The excitement surrounding the Annual Cultivation Aptitude Examination only grew stronger with each passing day.
Throughout the Yuan Clan Estate, conversations that once revolved around harvests, merchant caravans, and cultivation resources had all shifted toward a single subject.
Talent.
For the younger generation, talent represented opportunity.
For their parents…
It represented hope.
…
The morning sun had barely risen when the training grounds were already filled with the rhythmic sound of wooden swords colliding.
“Again!”
An instructor’s stern voice echoed across the courtyard.
“Lower your stance.”
“Don’t rush the strike.”
“Control your breathing.”
Young disciples repeated the same movements over and over again, sweat soaking through their training robes despite the cool morning air.
Among them were children only a year or two older than Yuan Tian.
Some trained because they wished to become strong.
Others…
Because they feared disappointing their families.
Not everyone carried a wooden sword.
Some practiced spear forms.
Others trained with staffs.
Several sat cross-legged beneath nearby trees, attempting to sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi for the very first time.
The atmosphere was completely different from only a few days earlier.
Everything felt…
Urgent.
…
Yuan Tian stood quietly beneath the shade of a flowering plum tree overlooking the training grounds.
As always…
He wasn’t watching who won.
He wasn’t watching who lost.
He watched everything else.
The way one disciple unconsciously clenched his jaw whenever he became nervous.
The way another constantly shifted his feet before every strike.
The instructor’s habit of correcting students from left to right instead of the nearest mistake.
Tiny details.
Details no one else seemed interested in.
“…Interesting.”
He whispered almost unconsciously.
“Young Master.”
A familiar voice called from behind.
Sister Lan approached carrying a small bamboo basket.
Lady Yue had clearly sent her to deliver breakfast.
“I knew I’d find you here.”
Yuan Tian smiled.
“You always do.”
“Because you always come to the same places.”
She handed him a steamed bun.
“You forgot breakfast again.”
“I wasn’t hungry.”
“You say that every morning.”
She folded her arms.
“If Lady Yue asks…”
“I’m telling her.”
Yuan Tian accepted the bun with both hands.
“…Thank you.”
Instead of eating immediately, he continued watching the training grounds.
Sister Lan followed his gaze.
“They’re all nervous.”
“They are.”
“Aren’t you?”
Yuan Tian thought carefully before answering.
“…I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“I’ve never had an aptitude examination before.”
“So I don’t know whether I should be nervous.”
Sister Lan couldn’t help laughing.
“You really think differently from everyone else.”
“I do?”
“You do.”
She smiled warmly before returning to her duties.
…
Not far away…
Yuan Zhen silently observed both his son and the training grounds.
He had intended to begin his own morning cultivation before sunrise.
Instead…
He found himself watching Yuan Tian.
Five years.
His son had grown far faster than he expected.
Not physically.
Mentally.
Sometimes…
He forgot Yuan Tian was still only five.
Other times…
His son would suddenly become fascinated by catching dragonflies or watching fish swim beneath the pond.
Those moments reminded him that Yuan Tian was still just a child.
“…Thankfully.”
He quietly murmured.
At least…
For now.
…
Leaving the training grounds behind, Yuan Zhen made his way toward one of the smaller practice courtyards hidden behind the western residences.
Very few people visited this place anymore.
The stone floor bore countless sword marks left by previous generations.
Several wooden training dummies leaned slightly from years of repeated strikes.
A faded weapon rack rested against the wall.
This had once been Yuan Zhen’s favorite place to train.
Back when people still called him the pride of Qinghe City.
He picked up a wooden sword.
Closed his eyes.
Took a slow breath.
Then moved.
Slash—
Step.
Turn.
Recover.
Every movement flowed naturally.
Years of discipline remained engraved within his body.
The sword cut through the morning air with surprising precision.
Again.
Again.
Again.
His breathing gradually deepened.
His movements became faster.
Sharper.
For one brief moment…
The young genius praised throughout Qinghe City seemed to return.
Then…
Pain.
A sharp ache spread through his meridians.
His grip weakened.
The wooden sword slipped from his fingers.
Clack.
It struck the stone floor.
Yuan Zhen instinctively grabbed his chest.
His breathing became uneven.
Cold sweat formed across his forehead.
“…Still…”
“…not enough.”
He remained standing in silence.
Waiting for the pain to fade.
It always faded eventually.
But…
It always returned.
No matter how many physicians examined him.
No matter how many pills he consumed.
No matter how desperately he trained.
His damaged meridians refused to heal.
The courtyard became quiet once more.
Only the distant sounds of children training reached his ears.
Yuan Zhen slowly bent down.
Picked up the wooden sword.
Looked at it for a long time.
Then…
Instead of continuing…
He gently returned it to the weapon rack.
“…Perhaps…”
“…today is enough.”
He turned to leave the courtyard.
Completely unaware…
That a small figure had quietly witnessed everything from beyond the half-open gate.
Yuan Tian lowered his eyes.
For the first time in his life…
He realized his father wasn’t simply a strong cultivator.
He was someone…
Who woke up every morning and fought a battle no one else could see.
Yuan Tian quietly stepped away from the courtyard.
He deliberately slowed his footsteps.
If his father discovered he had witnessed everything…
He would smile.
Pretend nothing had happened.
Then tell him not to worry.
Yuan Tian wasn’t sure why.
But he didn’t want his father to do that.
Some things…
People chose to carry alone.
…
By the time he returned to the eastern courtyard, the estate had become considerably livelier.
Servants hurried between residences carrying freshly washed robes.
Junior disciples practiced breathing exercises beneath the guidance of their instructors.
Several elders discussed the upcoming examination while sipping tea beneath a pavilion overlooking the lotus pond.
Life continued.
As though nothing had happened.
Perhaps…
That was adulthood.
The world never stopped simply because one person was hurting.
“Young Master Tian.”
A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
Elder Shen slowly approached, carrying several bamboo scrolls beneath one arm.
The elderly librarian rarely left the library unless necessary.
Seeing him here surprised Yuan Tian.
“Elder Shen.”
The old man smiled.
“I was looking for you.”
“For me?”
“I found something you might enjoy.”
He carefully handed over one of the scrolls.
Unlike the neatly copied books usually stored within the library, this one appeared considerably older.
Its edges had yellowed with age.
Several characters upon the cover had already faded.
“What is it?”
“A travel journal.”
Yuan Tian blinked.
“I thought the library only kept cultivation manuals and history books.”
Elder Shen chuckled.
“The Yuan Clan has existed for thousands of years.”
“We possess more than swords.”
“Some of our ancestors enjoyed writing.”
He gently tapped the scroll.
“This one belonged to an elder who traveled throughout the Human Realm over six hundred years ago.”
“He wrote down everything that interested him.”
Yuan Tian carefully accepted the scroll.
“…May I borrow it?”
“You were going to ask even if I said no.”
The little boy lowered his head.
“…Probably.”
The old man laughed heartily.
“Go.”
“But bring it back.”
“I will.”
As Elder Shen slowly walked away, he glanced back once.
His eyes lingered on Yuan Tian.
“…Curious children often see farther than talented ones.”
The words were so soft that even Yuan Tian failed to hear them.
…
That afternoon…
The western gate of the Yuan Clan opened.
A horse-drawn carriage slowly rolled into the estate.
Several servants immediately hurried forward.
“Second Master’s carriage has returned!”
Children abandoned their games.
Adults looked toward the entrance.
Even Yuan Tian found himself watching.
A middle-aged man stepped down first, followed by a woman carrying several neatly wrapped packages.
Behind them came two children.
One boy.
One girl.
Both appeared slightly older than Yuan Tian.
“They’re back.”
Sister Lan smiled.
“They went to another city?”
Yuan Tian asked.
“To purchase supplies for the examination.”
“That happens every year.”
The older boy immediately noticed Yuan Tian.
“So you’re Third Uncle’s son.”
His voice carried curiosity rather than arrogance.
“I’m Yuan Hao.”
Yuan Tian bowed politely.
“I’m Yuan Tian.”
Yuan Hao scratched the back of his head.
“My father says you read books every day.”
“I do.”
“…Is it fun?”
“Sometimes.”
“What do you read?”
“Whatever answers yesterday’s questions.”
Yuan Hao stared blankly.
“…Huh?”
Before Yuan Tian could explain, the young girl beside Yuan Hao sighed.
“I told you.”
“He’s strange.”
Yuan Hao immediately protested.
“Not strange.”
“Just…”
He searched for the right word.
“…Different.”
Yuan Tian smiled.
“I’ve heard that before.”
The three children quietly walked toward the inner courtyard together.
Neither of them realized…
This simple meeting would become the beginning of friendships that would shape countless years to come.
…
That evening…
As lanterns illuminated the estate, Lady Yue sat beside a low wooden table carefully sewing a new set of robes.
The fabric was plain.
Blue.
Without expensive embroidery.
Without decorative jade ornaments.
Yuan Tian quietly watched from across the room.
“…Mother.”
“Hm?”
“Is that for me?”
She smiled without looking up.
“It is.”
“…You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
The needle continued moving through the fabric.
“But I want to.”
Yuan Tian remained silent.
After several moments, he quietly stood.
Walked behind her.
And gently wrapped his small arms around her shoulders.
Lady Yue stopped sewing.
She smiled.
“…What’s this for?”
“I don’t know.”
“I just wanted to.”
For the first time that day…
She laughed.
A genuine laugh.
The kind that filled the entire room.
When Yuan Zhen entered moments later, he stopped at the doorway.
Neither his wife nor his son noticed him.
He quietly watched them.
A peaceful home.
A loving family.
Things he had nearly lost once.
He silently made himself another promise.
Even if his cultivation never recovered…
Even if he remained a disappointment in the eyes of others…
He would protect this family.
No matter the cost.
…
Late that night…
Moonlight reflected across the eastern pond.
Yuan Tian once again sat beneath the old willow tree.
The travel journal Elder Shen had lent him rested upon his lap.
He slowly turned another page.
Most entries described distant cities.
Mountain ranges.
Spirit beasts.
Ancient ruins.
Nothing unusual.
Then…
One sentence caught his attention.
“There are places where even Heaven refuses to leave its mark.”
He frowned.
What did that mean?
Before he could continue—
Dong—
A faint bell echoed somewhere impossibly far away.
Not from Qinghe City.
Not from the Yuan Clan.
Older.
Heavier.
The same sound he had heard before.
He looked toward the stars.
The night remained perfectly still.
Yet…
For a single heartbeat…
He felt as though someone…
Somewhere…
Was also looking back.
He slowly closed the scroll.
Tomorrow…
Only one day remained before the Annual Cultivation Aptitude Examination.