Morning arrived with gray skies threatening rain.
Wei Chen woke to the sound of thunder in the distance. His body felt better than yesterday — the rest and proper sleep had helped. His core was fully regenerated, ready for whatever today demanded.
Eighteen applicants gathered in the training grounds after breakfast. Master Zhao had announced last night that one additional participant would join today — a student from last year's examination who'd failed the psychological evaluation but demonstrated exceptional combat capability. He was being given a rare second chance.
The new participant stood slightly apart from the others — a boy maybe fifteen, intermediate Darkness magic, expression carefully neutral. His presence shifted the dynamic. He'd already experienced what waited tomorrow.
The atmosphere was tense. Yesterday they'd fought trained students. Today they'd fight each other — equals who'd survived the same trials, demonstrated the same capabilities.
Master Zhao stood at the center, flanked by four Outer Disciples serving as match supervisors. Behind him, the combat circles had been prepared again, fresh sand marking boundaries.
"Today concludes combat assessment," Zhao announced. "Applicant versus applicant matches, followed by specialized challenges. Eighteen participants — nine matches. Victory conditions remain the same — first blood, incapacitation, or surrender."
He pulled out a roster. "First pairing: Chen Ling versus Han Tao."
Wei Chen watched as his two allies stepped into the circle. Both had survived wilderness, both had performed well yesterday. Now they faced each other.
"Begin."
Chen Ling attacked immediately with his blade, closing distance before Han Tao could establish magical advantage. Han Tao created shadow constructs defensively, trying to create space.
The fight was tactical — Chen Ling using terrain and weapon skills, Han Tao using superior magic to control range. It lasted three minutes before Chen Ling's blade found an opening. First blood on Han Tao's forearm.
"Match concluded. Chen Ling wins."
Both stepped back, breathing hard but professional. Han Tao nodded respect. Chen Ling returned it. No resentment. Just acknowledgment.
Second match: Two applicants Wei Chen didn't know well. Standard exchange. Winner demonstrated better shadow manipulation control.
Third match: One of Ming Yue's former followers versus another applicant. Brutal fight. Both wanted to prove themselves. First blood came after four minutes of exhausting combat.
"Wei Chen versus Xu Lan."
Wei Chen's stomach tightened. He'd known this was possible but hoped to avoid it. Xu Lan was dangerous — yesterday's match and last night's conversation had confirmed it.
Wei Chen stepped into the circle. Xu Lan joined him, expression unchanged, blade already resting at her hip.
"No hard feelings," she said quietly, echoing last night's words.
"None."
"Begin."
Xu Lan moved first — not attacking, but repositioning. Testing Wei Chen's reactions. Wei Chen countered with shadow manipulation, creating tendrils that probed her defenses.
She avoided them efficiently, minimal movement for maximum effect. Then she attacked.
Her shadow blade manifested instantly, striking toward Wei Chen's side. Wei Chen blocked with his own Shadow Blade, steel meeting shadow-coated steel. The clash sent vibrations through both arms.
They separated, circled. Wei Chen tried Shadow Step to reposition, but Xu Lan anticipated it. Her blade was already moving to intercept his arrival point.
Wei Chen adjusted mid-teleport — a technique he'd barely mastered — appearing two feet off from where expected. It bought him a second.
He used that second to create multiple shadow constructs, attacking from different angles. Xu Lan's blade moved in precise arcs, cutting through constructs with minimal effort.
Then she did something Wei Chen hadn't seen before.
She became shadow. Not concealment — actual transformation. Her body dissolved into darkness, reforming behind Wei Chen's defenses.
Her blade struck fast. Wei Chen barely blocked, using Shadow Blade to deflect. But the force drove him back.
Xu Lan pressed the advantage, attacks coming faster. Wei Chen defended desperately, core burning from continuous technique use.
Then he saw an opening. Xu Lan's transformation technique was powerful but created a brief moment of vulnerability during reformation. Wei Chen waited for it.
When Xu Lan transformed again, Wei Chen didn't defend. He attacked the shadow itself, using his own darkness to disrupt her reformation.
It worked. Xu Lan materialized off-balance, guard dropped for half a second.
Wei Chen's blade struck. First blood on her shoulder.
"Match concluded. Wei Chen wins."
Xu Lan stepped back, touching the shallow cut. She looked surprised — first time Wei Chen had seen any emotion on her face.
"Your technique is impressive," Wei Chen said. "Shadow transformation. I've never seen anything like it."
"I haven't mastered this technique yet," Xu Lan replied quietly. "If I had, you wouldn't have found that opening."
Xu Lan left the circle.
Master Zhao marked his roster, expression thoughtful.
More matches followed. Some quick, others brutal.
Seventh match: The repeat student versus another applicant. The repeat student won decisively in under two minutes — his extra year of experience showed clearly.
Eighth match ended with both applicants too exhausted to continue effectively — counted as mutual elimination, both removed from examination.
Ninth match: Another hard-fought victory, demonstrating skill on both sides.
Sixteen remained.
Then came the match everyone was watching.
"Ming Yue versus Zhao Feng."
Zhao Feng was one of Han Tao's group, competent but not exceptional. Ming Yue was advanced-level. The outcome seemed predetermined.
"Begin."
Zhao Feng didn't even try to fight conventionally. He used every dirty trick — throwing sand, using terrain aggressively, creating distractions with shadow constructs while positioning for advantageous strikes.
Ming Yue countered with raw power. Her advanced-level magic simply overwhelmed his techniques. But Zhao Feng kept moving, kept adapting, kept finding angles.
It lasted ninety seconds before Ming Yue's shadow blade caught him. First blood. But Zhao Feng had made her work for it — forced her to use more magic than expected, demonstrated that creativity could challenge superior power.
"Match concluded. Ming Yue wins."
Zhao Feng left the circle looking satisfied despite losing. He'd proven something to himself.
Final matches concluded by midday. Master Zhao tallied results.
"Eighteen applicants completed matches. Sixteen advanced. Two were eliminated for mutual exhaustion." He paused. "This afternoon brings specialized challenges. Individual tests designed for your specific capabilities and weaknesses. Rest now. Challenges begin in two hours."
The applicants dispersed. Wei Chen found shade near the training grounds and sat, conserving energy. His core was depleted but not empty — maybe sixty percent capacity. Two hours should bring it back to eighty percent.
Chen Ling joined him. "You beat Xu Lan. That's impressive."
"She's still the better fighter overall. I just found a weakness in her technique."
"Finding weaknesses is a skill." Chen Ling stretched, working out muscle soreness. "Specialized challenges next. Any idea what they'll be?"
"Tests designed to exploit our own weaknesses. Master Zhao watched all our matches. He knows where we're vulnerable."
"Comforting thought." Chen Ling smiled slightly. "Well, we've made it this far. Sixteen of us left. Maybe twelve will pass the full exam."
"You'll pass."
"So will you." Chen Ling stood. "See you after challenges. Assuming we both survive."
Two hours later, Master Zhao called the first applicant for specialized challenges.
The challenges were conducted individually, away from observers. Applicants were called one by one, disappeared into a separate training area, then returned exhausted and sometimes injured.
Wei Chen was seventh. When his name was called, he entered the enclosed training area to find Master Zhao waiting alone.
"Your challenge is simple but demanding," Zhao said. "You will fight three shadow constructs I create. They adapt to your techniques in real-time. Objective: survive five minutes while maintaining offensive pressure. Passive defense results in failure."
Three shadow constructs manifested — humanoid shapes made of pure darkness, each wielding weapons formed from shadow.
"Begin."
Wei Chen attacked immediately with Shadow Blade, engaging the first construct. It blocked efficiently, then counterattacked. Wei Chen used Shadow Step to reposition, but the second construct was already there, anticipating the move.
The third construct attacked from his blind spot. Wei Chen created shadow walls defensively, but they shattered under the assault.
This was different from yesterday. Yesterday's constructs tested endurance. These tested adaptability.
Wei Chen shifted tactics. Instead of using techniques separately, he combined them. Shadow Step into attack. Shadow concealment into repositioning. Shadow manipulation creating distractions while his blade struck.
The constructs adapted, but adaptation took time. Wei Chen exploited that delay, creating openings through constant variation.
His core screamed from the exertion. Multiple techniques simultaneously, continuous movement, zero recovery time. But he kept pressing, kept attacking.
Three minutes. Four minutes. Wei Chen took hits he couldn't avoid — shadow blades cutting shallow wounds across arms and legs. But he stayed offensive, kept the pressure constant.
At four minutes thirty seconds, his core hit critical depletion. Wei Chen's shadows flickered, unstable. The constructs sensed weakness and pressed harder.
Wei Chen dug deeper, pulling magic from reserves he didn't know he had. Pain flared through his chest — his core protesting the strain. But he pushed through.
Five minutes.
"Time. Challenge concluded." Master Zhao's voice cut through the chaos.
The constructs dissipated. Wei Chen collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. Blood dripped from a dozen shallow cuts. His core felt like scraped glass.
"Sufficient," Zhao said. "You maintained offensive pressure throughout despite depletion. Medical attention is available if needed."
Wei Chen declined. The cuts weren't serious. Pride hurt worse.
He left the training area and found a corner to recover. Around him, other applicants returned from their own challenges. Some looked triumphant. Others looked broken. One triggered medical emergency.
By evening, all challenges were complete. Master Zhao gathered the remaining applicants.
"Thirteen of you completed specialized challenges successfully. Three failed and are eliminated from examination."
Thirteen remained. Wei Chen looked around, counting faces. Chen Ling was there. Han Tao. Xu Lan. Ming Yue. The repeat student. Eight others whose names Wei Chen knew but hadn't interacted with much.
"Tomorrow is the final component — psychological evaluation," Zhao continued. "This tests mental resilience, moral framework, and breaking points. It is the most difficult component for many candidates. Some withdraw voluntarily rather than face it. If you wish to withdraw, do so tonight. Tomorrow, there is no retreat."
He paused, gaze sweeping across them. "Rest well. Tomorrow determines your futures."
The applicants dispersed quietly. The weight of tomorrow pressed heavy on everyone.
Wei Chen returned to room twenty-three. His body ached everywhere. His core was still depleted, barely at thirty percent. But he'd survived another day.
Thirteen remained. Maybe ten would pass the full exam. Maybe fewer.
Dinner was subdued. Thirteen applicants at tables that had held twenty-four four days ago. The missing faces felt heavy.
After eating, Wei Chen lay on his bed, too exhausted to do anything else. Tomorrow was psychological evaluation — the component Elder Shen had warned him about. The one that tested who you were, not just what you could do.
Wei Chen thought about his parents. About Lian Xiu. About promises to return. About everything riding on passing this final test.
He closed his eyes, letting exhaustion pull him toward sleep.
One more day. One more trial. Then he'd know if three years of preparation had been enough.
Tomorrow would test his mind. His will. His fundamental character.
Wei Chen intended to pass.
Failure wasn't an option he allowed himself to consider.
Not now. Not when he was this close.