The Path No One Saw

Chapter 22: The Weight of the Next Step

The early morning wind rustled softly through the pine needles above, carrying the scent of dew and earth. Wu Yuan sat beneath the old pine tree, legs folded, body still. Threads of lightning energy hummed faintly within his body, tracing patterns of power through his limbs. His breathing was slow, controlled—each exhale releasing tension, each inhale drawing energy inward.

The cultivation session ended with a faint flicker of light beneath his skin, which faded soon after. He opened his eyes.

Level 12… It won't come easy. Not this time. Just a few more duels, a few more points… and then the hard part begins.

He rose to his feet and brushed the dust from his Wu Clan robes—light blue, embroidered at the cuffs. His path today was unchanged—straight toward the duel rings.

Wu Yuan arrived at the Wu City duel grounds just as the sun crested the eastern ridge. His presence drew glances, but he paid them no mind. Without ceremony, he stepped up onto the challenger's platform and waited.

An hour passed.

No one came forward.

The gathered crowd watched in silence—no jeers, no applause. Just uneasy whispers that drifted through the still air.

"That's him… defeated Shan Bo in one punch…"

"They say he's still only eight…"

"Too fast. Too quiet. Too dangerous."

Even cultivators from stronger clans hesitated. They had come expecting to watch a boy prodigy earn his name. Now they saw a shadow of something else—something they couldn't measure.

Wu Yuan stood still, arms crossed behind his back, gaze serene beneath the morning sun.

Just yesterday, I fought three times before noon. Now, nothing. Have I climbed too fast... or are they just not willing to risk the shame?

His gaze swept over the crowd once more. No sign of Jiang Baoyu.

Only he might've had the guts… but even he's not here today.

He sighed softly.

No challengers. No SP. The path ahead demands risk… but blind risk is no strategy.

Wu Yuan stepped down and turned away. Without a word, he slipped into a side alley, the murmur of the crowd already fading behind him.

Instead of returning home, he took a different path—one leading to the Medicine Pavilion.

Inside, rows of alchemical shelves stretched from wall to wall, filled with spirit pills, healing ointments, and enhancement powders. The air was dense with layered aromas—cool lotus, sharp mint, and the earthy depth of aged ginseng.

He walked slowly, eyes scanning the labels: Iron Bone Pill, Fire Qi Pellet, Vital Strength Elixir…There were many options. But none for lightning.

So many pills for Body Tempering… but none suited to Lightning Roots. And the neutral ones—those helped before. Not anymore. Their effects pale in comparison to what the system gives me.

Barely a step forward. Not enough—not even close.

He left the pavilion without another word.

By the time he returned to the Wu Clan estate, the sun had begun to dip westward. The breeze smelled of forest and stone.

As he stepped into the courtyard, Wu Xiao came running.

"Young Master!" she beamed. "You didn't duel today?"

He shook his head. "No one came."

Her smile softened into a small, satisfied curve. "Good. You don't have to keep showing them."

Later, in the quiet of the inner hall, Su Qing looked up as her son entered. A gentle smile bloomed on her face, and she beckoned him closer.

"Yuan'er," she said warmly, patting the space beside her. "Come. Sit."

He did so without a word, but she noticed the faint shadow on his brow.

"What happened?" she asked softly.

He hesitated, then looked up at her.

"Mother… where can I find lightning-type materials?" he asked. "I've looked around Wu City, but… there's nothing. Nothing usable."

Su Qing's smile faded. She exhaled quietly.

"Child… you might not be able to find them here at all. Lightning-type materials are already rare in Verdant Mountain. And now that others know the Wu Clan has a lightning-type cultivator…" she paused, her tone darkening, "they'll have moved first. I believe the other clans have already bought out what little there was on the market."

Wu Yuan frowned. "Why would they do that? Don't they fear the Wu Clan?"

Su Qing's eyes dimmed slightly. "If your grandfather were still here, they wouldn't dare. But with no Core Formation expert left in our clan… they no longer fear us, Yuan'er."

He clenched his hands. "But lightning-type materials are useless to them. They don't even have anyone with a Lightning Root!"

"That's true," Su Qing nodded. "But if it can slow your growth… even if it means wasting those materials, they'll do it. Eagerly. To keep the Wu Clan weak, to keep you from rising too fast."

Wu Yuan's expression turned grim.

"It's not fair."

"No, it isn't. But power cares little for fairness. And until we have strength… we are at the mercy of those who do."

He went quiet for a moment. Then asked, "Then how did Father get lightning-type materials? He had them, right?"

Su Qing hesitated.

"Your father… paid a great price. Some he purchased from other cities, some from greedy clans here who extorted him. He scraped what he could. But if he were stronger—if he had made a name worthy of fear—perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation today."

Her voice grew sharper.

"Sometimes I wonder… if your father had truly been strong, would his son be struggling for scraps just to follow his path?"

"Mother!" Wu Yuan looked up, shocked. "You don't have to speak about Father like that… He tried his best. You know he did."

Her eyes softened at the edges. She sighed.

"I know. I do. But when I see you suffer the consequences of his limits… I can't help but feel bitter."

Wu Yuan sat silently beside her, thoughts racing but lips sealed.

Su Qing stood and walked toward the spirit tree. The breeze ruffled her sleeves, but her posture remained poised. Years of struggle had worn away the softness from her, but not the grace.

"I don't say this out of resentment, Yuan'er," she said, her back to him. "I say it because this is the world we live in. If I don't tell you the truth, who will?"

Wu Yuan looked down at his hands, still scarred from training. "I understand, Mother. I really do."

"Do you think," Wu Yuan asked carefully, "Father wanted me to stop? To change paths because the world makes it hard?"

Su Qing turned to face him. Her eyes searched his—not for answers, but for resolve.

"No," she said softly. "He wanted you to go farther than he ever could. That's why he's doing everything he can—from gathering materials to collecting techniques—but even that may not be enough for you."

She returned to him, her hand resting gently on his shoulder—a gesture half comfort, half apology.

"But Yuan'er… even if your roots are strong, you still need rain. If they block your sunlight and poison your soil, even the deepest roots may wither."

"I know."

His voice was calm, but his gaze burned.

"I'll grow anyway."

A faint smile tugged at Su Qing's lips—one part pride, one part sorrow.

"That's what terrifies me," she murmured.

Wu Yuan stood. He bowed lightly to her.

That night, Wu Yuan sat alone in his courtyard, arms resting on his knees, body bare beneath the moonlight. Lightning energy flickered faintly across his skin, etching pale veins of silver against his bronze tone.

He let out a slow breath, gaze lifted toward the night sky.

They can hide the pills. They can lock the market. But they can't stop the storm forever.

I won't be my father. I'll go farther. Faster. Stronger.

And I'll make them regret every stone they've thrown in my path.

Over the next two days, Wu Yuan remained within the Wu Clan's estate, quietly cultivating beneath the old pine tree or meditating in solitude. He did not return to the duel rings.

Word of his absence spread quickly.

Without challengers willing to face him, and with no interest in provoking trouble, he chose stillness. But that stillness brought frustration—especially to the Lei Clan.

Inside their temporary courtyard, the tension was rising.

"So this is Wu City?" Lei Zhenyu muttered with disdain. "Not a single Level 5 cultivator has the courage to challenge him. This place really is backward."

"Who in their right mind would challenge him?" Lei Hanwu replied sharply. "You saw what he did to that Shan Clan junior. One punch. And he was still at Level 4 then."

Their eyes locked—sharp, competitive. Sparks always flew between the two.

But before their rivalry could escalate, a voice cut through the room.

Fifth Elder Lei Jinghong set down his tea cup with a soft clink. "Second Elder," he said calmly, "we can't keep going like this. If Wu Yuan refuses to leave the Wu Clan, we're wasting time."

Second Elder Lei Fengzhan didn't look up. He spoke evenly. "You're right. But who said our target is only Wu Yuan?"

That drew the room's attention.

"There are other Wu Clan juniors," the Second Elder continued. "Just focus on them. Engage however you must—duel, provoke, push. The result will be the same."

Lei Hanwu raised a brow. "But no one else from the Wu Clan has appeared at the rings since Wu Yuan's rise."

Jinghong's expression hardened. "Then make them come."

There was a brief silence. Then, a glint lit Lei Hanwu's eyes.

"Yes…" he said slowly, lips curling into a smile. "I know exactly what we need to do."

Zhenyu looked at him, confused. "What are you talking about? We can't touch the Wu Clan directly."

The Fifth Elder exhaled and stood, his robes swaying softly as he folded his arms. "Second Elder, perhaps it's time we implement that plan you mentioned—the one you prepared two days ago, after we settled into the courtyard."

For the first time, Lei Fengzhan looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. "So the Fifth Line still knows how to connect dots," he said, almost smiling.

So… brute force isn't the only thing they're good at after all.

He gave a small nod. "Yes. It's time."

The elders stood, their robes swaying softly with the movement. Without another word, they stepped out of the courtyard hall.

The Lei juniors exchanged confused glances but followed without hesitation. Discipline had long been drilled into their bones.

As they walked through the stone-paved inner path toward the gate, Lei Hanwu caught up to his father, brows furrowed in curiosity.

"Father, where are we going?"

Lei Fengzhan—Second Elder of the Lei Clan—didn't slow his steps. His voice was calm but firm.

"To the Jiang Clan."

That answer only deepened the confusion on Lei Zhenyu's face. "The Jiang Clan? Why them?"

Lei Fengzhan, walking just ahead, didn't turn around, but his voice floated back like a blade wrapped in silk.

"Because if you want to move pieces on the board, you speak to the ones who built the board in the first place."

Hanwu's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, but he said nothing further.

Whatever the plan was, it was already in motion.

And if the Jiang Clan was involved, then the next few days in Wu City would no longer remain quiet.