Night in the Shen Estate was not quiet.
It only appeared that way.
Wei Liang sat in the courtyard.
Still.
Eyes half-closed.
Breathing slow.
From the outside—
It looked like rest.
But inside—
Everything was active.
The qi in this place was different.
Denser than the forest.
More stable than the sect.
But also—
Restrained.
Wei Liang could feel it clearly now.
Every time he drew in qi—
There was resistance.
Not from his body.
From the environment.
Formation.
A large one.
Covering the entire estate.
Not meant to suppress enemies.
To control everything inside.
Wei Liang's eyes opened slightly.
So even breathing here… is monitored.
Interesting.
He adjusted.
Instead of pulling qi directly—
He slowed further.
Reduced intake.
Refined internally.
Less gain.
But—
Less attention.
Better.
A faint sound broke the silence.
Footsteps.
Wei Liang didn't turn.
He already knew.
Shen Yuxiu.
She stopped at the entrance.
Watching him.
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
"…You're cultivating," she said.
Not a question.
Wei Liang nodded slightly.
"Trying."
Another pause.
"You're using a low-grade method," she said.
Direct.
Wei Liang didn't deny it.
"Yes."
Silence again.
Then—
"You'll die if you continue like that."
Her tone didn't change.
No concern.
Just—
Fact.
Wei Liang turned his head slightly.
Met her gaze.
"Then I'll adjust."
Her eyes narrowed—
Just slightly.
"…You speak as if you understand cultivation."
"I understand survival."
That answer—
Landed differently.
Not arrogant.
Not defensive.
Just—
True.
Shen Yuxiu studied him.
Longer this time.
"…You're not what they described."
Wei Liang didn't respond.
Because—
He wasn't.
Not anymore.
She stepped into the courtyard.
The pressure shifted slightly as she moved.
Stronger than the others.
Not overwhelming.
But—
Clear.
She stopped a few steps away.
"If you die," she said calmly, "it will inconvenience me."
Wei Liang almost smiled.
Almost.
"Then I'll try not to."
A faint pause.
Then—
She reached into her sleeve.
Threw something.
Wei Liang caught it.
Instinctively.
A scroll.
He looked at it.
Didn't open it.
"Basic Body Tempering Method," she said.
Wei Liang's eyes flickered slightly.
"…Why?"
Her answer came immediately.
"Efficiency."
Not kindness.
Not interest.
Just—
Optimization.
"You're too weak," she continued."If you collapse during the next selection, it becomes troublesome."
Selection.
Wei Liang caught that immediately.
"…What selection?"
Shen Yuxiu didn't answer directly.
"You'll find out."
Then—
She turned.
And left.
Just like that.
Wei Liang stood there.
Scroll in hand.
Silent.
Then—
He opened it.
His eyes scanned quickly.
Structure.
Breathing pattern.
Body alignment.
Not high-level.
But—
Clean.
Far better than what he had.
Wei Liang closed the scroll slowly.
"…So this is how it works here."
Not suppression.
Control.
They don't kill the weak.
They shape them.
Or discard them later.
Wei Liang sat down again.
Closed his eyes.
And began.
This time—
Different.
The new method guided his qi.
More structured.
More precise.
Less waste.
The difference was immediate.
His body responded faster.
Less resistance.
Less pain.
The qi flowed—
Cleaner.
Wei Liang's breathing deepened.
Cycle after cycle—
The pressure inside him grew.
Not unstable.
Controlled.
Then—
A shift.
Subtle.
But real.
His muscles tightened slightly.
Bones felt heavier.
Denser.
Wei Liang exhaled slowly.
Better.
Much better.
Deep within—
The pagoda trembled.
The second floor—
The crack widened.
Not fully open.
But close.
Very close.
Wei Liang's awareness brushed against it.
"…Soon."
He didn't push further.
Didn't rush.
Because now—
He understood.
Every step mattered.
Every gain—
Came with a cost.
And this place—
Would make sure of it.
The night deepened.
The estate remained silent.
But not empty.
Not safe.
And somewhere—
Unseen—
Something else had begun watching him.
Not the system.
Not the sect.
Something closer.
Something within the Shen Family itself.