The Heir of the Celestial Diagram

Chapter 5: The Shadows of the Village

The silence inside the cabin lasted longer than Han Feng expected.

Wang Tao was paralyzed, looking incredulously at his Flame-Shelled Beetle. The insect trembled slightly, its flames unstable, as if it were still trying to recover from the influence of the Dual Chaos Larva.

Wang Tao's two followers exchanged uncertain glances. They had never seen their leader lose, much less to someone like Han Feng.

But he wasn't deluding himself.

Defeating Wang Tao here did not mean victory. It meant danger.

The Strategic Withdrawal

Wang Tao clenched his fists. His face turned red with anger, but he was not a fool. He knew that continuing the fight at that moment was useless.

— This isn't over, Han Feng — he spat the words with venom. — Do you think this victory means anything? You're nothing but a lucky bastard!

With a sudden movement, Wang Tao gathered his Gu and turned around, leaving the cabin without saying anything more. His followers hesitated for a moment, but soon ran after him.

Han Feng maintained his firm stance until the sounds of footsteps disappeared into the distance.

Only then did he let out a heavy sigh.

He knew what was coming next. Wang Tao was too proud to accept such a defeat without revenge. And when the children of elders lost, the consequences were never simple.

But, for now, he needed to think about what really mattered.

Your own growth.

Reflection and the Path Forward

Han Feng sat down again, turning his attention to the Dual Chaos Larva. He felt that the connection between them had strengthened after the battle. It was as if the Gu had fed off the energy of the battle, becoming even more synchronized with him.

He closed his eyes, concentrating on the Celestial Diagram.

The energy around him flowed naturally. Before, his cultivation was limited, but now... his body was more receptive to Qi and his absorption rate had slightly increased.

This confirmed his theory.

The Dual Chaos Larva was more than just a simple Gu—it was a catalyst for his evolution.

If he could strengthen her even more, her powers would grow exponentially.

But for that, he needed more resources.

And that meant he could no longer remain hidden in the village.

The Plot of the Elders

While Han Feng processed his discoveries, in the main hall of the village, the elders were gathered.

Wang Tao was kneeling before his father, Elder Wang Jian, recounting what had happened. His face was still red with anger and humiliation.

— He humiliated me! — Wang Tao growled. — That trash defeated my Gu with something that shouldn't even work!

Wang Jian frowned. He was not an impulsive man like his son. His gaze was sharp as a hawk's.

— An orphan without resources managed to subdue your Flame-Shelled Beetle? — his voice was calm, but carried a subtle threat.

Wang Tao gritted his teeth.

— It must have been some dirty trick!

Another elder, a thin man with a cold gaze named Xiao Cheng, touched his chin.

— The Dual Chaos Larva has always been considered unstable. If he managed to control it... maybe it has a potential we don't understand.

Wang Jian remained silent for a moment before letting out a sigh.

— It doesn't matter how he did it. The fact is that a boy everyone despised has now become an unpredictable variable. This can be dangerous.

Xiao Cheng nodded.

— If we let him grow, he might challenge the natural order of the village.

Wang Tao clenched his fists, trying to hide the smile.

— So, should we eliminate him?

The elders exchanged glances. They couldn't act directly against a young person without justification, but there were many ways to "deal" with a problem without getting their own hands dirty.

Wang Jian smiled calculatingly.

— We don't need to do anything. Han Feng has now attracted attention. If he really has potential, then the village's annual test will be his true trial.

Xiao Cheng completed:

— And if he fails... then it will be over anyway.

The Danger on the Horizon

Back in his cabin, Han Feng opened his eyes.

He felt a weight in the air, as if something were changing around him.

He knew that his victory over Wang Tao would not go unnoticed.

The powerful never liked to see someone unexpected rising.

But Han Feng did not feel afraid.

He felt excitement.

If the annual test was his next trial, he would face it with all his strength.

Because now, he was no longer a failure.

Now, he had the Celestial Diagram.

And no one could stop him.