The midnight oil burned low as I opened my eyes, feeling the familiar rush of power circulating through my body. A subtle shift had occurred during my cultivation session—my energy had become denser, more concentrated. The realization dawned on me with quiet satisfaction: I'd advanced to the Fifth-Layer Qi Refining Stage.
Flexing my fingers, I could feel the difference. Every movement carried a new sense of authority, as if my body had finally begun to acknowledge its true potential. This was just another step on a much longer journey, but a significant one nonetheless.
A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts.
"Mr. Knight?" Alaric's voice carried through the wood. "May I have a word?"
I opened the door to find Declan Donovan's subordinate standing stiffly in the hallway, his expression carefully neutral.
