The road east curved gently through rolling hills, the settlement fading behind them like a bad memory best left untouched.
Li Yun walked at a steady pace, neither rushing nor slowing, each step measured. His body felt different after the completion of the Main Quest—denser, more responsive, as if the earth itself acknowledged his presence more readily.
Stage 5 of Body Tempering.
For ordinary cultivators, reaching this stage could take years of grinding practice, elixirs, and guidance. For Li Yun, it had taken blood, pursuit, and the silent approval of a system that cared nothing for comfort.
Su Yan kept pace beside him, her steps lighter now, though the suppression seal still bound her cultivation tightly. Her eyes moved constantly, scanning the terrain ahead, behind, above.
"You're walking like someone who belongs on these roads," she said after a while.
Li Yun glanced at her. "That's dangerous thinking."
She allowed herself a faint smile. "It's also necessary."
The mountains ahead rose higher, sharper, their peaks cutting into drifting clouds. Somewhere within those ranges lay sects—small and great—each flying its own banner, preaching its own path to power.
The system stirred.
---
[Main Quest Active.]
[Objective: Enter the Cultivation World.]
[Sub-Objective Detected: Evaluate potential cultivation forces.]
[Time remaining: 29 days 14 hours.]
---
Li Yun slowed slightly.
"So it won't just accept any sect," he murmured.
Su Yan caught the change in his tone. "The system?"
"Yes. It wants evaluation."
She nodded as if that confirmed something she already suspected. "Then listen carefully. Not all sects are worth joining—especially for someone like you."
"Someone like me?"
"A variable," she said simply.
They crested a low ridge, and the land opened up before them.
Below lay a broad valley carved by an ancient river, its banks lined with fields, spirit farms, and stone roads. At the valley's center stood a massive gate—twin pillars of dark stone carved with flowing runes.
Cultivators streamed toward it from all directions.
Some wore refined robes, escorted by attendants. Others traveled alone, weapons at their sides, eyes sharp with ambition or desperation.
Above the gate, a banner fluttered.
Azure River Outer Assembly
Li Yun stopped.
"So this is one of them," he said quietly.
Su Yan's gaze sharpened. "Not a sect. An entrance."
She pointed toward the valley. "Assemblies like this screen candidates. Minor sects recruit here. Major sects observe."
Li Yun absorbed that.
A filtering ground.
The system activated again.
---
[Location identified: Azure River Outer Assembly.]
[Purpose: Candidate evaluation / recruitment.]
[Threat level: Moderate → High (social).]
[System Advisory:]
• Conceal true foundation
• Avoid excessive display of strength
• Observe before engagement
---
Li Yun almost smiled.
"Even it knows this place is dangerous."
They joined the flow of cultivators heading toward the gate.
As they approached, Li Yun became acutely aware of the scrutiny. Eyes lingered on posture, breathing, gait—subtle indicators of cultivation level and confidence.
A young man in fine robes scoffed as Li Yun passed. "Another drifter hoping for a miracle."
Li Yun ignored him.
A pair of older cultivators exchanged glances when they sensed his aura—confused, uncertain.
"Body Tempering… but strange," one muttered.
Su Yan leaned closer. "You're attracting the wrong kind of attention."
"I know."
They reached the gate.
Two guards stood at its base, both in uniform robes marked with the Azure River emblem. Their cultivation was solid—late Qi Condensation—more than enough to suppress troublemakers.
"Name and origin," one guard said flatly.
"Li Yun," he replied. "From Blackstone City."
The guard paused.
The name meant nothing—but the city did.
His eyes lifted, studying Li Yun more closely. "Blackstone… was destroyed."
"Yes."
A beat of silence passed.
"Proceed," the guard said finally. "Assembly grounds only. Cause trouble, and you'll be removed."
Li Yun inclined his head and stepped through.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the system reacted sharply.
---
[Boundary crossed.]
[Cultivation World Entry: Confirmed.]
[Hidden Condition Met.]
---
A subtle pressure settled over Li Yun—not oppressive, but evaluative, like unseen eyes brushing against his soul.
---
[Passive Effect Applied: Concealment (Minor).]
[True foundation masked from standard detection.]
---
Li Yun exhaled quietly.
Inside the valley, the atmosphere was thick with ambition.
Stone platforms had been erected in wide circles, each marked with symbols representing different sects. Some were crowded with hopefuls demonstrating techniques. Others remained empty, waiting.
At the valley's far end, elevated on a natural terrace, stood several figures seated behind low tables.
Observers.
Su Yan's voice dropped. "Those are not recruiters. They're judges."
Li Yun nodded slowly.
This was not a simple entry point.
It was a sieve.
And only those who passed through it—by strength, cunning, or fate—would take their first true step into the cultivation world.
The system chimed softly, almost approvingly.
---
[Stage unlocked: Candidate Phase.]
[Next evaluation trigger: Pending.]
---
Li Yun straightened his back.
Whatever awaited him here—humiliation, challenge, or blood—it would decide the direction of the next thirty days.
And beyond that…
Everything.
---
The Azure River Outer Assembly was louder than it first appeared.
Voices overlapped in controlled chaos—cultivators boasting softly, recruiters negotiating in half-whispers, weapons clinking as restless hands shifted their grips. Spiritual energy flowed unevenly through the valley, distorted by hundreds of breathing patterns, techniques, and hidden ambitions.
Li Yun walked slowly through the central grounds.
He did not rush toward any platform.
That alone made him stand out.
Most candidates hurried—eager to demonstrate, desperate to be seen. Those who lingered were either confident… or ignorant.
Su Yan noticed the glances immediately.
"They're watching you," she murmured.
"I know," Li Yun replied. "Let them."
The system remained quiet, but its earlier advisory echoed clearly in his mind: observe before engagement.
They stopped near the edge of a stone platform marked with a simple emblem—three intersecting lines forming a river knot. Only a handful of candidates stood there, most of them nervous, shifting their weight.
A middle-aged cultivator in gray robes addressed the group. "This platform belongs to the Riverfold Sect. We value stability and obedience. Those seeking reckless power should leave now."
Several candidates hesitated… then stepped back.
Li Yun did not move.
The recruiter's eyes flicked toward him, then away.
Su Yan leaned closer. "Riverfold is cautious. Too cautious. They'll never nurture someone like you."
"I'm not here to join them," Li Yun replied quietly.
Before she could ask more, a sharp laugh cut through the air.
"Well, well. Another drifter pretending to be calm."
Li Yun turned.
A young man stepped forward from a nearby platform, robes embroidered with silver thread, posture relaxed yet unmistakably dominant. His aura was openly released—Qi Condensation, solid and refined.
Behind him stood several followers, all wearing the same insignia.
The Stonecloud Sect.
The young man's gaze fixed on Li Yun with thinly veiled disdain. "You walked past three recruitment platforms without stopping. Either you're blind… or arrogant."
Several eyes turned toward them.
The system reacted instantly.
---
[Provocation detected.]
[Public confrontation risk: High.]
[System Restriction Applied:]
• Excessive force discouraged
• Reputation impact active
---
Li Yun felt it—a subtle pressure, not on his body, but on his choices.
This was not a fight he could end decisively.
Not here.
Not yet.
He met the young man's gaze calmly. "I'm neither. I'm deciding."
The Stonecloud disciple sneered. "Deciding? You think you're being evaluated?"
He stepped closer, voice dropping just enough to carry. "People like you exist to be stepping stones."
Su Yan stiffened.
Li Yun placed a hand lightly in front of her.
"Back," he said quietly.
She hesitated—then obeyed.
Li Yun looked back at the Stonecloud disciple. "Name."
The young man smiled, pleased. "Han Zhen. Inner disciple of Stonecloud Sect."
The name rippled through nearby candidates. Respect. Fear.
Han Zhen continued, "I'll give you advice. Choose a sect quickly. Otherwise, someone might test how much you're worth."
Li Yun nodded once. "Advice received."
Han Zhen's smile faded slightly.
"That's it?"
Li Yun met his eyes. "For now."
The system chimed softly.
---
[Behavior evaluated.]
[Result: Restraint acknowledged.]
[Reputation modifier stabilized.]
---
Han Zhen studied Li Yun for a moment longer, then scoffed. "We'll see how long that calm lasts."
He turned and walked away, followers in tow.
Whispers spread immediately.
"Did you see that?"
"He didn't bow."
"Who is he?"
The system updated again.
---
[Attention escalation detected.]
[Future rival registered: Han Zhen.]
[Rivalry type: Asymmetric (Growth-based).]
---
Su Yan exhaled slowly. "That was deliberate. He wanted you to strike."
"I know," Li Yun said.
"And you didn't."
"Not yet."
They moved on.
At the center of the valley, a large gong resonated, its sound rolling across the assembly like thunder.
All conversations ceased.
An elderly man stepped onto a raised platform, his presence alone silencing the crowd. His cultivation was hidden, yet unmistakably vast.
"Candidates," he said calmly. "The first evaluation begins now."
The system reacted.
---
[Evaluation Event Initiated.]
[Phase 1: Aptitude and Control.]
[Instruction: Step forward when called.]
---
Li Yun's heartbeat slowed.
This was it.
Not a battle.
Not yet.
A test designed to expose weaknesses.
And the system, for the first time since awakening, did not offer guidance.
It simply waited.
---
The valley fell into absolute silence.
Hundreds of candidates stood motionless as the elderly evaluator raised one thin, veined hand. The air itself seemed to tighten, as if the land were holding its breath.
"This evaluation," the old man said calmly, "is not about power."
A ripple of surprise passed through the crowd.
"It is about control."
With a light tap of his staff against the stone platform, dozens of crystal pillars rose from the ground in a wide circle. Each pillar shimmered faintly, filled with swirling mist-like energy.
"Step forward when your name is called," the evaluator continued. "Place your hand on the pillar. Release only what you can control."
Several candidates swallowed hard.
Releasing too little meant poor aptitude.
Releasing too much meant backlash—meridians damaged, reputation ruined.
Li Yun felt the system stir.
---
[Evaluation detected: Aptitude & Control.]
[System Advisory: Maintain concealment.]
[Restriction Applied: Output limit enforced.]
---
He felt it clearly now.
A ceiling.
The system had imposed a limit on how much strength he could display.
Not because he couldn't exceed it—but because exceeding it here would be dangerous.
Su Yan leaned in slightly. "This test exposes arrogance more than weakness," she whispered. "Be careful."
Li Yun nodded faintly.
Names were called one by one.
Some candidates stepped forward confidently, releasing steady streams of qi that caused their pillars to glow brightly. Others faltered, hands shaking, mist sputtering weakly before dissipating.
A few cried out in pain as their pillars flared violently—then shattered.
They were escorted away immediately.
Han Zhen stepped forward when his name was called.
His movement was smooth, practiced. He placed his palm on the crystal and released his qi with perfect composure. The pillar glowed a rich, stable blue, mist swirling evenly inside.
Murmurs spread.
"Excellent control."
"As expected of Stonecloud."
Han Zhen withdrew his hand and glanced sideways—straight at Li Yun.
A challenge.
Li Yun remained unmoved.
Then—
"Li Yun."
The name echoed across the valley.
Dozens of eyes snapped toward him.
Li Yun stepped forward.
Each step felt heavier than the last—not from fear, but from awareness. This was the moment where perception hardened into judgment.
He placed his palm on the crystal pillar.
It was cold.
The system's restriction tightened subtly, like a steady hand on his shoulder.
---
[Output cap: Active.]
[Recommended release: Minimal-stable threshold.]
---
Li Yun inhaled once.
Then released.
Not qi surging outward—but alignment.
The spiritual energy around him responded instantly, flowing into the pillar in a calm, controlled stream. The mist inside did not flare.
It stabilized.
The pillar glowed softly—not bright, not dim—but perfectly even.
Silence fell again.
The evaluator's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That is… unusual," he said.
Several recruiters leaned forward.
Su Yan's breath caught.
Han Zhen frowned.
The mist inside the pillar did not fluctuate at all. No spikes. No turbulence.
Pure control.
After several breaths, the evaluator raised his hand. "Enough."
Li Yun withdrew his palm.
The pillar remained intact.
More than intact—it was unchanged, as if it had never been stressed.
Whispers erupted.
"That level of control…"
"He barely released anything."
"No… that's not barely. That's precision."
The system chimed quietly.
---
[Evaluation result recorded.]
[Assessment: Exceptional control / concealed depth.]
[Observer interest increased.]
---
The evaluator looked directly at Li Yun. "Your cultivation level?"
"Body Tempering," Li Yun answered truthfully.
The old man studied him for a long moment, then nodded once. "Proceed."
Li Yun stepped back.
Only then did he realize his palms were damp—not with sweat, but with residual energy he had carefully held back.
Su Yan leaned closer, voice barely audible. "You just became dangerous."
"I was already dangerous," Li Yun replied softly. "Now they know it."
The gong sounded again.
"Phase One concludes," the evaluator announced. "Phase Two will begin at sunset."
A pause.
"Combat evaluation."
The valley stirred.
Some candidates smiled.
Others paled.
The system activated once more.
---
[Next Evaluation Phase: Combat.]
[System Advisory: Increased exposure risk.]
[Note: Rival interference probability high.]
---
Li Yun's gaze flicked briefly toward Han Zhen.
Their eyes met.
This time, Han Zhen did not smile.
He was calculating.
And far above them, on the elevated terrace, one of the silent observers finally spoke.
"Keep an eye on that one," she said calmly. "He doesn't belong at the bottom."
Li Yun felt it—not as sound, but as weight.
The cultivation world had noticed him.
And it would not look away again.
---