On the eve of the Inner Sect Preliminary Assessment, the Ziyang Sect's outer sect fell into an unprecedented silence. The sounds of fist practice and sword-art chants that usually carried through the night had vanished without a trace. Only the low, mournful chirping of insects echoed in the darkness, making the surroundings seem all the quieter. Nearly all the Outer Sect Disciples chose to rest early. After all, tomorrow's assessment would determine whether they could enter the inner sect, affecting their future cultivation resources and standing within the sect. No one wished to drain their energy through late-night training and impair their performance.
Only in the open space before Room C were two moving figures still illuminated beneath the bright moonlight, exceptionally conspicuous.
Shen Hao held the Basic Flying Sword that had accompanied him for so long, repeatedly practicing the integration of sword forms and footwork. He stood as steady as a tree rooted in the Green Stone ground, yet his movements were astonishingly swift. Missteps, turns, leaps, and evasions—each motion flowed into the next without the slightest hitch, as though it had always been meant to be so. Moonlight spilled over him, outlining his upright figure. Cold light flickered from the flying sword in his hand; every slash, thrust, and upward stroke perfectly matched his footwork. Wherever the Sword Light passed, it stirred fierce gusts that sent fallen leaves on the ground whirling into the air.
After these days of tempering, his sword forms and footwork were no longer two separate parts, but had truly fused together, becoming part of his body. His movements grew increasingly fluid and fierce. Every gesture carried the faint charm of clouds drifting and water flowing. Even the most basic three sword forms, when displayed in his hands, exuded an extraordinary sharpness.
Shen Hao's gaze remained fixed on the empty space before him, as though an invisible opponent stood there. His breathing was calm and deep. Each strike of his sword was accompanied by controlled breathing; spiritual energy circulated through his body, surging along his meridians into his limbs and bones before gathering at the sword tip, making that ordinary Basic Flying Sword seem almost sentient. Sweat slid down from his temples and dripped onto the Green Stone floor, spreading into small dark marks, yet he was wholly unaware, still immersed in his own world as he repeated those forms again and again.
Not far away, Zhang Shan was also training diligently. He held a handwritten copy of Basic Footwork Technique, pausing from time to time to glance at it before continuing to move his feet. His Basic Footwork Technique had already reached a considerable level. As his steps shifted and turned, his figure swayed, faint afterimages appearing in his wake. Yet at certain turns, there was still a trace of stiffness, making his movements seem insufficiently smooth and rounded. Beads of sweat covered Zhang Shan's forehead, sliding down his cheeks and soaking his collar. He merely raised a hand to wipe them away before continuing his hard practice, his eyes filled with determination.
The moonlight was like water, pouring over the open space and coating the bluish-gray stone slabs with a soft silver glow. It also illuminated the almost reverent focus on the two men's faces.
Who knew how much time passed before the moon at the horizon gradually slanted westward and the night grew deeper still. Shen Hao finally sheathed his sword and stood still, its tip resting against the ground as he panted softly, his chest rising and falling with each breath. He raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his temple, then turned toward Zhang Shan, who was still practicing hard. A faint smile lifted his lips as he said, "Junior Brother Zhang, take a break. Tomorrow is the day of the assessment. Conserving your strength is the right path—don't wear yourself out."
Only upon hearing Shen Hao's voice did Zhang Shan stop moving. He turned around and walked over to Shen Hao while breathing heavily. A hint of unconcealed nervousness showed on his face, and his eyes carried unease. "Senior Brother Shen, do you think... we can really pass the assessment? I just can't shake this uncertainty."
There was a barely perceptible tremor in his voice. After all, there were only one hundred Inner Sect Disciple slots, while several thousand Outer Sect Disciples would participate in the assessment. The intensity of the competition was easy to imagine. His cultivation was only at the Early Qi Refining Second Layer, hardly remarkable among so many disciples. If he had not trained alongside Shen Hao these past days and progressed so rapidly, he likely would not even have had the confidence to take part in the assessment.
Seeing how nervous he was, Shen Hao reached out and patted his shoulder, certainty filling his eyes. "Don't worry. As long as we perform as well as we usually do, we'll definitely make it. Don't overthink it. Go back and get a good night's sleep, restore your energy, and tomorrow we'll go to the Training Ground together and show them what we can do."
His voice was calm and powerful, carrying a strength that put others at ease.
Zhang Shan looked into Shen Hao's confident eyes and felt the warmth from his shoulder. The nervousness in his heart gradually faded, replaced by soaring fighting spirit. He nodded heavily, light igniting in his eyes. "Yes! Tomorrow, we'll definitely pass the assessment and become Inner Sect Disciples!"
The two chatted a little longer in the open space about their cultivation insights. Zhang Shan spoke of the difficulties he had encountered while practicing footwork, and Shen Hao patiently gave him a few pointers, telling him how to adjust his center of gravity and how to make spiritual energy better complement his steps. Only when the night had grown still deeper did they return to their respective rooms.
Shen Hao closed his door, completely shutting out the silence of the outside world. He walked to the bed and sat down cross-legged. Taking the warm Companion Jade Pendant from his robes, he held it in his palm, slowly closed his eyes, and infused it with a thread of spiritual energy.
Green light flickered as the jade pendant emitted a faint halo. The Spirit Devouring Vortex within his dantian also began to turn slowly, absorbing the scattered spiritual energy permeating the air. Shen Hao did not use any Spirit Stones. He knew clearly that what mattered most now was not raising his cultivation, but stabilizing his newly attained Perfected Qi Refining Third Layer and bringing himself to peak condition.
Spiritual energy slowly flowed through his meridians, gently nourishing his limbs and bones. The exhaustion brought on by his earlier training also gradually faded away.
The night deepened. Outside the window, the moonlight grew ever brighter, passing through the lattice and spilling into the room, coating the ground in a layer of silver frost. After an unknown length of time, Shen Hao slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. It condensed in midair into a white ribbon that lingered for a long while. His aura was steady and deep, his eyes clear and bright. His entire condition had been adjusted to its best.
He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, yet the scene at tomorrow's Training Ground surfaced uncontrollably in his mind. He seemed to see that jade-white Spirit Testing Pillar, the brilliant green light glowing upon it, the arena for the Combat Competition, and the opponents rubbing their fists and preparing for battle.
Tomorrow would be the moment that decided his fate.
Shen Hao clenched his fist, his knuckles whitening slightly as anticipation filled his heart.
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