Eloquent Ascent

Xu Qi demonstrated.

His voice dropped to a murmur as the air around him began to swirl in a mesmerizing pattern, creating a small tornado of leaves that danced around his hand.

"The wind whispers secrets of speed and precision, while the earth tells tales of steadfastness and power."

"How...?"

Elder Sun was at a loss for words, her eyes wide with astonishment as she watched Xu Qi manipulate the air with his whispers.

She had heard rumors of his charm, but this was something entirely different. It was as if the very essence of the elements were bending to his will. How can a mere Elemental Awakener do that?

She, as a Spiritual Awakening Realm expert, was also unable to command the primal elements as if she was their master. All she could do was to be equal to them.

That's what it meant to resonate and to properly wield.

Furthermore, the third realm, Elemental Dominance, didn't carry the same meaning as dominating the primal elements. It was their mastery of resonating with them after the 'synthesis' with their qi, enough to dominate their opponents.

But Xu Qi? He was something else entirely. No wonder Elder Liu who seldom showed interest in male disciples had taken notice of him.

Elder Sun stepped closer, the rustle of her robes like a whisper through the leaves.

"Your technique is... extraordinary," She said, her voice hushed and filled with genuine amazement.

This was too unique for her who had always been keeping an eye on the rising disciples.

 "What is it that you're doing?"

Xu Qi's smile grew, "It's all in the art of listening, Elder. One must understand the language of the elements to cultivate truly."

"Elaborate."

Elder Sun's single word echoed in the training hall, her eyes never leaving the swirling tornado of leaves that Xu Qi so casually held in his grasp.

Xu Qi let out a soft chuckle, the sound as soothing as a gentle breeze.

Still, he knew his demonstration wasn't really it. He had to tread a fine line. Too much information and he could be seen as a threat, too little and he'd be seen as a fraud.

He had to mix the truth with the lie and keep the Celestial Eloquence and Elemental Whisperer Realm a secret to everyone. He could play it off as him becoming enlightened of a peculiar way to cultivate.

"My apologies, Elder," Xu Qi began, his voice as smooth as the flow of a river, soothing the female Elder's ears, "I'm afraid this disciple won't be able to tell you much. Maybe the heavens have answered my plea, I suddenly found out one night that I could whisper to the wind."

The leaves danced around his hand, spinning faster and faster until they formed a mini tornado that was a sight to behold. Elder Sun's eyes grew wider with each passing moment, it was mesmerizing.

"I see," she murmured, her heart racing with excitement. This was something she had never seen before, even among the inner court disciples.

Xu Qi's supposedly simple technique had the elegance of a higher-realm cultivator, and she couldn't help but be intrigued by his future.

Maybe it wasn't Zhang Han who would make a name in the sect, but this poor young disciple who was on the verge of being expelled only for his prayers to be heard.

"Do your best on your upcoming test, and remember, the Wandering Palace values those who can think outside the box. Do not be afraid of setbacks, for you can overcome them with your determination. I'll be watching you, Xu Qi."

"Thank you, Elder." Xu Qi bowed respectfully while his chest came into a soothing calm, knowing that he passed her probing. He didn't dare use his Celestial Eloquence directly for fear that Elder Sun would be able to see through its stark difference. He simply made use of the primal elements that he had already subdued.

With that, Elder Sun turned and glided away with her thoughts racing.

She gave Xu Qi one last look before disappearing back into the calm of the night and returning to her quarters.

The grudge between Xu Qi and Zhang Han was no secret to her anymore. And she knew that it would only intensify with the upcoming Test of Competence.

As she pondered over Xu Qi's words, she made her decision. It was time to even the playing field, at least slightly, for the young disciple who had captured her interest.

"Let's see. Before Elder Liu could poach him, I should prepare a fitting gift for him. Something that he would need to bridge the difference between him and Zhang Han." A playful smile visited her lips as Elder Sun summoned one of her servants.

–

The next day, Xu Qi, who had already set aside the encounter from last night, found a small, unassuming parcel in his room. It was wrapped in plain cloth, with no insignia or note to indicate its sender from the outside.

He picked it up cautiously.

On guard, because he had no idea where it came from or when it was placed in his room without him noticing, he carefully unwrapped it to reveal a small wooden box beneath a small note.

Upon prying it open, Xu Qi found an intricately crafted bracelet. The metal was a dull silver, unblemished by any flashy gems or inscriptions, yet it felt alive in his hand.

He could sense the faint hum of qi resonating from within it, hinting at its hidden capabilities.

The note on top of it reads, "For when whispers are not enough. Use wisely."

Xu Qi's eyes widened as he reached the sender's name, it was Sun Xiulan. 

"Sun Xiulan who?" That was his first reaction but then, he remembered his encounter last night. "Wait, it was that Elder?!"

Xu Qi couldn't help but laugh at this unexpected gift. What did he do? Didn't he just satisfy her curiosity? He wasn't even being truthful to it all.

However, as weird as it was to him, he couldn't help but fall back to his innate gift as he drew a wry smile. His words… were truly magical.