The Main Hall doors continued to open.

Slowly.

Heavily.

Golden light spilled across the jade steps in long streams, stretching outward like flowing silk as the interior of the hall revealed itself inch by inch.

The air shifted.

Not from pressure.

Not from spiritual force.

But from presence.

Then—

A figure stepped forward.

Black.

Gold.

Refined to an absurd degree.

Shaurya emerged from the Main Hall with both hands casually resting inside the pockets of his long black coat, the dark fabric falling perfectly along his frame while intricate golden dragon patterns shimmered faintly across its surface whenever the light touched them.

The coat moved behind him with effortless weight, neither too heavy nor too loose, every motion carrying a strange balance between elegance and arrogance.

Golden chains rested near his waist, swaying softly with each step, while the high collar framed his face sharply beneath the falling strands of black hair.

Above him—

Lotus petals began to descend.

Not one.

Not two.

An entire rain of golden-orange lotus petals drifted from the sky in slow motion, swirling around him in elegant spirals before falling gently across the terrace.

The sunlight caught each petal midair.

Turning the entire scene radiant.

Majestic.

Completely unnecessary.

Shaurya kept walking anyway.

Calm.

Relaxed.

As though this was the most normal entrance possible.

Behind him—

Three disciples silently swept petals across the ground with deeply practiced expressions.

Xiao Rui pushed his broom forward with dead eyes.

"…I knew it."

Sheng Lu sighed beside him while gathering another mountain of petals into a pile.

"…The moment he locked himself inside for two hours, I knew we'd be cleaning something."

Lee Bie continued sweeping honestly.

Though even he couldn't help glancing upward occasionally. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"…Still looks cool though."

"That's the problem," Xiao Rui muttered bitterly. "He always looks cool."

Another wave of lotus petals descended dramatically behind Shaurya.

Sheng Lu looked upward in disbelief.

"…Where are they even coming from?"

Nobody had an answer.

At the top of the stairs—

Lin Shu stared.

For a long moment—

Actually stared.

Because this truly was different.

Shaurya changed outfits constantly.

Everyone in the sect already knew that.

But this time—

The difference wasn't only the clothes.

It was the atmosphere around him.

The black and gold contrasted sharply against his usual appearance, making his already striking features appear even sharper beneath the flowing sunlight.

And somehow—

The man looked completely confident wearing it.

As if he had walked straight out of some ancient heavenly dynasty painting after personally bullying the heavens into improving the lighting for him.

Beside her, Elder Liya closed her eyes briefly.

A faint sigh escaped her lips.

"…Why does he always have to show off like this?"

Her tone wasn't truly annoyed.

Just tired.

Lin Shu's gaze remained fixed on the falling petals.

"Forget him…" she muttered softly.

Her brows twitched slightly.

"…Where the hell do these petals always come from?"

Meanwhile—

Shaurya reached the front of the terrace and stopped.

Perfectly timed.

The wind shifted behind him right at that exact moment, causing his coat to flutter dramatically while lotus petals spiraled across the sunlight.

Absolute aura farming.

And he knew it.

A faint grin appeared on his face.

"Well?"

He spread his arms slightly.

"Be honest."

A pause.

Then—

"Did I cook?"

Silence.

Elder Liya stared at him.

Lin Shu blinked once.

Neither of them understood a single word he just said.

Shaurya nodded slowly to himself.

"Yeah… the aura is immaculate."

Again—

Nothing.

Elder Liya finally looked toward Lin Shu.

"…Should we be concerned?"

Lin Shu exhaled softly.

"At this point, I've accepted this as a natural disaster."

Shaurya clicked his tongue dramatically.

"You two have no appreciation for fashion evolution."

He adjusted the collar of his coat slightly before turning toward Lin Shu.

Then—

Winked.

Cleanly.

Confidently.

Lin Shu froze for exactly half a second.

A very slight warmth touched her face before she immediately looked away.

"…Yeah."

Her voice remained mostly calm.

Mostly.

"You're looking handsome as usual."

Shaurya placed a hand over his chest like he'd just received the highest praise imaginable.

"See?"

He looked toward Elder Liya triumphantly.

"Lin Shu understands greatness."

Elder Liya folded her arms.

"Lin Shu is simply being polite."

"That's crazy."

Shaurya shook his head with disappointment.

"The haters are evolving."

Another petal landed directly on Elder Liya's shoulder.

She stared at it for a full second before flicking it away.

Behind Shaurya—

Xiao Rui lowered his broom slightly and whispered toward Sheng Lu.

"…Master really trained for this entrance."

Sheng Lu nodded solemnly.

"Two hours."

Lee Bie continued sweeping.

"…Worth it though."

At that moment—

Footsteps approached quickly from below the terrace.

A guard ascended the stairs before stopping respectfully near the entrance of the Main Hall.

Hee Ta.

The sect guard immediately bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Master Shaurya."

Then he looked up—

And paused.

His eyes widened just slightly upon seeing Shaurya's new appearance.

A brief silence followed.

Then Hee Ta bowed even lower.

"…Master looks exceptionally majestic today."

Shaurya immediately pointed at him.

"You."

A grin spread across his face.

"Finally someone with vision."

Hee Ta straightened slightly, though his respectful posture remained.

"This subordinate only speaks the truth."

Shaurya nodded with complete seriousness.

"Promote this man emotionally."

Elder Liya rubbed the side of her forehead.

Lin Shu looked away before her smile became visible.

Then Elder Liya stepped forward slightly, returning the conversation back to reality before Shaurya could continue farming invisible aura points.

"What is the matter?"

Her tone sharpened calmly.

Hee Ta's expression immediately turned serious again.

"Reporting to Sect Master and Elder Liya…"

A brief pause.

"King Tian Long has arrived at the sect."

The atmosphere shifted slightly.

Even Shaurya blinked once.

"…The King?"

Hee Ta nodded.

"Yes."

Another pause followed.

"…He did not arrive alone."

Shaurya's brows lifted slightly.

Hee Ta continued.

"There are several unfamiliar individuals accompanying him. Their robes bear the insignia of the Sect Administrative Division."

For the first time since exiting the hall—

Shaurya's playful expression faded slightly.

Not fully.

But enough.

Lin Shu's eyes narrowed faintly.

Elder Liya exchanged a glance with her.

Sect Administrators.

That wasn't a casual visit.

Then—

Shaurya suddenly smiled again.

Relaxed.

Interested.

"Well…"

He rolled his shoulders lightly.

"That's unexpected."

A small pause.

Then casually—

"Okay."

He waved one hand lightly.

"Escort them here."

Hee Ta bowed immediately.

"Understood."

And without another word—

He turned and departed swiftly down the stairs.

The terrace fell quiet again.

Lotus petals still drifted lazily through the air.

Behind Shaurya—

Xiao Rui slowly lowered his broom.

"…Should we stop cleaning now?"

"Absolutely not," came Lin Shu's immediate reply.

The three disciples sighed together.

And resumed sweeping petals.

The atmosphere atop the terrace shifted not long after Hee Ta departed.

The breeze carrying lotus petals through the courtyard gradually settled, replaced instead by something steadier.

Measured footsteps.

A group approached from the lower stairway of the Main Hall, moving neither hurriedly nor slowly. Their pace carried discipline—the kind shaped by years of structure, hierarchy, and cultivated restraint.

At the front—

King Tian Long ascended the final step.

His deep blue robes moved lightly with the wind, golden dragon embroidery shimmering faintly beneath the morning sunlight. His long silver-white hair flowed behind him calmly, untouched by disorder, while the pressure surrounding him remained perfectly controlled.

Not hidden.

Not displayed.

Simply present.

Beside him walked six unfamiliar figures.

Their robes differed from ordinary cultivators—dark gray layered beneath muted silver outer garments marked with intricate insignias stitched near the sleeves and collar.

None of them carried weapons openly.

They didn't need to.

The discipline in their posture alone revealed their status.

Shaurya remained standing near the Main Hall entrance, one hand still resting casually inside his pocket while the other adjusted the collar of his coat slightly.

A faint grin appeared on his face the moment he saw Tian Long.

"Yo."

Lin Shu closed her eyes briefly.

Elder Liya sighed.

King Tian Long, meanwhile, simply stared at him for exactly one second before the corner of his mouth twitched faintly upward.

"…Every time I visit this sect," he said calmly, "you somehow look more unreasonable than before."

Shaurya placed a hand over his chest dramatically.

"That's called evolution."

Tian Long's gaze moved once over the black-and-gold attire.

The long coat.

The golden chains.

The absurdly majestic aura.

Then finally—

The lotus petals still drifting through the air.

A brief silence followed.

"...I see the mountain is suffering again."

Behind Shaurya, Xiao Rui nearly choked trying not to laugh while sweeping petals into another pile.

Sheng Lu immediately lowered his head to hide his expression.

Lee Bie remained respectful.

Mostly.

Shaurya ignored all of them and stepped forward with relaxed ease.

Unlike ordinary rulers and sect masters meeting formally, there was no suffocating tension between him and Tian Long.

Respect existed.

But so did familiarity.

"So?" Shaurya asked casually. "What brings the Azure Dragon Emperor himself to my glorious establishment?"

King Tian Long looked toward the group beside him.

"I came for official matters today."

His tone became slightly more formal.

Then he gestured calmly toward the lean middle-aged man standing nearest to him.

"This is Administrator Xu Wen."

The man stepped forward immediately.

Lean build.

Sharp eyes.

Long dark robes lined with silver patterns.

His hair was tied neatly behind his back while a narrow jade scroll rested at his waist beside a storage ring.

He looked exactly like the kind of scholar who spent his life memorizing cultivation laws just to emotionally destroy sect leaders with paperwork.

He cupped his fist politely toward Shaurya.

"This one greets Sect Master Shaurya."

Shaurya returned the gesture casually.

"Nice to meet you."

Xu Wen straightened slowly before speaking again.

"Recently, the Sanatan Flame Sect has begun gathering significant recognition throughout not only the Azure Dragon Kingdom…"

A slight pause.

"But neighboring kingdoms as well."

His gaze moved calmly across the Main Hall, the courtyard, the structures surrounding them.

"Your disciples have appeared in numerous reports."

"Elders as well."

"The influence of your sect has increased rapidly."

Another pause.

Then—

"However…"

Xu Wen adjusted his sleeve lightly.

"According to official records, your sect remains registered as a Level Twelve High Grade Sect."

Shaurya blinked once.

"...Okay?"

Administrator Xu Wen stared at him.

"...Okay?"

A strange silence appeared.

Then Xu Wen spoke carefully.

"Sect Master Shaurya…"

"...why have you not submitted a rank elevation request?"

Shaurya's expression slowly changed.

"...A what?"

This time—

The entire administrative group stared at him.

Xu Wen frowned slightly.

"A sect rank elevation request."

Shaurya pointed at himself.

"I have to apply for that?"

Dead silence.

One administrator in the back physically lowered the scroll he was holding.

Another blinked slowly like his soul had temporarily disconnected from reality.

King Tian Long turned his head slightly away.

His shoulders moved once.

Very slightly.

He was absolutely controlling his laughter.

Shaurya looked genuinely confused.

"...Nobody told me this was a thing."

Administrator Xu Wen stared at him for a long moment before exhaling deeply through his nose.

"Sect Master…"

His scholarly calmness cracked slightly.

"...that is literally the first procedure after founding a sect."

"...Oh."

"You have expanded territory."

"...Mhm."

"You possess elder-level combatants."

"...Probably."

"You have over five hundred disciples."

"Sounds right."

Xu Wen closed his eyes briefly.

One of the administrators behind him muttered under his breath:

"...This man founded an entire sect through instinct alone."

King Tian Long finally failed to suppress it completely.

A bright, completely unrestrained laugh escaped him.

The administrators immediately stiffened.

Shaurya pointed at him instantly.

"What's that supposed to mean? Nobody told me this."

Tian Long folded his arms casually, still clearly amused.

"During our previous meeting, I gave you several administrative scrolls regarding sect management."

A pause.

"They explained the ranking system very clearly."

Shaurya blinked once.

"...Scrolls?"

Tian Long nodded.

"The golden ones."

Shaurya's expression slowly changed.

Then a memory surfaced.

Inside Shaurya's room—

Several golden scrolls landed onto the bed with a soft thud.

Tian Long's voice echoed in memory.

"These should help you manage the sect properly."

Shaurya stared at the pile for two seconds.

"...Do I seriously need to read all this?"

A system window immediately popped up before him.

[Obviously not, Host.]

[You already have this great system.]

[Why waste time reading boring mortal paperwork?]

Shaurya looked at the system panel.

Then at the scrolls.

Then back at the system.

"...You make an excellent point."

He tossed the scrolls toward the corner of the bed.

And walked away.

The scrolls were never seen again.

—

Present.

"...Ah."

Understanding appeared on Shaurya's face.

A very guilty kind of understanding.

Tian Long watched him quietly.

"...You didn't read them."

Shaurya coughed lightly.

"Well... some important matters appeared at the time."

Behind him, Lin Shu slowly sighs.

Elder Liya closed her eyes.

Hee Ta sighed into his hand.

The Single Mingle Group collectively stared at the sky like men who had already accepted reality.

Administrator Xu Wen adjusted his sleeve slowly.

"...May I ask what these important matters were?"

Shaurya answered immediately.

"Cultivation."

The sect members remained silent.

Xu Wen narrowed his eyes slightly.

"...Only cultivation?"

A brief pause.

Then Xiao Rui muttered quietly from the back—

"Master spent three days deciding curtain colors for the Main Hall."

"I HEARD THAT."

"Because you were supposed to."

Sheng Lu nodded seriously beside him.

"The blue ones did look better."

"They absolutely did," Lee Bie agreed.

Xu Wen looked genuinely disturbed now.

Tian Long, meanwhile, had completely given up controlling his laughter.

He slapped Shaurya's shoulder once.

Hard enough to echo.

"You created one of the fastest rising sects in the region and ignored the administrative system entirely."

Shaurya spread his hands calmly.

"In my defense..."

He glanced around at the enormous sect behind him.

"...everything seems to be functioning perfectly."

No one could even argue with that.

Which somehow made it worse.

Meanwhile—

Hee Ta quietly turned around and began walking away from the terrace altogether.

Xu Wen noticed immediately.

"...Where is that guard going?"

Without missing a beat, Hee Ta answered while continuing to walk:

"I do not wish to hear anything further."

Then he left.

Completely serious.

For the first time since arriving—

Even Administrator Xu Wen looked slightly stunned.

Shaurya folded his arms casually.

"What?"

Nobody answered him.

After a long moment, Xu Wen exhaled slowly and restored his professional composure.

"...Very well."

He extended one hand calmly and a jade scroll appeared within his palm.

"Allow me to explain the sect ranking structure."

The scroll opened midair.

Lines of golden text spread across its surface.

"Sects are ranked from Level Twelve to Level One."

"Each level is divided into Low Grade, Mid Grade, and High Grade classifications."

"The ranking depends upon multiple factors."

As he spoke, several administrators behind him began writing notes calmly.

"Cultivation standards."

"Disciple count."

"Elder combat strength."

"Sect influence."

"Resources."

"Spiritual territory."

"And overall combat evaluation."

Xu Wen looked directly toward Shaurya.

"Today, we will officially assess the Sanatan Flame Sect."

Shaurya nodded slowly.

"...Got it."

Then immediately turned his head toward the courtyard.

"Lee Bie."

The disciple instantly straightened.

"Yes, Master!"

"Go gather everyone."

Shaurya pointed lazily toward Xiao Rui and Sheng Lu too.

"You two help."

The three disciples immediately rushed forward.

"Inform all disciples and elders to gather at the training grounds."

"Tell them the sect is getting audited."

Xiao Rui looked horrified.

"...That sounds terrifying."

"It probably is," Sheng Lu agreed solemnly.

Lee Bie remained focused.

"We'll notify everyone immediately, Master."

The three turned to leave—

Then Shaurya suddenly called out again.

"...Wait."

They stopped midair.

Shaurya looked around once.

"...Where's your fourth disaster?"

Lee Bie answered honestly.

"...Zong Bu is cleaning the toilets."

A pause.

Shaurya slowly lowered his head.

"...Damn."

Another pause.

"...The disciplinary hall really escalated this one."

Xiao Rui looked emotional.

"He tried to weaponize noodles during lunch."

"...Understandable punishment."

Then Shaurya waved them off.

"Go."

The three disciples shot into the distance instantly.

Administrator Xu Wen watched them leave before speaking slowly.

"...Your sect culture is…"

He paused.

Searching.

"...unique."

Shaurya grinned.

"We're building character here."

Then, with complete calmness, he turned and gestured toward the enormous sect grounds stretching across the mountain.

"Well then."

One hand returned casually into his pocket.

The other extended outward slightly.

"Welcome to the Sanatan Flame Sect."

No arrogance.

No force.

Just confidence.

And as the group began walking through the sect grounds—

Even the administrators could already feel it.

This place was different.

To Be Continued.....