The terrace felt different now.
Not because the island had changed.
But because Shunya had changed.
The threads were clearer.
Not fully visible.
But no longer abstract.
They had direction.
Weight.
Intent.
Shunya stood in the center of the platform, breathing steadily.
The system pulsed quietly.
[Network Perception — Stabilizing]
Lei Tian stood a few steps away, arms crossed.
Feng Xia watched from the side, silent but focused.
The elders observed from the lower terrace.
No one spoke.
This was not a lesson anymore.
This was a test.
Lei Tian lifted one hand.
Threads appeared instantly.
Dozens of them.
Then hundreds.
The air around Shunya filled with faint glowing lines, weaving together into a shifting web of energy.
This time—
They were faster.
Denser.
Sharper.
Shunya narrowed his eyes.
"Trying to overwhelm me." Lei Tian smiled slightly.
"Trying to teach you."
The threads moved.
Not all at once.
In waves.
The first wave surged forward like a net.
