The Emperor of Cultivation Prediction

Chapter 4: Echoes of Awakening

The small room in the corner of the outer disciple dormitory, usually silent, now felt like the calm center of a storm. Dexa sat cross-legged on his hard wooden bed. In the air, the transparent screen of the Cultivation Text Simulator System flickered with a steady rhythm, reflecting blue light in his cold pupils.

"System, provide a post-incident analysis report of the main hall. How many entities are currently locking their attention on me?"

[Beep! Running Multilateral Observation Analysis...] [Report: There are three main factions intensively monitoring the Host.] [Faction 1: Law Enforcement Faction (Shadow Elder) - Suspicion Level: 85%. Motive: Security and control.] [Faction 2: Academic Faction (Holy Elder) - Interest Level: 92%. Motive: Exploration of potential and legacy.] [Faction 3: Supreme Authority (Sect Master) - Observation Level: Hidden. Motive: Strategic evaluation.]

Dexa took a long breath, letting his third-layer Qi flow calmly under the shroud of the Heaven God Breathing Technique. "Three pairs of major eyes. More than I predicted in the initial simulation. Are there any immediate threats within the next 24 hours?"

[Initiating Short-Term Simulation...] [Year 0, Hour 4: The Shadow Elder sends a 'Wind Spy' to ransack your room while you go to the canteen.] [Year 0, Hour 6: The Holy Elder invites you for a private discussion regarding the 'Legacy' you discovered.] [Result: No fatal physical threats, but the risk of system secret disclosure increases by 12%.]

"Upgrade concealment protocols. Simulate the most effective way to adjust this 'legacy' so it sounds plausible to them," Dexa commanded coldly.

[Suggestion: Use the identity of 'Senior Han from the Thousand Sword Era' as the source of the legacy. Historical data shows he disappeared in the Snake Poison Cave area 500 years ago. His technique has a 40% energy similarity to your current technique.]

"Senior Han... a good name. I'll use it. Now, open the 'Relationship Simulation' function. I want to see the variables regarding someone who should appear in the near future."

[Searching Fate Variables...] [Found: Leriana, Princess of the Holy Phoenix Faction. In the mainstream simulation, she would arrive in two days for a diplomatic mission. However, under the influence of the Host's actions in the hall, her arrival is predicted to shift 12 hours earlier.]

"Leriana... the discarded Princess," Dexa muttered. "She is the key to escaping this small sect's sphere of influence. System, prepare a simulation of a meeting with her. I want a result that binds her to me with absolute loyalty."

[Warning: Current Fate Points are 1000. An absolute loyalty simulation requires 300 points. Do you agree?]

"Postpone it for now. I need those points to increase my cultivation if the Shadow Elder tries to do something drastic. Let's see what those 'higher-ups' are talking about right now."

In the Hidden Cloud Pavilion, the atmosphere was heavy. The Shadow Elder, a man in pitch-black robes with eyes that looked like bottomless pits, slammed his teacup onto the table.

"Sect Master, this makes no sense! A trash disciple who was stuck for three years suddenly jumps to the third layer and possesses such precise recording evidence? This isn't just luck!"

The Holy Elder, sitting across from him with a long white beard that touched the floor, only smiled calmly. "Why are you so restless, Shadow? Isn't this what we wanted? A genius rising again?"

"A genius? Or a spy from another sect?" the Shadow Elder countered cynically. "His movement technique... that 'Shadow Step'... it's not our sect's basic technique. And the way he slapped Lian Xing—he didn't just use physical strength; there was very subtle energy manipulation involved."

"That is called talent honed by suffering," the Holy Elder replied softly. "I have checked his old records. Dexa always practiced twice as hard as the other disciples. Perhaps all this time he just needed a trigger... or the right legacy."

The Sect Master, who had been silent while staring at a mountain painting on the wall, finally turned around. His calm yet oppressive aura made both elders bow their heads.

"What do you think, Gao?" the Sect Master asked flatly.

Elder Gao, who was now chained with energy-suppressing handcuffs in the corner of the room, trembled violently. "S-Sect Master... he is a demon! His eyes... when he looked at me in the hall, those weren't the eyes of a disciple. Those were the eyes of a killer who has seen thousands of deaths!"

"You tremble because of fear over your own crimes, Gao," the Sect Master said coldly. "Shadow, send someone to watch Dexa passively. Do not touch him. If he is indeed a spy, he will make a mistake. If he is a blessing, we must ensure he remains part of the Sky Sword Sect."

"But Sect Master, what if he possesses an artifact that surpasses our level?" the Shadow Elder asked ambitiously.

"If he has one, then he was smart enough to hide it from all of us until now," the Sect Master replied. "Holy, approach him personally. Give him access to the mid-level library. I want to see how quickly he can absorb new techniques."

"As you command, Sect Master," the Holy Elder replied with a glint of interest in his eyes.

The next morning, Dexa stood in front of the sect's Mission Board. A crowd of disciples immediately made way, whispering in fearful tones.

"Look, that's him... the snake butcher." "Don't talk so loud, do you want your cheek crushed like Lian Xing's?"

Dexa ignored them. His eyes scanned the mission list until they stopped on a dusty, worn-out scroll.

"Whirlwind Peak Cleanup Mission. Reward: 50 low-grade spirit stones and access to the meditation pool for one hour. Description: Clearing wild plants and repairing damaged protective formations," Dexa read in a low voice.

"Are you sure you want to take that, boy?"

Dexa turned and saw the Holy Elder standing behind him, smiling kindly. "Holy Elder. My respects."

"That mission is very boring. Why wouldn't a disciple who just reached the third layer like you take a more challenging hunting mission?" the Holy Elder asked, his eyes observing every pore of Dexa's skin.

"The suffering in the Snake Poison Cave taught me one thing, Elder," Dexa replied with a perfectly flat expression. "A strong foundation is more important than a rushed victory. Whirlwind Peak has unstable energy, which is perfect for training one's breathing."

"A very wise answer," the Holy Elder nodded in satisfaction. "But I'm not just here to watch you pick a mission. The Sect Master has given you special permission to enter the East Wing Library. You may choose one mid-level technique."

"Thank you for the Sect Master's generosity," Dexa bowed, but in his heart, he communicated with the system. System, run a simulation. What technique is most optimal to take so as not to trigger the Shadow Elder's suspicion?

[Beep! Analyzing East Wing Library Collection...] [Suggestion: Take the 'Whirling Wind Sword' technique. This technique is common, difficult to master, and perfectly matches the Whirlwind Peak mission you chose. This will reinforce the narrative that you are building a foundation.]

"I will take the Whirling Wind Sword technique, Elder," Dexa said then.

The Holy Elder was slightly surprised. "That is a boring technique and very difficult to reach the level of perfection. Are you sure?"

"Difficulty is the best teacher, Elder," Dexa replied briefly.

That afternoon, at the remote Whirlwind Peak. The wind howled loudly, cutting through the air like small knives. In the midst of that windstorm, Dexa stood with his rusty iron sword.

Behind a large rock, a disciple dressed in gray—the Shadow Elder's spy—watched with bated breath.

"System, the spy is at the two o'clock position, 50 meters away. He is using a low-level aura-concealing talisman," Dexa whispered internally.

[Confirmed. Does the Host wish to start the 'Show of Genius'?]

"Start the simulation of the 'Whirling Wind Sword' at the perfection level. Extract the movements into my muscles for the next ten minutes. Cost: 50 points."

[Extraction starting. Locking body synchronization...]

Dexa moved. At first, his movements were stiff, exactly like a disciple who had just started learning. However, with every passing second, his movements became smoother. His sword began to split the wind, rather than fight it.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, Dexa performed a rapid spin. His sword created a vortex of wind identical to the storm surrounding him.

Slash!

A large tree nearby was neatly cut into ten pieces in a single movement.

"What?!" the spy behind the rock gasped, nearly dropping his talisman. "He only held that scroll two hours ago! How is it possible he has already reached the 'Wind Unity' stage?"

Dexa stopped, pretending to be out of breath as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "One more hour... I must be able to master this before sunset."

In his heart, Dexa smiled coldly. "System, what is his reaction?"

[Analysis: The spy's heart rate has increased by 60%. He is sending a voice transmission message to the Shadow Elder. The admiration level of the Holy Elder, who is observing from afar through a water mirror: Rapidly increasing.]

"Good. Let them think I am an unpolished genius. That will make them give me more resources without asking too many questions."

Dexa then walked toward a seemingly ordinary area on the peak. He began pulling weeds casually. However, his hand moved toward a gap beneath the roots of an old tree that had been struck by lightning.

"System, is this the location?"

[Correct. Beneath those roots lies a 'Wind Essence Crystal' left over from the founder's era. This crystal will increase your Qi purity by 20%.]

Dexa took the small, dimly glowing crystal and immediately swallowed it, using a breathing technique to absorb it instantly.

"Ah... how refreshing," he muttered. "Next step?"

[Beep! Emergency Warning. The simulation has detected movement at the lower mountain gate. A carriage with the Holy Phoenix emblem has arrived. Leriana is there, and she is in great danger.]

Dexa stared toward the bottom of the mountain, his eyes flashing. "What kind of danger?"

[A planned assassination attempt by an internal faction of the Holy Phoenix, collaborating with a disciple within the Sky Sword Sect. If there is no intervention, she will be hit by 'Soul Paralyzing' poison within the next hour.]

"One hour... that's enough time. System, simulate the fastest path to the gate without being detected by the elders."

[Searching for Shadow Path...] [Found. Use the back cliff and integrate it with a mid-level 'Shadow Step'.]

Dexa put away his sword. His aura changed instantly, becoming undetectable, merging with the shadows of the trees.

"Shadow Elder, Holy Elder... your observation ends here for today," Dexa whispered. "Now, the Architect of Fate has a princess to save."

With one light leap, Dexa disappeared from Whirlwind Peak, leaving behind the spy who was still confusedly searching for his whereabouts amidst the swirling dust.

The echoes of his awakening had only just begun, and this time, the entire region would feel it.