Eloquent Ascent

After the meeting of the elders, Elder Sun, who had a keen eye for talent felt something amiss. She had noticed that Elder Liu's voice held something peculiar when she spoke of Xu Qi.

A certain urge grew within her.

She had to know more.

That evening, under the guise of a casual stroll through the Outer Court's bustling corridors, she met Zhang Han, the disciple who had recently made waves by reaching the 5th stage Elemental Awakener.

She approached him with a warm smile. The kind that no one would be able to ignore.

"Ah, young Zhang," Elder Sun greeted, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "I trust your preparations for the Test of Competence are going well?"

Zhang Han nodded, his chest puffing out slightly with pride, "Yes, Elder Sun. I have been diligently training under your guidance. I will not disappoint."

"Excellent," She said, her smile not wavering. "And what do you think of your fellow disciple, Xu Qi?"

Zhang Han's smile turned into a scowl, "My apologies, Elder. But what do you want with that good-for-nothing?"

He spat, his eyes glinting with undeniable hostility. "He's just a waste of space, a leech who's only good at sweet-talking his way into the good graces of others."

Elder Sun's smile remained unchanged, but deep down, her eyebrows twitched.

Her eyes slightly narrowed, "Oh? It seems like you have quite the opinion of him. Tell me, why is that?"

Zhang Han sneered, "It's not just me, Elder Sun. Everyone knows he's a slacker. But because he's got that silver tongue, he gets all the good stuff. Pills, resources, even the attention of senior sisters like Xiao Yue! He's been doing that because he's afraid of the upcoming Test of Competence!"

At that, Elder Sun's thoughts raced.

She knew of Xu Qi's charm, but the way Elder Liu spoke about him suggested it was the opposite case. He was a diligent disciple who couldn't make progress for years. Hence he failed twice on the Test of Competence.

It was only recently that he had shown progress. After the rumors of him getting summoned to the inner court had come up.

Many other elders concluded that the inner court disciple or her master was responsible for Xu Qi's growth – most of them hinting at inappropriateness towards a desirable young man.

But Elder Sun knew better. She had seen the disciple Xiao Yue when she was still in the outer court and aware of the reputation of her master, Elder He.

They weren't the type to do such a thing. While the possibility that Xu Qi had gained their favor remained at large, Elder Liu's report spoke of Xu Qi not meeting Xiao Yue for days. He was simply continuing to train even until late at night these past few days.

"I see," She said, her voice as calm as a serene lake, hiding the storm of thoughts within. "Well, you don't have to spend your energy if he's trash. Make sure to impress the Inner Court Elders. Who knows? They might take you in and exempt you from the exam."

Unaware of her thoughts, Zhang Han's eyes brightened as he nodded eagerly, "Yes, Elder Sun. I won't disappoint."

---

Unbeknownst to Xu Qi who was still eagerly practicing his abilities, the whispers of his progress had already reached the ears of the elders.

And with her curiosity successfully piqued, Elder Sun continued her night stroll but her foot brought her to the training hall that he often frequented.

She found Xu Qi in an instant and from afar, she could see his body glistening with sweat as he kept punching into the practice dummy while the primal elements around him danced.

"How fascinating." She murmured to herself, watching Xu Qi from the shadows, her eyes sharp as she observed his every move.

After watching the dance of primal elements and failing to understand their peculiarity,

Elder Sun decided to get closer. She walked up to him, her robes fluttering with the same grace as the leaves she saw moments ago. The same grace that made Zhang Han obedient.

"Xu Qi," she called out, her voice carrying the weight of authority yet laced with a hint of curiosity.

Xu Qi paused his training, turning to face his unexpected visitor with a feigned calm smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

He knew the look on his face was a mask, a tool of his charm that had served him well in his short time in this cultivation world.

He had to be careful. Judging from her appearance, the woman before her was an Elder.

Apart from Elder He who summoned him to the inner court, this should be the first time an Elder had approached him directly.

He wasn't oblivious to the fact that he was being watched these past few days. He even almost got into conflict with some disciples. But with his indifference and total focus on his cultivation, and maybe Ling Lian's presence, he continued with his training, hoping to at least reach the 3rd stage of the Elemental Whisperer Realm before the Test of Competence.

When Elder Sun called out to him, Xu Qi knew he had to tread carefully. He had a secret that could either elevate him or bring him down to ashes.

He had to be smart.

"Elder," he greeted, bowing slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "What brings you here?"

His voice was as smooth as the primal element of water he had been whispering to moments ago.

Elder Sun studied him closely, looking for any sign of deception but all she saw was the confidence and the wariness of a man who knew he had something special.

"Your progress, Xu Qi," She said with a measured voice. "It seems... unconventional."

Xu Qi raised an eyebrow yet it didn't feel rude at all to Elder Sun.

"Does it, Elder?" He said with as calm as the water that swirled around his hand, belying the turmoil within. Then, a calm smile touched his lips, "I've simply found a new way to appreciate the beauty of cultivation. The whispers of the elements can be quite enlightening, don't you think?"

Elder Sun's gaze bore into him, searching for the truth behind his words. 

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she couldn't find any deceit in his expression. Only the quiet determination that was surprisingly compelling. "The whispers?"

"Indeed," Xu Qi said with a gentle smile. "Every element has a story to tell… If one only knows how to listen."