The night gradually deepened.
After spending hours talking, laughing, and catching up on everything that had happened during Su Lan's absence, the family finally decided to retire for the night.
Su Mei was the first to leave.
"You two shouldn't stay up too late," she warned before heading toward her room.
"Yes, Mother," Su Yang and Su Lan answered almost simultaneously.
Once she disappeared, the siblings looked at each other and laughed.
"Goodnight, Sister."
"Goodnight, Yang'er."
Su Yang returned to his room.
However, instead of immediately sleeping, he sat cross-legged on his bed and began circulating his spiritual Qi.
He had only recently broken through two consecutive levels, and although his cultivation had stabilized considerably, he knew better than to become complacent.
Warm spiritual Qi flowed steadily through his body.
Fourth Level of the Spirit Realm.
Even now, the progress felt almost unreal.
Only a short while ago, he had been stuck at the Second Level for years.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Su Yang opened his eyes.
"Who is it?"
"Who else would come bothering you this late?"
Su Yang smiled.
"Sister. Come in."
The door opened and Su Lan entered.
She had changed out of her sect robes and was now wearing simple night robes. Her long hair fell loosely behind her shoulders.
She closed the door.
Instead of immediately speaking, Su Lan stared at him.
Su Yang became uncomfortable.
"What?"
"Yang'er."
"Hmm?"
"What is your cultivation now?"
Su Yang froze.
He had expected her to ask eventually.
Su Lan was no ordinary person. As a disciple of the Heavenly Immortal Sword Sect, her spiritual perception was far sharper than that of the ordinary townspeople.
"You've been hiding your aura since I returned," she continued. "I didn't want to ask in front of Mother, but something about you feels different."
Su Yang sighed.
He had no intention of lying to his sister.
But there were certain things he could not reveal yet.
"Fourth Level of the Spirit Realm."
Su Lan blinked.
Then—
"What?!"
"Shhh!"
Su Yang immediately placed a finger against his lips.
"Do you want Mother to come here?"
Su Lan quickly lowered her voice.
"Fourth Level?"
She stared at him incredulously.
"When I left, you were still at the Second Level!"
"I broke through recently."
"Recently?"
Su Lan grabbed his arm.
"Yang'er, you were stuck at the Second Level for years, and now you're telling me you suddenly broke through twice?"
Su Yang scratched his cheek.
"Something like that."
Su Lan narrowed her eyes.
"What happened?"
Su Yang hesitated.
Then he answered as truthfully as he could without revealing everything.
"I discovered that there was never anything fundamentally wrong with my cultivation."
Su Lan's expression became serious.
"What do you mean?"
"My body simply requires far more spiritual energy than an ordinary cultivator. Most of the Qi I cultivated over the years was being absorbed and used to strengthen my foundation."
That much was true.
Su Lan stared at him.
"So all those years…"
"Weren't completely wasted."
Su Yang smiled.
"My foundation was accumulating."
Su Lan's expression slowly changed.
Then she suddenly slapped his shoulder.
"Ouch!"
"Do you know how worried I was about you?"
She slapped him again.
"Sister!"
"All those idiots kept calling you trash!"
Another slap.
"And you just let them!"
Su Yang caught her hand.
"How was I supposed to know?"
Su Lan paused.
"That…"
She withdrew her hand.
"Fair enough."
Su Yang laughed.
Then Su Lan remembered something.
"Wait."
Her expression became suspicious again.
"I heard something else today."
Su Yang immediately had a bad feeling.
"What?"
"You punched Fu Yancheng."
"…"
Su Yang looked away.
"Yang'er."
"He started it."
Su Lan stared.
"He tried to grab me."
Su Lan's eyes immediately sharpened.
"And?"
"I punched him."
"Where?"
"In the face."
Su Lan's lips twitched.
"And I heard you broke something."
"Probably his nose."
Silence.
Then Su Lan burst into laughter.
She quickly covered her mouth to avoid waking Su Mei.
"You punched Fu Yancheng in the face?"
Su Yang looked offended.
"Why does everyone find that so unbelievable?"
"Because he's at the Eighth Level of the Origin Realm!"
"He underestimated me."
That was also true.
Su Lan's laughter gradually faded.
"Yang'er, be careful."
Her tone became serious.
"Fu Yancheng is arrogant, but he's not someone you should underestimate either. More importantly, his father is a Vice Sect Master of the Heavenly Lightning Saber Sect."
"I know."
"Then don't recklessly provoke him."
Su Yang nodded.
"I won't. But I won't allow him to bully me anymore either."
Su Lan stared at him.
Something about that answer made her realize how much her younger brother had changed.
The old Su Yang would have avoided conflict.
This Su Yang still understood caution—
But he no longer feared standing up for himself.
Su Lan smiled.
"Good."
Su Yang raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you just told me not to provoke him."
"I said don't provoke him."
She grinned.
"I never said you should let him hit you."
Su Yang laughed.
Then Su Lan suddenly remembered something.
"Speaking of the Heavenly Lightning Saber Sect…"
Su Yang's attention immediately sharpened.
"What about it?"
"You haven't heard?"
"Heard what?"
"The sect is opening its gates for the annual disciple admission examination."
Su Yang straightened.
"When?"
"Soon."
His eyes immediately brightened.
Everyone close to Su Yang knew that the Heavenly Lightning Saber Sect had once been his dream sect.
It was one of the most prestigious Rank One sects in the region, famous for its powerful saber techniques and combat-oriented cultivation methods.
More importantly, now that Su Yang had recovered his memories, his reasons for joining a powerful sect had become even stronger.
Resources.
Techniques.
Experience.
Connections.
And strength.
He needed all of them.
"When does registration begin?" Su Yang asked eagerly.
Su Lan smiled when she noticed his excitement.
"I knew that would get your attention."
"Sister."
"Alright, alright."
She explained what she knew about the examination.
"The Heavenly Lightning Saber Sect will hold several tests. Cultivation isn't the only thing they examine. Talent, comprehension, physical ability, combat strength, and affinity with certain cultivation paths can all influence the final result."
Su Yang's eyes became increasingly bright.
That sounded perfect.
His cultivation level alone was not particularly impressive.
But physical strength?
Combat power?
Comprehension?
Those were different matters entirely.
Su Lan noticed his expression.
"You're thinking of participating."
It was not a question.
"Yes."
Su Yang answered immediately.
Su Lan studied him for a moment.
"You're certain?"
"I need to become stronger."
His expression became serious.
"Staying here forever won't help me accomplish that."
Su Lan knew there was more behind those words.
Something her brother still refused to tell her.
But she did not force him.
Instead, she nodded.
"If that's the path you've chosen, then prepare properly."
"I will."
"And don't become arrogant just because you've finally broken through."
"I know."
"There are many geniuses outside this town."
"I know."
"Some people your age are already in the Origin Realm."
"I know."
Su Lan narrowed her eyes.
"And stop saying 'I know' to everything."
Su Yang grinned.
"I know."
Su Lan grabbed a pillow.
Su Yang immediately raised both hands.
"I surrender!"
She laughed and threw the pillow back onto his bed.
Then she suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right."
She reached toward her spatial ring.
"I almost forgot."
A small box appeared in her hand.
Su Yang blinked.
"What is that?"
"A gift."
"For me?"
"No. For the wall."
Su Yang stared at her.
Su Lan laughed.
"Of course it's for you."
She handed him the box.
"You bought Mother and me gifts, so I suppose it's only fair."
Su Yang accepted it.
There was an unfamiliar warmth in his chest.
"What is it?"
"Open it after I leave."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
Su Yang rolled his eyes.
Su Lan stood and headed toward the door.
Just before leaving, she turned back.
"Yang'er."
"Yes?"
"If you're truly going to participate in the Heavenly Lightning Saber Sect's examination…"
Her expression became unusually serious.
"Don't underestimate it."
Su Yang nodded.
"I won't."
"And one more thing."
"What?"
Su Lan smiled.
"Pass."
Su Yang laughed.
"I intend to."
"Goodnight, little brother."
"Goodnight, Sister."
The door closed behind her.
Su Yang looked down at the box in his hands.
Then his gaze shifted toward the movement manual resting nearby.
Azure Dragon and Tiger Chasing the Heavens.
Tomorrow, his training would begin in earnest.
The Heavenly Lightning Saber Sect's disciple admission examination had given him a target.
And this time—
Su Yang had no intention of allowing anyone to call him talentless again.