The group of disciples, seven in all, glared at Kai with barely concealed contempt, crowding him like wolves scenting blood. One stepped out, sneering. “You don’t deserve the spot given to you.”Kai cocked his brow, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s this?”The one in the middle, a sharp-faced man stepped forward, his tone dripping with mock politeness. “You’re Kai, aren’t you? The Grand Elder’s new pet?”Kai simply frowned. “Do I know you?” he asked, genuinely curious. “Did I kill your dog or sleep with your sister?”Their sneers widened. “You think you're funny?”Kai lifted a shoulder, “I think you’re wasting my time.”He turned to walk away, but the group suddenly moved, forming a tight circle around him, cutting off his pathKai said nothing, his silence making the man smirk.“I said you don’t deserve the spot you were given,” that same disciple snapped. “Hand it over while you still can.”Kai’s brow creased faintly. “Do I have a feud with you?” he asked again because he

Kai reached the quiet, wind-swept ledge he’d claimed for himself, a high, empty spot on the mountain where only the howl of the wind and the slow crawl of clouds kept company. He sat cross-legged, rolled his shoulders, and pulled out the scroll and the title glimmered, Tortoise Shell Defense.He snorted at the name. “Tortoise shell, really…” But the more he read, the more he realized the name was no joke. If practiced to perfection, the technique was said to grant a body so impervious that not even a spirit weapon could pierce its first layer. And that was just the beginning, five layers in total, each one compounding the last, each one turning flesh and bone into a living fortress.The first step sounded simple, too simple, almost. Gather all the energy within the body and circulate it rapidly, forcing it to flow evenly through every inch of skin, muscle, and sinew. The trick was speed. The faster the flow, the stronger the skin became, hardening beneath the touch like the ancien

Kai kept staring at the man in front of him, half-expecting another silent punch, half-expecting him to just walk off without saying a word. The guy was so quiet, Kai was starting to wonder if maybe he was secretly mute or maybe belonged to some secret order of silent body cultivators or… well, maybe he was just allergic to conversation. What if he’s one of those mysterious types who only communicate with their fists? Or maybe he just thinks talking wastes cultivation time? Kai’s mind was running wild with silly theories, maybe the guy took a vow of silence and only broke it when the sun turned blue, who knew but he had talked a few minutes ago.He scratched the back of his head, awkward but still grinning. “You know, if you’re trying to be mysterious, it’s working.”Finally, after an awkward, endless moment, the other man finally spoke up, slow, drawn-out words like each syllable was being pushed through a tight gate. “I-I was… j-just d-doing… as y-you a-asked.” His voice dragged, e

A month slipped by so fast Kai barely noticed. Each day started and ended the same way, Kai and Jian Tao meeting at the edge of the training ground, fists up, bodies braced for the next blow, sweat and laughter filling the gaps between strikes. There was a comfort in the routine, a sense of trust that grew with every bruise and every block. Even if Jian Tao rarely spoke, his presence was steady as a mountain, the kind that didn’t need words to feel real.Kai had gotten used to the quiet. Sometimes, he’d tease Jian Tao about stammering less and talking faster, threatening to make him recite tongue-twisters as punishment for every lost bout. Other times, he’d just give him a look and Jian would roll his eyes, shake his head, and mutter two slow words...usually “not funny.” Still, Kai noticed he was getting bolder in public, pushing himself to speak up even if it came out awkward and slow. It made Kai proud in a way he didn’t expect. He'd learnt from Tao and he'd learnt from him too.Now

Seeing Darius cover his mouth, Kai blinked in confusion, prying his friend’s hand away. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, brows furrowing slightly.Darius let out a shaky breath before leaning closer, his voice dropping low. “The person you’re talking about, Jian Tao isn’t just some random disciple. He’s the third strongest in the entire sect. The top three, Kai! Do you even know what that means?”Kai frowned slightly, not seeing the big deal. “So? He’s strong. I could tell.”Darius gave him a look that screamed you have no idea. “That’s not the point. The guy’s… strange. He doesn’t talk...ever. Most people think he’s deaf or maybe doesn’t even understand human speech. Everyone in the sect avoids him because of that. He’s… unsettling.”Liang nodded quickly beside him, clearly nervous just from hearing the name. “He’s a body cultivator too, like you. But his fighting style, no one understands it. People who’ve sparred with him always come back broken, literally. They say he doesn’t ho