Infinite Awakening: My Exp Doubles Everyday novel Chapter 25

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Chapter 25: Enlightenment

In the tranquil confines of the Scripture Pavilion, Elder Mei Zhiyuan sat cross-legged in deep meditation, his consciousness drifting through realms of spiritual energy. The abrupt sound of shattering crystal violently yanked him back to reality. His eyes opened slowly, their depths reflecting confusion as he lifted his gaze toward the wall.

Life lamps hung there—crystalline vessels containing flickering flames that represented the living essence of key sect members. Each lamp maintained a mystical connection to its corresponding cultivator, extinguishing only when that person’s life force ceased.

One lamp had shattered, its fragments scattered across the floor below.

"Who has fallen?" he wondered dispassionately, scanning the wall. Then his eyes locked onto the specific location, and disbelief washed over his weathered features.

"H-how is this possible!" he exclaimed, his composed demeanor cracking. "How could Gu Hanming die?"

The elder rose with uncharacteristic haste, his robes swirling around him as he strode from his chamber. His footsteps echoed through the corridor as he descended to the lower floor where the main Scripture Hall resided. There, instead of finding the dean at his customary post, he discovered a mere disciple occupying the position.

"Where is the dean?" he demanded, his voice laced with barely contained fury.

The young disciple leapt to his feet, face draining of color as he sensed the elder’s presence. Though both the dean and Elder Mei were Core Formation cultivators, the pressure emanating from the elder felt incomparably more oppressive—like comparing a gentle stream to a raging ocean.

"The dean had something to take care of and told me to look after the scriptures," the disciple stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.

Elder Mei’s expression twisted with suspicion. "What thing?" he pressed, his tone sharpening.

"Umm... well..." The disciple hesitated, caught in an impossible position. Revealing the truth might earn the dean’s wrath upon his return, yet withholding information from the elder before him seemed infinitely more dangerous.

Sensing the disciple’s reluctance, Elder Mei’s aura flared menacingly, spiritual pressure crushing down like a mountain. "What is it? Speak up!"

The disciple flinched visibly, self-preservation overriding all other concerns. "The sect genius Li Yao killed his brother, so he went to ambush them after they left the sect," he blurted, words tumbling out in a panicked rush.

Upon hearing this, Elder Mei slammed his fist onto the table with such force that the sturdy wooden structure splintered instantly. "Dammit!"

He fixed his piercing gaze on the trembling disciple. "Go and find out if Li Yao has returned," he commanded.

The disciple bolted from the hall without hesitation, grateful for any excuse to escape the elder’s suffocating presence.

Elder Mei lowered himself into the dean’s vacant seat, his mind churning with calculations. The dean had always been impulsive, prone to emotional decisions, but this time he had crossed a dangerous threshold. This wasn’t merely a personal mistake—it was a catastrophic disruption of their carefully orchestrated plans.

While the elder held no particular affection for either the dean or his brother, losing a Core Formation cultivator represented a significant setback. After all the resources invested in elevating Gu Hanming to that cultivation level and using his influence to give him the dean position, his death constituted a substantial loss.

Time crawled by until the disciple finally returned, slightly breathless from his investigation. "Some people have reported seeing Li Yao and her senior brother returning to the pavilion yesterday," he reported.

"Dammit, Gu Hanming! You got yourself killed and couldn’t even eliminate the threat," Elder Mei thought bitterly.

He released a heavy sigh. Though the dean’s methods had been reckless, his assessment wasn’t entirely wrong—Li Yao did indeed pose a significant threat to their plans. Now that she had begun inflicting actual losses, the timetable for her elimination would need acceleration before she could cause further damage.

...

In the dappled light of the training ground, Xiang Yu moved with methodical precision, his knife cutting through the air with practiced efficiency. Each swing built upon the foundations of the last, his movements fluid and economical as he refined his technique through endless repetition. The morning sun climbed higher, bathing his focused form in golden light that highlighted the sheen of perspiration on his brow.

Birds called from nearby trees, their songs providing a natural rhythm to his practice. Yet Xiang Yu remained oblivious to these ambient sounds, his consciousness narrowed to the perfect harmony between body and blade. Hours passed this way, marked only by the changing angle of shadows across the clearing.

After a brief interlude for lunch, he returned immediately to his regimen. Not a moment wasted, not a second squandered on unnecessary leisure. His dedication remained absolute, each movement executed with the singular purpose of advancement along his chosen path.

When dinner time finally arrived, he noted Li Yao’s absence with mild curiosity but no real concern. She was likely engaged in her own cultivation breakthrough—her affairs remained distinctly separate from his carefully isolated existence. Better that way. Protagonist problems belonged to protagonists, not to cautious survivors like himself.

Following the evening meal, Xiang Yu implemented the second phase of his training strategy, exchanging his knife for the sword gifted by Elder Guo. The weapon’s weight felt different but not unfamiliar in his grip as he began executing the basic forms.