of Planet Graphene is meaningless."
Adrian clenched his fist with quiet determination.
"System…could I raise my cultivation all the way to the Warlord Realm immediately?"
The system's response was blunt, almost scolding.
"Host, that would be unwise. You do not yet know the correct methods to channel and harmonize your Qi. You must remain in the Mortal Master Stage for at least one year, refining your body and internal energy before advancing further."
Adrian recalled the countless stories he had read in his past life. Again and again, he had seen it: Those who build the strongest foundations always stand tallest.
He closed his eyes and nodded.
"Alright, System. Then…what do I do next?"
In the blink of an eye, the space around him shifted. A vast training arena unfolded—an echoing space that stretched into darkness.
The system's voice intoned—
"Train. Master your Qi."
"Understood."
Adrian exhaled, steadying his mind. His gaze drifted toward a weapons rack set along one wall—rows of swords of every shape and weight.
He walked over slowly, inspecting each blade in turn—slim and light, broad and heavy, curved and straight.
At last, his hand paused over one hilt. His fingers curled around it in a sure, deliberate grip.
"Then let's begin."
The stadium floor was silent, but an invisible tension hung heavy in the air. The blazing sun scorched the stone underfoot until it shimmered.
Adrian stood alone at the very center of the arena. His face showed no panic, yet his fingers kept tightening and loosening around the sword's hilt—a quiet restlessness that betrayed the truth: he was a novice.
"Begin," he murmured, as if ordering himself to act.
From the far end of the stadium, the ground began to shake. A massive shadow emerged—an enormous white lion. But it was no ordinary beast. Dust clung to its gleaming white fur, its crimson eyes burned with hatred, and at the tip of its long tail glistened a scorpion's stinger, gleaming in the sun like a deadly blade.
Adrian's throat went dry.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
"Beast identified: Scorpion-Tail White Lion.
Threat Level: Low Bronze—one rank above you.
Recommendation: Direct combat is suicidal. Use Qi control to shift the advantage."
Qi control? A bitter smile flickered on Adrian's lips. He barely knew the basics—how to breathe, how to channel even the slightest energy.
Retreat wasn't an option.
The lion roared, its massive chest vibrating with rage, and hurled itself forward in a blur of power. Adrian braced his stance, clutching the sword tight as he ran straight ahead—knowing full well that his speed couldn't compare to the creature's.
He lifted the blade to strike.
The lion darted sideways with blinding swiftness—its motion tore the air itself. An instant later, the scorpion-tail lashed out—
—CRACK!
The stinger slammed into Adrian's left arm.
He was thrown backward across the stone. His sword skidded away, clattering out of reach. Agony stabbed down to his bones, and for a moment, darkness rimmed his vision.
[SYSTEM ACTIVE: Venom neutralized—host body immune. However, injury is severe. Functional capacity reduced by 30%.]
Adrian lay gasping for air, sweat mixing with the dust on his skin. One thought pounded in his mind:
The sword…I need the sword.
The lion roared again, barreling straight at him.
[Suggestion: Slide left, roll toward your weapon. A frontal clash will end in death.]
He gritted his teeth. He didn't dare look at the beast. He only looked at the fallen sword.
He forced his body to move, dragging himself across the ground, rolling, crawling. Every inch felt like an eternity. As the lion closed in, he wrenched himself aside—
The tail whipped down and cracked the stone where he'd been a heartbeat before.
"Get up," he rasped.
The sword was finally within reach. But his left hand trembled violently—he couldn't close his fingers.
[Pull Qi into your palms—feed your grip from within.]
The lion's furious breaths were so close they seemed to burn his skin.
Adrian shut his eyes. He cleared every thought. Just feeling the rhythm of his breath.
Slowly—so slowly—a faint warmth stirred in his palm.
He closed his hand around the hilt. This time, the grip held firm.
The lion lunged. Adrian lifted the sword in a shaky guard. It wasn't a strong strike—but it was precise.
CLASH!
The blade nicked the beast's face—just below its left eye.
Blood splashed the ground.
His first strike. His first lesson.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Initial successful hit—now begin channeling Qi into the blade. System assistance activated.]
The sword's edge shimmered with a pale blue glow.
The lion roared, preparing one last charge.
This time, Adrian didn't feel afraid.
He bent low, pivoted aside, and swung with all his might.
The blade crashed down on the scorpion-tail—
CRACK!
The stinger severed cleanly and fell to the stone.
The lion staggered, its roar weakening.
[Final chance: Concentrate Qi at the tip. Deliver a decisive blow.]
Adrian drew in a long breath. He steadied the sword, holding it forward. There was no fear in his eyes now—only a strange clarity, the quiet of finally facing himself.
The blade rose—
—and with a flash of blue light, plunged straight into the lion's chest.
The beast's last roar faded. Silence returned to the arena.
[SYSTEM: Battle concluded—reward: none.]
Adrian sank to the ground, chest heaving. His arm throbbed with pain, but a faint smile touched his lips.
I didn't do much…all I learned was how to keep standing, no matter how overwhelming it feels.
He glanced at his injury and sighed. There wasn't even a healing pill to ease the damage.
With a weary exhale, Adrian left the self-dimensional space.
He stepped back into his quiet room, walked to the door, and headed downstairs to ask his parents for a healing pill.