Sirius stepped out of the Arya Clan's grand hall, his mind calm despite the stir caused moments earlier. He walked steadily through the inner courtyard, his pace unhurried but purposeful. The clan compound buzzed faintly in the distance, with guards, disciples, and elders all undoubtedly discussing the abrupt revelation of his strength.
He was no longer a Martial Novice. He had revealed himself as a Martial Practitioner—strong, confident, and composed.
He knew what awaited next.
His father's questions.
As he entered the quiet corridor leading to his quarters, he mentally reviewed the explanation he had prepared. It was well-crafted, believable, and strategically vague—just enough to satisfy curiosity without revealing his true identity.
Once inside his room, Sirius secured the door and walked over to a small table in the corner. There, he retrieved a wooden box from the inner pocket of his robe. The box held his most valuable tools: four space rings, all taken from the monument beneath the pond.
He opened the box, lifting the first ring—the one containing all his materials and resources—and slipped it onto his finger. With a thought, he accessed the ring's internal space and quickly scanned its contents. Everything was intact.
Then, focusing his thoughts, he transferred all martial techniques and a carefully chosen selection of supportive pills into one of the empty rings. This would be the ring he presented to his father. It carried no personal secrets, just resources meant for the clan's benefit.
Once the transfer was complete, Sirius returned the first ring to the box and secured it back inside his inner sleeve pocket. Now he held only the second ring, containing valuable, but non-sensitive contents.
He exhaled softly.
His expression was calm, but inwardly, he was preparing for a meaningful conversation.
Not long after, his room door opened.
Robert Arya, his father and Clan Master, entered quietly.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable.
"Sirius," he began, his voice calm but edged with expectation, "that was quite the performance earlier today. You revealed yourself as a Martial Practitioner in front of the entire clan—and the Celestial Crane Sect. I'd say that deserves a full explanation."
"I understand, Father," Sirius said without hesitation. "And I'm ready to explain."
He stepped forward and extended the space ring.
Robert took it without a word, raised it to eye level, and sent a pulse of spiritual power inside.
The effect was immediate.
His calm exterior flickered. His brows lifted slightly in surprise, and he drew in a quiet breath.
"Sirius… where did you get this ring?"
"It was given to me by my master," Sirius replied.
Robert lowered the ring and looked directly at his son. "Your master?"
"Yes. For the past two years, I've been training under a hidden master."
Robert's brows furrowed.
Sirius continued evenly, "I met him by chance when I was exploring outside the town. He recognized some potential in me and decided to take me in as his disciple. He taught me in secret, away from the clan. The knowledge and techniques he passed on… were far beyond anything I've seen before."
Robert studied his son's face for several long seconds. "And you're saying you've been training all this time?"
"Yes. I reached Martial Disciple peak some time ago. He sent me into the Grey Mountains last week to test myself in real battle and strive for the breakthrough to Martial Practitioner."
"And he simply gave you all this?" Robert asked, glancing back at the ring.
"He said I'd earned it. He told me I was ready for the next step. He left shortly after… said we would meet again once I reached a certain level."
Robert turned the ring over in his hand.
"And his name?"
"He never gave one."
Robert was quiet for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Still, this is good. You're growing stronger. That's what matters."
"Yes, Father."
"Don't worry about the engagement," Robert said. "Focus on your cultivation. You heard the terms—one year. You'll have to defeat Emma in battle."
"I won't fail you."
Satisfied, Robert offered the ring back.
"You should keep it. It'll help your growth."
Sirius took a step back. "No, Father. I'd rather let the clan use it. Distribute the pills to those who need them. Use the techniques to strengthen the inner circle. The Arya Clan has endured long enough without proper support."
Robert looked at him carefully.
"…You're serious."
"I am."
The Clan Master was silent again, but this time the silence was different—he was proud.
He nodded slowly, then closed his fingers around the ring. "Very well. I'll put it to good use."
Inside, he was moved. His son, once considered the weakest among the clan's younger generation, now stood tall. Despite years of being ignored, dismissed, and looked down on—even by their own people—Sirius still chose to place the clan's well-being before his own.
When Robert left the room, Sirius returned to his seat and closed his eyes.
He focused.
He activated a secret technique.
A faint, bluish translucent symbol of an eye appeared briefly above his head before fading into the air.
Heaven's Eye.
It was a spiritual surveillance technique—subtle and undetectable unless someone had superior spiritual strength. In his previous life, Sirius had learned it from the Great Hawkeye Intelligence Squad, a powerful information network that specialized in intelligence-gathering and espionage.
The world shifted in his vision.
He projected his spiritual sight outward, spanning the town's streets, homes, and open courtyards.
His target wasn't far.
The Celestial Crane Sect elders and Emma White were walking through the streets of Grey Mountain Town. They soon stopped at a mid-tier inn.
The elders instructed Emma to remain there, then continued on toward another district.
Sirius followed their path with his spiritual sense until they arrived at a familiar estate—the residence of the Lagan Clan.
A rival to the Arya Clan.
Inside, Morris Lagan, the Lagan Clan's head, greeted the elders warmly. Sirius watched as pleasantries were quickly skipped and the topic shifted to business.
"We don't have much time," one of the elders said directly. "We want the Arya Clan suppressed. In return, we will support your clan from the shadows."
Morris Lagan's face lit up. He had always wanted to eclipse the Arya Clan's influence. He accepted the deal without hesitation. The elders handed over a Celestial Crane Sect token, marking the beginning of an underhanded alliance.
Sirius retracted his spiritual power.
He wasn't surprised.
"So they want to play dirty…" he murmured to himself.
He stood up, a calm resolve forming in his eyes.
From his space ring, Sirius withdrew his alchemy cauldron and several rare herbs. He arranged them on the table, ignited his mana, and summoned a steady flame—refined and stable.
Thanks to his Star Origin Bloodline, his affinity with all elements allowed him to manipulate fire with ease.
The cauldron glowed. The herbs burned slowly, releasing rich medicinal essence. Sirius worked carefully—controlling temperature, timing, and infusion ratios—until the herbs liquified into a thick golden medicinal elixir that filled the room with a strong aroma.
Next, he withdrew two dozen low-grade Spirit Stones from his ring. He dropped them gently into the bubbling brew, watching as they absorbed the golden fluid like sponges.
The once bluish-white stones turned golden. Now, they were infused with the elixir's essence.
They were ready.
Sirius moved silently through the clan compound, selecting strategic locations throughout the grounds.
He buried the enhanced spirit stones one by one, each at a precise location. If viewed from above, their arrangement formed a delicate but powerful pattern—one only a formation master would recognize.
It was the Spirit Lotus Mana Gathering Array—a low-grade but effective formation. It would slowly draw in ambient mana from the surroundings, enriching the environment within the compound. Those who cultivated inside would feel their spiritual energy recharge faster and more deeply.
The process took him until just before dawn.
By morning, the entire Arya Clan compound would feel subtly different—more alive, more vibrant.
He returned to the inner hall and requested an audience with his father once more.
Together, they began discussions.
A plan was set in motion.
Key members of the clan would be gathered and trained personally by Robert. They would be provided new martial techniques, fresh elixirs, and access to the enriched training environment, Sirius had created.
The Arya Clan, once quietly surviving in the shadow of greater sects, would no longer remain dormant.
The seeds had been planted.
And Sirius would make sure they bloomed.