The night was heavy and still, the kind that made even the wind hesitate before brushing past the bamboo trees. The Wen Clan's courtyard was bathed in silver moonlight, the shadows of the gnarled trees stretching long and thin across the stone paths. Wen Chen walked calmly through the silence, his mind clear, his every step measured. The duel between Wen Long and Wen Bo had ended minutes ago, but the residual energy in the air still hummed faintly, leaving an almost tangible tension behind.
Yet Wen Chen's expression did not betray the slightest flicker of fear. His eyes, calm and unflinching, scanned the ground where the red Luck Orb had landed. Invisible to all except him, it pulsed like a beating heart, radiating warmth that only he could feel. The orb called to him softly, urging him forward.
Slowly, deliberately, he extended his hand. His fingertips brushed the orb.
—DING—
+5 LUCK POINTS
A quiet rush of energy surged through his body. Heat traveled from his hand into his chest, his spine tingled with a familiar yet stronger sensation. But alongside it, something entirely new stirred in his consciousness—a faint vibration, subtle yet insistent, emanating from the core of his Talent Panel.
Wen Chen remained still. Calm. Observant. His heartbeat steady, his breathing even. Unlike the disciples outside, who might have panicked at even a flicker of the unknown, he simply focused, letting his mind stretch out to meet the new sensation.
"Panel," he thought clearly.
The golden shimmer appeared before him, the usual calm hum filling the room. But the moment it materialized, he noticed the difference. The edges flickered faintly, lines of text twisting as if alive. Symbols he had never seen before surged across the surface, glowing briefly before vanishing into nothing. His pupils narrowed slightly—not with fear, but with sharp awareness.
[TALENT PANEL]
Name: Wen Chen
Cultivation Level: Body Tempering – Stage 3 (Partial)
Base Talent: Low Human Talent
Current Talent: Mid-Tier Human Talent
Talent Progress: 74%
Luck Points: 56
The numbers were normal enough… at first glance. But Wen Chen sensed it. Deep inside, something was awakening—a hidden function, long dormant, now responding to the red orb's energy. His fingers brushed the orb in his palm again, more lightly this time, and the Panel quivered.
WARNING: External Luck Surge Detected
WARNING: Hidden Sequence Activation…
HIDDEN FUNCTION UNLOCKED
The golden glow intensified, filling his chamber with a warm radiance. Shadows bent and shifted around him, reflecting the calm storm building within the panel. Wen Chen inhaled once, long and steady, grounding himself in the serenity his parents had instilled in him. There was no panic, no rash movement. Just the calm, quiet observation of a mind assessing the situation.
[NEW FUNCTION UNLOCKED — TALENT EVOLUTION MODE]
This function requires: High-grade Luck, Continuous absorption during combat, Absolute mental calmness.
Host compatibility: 100%
A small smile tugged at the corner of Wen Chen's lips. His heart remained calm, but inside, a spark of excitement flickered. This was exactly what he had been working toward—the opportunity to surpass the limitations of ordinary disciples. And yet, he did not celebrate outwardly. Calmness was his armor.
The panel shimmered, then dimmed slightly, leaving a faint golden outline floating in front of him. Wen Chen reached out and touched the display lightly. The symbols rearranged themselves, forming a series of diagrams depicting energy flow, meridian enhancement, and talent evolution pathways he had never seen before.
"This… is incredible," he whispered under his breath.
Yet before he could study it further, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Outside, beyond the open window, a shadow shifted. Not a disciple, not a figure he recognized. Something… watching.
His calmness did not waver. Instead, he analyzed.
"No sudden movement," he reminded himself.
"Observe first, act second."
A faint breeze rustled the curtains. Wen Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, tracing the source of the disturbance, but the figure remained hidden. No sound. No scent. Nothing but a quiet presence that seemed to linger just beyond perception.
The panel pulsed again in response to his thoughts. With a calm motion, he opened the new function fully. Lines of energy danced across the interface, illustrating the power he could draw from continuous combat and luck absorption. This was no longer just a tool to measure his talent—it was a living mechanism, capable of evolving alongside him.
He reached toward it, his fingers brushing the air. The Panel responded instantly, projecting a holographic image of his body, meridians glowing faintly. Each touch highlighted a different pathway for growth, showing potential improvements to his strength, speed, and technique. The red orb's energy integrated smoothly into the system, enhancing the flow in ways he could feel but not yet fully control.
Wen Chen's mind worked calmly, deliberately, as he traced the pathways with his thoughts. A plan formed, precise and methodical. He would need to test this new function in controlled conditions first—small battles, simple training—but the potential was staggering.
And yet… the shadow outside remained. Watching. Waiting. Unseen, undetected, except by Wen Chen.
The calm mask on his face did not falter. But inside, his mind sharpened like a blade.
"Who could it be?" he thought quietly.
"And why here… why now?"
He moved to the window with deliberate slowness, careful not to make a sound. The shadow shifted again, and then… nothing. It vanished, leaving the courtyard bathed in still moonlight.
Wen Chen exhaled softly, the tension easing slightly. Calmness. Observation. Patience. That was always the key. He would not act rashly. Whoever—or whatever—was watching would reveal themselves in time.
The panel pulsed once more, a soft golden heartbeat in his chamber. The words "TALENT EVOLUTION MODE READY" hovered before him, a silent reminder of the power now at his fingertips.
Wen Chen sat back cross-legged, closing his eyes briefly. The red orb rested quietly in his palm, its glow soothing. His calmness was absolute. His parents' love, their guidance, their teachings—they had made him this way. A disciple of the Wen Clan, yes, but also a son grounded in warmth, patience, and unshakable composure.
And yet… the quiet, unseen presence lingered in the night.
His lips curved slightly, a rare expression of intrigue.
"Interesting," he murmured to himself.
"Someone is observing me… and they've triggered this function. This night is far from over."
The golden panel shimmered one last time before fading back to its normal glow. But Wen Chen knew—it was no longer the same. Something had changed. Something had awakened.
And whoever was watching…
would soon learn that calmness could hide storms.