The courtyard erupted into a mixture of cheers, applause, and awe, the noise rising like a tide against the polished walls. Students clapped, some shouting names, others gasping in disbelief at the flawless performances they had just witnessed. Among the spectators, whispers traveled in waves:
"Those six… they make it look effortless."
"The precision, the control… and Wuxie again, as if nothing could ever challenge him."
"Rylen, Selene, Kyle… and then the trio from Lushan… how do they even compare to the rest?"
The six students, standing with the weight of accomplishment yet the subtle tension of anticipation in their expressions, exchanged glances. Eyes met, and a silent acknowledgment passed between them—a mix of respect, camaraderie, and mutual understanding that they were now bound together by this stage of the examination.
