It was evening. Everyone should have been tired, but not Ruyan.
"Father! Did you see that Shen Liang?!" she exclaimed, hurrying toward her father, one of the Seven Weapon Pillars, Hua Muzhen.
"I did," he replied calmly. "And what do you think of him, Xiao Ruyan?"
The girl hesitated, her brow furrowed. "I… I believe he was stronger than me."
"Wrong."
Ruyan froze, shocked. How could a boy who outperformed her in the trial be weaker than her?
Hua Muzhen placed a sheet of paper on the table and began to draw, his hands steady. "In fact, he is at most average in raw strength. What sets him apart is his intelligence and strategic thinking."
He traced lines and notes across the page. "He knew exactly where the monsters' weak points were, down to the individual muscle strands, and used that knowledge to maximize efficiency. Most people rely on power. Shen Liang relies on calculation. That is why he surpassed others."
Ruyan's lips parted slightly, admiration and disbelief mingling in her expression.
"So… do you want him as yours?"
Ruyan's cheeks warmed immediately, a mix of frustration and embarrassment tightening her chest. She hesitated, words caught somewhere between thought and speech.
"W-Well… if he's qualified enough…" she murmured, barely meeting her father's gaze.
Hua Muzhen threw back his head and laughed, the sound rich and contagious, filling the room. "Hahaha! Just tell me, and I'll make it happen for my precious daughter!"
Ruyan pressed a hand to her face, hiding the faint flush creeping across her cheeks. Despite herself, a small, reluctant smile slipped past her lips.
...
The next day arrived swiftly, sunlight spilling over District 13 like liquid gold.
Balance: 356,002,500,000 Coins
+2,500,000 Coins income from business revenue
"What a wonderful sight first thing in the morning," Shen Liang murmured to himself as he packed his bag, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips.
"Uncle Guang, I'm off!" he called, swinging the bag over his shoulder with effortless ease.
As the main sponsor of Spire Nexus, Hua Muzhen had little trouble hosting the Guardian Selection for his beloved daughter.
"No need to sign up! Just walk into the stadium and wait for your turn," the vice-grandmaster's voice boomed through a device, amplifying her words across the massive arena. "But remember—placement doesn't guarantee selection. If the Pillar of Sword sees that you are worthy, you will be chosen!"
The arena buzzed with activity as students poured in. Many of their peers simply took seats along the sidelines, choosing to observe rather than compete. Some knew their limits too well to risk facing the more formidable contenders.
...
It was finally time. Every attendant stood at attention inside the arena, awaiting their turn.
Each participant would face off against a series of determined users, each wielding a different skill—swords, guns, fists, daggers, magic, and even alchemy.
But before any match could begin, there was one barrier: the Status Seer. This device measured each student's estimated power score. Only those with a minimum score of 250 could advance to the final round.
The tension in the arena was palpable as the first students were scanned, the glowing numbers floating above their heads like a silent judgment. Success or failure would be decided not just by skill, but by whether the Status Seer deemed them worthy.
"250…?" Shen Liang's eyes flicked toward Hua Muzhen, seated high above the arena. He muttered under his breath, "You bastard… giving me the wrong intel."
Apparently, the source planted within the Hua family had been removed. The power score he had expected—200—had now shifted unexpectedly.
A sly grin tugged at the corner of Shen Liang's lips as he glanced at the Pillar of Sword himself. Muzhen, seeing only the smile, likely interpreted it as mere confidence.
"Isn't that boy confident, Ruyan?" Hua Muzhen chuckled, the sound warm and amused.
Ruyan's silver-white eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of intrigue crossing her face. "Hmph… overconfidence can be dangerous," she muttered, though she couldn't hide the faint trace of curiosity in her tone.
The so-called White Crystal Flower—cold, distant, and untouchable—had her carefully curated image shattered by nothing more than a blonde-haired boy with piercing ruby-red eyes.