The bronze bell tolled across the Azure Spirit Sect, its deep tone rolling through courtyards and dormitories like a tide. Outer Sect disciples scrambled to training squares, robes half-tied, blades clutched in hands still heavy with sleep. Today was no ordinary drill — it was Evaluation Day, when progress and weakness were weighed before the elders.
Whispers carried like smoke.
"They say Lin Xuan is to be tested first.""Of course — the cripple who humiliated Qiu Ran? The elders want to peel his skin and see what lies beneath.""Do you think he'll collapse? Or reveal some forbidden technique?"
Wu Ming trotted at Lin Xuan's side, breathless with indignation. "Senior Brother, I don't like the sound of this. 'Evaluation' sounds like 'let's poke you with sticks until something breaks.' And I bruise easily."
"You're not the one being evaluated," Lin Xuan said evenly, adjusting the strap of his spear. His voice was calm, but his eyes traced the crowd, watching the way disciples parted, their gazes sharp with envy or fear.
The timid girl and lanky boy followed behind, silent but firm, unwilling to leave his side.
Lin Xuan exhaled softly. First step into the storm. Hide the System. Show enough to silence. Nothing more.
The Testing Hall
The Evaluation Hall loomed ahead, a great stone structure ringed by jade pillars. Carved runes shimmered faintly along its surface, threads of qi woven into the very foundation. Disciples filed inside, heads bowed.
At the far end of the hall sat three elders. Elder Ji at the center, his brows snowy-white, gaze unreadable. To his right, the hawk-eyed elder leaned forward like a falcon ready to strike. To his left, the silver-haired elder tapped her staff lightly, eyes calm but bright.
Meng Zhao sat further back with several Core disciples, their seats elevated to observe. His lips curved faintly when his gaze found Lin Xuan.
Elder Ji's voice cut the hall. "Begin."
Stage One: Qi Sense
Lin Xuan stepped forward. A disciple presented a jade orb, pulsing faintly with light. "Channel your qi," the disciple instructed nervously.
Lin Xuan pressed his palm to it.
[System Notice: Adaptive Flow engaged. Limit output recommended to match mid-Qi Gathering standard.]
He willed a thread of qi outward, steady but restrained. The orb glowed with gentle light, brighter than expected, but not blinding. Gasps whispered through the crowd.
"Mid-stage Qi Gathering," one murmured."In just weeks? Impossible.""Perhaps the rumors are true…"
The hawk-eyed elder's lips thinned. "Suspicious speed."
The silver-haired elder only tapped her staff once, eyes never leaving Lin Xuan.
Stage Two: Martial Forms
A stone platform rose at the center of the hall. "Demonstrate your martial technique," Elder Ji commanded.
Lin Xuan lifted his spear. He recalled each technique he had seen — Crane Step's flow, Stone Palm's grounding, Gale Slash's cut. The System hummed, weaving them together, but he forced restraint. Too much mastery would scream aberration.
So he moved with quiet precision. The spear's arc cut clean air, each motion unhurried yet unbroken, a dance of economy. Not brilliance, not weakness — simply undeniable competence.
Whispers rippled again."Wasn't he crippled?""No cripple moves like that."
Meng Zhao's eyes narrowed, smile fading. He hides. But even in hiding, he shines. Dangerous.
Stage Three: Formation Insight
The final test came when disciples brought out a broken formation plate, its lines cracked, its light flickering faintly.
"Restore it," the hawk-eyed elder commanded, voice sharp. "If you can."
Lin Xuan knelt, fingers brushing the grooves. The System hummed instantly.
[System Notice: Formation schema detected. Weaknesses mapped. Solution available.]
But he could not reveal mastery. Instead, he let his brow furrow, pausing deliberately, tracing lines slowly. Only after long breaths did he shift a shard here, align a groove there. The plate flared briefly, stabilizing enough to glow steady.
Gasps erupted. Even partial restoration required months of study.
The hawk-eyed elder's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Coincidence."
The silver-haired elder smiled faintly. "Or talent, honed by observation."
The Verdict
Elder Ji raised his hand. Silence fell.
"Lin Xuan," he said, voice calm. "Your qi is stable. Your spear technique, efficient. Your insight, sufficient. You are not ordinary."
The hawk-eyed elder scoffed. "Too fast. Too convenient. He conceals something."
The silver-haired elder tapped her staff. "All disciples conceal. That is how they survive. What matters is whether he serves the sect."
Ji's gaze lingered on Lin Xuan. "You will continue under observation. Access to Repository remains. But remember: talent is storm and anchor both. Choose which you become."
Lin Xuan bowed, voice steady. "I understand."
As he stepped down, disciples whispered louder than ever. Wu Ming scampered up, whisper-shouting, "You made them stare! Half the hall's eyes nearly fell out!"
The timid girl smiled faintly, relief softening her face. The lanky boy muttered, "Senior Brother… I'll train harder too."
From the pavilion above, Meng Zhao leaned back, wine cup swirling, eyes dark. Still you hide. But I will peel you, layer by layer, until nothing remains.
And from the shadowed balcony, Yue Shuang's eyes lingered on Lin Xuan, her lips curving faintly. You tread storms like stepping stones. How long before you notice the lightning that follows?
The bronze bell tolled again, ending the session. Lin Xuan walked out, calm as stone, spear steady at his side.
But within his chest, he felt the System stir like a heartbeat.
[System Notice: Hidden Quest Triggered.][Objective: Survive three consecutive evaluations without exposure.][Reward: System upgrade unlocked.]
His lips curved faintly. So the storm deepens. Very well. Let it come.