Eloquent Ascent

Shortly after that, he continued his training for the rest of the day, making use of one of Xiao Yue's Elemental Synthesis Pills to replenish his used-up qi.

He whispered sweet nothings to the air, coaxing it to dance around his fists, forming invisible shields and blades of wind.

He whispered to the fire, making it flicker and pulse with the rhythm of his heartbeat.

He whispered to the earth, making the very ground shiver at his approach.

He whispered to the water, making it swirl and twirl into a graceful dance of liquid steel at his will.

His every word painted the world around him, shaping it into a canvas of elemental might. The training hall was no longer a simple space but a theater for his burgeoning power. If an Elder noticed him at that moment, they, too, would be mesmerized. But it would also be trouble for Xu Qi as he wouldn't be able to fool them easily about his newfound power.

It was a dance of power and grace that was utterly mesmerizing to behold.

The disciples watched him in awe, whispering among themselves. They had never seen anything like it.

And so, Xu Qi focused on his training, the whispers of the elements growing more fervent as he practiced. His days were filled with the gentle rustle of leaves as he coaxed the wind to bend to his will and the crackle of flames as he whispered sweet nothings to the fire.

His nights, however, were spent with Xiao Yue's gentle voice echoing in his mind. The memory of their shared intimacy is soothing to his soul and body. There's also Ling Lian who accompanied him at times, her curiosity about his abilities growing with every passing day. But the same could be said about her interest in him as a man.

In less than a week after cultivating the Celestial Eloquence, he was now at the threshold of the 3rd stage of the Elemental Whisperer Realm. A night and obedient primal elements are all he needed to breakthrough.

---

On one corner of the Wandering Palace, nestled in the clouds, the Hall of Elders of the Outer Court of Wandering Palace bustled with an air of solemnity and anticipation. The hall's grandeur was a stark reminder of the immense power that the sect wielded, with ancient scrolls lining the walls and intricate formations etched into the floor that hummed with the resonance of generations of cultivators. Within this chamber, the elders had gathered to deliberate over the most crucial event that would soon unfold—the Test of Competence.

They might not be as strong as the Elders of the Inner Court, but the Outer Court is their territory and they take their responsibilities seriously. They sat in a semicircle, their stern faces reflecting the gravity of the situation.

"We have gathered here to prepare for this year's Test of Competence," the Head Elder of the Outer Court, Elder Qiang, a man with a stern face and a beard as white as the moon, announced as he slammed a gavel on the ancient, intricately carved wooden table before them. The sound reverberated through the hall, demanding attention and silence from all who were present.

"The format will be the same as the last few years. A one-on-one battle of Elemental Awakeners within their current strength group," Elder Qiang continued, his eyes scanning the room, ensuring that every elder was paying attention to his words. "Each disciple will have a maximum of five matches. All of them need three victories on randomly drawn opponents to be considered to have passed the test. Are there any objections?"

The room remained silent, all nodding in agreement. They already knew that it would be the same, after all. What is innovation when it wouldn't really change a lot? This was just a tradition to weed out useless disciples siphoning the resources of the sect.

"About the disciples who have already failed twice..." Another Elder spoke as he listed their names. There were at least 100 of them and Xu Qi was naturally among them.

Elder Qiang nodded gravely, "Indeed. For those who have failed the test twice, it will be their final chance to prove themselves. If they fail again, they will be expelled from the sect."

The room grew tense, the gravity of the words weighing heavily on the elders. Each one knew the struggle and the pain of such a decision, but it was the way of the cultivation world. Only the strong could survive, and the weak were to be cut off.

Elder Qiang cleared his throat, his eyes scanning the parchment in his hand, "Now, let us discuss the notable disciples. Elder Sun, what say you?"

Elder Sun, a short but robust woman with a stern face, spoke up, "We have a few promising disciples who have shown significant improvement since their last assessment. Zhang Han, for instance, has recently reached the 5th stage Elemental Awakener and is a possible candidate for the inner court for this year's Inner Court Admission Exams."

The hall murmured with nods of approval, while others scribbled notes, taking into account the potential of each disciple. The discussions grew more heated as they touched on the various strengths and weaknesses of those mentioned.

Finally, the time came for the Elder in charge of the Outer Court Resources, Liu Meiyin, to speak. Her eyes flickered over to Xu Qi's profile, which she had studied with great interest.

At first, she had heard of this 'useless disciple' who suddenly showed improvement. She sent some of her disciples to check and they came with a curious thought, making her stand up on her own two feet to check on him personally. And there, she had seen it.

The obeisance of the primal elements around him.

She cleared her throat delicately, drawing everyone's attention. Her eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief, and she couldn't help but smile at the thought of mentioning his name. He was among those who would be coming into this Test of Competence with two failures on his head.

"Ah, yes, Xu Qi," Elder Liu announced, her voice as smooth as the silk of her robes. "He's an interesting case."

The hall grew quieter as all eyes turned towards her. Xu Qi's name was like a gust of wind in a calm sea, creating ripples of curiosity and whispers among the elders. They had not expected his name to be brought up in such a context.

'Who is this Xu Qi? Is there another Xu Qi aside from the one who is about to be expelled if he fails this year's Test of Competence?' That was the other Elders' collective thoughts at Elder Liu's pronouncement.