Chapter 7: The Rising Flame
**Part 1: A Testing Ground**
The camp was a buzz of whispers. The events of the previous day—the sight of Sun Luo sitting on a lion's head in an attitude of triumph—had shaken everyone. No one had expected him to return alive, let alone act so confidently. Yet, here he was, standing strong, his presence commanding the attention of all.
The Sun family had never experienced anything like this before. Luo, the forgotten youngest son, had suddenly proven himself capable of not only surviving but thriving in the most dangerous of circumstances. And now, his attitude was a fire that seemed to grow with every passing moment.
Luo stood by the campfire, eyes glimmering with an intensity that had never been seen before. He felt their gazes on him, but he didn't flinch. He had always been overshadowed, underestimated, but now, he was beginning to feel the weight of their fear. The fear that had begun to seep into their hearts. The fear that he was no longer just the boy who couldn't cultivate—he was something far more dangerous.
"Luo," his father, Sun Suo, called from across the camp, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Are you sure you're well enough to—"
"I'm fine, Father," Luo interrupted, his voice cold and clear. He looked at Sun Suo with a glint of challenge in his eyes. "You may have forgotten who I am, but I remember exactly who I am now."
Sun Suo's eyes widened slightly at the words, and for a brief moment, the patriarch was taken aback. His youngest son, the boy he'd once written off as weak, was now standing tall with an air of defiance. It wasn't just physical strength; it was the fire in his attitude that made Luo unrecognizable.
The murmurs began. Luo didn't need to hear them to know what they were saying. They were confused, nervous, perhaps even fearful. And that was exactly what he wanted.
In the silence that followed, Luo's cousins began to stir. Jian, Hao, and the others gathered nearby, their faces marked with disdain. But beneath that disdain, Luo could see the uncertainty flickering in their eyes. They weren't sure what to make of him anymore.
Sun Jian stepped forward, his lips curling into a sneer. "What's this, Luo? Playing pretend now? You think you're something special just because you killed a lion?"
Luo's eyes narrowed, his gaze hardening as he met Jian's mocking stare. He could feel the tension in the air—Jian had always been the most arrogant of the cousins, but today, there was something different in the way he looked at Luo. His words were laced with more than just mockery. There was fear hidden beneath that bravado.
Luo didn't need to say a word. His presence alone was enough. With a flick of his wrist, the fire flickered, casting an eerie glow on his face. He could feel the system within him responding to his attitude, feeding on it, drawing power from it.
The system's voice rang in his mind, sharp and precise.
**"Attitude Points: +5 for defiance. Your words have stirred the crowd."**
It was a small amount, but it was something. It was a sign that the system was beginning to recognize him for what he was becoming. The path ahead wouldn't be easy, but Luo was willing to take every step, no matter how small the reward.
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Ending hook
As the firelight danced in Luo's eyes, the murmurs of the camp grew louder, but Luo remained unmoved. His body was still, but his heart raced with anticipation. He could feel the system pulsing, responding to the tension in the air, to the fear he had instilled in his family.
But just as the silence became unbearable, Luo's gaze shifted to the woods beyond the camp. A low growl echoed from the darkness, followed by the unmistakable rustle of leaves. It was a sound that made even the most seasoned warriors in the camp freeze.
Luo smirked, his fingers flexing in anticipation. The real test had just begun.
**"You think this is enough to challenge me?"** he whispered under his breath, his heart filled with fire.
A shadow shifted in the forest.
The hunt was about to begin.
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