Orphan’s Hidden Fire

Chapter 4: The Crystal That Broke

Master Lin Yue led Shen Hao into a wide testing room. A heavy stone table stood in the middle. Two glowing crystals sat on top.

“These crystals test different things,” she said. “The green one checks the quality of your Qi. Just send your energy into it. It adjusts for your level, so don’t force anything.”

Shen Hao nodded and closed his eyes. The thick Qi in his dantian was still small. He guided it carefully into the crystal.

The green light flickered. Then the color faded. In just a few breaths the crystal turned completely clear and stopped glowing.

Lin Yue frowned. “Pan Hua, is this crystal broken?”

The young attendant shook his head. “No, Master. We used it yesterday. It worked fine.”

Lin Yue turned back to Shen Hao. “This isn’t normal. It should turn yellow for Yang Qi or purple for Yin Qi. It sensed your energy, but then it went blank. What method do you practice?”

Shen Hao opened his mouth. The voice in his head cut in fast.

“Don’t tell her the real method. Ask for a new crystal. I’ll show you how to send only pure Yang Qi.”

A simple technique flowed into Shen Hao’s mind. He understood it at once. He could split the thick Qi inside him and push out only the Yang part.

“I think I use a Yang method,” Shen Hao said calmly. “Maybe the crystal just reached the end of its life. Can I try again with a new one?”

Lin Yue hesitated, then nodded. “Pan Hua, bring another.”

When the new crystal was ready, Shen Hao split his energy the way the voice taught him and sent pure Yang Qi forward.

This time the crystal blazed. The green light turned into a bright golden yellow, so strong it lit up the whole room like a small sun.

Shen Hao pulled his energy back.

Lin Yue stared with wide eyes. “That… that is the purest Yang Qi I have ever seen. Even our Sect Master’s energy is not this clean.”

Shen Hao kept his face calm, but inside his heart jumped. “Did I pass?”

“Yes. Definitely.” Lin Yue let out a short laugh and pointed to the second crystal. It was flat and white. “This one tests body strength. Hit it with your strongest punch. It has twelve layers. The more layers you crack, the stronger your body is.”

Shen Hao stepped forward. He planted his feet, breathed out, and punched.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The white crystal split through five layers before the force finally stopped.

Lin Yue’s eyebrows rose. “Middle of the Soul tier. Most people never train their body like this. They just use Qi to protect themselves. You already have a real foundation. Good.”

Shen Hao felt a small spark of pride, but the voice in his head snapped at him.

“Stop smiling like an idiot and focus.”

“Yes, Master,” he answered quietly.

Lin Yue didn’t notice. She took out a jade slip, poured her energy into it until a clear zither symbol appeared, and handed it to him.

“You’ve passed. This jade slip lets you join the Ancient Zither Abode if you qualify in the Summer Competition. There are still two months left. What will you do until then?”

“I’m at the second layer of Gathering Qi,” Shen Hao said.

“You’re already strong for that level. But many applicants reach the peak of the ninth layer by the competition. The top three winners get special rewards. Last year first place got a strong defense treasure, second place got a storage ring, and third place got high-quality pills. This year might be even better.”

The voice spoke in Shen Hao’s mind again.

“Aim for the storage ring. The defense treasure will be useless to you soon. Use these two months to climb as high as you can.”

Shen Hao bowed to Lin Yue. “Thank you, Master Lin. I won’t waste the time.”

He left the building with the jade slip safe in his pocket.

Outside, he spoke to the voice. “The pure Yang Qi surprised her. Is that dangerous?”

“It shows how special your energy is. Keep it hidden when you can. Now go find a place with strong beasts. You need real fights and real resources to grow faster.”

“I have no money for supplies.”

“You’re going into a forest. The forest will give you what you need.”

Shen Hao stopped at a small shop and asked about the nearest dangerous forest. The shopkeeper told him about Dai Shan Forest, almost two hundred miles west, near the border. He warned that strong beasts, bandits, and worse things lived there.

Shen Hao thanked him and returned to his shack. He packed his only spare clothes and the few things he owned.

As the sun began to set, he stepped onto the road that led west.

The dark lines under the skin of his palms pulsed once, slow and quiet, like a second heartbeat.

Something inside the mark was waiting.

And the forest was waiting too.