The crystal sphere pulsed wildly under Shunya's hand, colors shifting like a storm trapped in glass. Murmurs rippled through the plaza. Some cultivators leaned forward in fascination, others recoiled as if he might explode.
Halden raised a hand, and silence fell again. His eyes narrowed, sharp as steel.
"Assistant," he ordered.
The robed figure with the scrolls leaned forward, his lips moving as he studied the chaotic glow. Then he straightened, voice steady but curious.
"Name recorded as Shunya . Rank Hard, but the soul signature does not match any stable pattern. No corruption detected, yet resonance is inconsistent with known records."
Whispers surged through the crowd. Unstable resonance. Not corruption, not weakness, but something unknown.
Halden's gaze stayed fixed on Shunya. "Inconsistent with known records," he repeated slowly. The words carried weight, like a blade being sharpened.
Shunya forced a nervous smile. "Maybe the crystal is broken? Happens sometimes, right?"
