The announcement of the outer disciple assessment changed the atmosphere overnight.
Conversations grew quieter. Laughter became rare. Even Zhang Wei complained less, spending more time sitting cross-legged with his eyes shut, brows tightly furrowed as if glaring at the qi itself.
Li Chen noticed everything.
At Lingxi Field, fewer people slacked off. Some disciples finished their tasks quickly and rushed away, clearly planning to cultivate elsewhere. Others stayed longer, hoping diligence might earn them a better evaluation.
Li Chen kept the same pace as always.
Not slow. Not fast.
The system remained quiet, but its presence felt clearer than before, like a shadow that moved only when he did.
[Host :- Li Chen]
[Qi Stability: 18%]
[Body Refinement: Middle Stage — Stable]
Stable.
That word mattered more than the numbers.
One afternoon, while carrying tools back to storage, Li Chen overheard raised voices near the path.
"You think just because you reached Middle Stage you're impressive?"
"Say that again."
Li Chen slowed.
Two youths stood facing each other. One was tall and thin, his robe slightly cleaner than most. The other had a sturdy build and clenched fists.
The thin youth sneered. "Assessment's coming. Weaklings should know their place."
The sturdy youth flushed red but did not move.
Li Chen recognized the thin one.
Sun Hao.
An outer disciple who had entered the sect half a year earlier. Rumors said he had an uncle in the inner sect.
Li Chen turned away.
He had no interest in watching trouble.
But trouble followed anyway.
Later that evening, as Li Chen returned to the quarters, Sun Hao blocked the entrance, arms crossed.
"You're Li Chen, right?"
Li Chen stopped. "Yes?"
Sun Hao looked him up and down. "You're assigned to Lingxi Field."
"Yes."
Sun Hao chuckled softly. "That field's been improving lately. Overseer noticed."
Li Chen's heart sank slightly.
"Luck," Li Chen said calmly. "The crops responded."
Sun Hao stepped closer. "Luck doesn't last forever."
Li Chen met his gaze, expression unchanged.
Sun Hao studied him for a moment, then smirked. "Assessment's in three weeks. If you don't want trouble, don't stand out."
He stepped aside.
Li Chen walked past without another word.
That night, Zhang Wei whispered urgently. "Sun Hao talked to you, didn't he?"
Li Chen nodded.
"That guy's annoying," Zhang Wei muttered. "But people say he's close to Late Stage Body Refinement."
Late Stage.
Li Chen closed his eyes.
[System Notice]
[Threat Level: Low]
[Recommendation: Maintain Current Progress]
Low.
But not zero.
The following days, Li Chen felt subtle pressure.
Nothing direct.
Just eyes lingering a little too long. Conversations stopping when he approached. Overseer visits becoming more frequent at Lingxi Field.
Li Chen responded by doing less.
He allowed the field's qi to disperse naturally again. The leaves dulled slightly, returning closer to their original state.
The overseer stopped coming.
[System Notice]
[Environmental Influence Reduced]
[Risk Level Lowered]
Li Chen exhaled quietly.
That night, while cultivating, he felt the familiar pressure again.
Stronger.
Middle Stage was no longer the limit.
He could feel the threshold to Late Stage clearly now, like a thin wall waiting to be crossed.
Li Chen opened his eyes.
Not yet.
He remembered the system's words.
Controlled advancement.
Assessment was coming. Advancing too early would draw attention. Advancing during the assessment… that would be safer.
He slowed his breathing deliberately, suppressing the surge.
The qi settled obediently.
[System Notice]
[Breakthrough Suppressed Successfully]
Li Chen lay back on his mat, staring at the ceiling.
He was not excited.
He was alert.
Three days later, outer disciples were summoned again.
A simple announcement.
"Assessment rules confirmed," the middle-aged cultivator said. "Combat is prohibited. Rankings will be determined through endurance trials, qi stability tests, and contribution records."
A murmur spread.
No combat.
Sun Hao's smile stiffened.
Li Chen lowered his head, hiding a faint curve at the corner of his lips.
Endurance.
Stability.
Contribution.
Those were not flashy.
But they were exactly what he had been building.
That night, Li Chen cultivated under the stars once more.
The qi flowed smoothly, restrained yet ready.
Somewhere inside him, a gate waited.
And when the time came, it would open quietly, without warning, leaving everyone else one step behind before they even realized it.