Morning came without warmth.
The Shen Estate did not wake like a normal place.
There were no loud voices.No rushing servants.No chaos.
Only—
Movement.
Wei Liang opened his eyes before dawn.
Not because he had to.
Because his body had already adjusted.
The new method from last night had changed things.
Subtly.
But clearly.
His breathing was smoother.
His qi—
More obedient.
Not stronger.
But controlled.
That mattered more.
A knock came at the courtyard gate.
Three times.
Even.
Measured.
Wei Liang stood.
Opened the door.
A servant stood outside.
Head lowered.
"You are required at the outer training grounds."
No explanation.
Wei Liang nodded.
"I understand."
The servant stepped aside.
Wei Liang walked out.
The estate was already active.
People moving.
Quietly.
Purposefully.
No wasted motion.
Wei Liang followed the stone path upward.
Toward higher ground.
Then—
He saw it.
A large open field.
Different from the sect.
Not crude.
Not rough.
Structured.
Marked.
Divided into sections.
And already—
Filled.
Young cultivators.
Men.
Women.
All standing in ordered rows.
No noise.
Only—
Pressure.
Wei Liang stepped in.
Immediately—
He felt it.
Not from the formation.
From them.
Everyone here—
Was stronger.
Not just in cultivation.
In presence.
Confidence.
Foundation.
Wei Liang moved to the back.
Naturally.
No one told him to.
It was obvious.
A voice echoed across the field.
"Begin assembly."
Wei Liang's eyes lifted slightly.
At the front—
A man stood.
Tall.
Sharp-featured.
Eyes cold.
Shen Family.
Higher status.
Instructor.
"Today marks the quarterly selection," the man said.
His voice carried easily.
Clear.
Controlled.
"Only those who pass—will remain."
Silence.
No reaction.
As if everyone already knew.
Wei Liang's gaze lowered slightly.
So this is the selection.
Not training.
Filtering.
The instructor continued.
"Failure will result in reassignment… or removal."
Not explained further.
Didn't need to be.
Wei Liang understood.
Removal—
Didn't always mean survival.
"Step forward when your name is called."
A scroll opened.
The names began.
One by one.
Each stepped forward.
Each tested.
Not long.
Not complex.
Just—
Enough.
Some passed.
Some didn't.
Those who failed—
Were taken away immediately.
No argument.
No resistance.
Wei Liang watched everything.
Not the people.
The pattern.
The tests were simple.
But not random.
They measured—
Control.
Stability.
Reaction.
Not raw strength.
Interesting.
Then—
His name.
"Wei Liang."
A faint shift moved through the crowd.
Not loud.
But noticeable.
Wei Liang stepped forward.
Calm.
Unhurried.
The instructor looked at him.
Eyes narrowing slightly.
"…You're the one from the sect."
Wei Liang didn't answer.
Didn't deny.
Just stood.
The instructor gestured.
"Show your movement."
No weapon.
No explanation.
Wei Liang understood immediately.
Basic form.
He stepped forward.
Moved.
One step.
Turn.
Palm.
Clean.
Controlled.
Not perfect.
But—
Deliberate.
The instructor watched closely.
Silent.
Then—
"Again."
Wei Liang repeated.
This time—
Smoother.
More refined.
Less wasted motion.
A pause.
The instructor's expression didn't change.
But—
Something shifted.
"…Not bad."
A simple statement.
But in this place—
That meant something.
Then—
A voice cut in.
"Of course not bad."
Lazy.
Confident.
Arrogant.
Wei Liang didn't turn immediately.
But he already knew—
Trouble.
A young man stepped forward from the side.
Dressed differently.
Better.
Higher status.
His eyes landed on Wei Liang.
Cold.
Measuring.
"…A servant," he said lightly."And already showing off."
Wei Liang turned slightly.
Met his gaze.
Calm.
No reaction.
That—
Was a mistake.
Because arrogance—
Needed resistance.
"…You don't know your place," the man continued.
The instructor didn't stop him.
Didn't interfere.
Which meant—
Allowed.
Test within a test.
The young man stepped closer.
"Fight me."
Direct.
Unavoidable.
Wei Liang's eyes flickered slightly.
Not fear.
Calculation.
Too early.
Too dangerous.
But—
Refusal wasn't an option.
"Understood."
He stepped forward.
The distance closed.
The pressure increased.
The opponent—
Stronger.
Faster.
Better trained.
Wei Liang knew it immediately.
This wasn't a fair fight.
It wasn't meant to be.
"Don't die too quickly," the man said.
Then—
He moved.
Fast.
Far faster than before.
Wei Liang reacted—
Barely.
He stepped back.
The strike passed.
But—
Too close.
Wind pressure alone—
Cut his skin.
So this is the gap.
The second attack came instantly.
No pause.
No hesitation.
Wei Liang shifted again—
But slower this time.
His shoulder was hit.
Not clean.
But enough.
Pain exploded.
His body staggered.
But didn't fall.
Wei Liang's eyes sharpened.
Not enough to match him.
So—
Change.
He stopped retreating.
Moved forward.
Again.
Closer.
The opponent frowned.
Just for a moment.
That was enough.
Wei Liang twisted.
Redirected the strike.
Minimal.
Precise.
The attack missed.
Not by much.
But enough.
Wei Liang didn't counter.
Didn't strike.
He stepped back again.
Creating space.
Surviving.
That alone—
Was enough.
The instructor raised a hand.
"Enough."
The fight stopped.
The young man clicked his tongue.
Annoyed.
"…You're lucky."
Wei Liang said nothing.
Because—
He wasn't.
He was prepared.
The instructor looked at him.
Long.
Then—
"Pass."
One word.
Final.
Wei Liang stepped back.
Returned to the line.
Calm.
But inside—
Everything had shifted.
He had seen it.
Felt it.
The difference.
The gap.
And now—
He knew exactly what he needed.
More.
Much more.
Deep within—
The pagoda trembled.
The second floor—
Cracked wider.
Almost—
Open.
Wei Liang's gaze lowered slightly.
"…Soon."