The imperial academy's entrance trials were announced two weeks later.
Every major noble family would send their best young cultivators.
In the original timeline, this was where Kael publicly humiliated himself again.
This time would be different.
Kael stood in the Viremont courtyard as servants prepared his travel arrangements.
He wore formal heir robes — black and deep crimson.
Elegant.
Controlled.
No excessive decoration.
Morvain approached him personally.
"You will represent the clan at the academy trials," the elder said.
"I will," Kael replied.
"Do not create unnecessary enemies."
Kael looked at him calmly.
"I don't create enemies."
Morvain's eyes narrowed slightly.
"They create themselves?"
"Yes."
The elder studied him for a moment, then nodded once.
The academy plaza was crowded when Kael arrived.
Young cultivators from dozens of families gathered.
Foundation Realm was the minimum entry.
Core Formation youths were rare.
Aric Vale stood near the center.
Calm.
Composed.
Surrounded by quiet admiration.
He had broken through to Core Formation Early recently.
His rise was fast.
Clean.
Impressive.
The crowd parted slightly when Kael approached.
Whispers spread.
"That's the Viremont heir."
"He recovered quickly."
"They say he's different now."
Kael ignored them.
Aric turned when he felt the shift in presence.
Their eyes met across the plaza.
Silence stretched for a moment.
Aric stepped forward first.
"You recovered faster than expected," he said evenly.
"Yes," Kael replied.
Aric studied him carefully.
"You've changed."
"Yes."
Aric frowned slightly. "You're not acting like before."
"I wasn't impressed with before."
A few nearby cultivators stiffened at the tone.
Aric's expression remained calm.
"You challenged me last time recklessly."
"And lost," Kael said calmly.
Aric didn't deny it.
"Do you want a rematch?" Aric asked.
"Not yet," Kael replied.
That answer surprised him.
"Afraid?" Aric asked lightly.
Kael shook his head.
"No."
He stepped slightly closer.
"You're Core Formation Early," Kael said. "If we fight now and I lose, it proves nothing. If I win, it embarrasses you."
Aric's eyes sharpened.
"You're confident."
"Yes."
Silence settled between them again.
Aric sensed it now.
Kael's Foundation aura felt dense.
Not ordinary.
Heavy.
Controlled.
Different.
"You're aiming for something," Aric said.
"Yes."
"What?"
Kael's lips curved faintly.
"Efficiency."
A horn sounded across the plaza.
The academy trial was beginning.
Elders from the imperial academy appeared on the elevated platform.
The first test would be a pressure field examination.
Cultivators would step into a formation array and endure spiritual suppression.
Those who lasted longer ranked higher.
Aric walked toward the array without hesitation.
Kael followed.
Inside the array, pressure descended immediately.
Spiritual force compressed against meridians.
Foundation Realm cultivators began sweating instantly.
Some stepped back.
Aric stood steady.
Core Formation stabilized him easily.
Kael stepped forward into deeper range.
The pressure increased.
He did not flare outward.
He compressed inward.
His chaotic circulation adjusted to the suppression.
Instead of resisting directly, he reshaped the incoming force and dispersed it.
His breathing remained steady.
Observers on the platform exchanged glances.
"That one is unusual," one elder murmured.
"Viremont heir," another replied.
"His aura feels… dense."
Aric glanced sideways.
Kael stood beside him.
Unmoved.
Foundation Late.
Yet enduring nearly equal pressure.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
After several minutes, weaker participants collapsed.
Only a handful remained.
Aric.
Kael.
And two others.
The pressure increased again.
Aric's Core Formation held firm.
Kael's meridians trembled slightly.
But he did not retreat.
He pushed one step deeper.
The ground cracked faintly beneath his foot.
The crowd gasped.
Foundation Realm pushing beyond natural limit.
Aric watched carefully.
"You're overextending," he said quietly.
Kael did not look at him.
"No."
His Qi compressed tighter.
Not exploding.
Not straining wildly.
Structured.
He stood there until the horn signaled the end.
The pressure vanished.
Kael exhaled once.
Calm.
Controlled.
Aric looked at him differently now.
Not as reckless villain.
As rival.
The rankings were announced.
Aric — first.
Kael — second.
Whispers spread rapidly.
The Viremont heir had nearly matched the empire's rising genius despite being a realm lower.
As the crowd dispersed, Aric approached him again.
"You're accelerating too quickly," Aric said.
"Yes."
"That path is unstable."
Kael met his gaze evenly.
"Only if you don't control it."
Aric studied him one last time.
"This won't end quietly."
Kael nodded once.
"I don't expect it to."
Back at the Viremont estate that night, Kael cultivated longer than usual.
Foundation Late had stabilized further.
Core Formation was not far.
If he absorbed another strong source—
He could attempt breakthrough soon.
The timeline had shifted.
The protagonist was aware.
The academy had noticed.
Good.
He preferred clarity.
Because from this point forward—
There would be no misunderstanding.
They were rivals.