The moment the elder finished speaking, the ground beneath them responded.
Faint lines of light spread outward in an ordered pattern, forming multiple enclosed arenas across the central field. The formations rose just enough to create boundaries—transparent but absolute. Each arena stood isolated, ensuring no interference, no outside help.
This was not a spectacle.
It was a filter.
Names began to echo across the field, carried by the formation itself. Each disciple heard their own clearly, without confusion.
"Shi Yue."
"Lin Mo."
They were called separately.
That was expected.
Lin Mo didn't move immediately.
Instead, he adjusted Lin An'an in his arms, steadying her as the surrounding pressure shifted. She had grown used to their movements, but the atmosphere here was different. Too many people. Too much tension. Even if she didn't understand it, she felt it.
Shi Yue noticed.
Without a word, she stepped closer and gently took Lin An'an from him. The child settled quickly against her, gripping her sleeve instinctively.
"I'll hold her first," Shi Yue said.
Lin Mo nodded.
There was no need to complicate something simple.
His match was closer.
Hers was further away.
It made sense.
"Don't rush," she added, her voice calm.
Lin Mo glanced at her briefly. "You either."
That was enough.
They separated.
—
Lin Mo stepped into his assigned arena.
The barrier sealed behind him with a faint shimmer, isolating the space completely. Across from him stood his opponent—a disciple from Iron Blood Hall. Broad build, steady stance, and a Qi presence that leaned toward aggression.
Qi Refinement — 8th Layer.
Strong.
But not refined.
The man didn't waste time.
The moment the barrier stabilized, he stepped forward, his Qi surging outward as he attacked directly. No testing, no probing. Just force.
Lin Mo didn't meet him head-on.
He shifted slightly to the side, his movement minimal but precise. The attack passed close, but not close enough. At the same time, Lin Mo's focus sharpened.
Iron Body Strike.
The timing aligned perfectly.
The Qi condensed at the point of impact, striking exactly where the opponent's balance had already begun to shift.
The man staggered.
Before he could recover, Lin Mo stepped forward again. This time, there was no hesitation. The second strike followed immediately, carrying just enough force to end the exchange.
The entire fight lasted three breaths.
The barrier dissolved.
Lin Mo stepped out without looking back.
—
He didn't return to the center immediately.
Instead, he moved to the side of the field where outer disciples gathered after their matches. His gaze shifted across the arenas, searching.
He found her quickly.
Shi Yue's arena was still active.
Lin An'an was safe.
—
Shi Yue stood across from her opponent, her posture relaxed but focused. The man facing her wore the attire of Silent Moon Pavilion. His stance was light, his movements controlled.
Qi Refinement — 9th Layer.
Stronger than Lin Mo's opponent.
More careful.
He didn't attack immediately.
Instead, he circled, testing distance, observing her reactions.
Shi Yue didn't move.
She let him.
The moment he committed, everything changed.
His attack came fast, precise, aimed to test her defense.
Shi Yue stepped.
Step Shadow Movement.
Her figure shifted just enough to alter the angle. The attack missed by a fraction, its timing disrupted.
She moved in.
Not fast.
Not forceful.
Precise.
Her counter landed before he could adjust.
The exchange continued briefly, but the outcome had already been decided. Each movement from Shi Yue forced him into worse positions, limiting his options until there was nothing left.
The final strike came clean.
The barrier dissolved.
—
Shi Yue stepped out and returned directly.
Lin An'an reached for her immediately, grabbing onto her sleeve with small, insistent hands. Shi Yue adjusted her hold slightly, her expression softening just enough to show through.
Lin Mo watched for a moment before speaking.
"Stronger than mine."
Shi Yue nodded. "More controlled."
They didn't say more.
They didn't need to.
—
Around them, the results became clearer.
Many arenas had already gone quiet.
More than half the participants were gone.
Some had lost quickly.
Others had fought longer, but the result was the same.
A few stood out.
A disciple from Iron Blood Hall ended his match with overwhelming force, his opponent unable to withstand even a single exchange.
A girl from Verdant Flow Pavilion moved with fluid precision, her technique smooth and uninterrupted, controlling the entire fight from start to finish.
And from Silent Moon Pavilion—
one figure drew attention.
He didn't rush.
He didn't waste movement.
His opponent collapsed before even understanding what had happened.
—
Shi Yue's gaze lingered on him briefly.
"…He's good."
Lin Mo nodded.
"Not just strong."
"Refined."
—
Just like them.
—
The formation shifted again.
The next round was approaching.
—
Lin Mo adjusted his stance, reaching out to take Lin An'an again. Shi Yue let him, the exchange smooth and natural. The child settled between them briefly before leaning against him, her attention already drifting away from the tension of the field.
For a moment, nothing else mattered.
Then the names began again.
—
This time—
the real filtering would begin.
—
Lin Mo's expression steadied.
Shi Yue's gaze sharpened.
—
They had passed the first round.
—
Now—
they would be tested properly.