The morning sun hit the Azure Cloud Sect like it had somewhere else to be, and the outer disciples were already moving, muttering, and stretching like life itself had personally wronged them. I rolled out of the dorm, blinking at the brightness and trying not to trip over my own feet.
Mingyu was nowhere in sight, probably still recovering from yesterday's fiasco with the wooden swords. Honestly, good for him. Some things are better witnessed from a distance.
I yawned, stretching. "Alright, new day, new opportunities… and probably new ways to almost die. Let's do this."
---
We gathered in the courtyard, where Luo Fen, our ever-threatening instructor, looked as intimidating as ever. His sharp eyes scanned the outer disciples like he was slicing through our very souls.
"Today," he barked, voice cutting through the morning chatter, "we test your ability to awaken hidden talent. Only those who push themselves will advance."
The outer disciples groaned. To me, it sounded like another casual Tuesday. Push myself? Cool. I'll push, but let's keep it interesting, shall we?
We were each handed a jade orb the size of a fist. Luo Fen explained: channel your Qi into the orb. If it reacts… well, you might discover your hidden talent.
I held the orb, inspecting it. Great. Another magical object. Probably won't explode if I breathe wrong. Probably.
The disciples around me started frantically pushing their Qi into their orbs. Sparks flew, or smoke, or in one unfortunate case, an orb shot upward and barely missed a tree before exploding into a puff of green smoke. Mingyu was screaming somewhere in the chaos.
I tilted the orb slightly, letting my Qi flow naturally. Nothing flashy, nothing showy. Just smooth, controlled energy. The orb hovered, pulsing faintly. That was enough. It wasn't screaming "look at me," but it wasn't normal either.
Luo Fen's eyes narrowed. "Li Tianlan… your Qi… unusual. Step forward."
I raised an eyebrow and walked up casually. "Unusual, huh? Cool. Let's not make it a big deal."
---
After a few minutes of testing, I realized the orb responded almost instinctively to my movements. Small shifts, subtle tilts, changes in breath — the orb followed naturally. I glanced at the other disciples, who were sweating and muttering, clearly struggling to control their orbs.
Huh. This is… easier than expected. Weirdly satisfying.
Luo Fen watched me silently, clearly uncomfortable with my calm demeanor. Some things in life, you just don't explain.
---
After practice, we were allowed a short break. Mingyu appeared, face pale. "Brother Li… how are you not sweating? Or panicking?"
I shrugged. "Honestly? Sweating is overrated. Panicking? Even more so. Life's more fun if you just… roll with it."
He blinked. "Roll with it? You mean you're not scared?"
"Scared? Nah. Interesting? Definitely."
---
Later, as I wandered near the outer training field, a commotion caught my attention. A wolf-like creature, larger than any wolf I'd seen on Earth, had wandered into the courtyard. Outer disciples screamed, jumping onto benches and waving sticks like desperately ineffective wands.
I walked closer. Great. A wolf. Or something that wants to eat people. Okay. Step one: stay calm. Step two: assess the threat. Step three: make it look easy, because that's fun.
The creature growled, baring sharp teeth. Mingyu whimpered behind me.
I crouched slightly, letting Qi circulate naturally. Not trying to show off. Not trying to show off. Just surviving… casually.
The wolf lunged at a flailing disciple. I sidestepped, letting the energy around me guide my movement. It was instinctual, precise, like moving in a rhythm I didn't have to think about.
Huh. This is fun. I get it. Survival, strategy, zero panic.
With a flick of Qi, I nudged a small stone, distracting the wolf. It snarled and turned, not expecting the subtle redirection. The outer disciples stared, mouths open, probably wondering if they were witnessing luck or talent.
"Relax," I muttered to Mingyu. "It's just a big dog. A very angry, deadly dog. But still… a dog."
---
The rest of the day was spent practicing with my orb and quietly observing others. I noticed subtle patterns: the way Qi flowed differently in each person, how some overexerted and others hesitated. All of this was data — interesting, useful, and entertaining.
I wasn't showing off. I was learning. I was calm. And I was secretly thinking about strategies no one else could imagine.
By evening, Luo Fen pulled me aside. "Li Tianlan… your talent is remarkable. Keep this up. But remember, unusual power draws attention."
I nodded. "Noted. Attention's overrated anyway. Subtlety is underrated."
---
Later, I found a quiet spot near the edge of the training grounds. The moon hung low, silver and calm. I let Qi pulse through me, feeling the flow, the rhythm, the potential.
Tomorrow, I thought, more training, more challenges. Maybe more weird creatures. Maybe more chaos. Good. I like chaos.
Mingyu stumbled over, looking pale and exhausted. "Brother Li… don't you ever get scared?"
I smiled faintly. "Scared? Only of running out of snacks. Everything else… we deal with as it comes."
And with that, I leaned back, watching the stars. The sect, the mountains, the creatures, the challenges — all were part of the world now. I was calm, I was ready, and I had no reason to hide who I was. To everyone else, I was just a bit different. That was enough.
Let's see what tomorrow brings.