Location: Azure Flame Sect – Disciplinary Hall
The hall was silent.
Dozens of disciples watched as Jinhyuk stood alone before a tribunal of three elders. The atmosphere was heavy.
The charge?
"Stealing a forbidden technique."
An inner elder—Elder Wu—stood with a scroll in hand.
"This technique," he announced, "was recorded as sealed under my personal archive. And yet… it was witnessed being used by an outer court disciple."
He gestured sharply.
"By him."
Whispers filled the hall.
"Isn't that the guy who killed the Viper Queen?"
"I heard he even rejected Yue Qingxue's challenge…"
"Did he really steal from the inner court?"
---
The Trap
Elder Wu smirked. "You'll be stripped of your position and exiled for your crimes, Jinhyuk."
But Jinhyuk?
He was calm.
Almost amused.
"You should've hidden your tracks better," he said coldly.
"What?"
Jinhyuk raised his hand, and a glowing memory crystal appeared—recording Elder Wu sneaking into the forbidden scroll vault two nights prior, removing the scroll himself.
> [System Notice: Recording Device Synced to Karma Tracker]
[Authenticity Verified – 100%]
The crowd gasped. Even the other two elders leaned forward, startled.
---
Counterstrike
"You framed me," Jinhyuk said. "And now everyone knows it."
The moment he activated the recording, Elder Wu's cultivation aura exploded in desperation.
He lunged at Jinhyuk.
"I'll kill you before—!"
But Jinhyuk was ready.
His palm glowed.
> [Skill Activated: Demon Fang Qi – Piercing Palm Variant]
[Qi Surge Level: 4th Stage Core Condensation]
[Reinforced by: System Enhancement: Adaptive Counterstrike]
One hit.
Jinhyuk shattered Elder Wu's wrist, sent him flying into the stone pillar—and crushed his dantian.
Silence.
Then—
"Elder Wu has been crippled… by an outer court disciple…"
---
The Sect Shakes
That day, the entire Azure Flame Sect learned one thing:
Jinhyuk isn't to be underestimated.
---
Aftermath
The Sect Leader, an old man known only as Heaven Elder Wei, summoned Jinhyuk privately.
"You have no clan. No lineage. No elder behind you."
"Correct," Jinhyuk replied.
"Then tell me… what makes you think you deserve to climb higher than anyone?"
Jinhyuk met his gaze with cold certainty.
"Because no one here is more dangerous than me."
Elder Wei's lips curved into a thin smile.
"Very well. Then let's see if you can survive what's coming."
---
> [Azure Flame Sect: Reputation – Inner Court +400]
[New Title Unlocked: "The Snake-Killer"]
[Promotion Offered: Outer Disciple → Inner Disciple (Accepted)]
[Hidden Route Progress: Future Sect Leader 15%]
---