Li Yun stood outside the dormitory, staring up at the celestial sky, the weight of the system’s words lingering in his mind. “Second Exam conditions set.”

  Set? Not announced? What the hell did that mean? The ambiguity unsettled him. Was the challenge already in motion? Had he unknowingly begun the trial? These questions buzzed in his mind like an endless swarm of locusts, each whispering doubt and speculation.

  Letting out a slow breath, he pushed those thoughts aside. Thinking too much wouldn’t give him answers. He needed rest.

  With silent steps, he made his way back into the dormitory, where the soft sounds of deep slumber filled the air. The moment he entered, a fist shot toward him.

  Reacting instinctively, Li Yun caught the incoming strike just before it reached his jaw. His crimson gaze locked onto Jiu Tang’s narrowed eyes, the younger Tang heir glaring at him.

  “Where the hell were you?” Jiu Tang hissed in a hushed tone. “Everyone thought you were dead. Some of them were happy about it.”

  A scowl flickered across Li Yun’s face, but it quickly melted into a smirk. Feared enough that his death was celebrated? Good.

  Jiu Tang pulled his hand back, lowering his voice even more. “You missed it. They already announced the second exam is tomorrow.”

  Li Yun froze. Wait, what?

  “…You weren’t listening, were you?” Jiu Tang sighed, rubbing his temples. “I swear, for someone who’s supposed to be a genius, you really space out at the worst times.”

  Embarrassed but unwilling to admit it, Li Yun simply rolled his eyes and made his way to his bed. He undressed, brushing off the lingering tension from the day, washing his face in the cold water basin before slipping into his nightwear. The exhaustion of relentless training and battle settled into his bones, but his mind still hummed with questions. What would tomorrow bring?

  Still, dwelling on it wouldn’t help. Rest now. Conquer tomorrow.

  He closed his eyes.

  The crack of dawn came too soon.

  Golden light streamed through the wooden windows, glaring straight into Li Yun’s face. He groaned, rolling over, but it was useless. The dormitory was already stirring, men groaning as they woke to face the new day.

  What greeted him next made him pause.

  A long line of boys outside the bathroom, all of them standing with crossed legs, squirming as if they were about to burst.

  One of them caught sight of Li Yun and immediately nudged the others. Within seconds, the entire dorm fell silent, and they all took a step back from the door, clearing a path for him.

  Li Yun blinked. “…What?”

  Jiu Tang, still half-asleep, snickered from his bed. “Congrats, you traumatized the entire dormitory. After last time, no one wants to risk pissing you off over a toilet.”

  Li Yun ran a hand through his hair, smirking slightly before heading toward the bathroom. When he emerged, the moment the door clicked shut behind him, chaos erupted as the dormitory boys scrambled for their turn. Watching them shove each other, desperate to claim the next spot, Li Yun couldn't help but chuckle.

  He dressed in his signature white-and-gold robes, adjusting the golden embroidery along the cuffs as his fingers brushed the intricate dragon patterns woven into the fabric. His swords, polished to a gleaming silver, hung securely at his waist, their weight a reassuring presence. He flexed his fingers, feeling the subtle hum of energy coursing through his veins.

  Today was important.

  The air was thick with an unspoken tension, the kind that settled in before a storm. He didn’t know what was coming, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t prepared. His heartbeat was steady, his breath controlled, but there was something in the air—something unshakable—that made him feel as though the moment he stepped forward, he would be walking into the unknown. And yet, despite the uncertainty, a smirk tugged at his lips. Let them come. He would face it head-on, as he always did.

  An hour passed.

  The guards arrived, the same two from the first exam. As they lined up, the guards checked their plaques once more, ensuring everyone present was still eligible.

  “Move quickly,” one of them grunted. “The female examinees are waiting outside.”

  As expected, whispers spread through the crowd the moment they stepped outside. The female examinees were already gathered, their gazes flickering toward the male participants. Some were studying their potential competition, while others openly stared at Li Yun, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright admiration.

  “Is that him?” one whispered.

  “The white-haired one? Yeah, that’s Li Yun.”

  “He’s way too handsome for his own good…”

  Li Yun ignored the murmurs, his focus locked on what was ahead. The guards led them past the administration building, veering left instead of up the mountain. The path twisted sharply, leading them up another set of beautiful, towering stone stairs. Unlike the ones leading to the coliseum, these stairs ascended far higher. The higher they climbed, the thinner the air became, forcing some to reinforce their lungs with Qi just to keep pace.

  At the top stood a massive, lone structure—a tower so tall it seemed to scrape against the sky itself, its uppermost levels disappearing into the swirling clouds. The edifice was forged from ancient, silver-gray stone, each block etched with intricate patterns resembling flowing mist, as though the tower itself had been sculpted from the very heavens. Ethereal blue lanterns flickered along its base, their ghostly glow casting wavering shadows against the mist-covered ground. A strange hum resonated from within, as if the very walls held whispers of forgotten knowledge. Mist clung to its surface, shifting and twisting like phantom tendrils, curling around the towering monolith as if reluctant to let go. It radiated an overwhelming sense of mystery, a gate to an unknown world where only the worthy dared to tread.

  Above the towering entrance, a plaque of polished jade gleamed faintly, engraved with golden calligraphy that read:

  “Heavenly Misty Library.”

  Li Yun raised an eyebrow. “…‘Misty’ as in literal water vapor?”

  A quiet chuckle escaped him. Basic name.

  The heavy black doors creaked open. From within the shadows, the head examiner emerged, his usual authoritative tone replaced by something softer. Almost… sympathetic.

  “Welcome, examinees, to the second trial.” He gave them all a once-over before continuing, “This exam will not test your strength. Instead, it will test your mind.”

  Murmurs spread through the crowd, some sighing in relief while others paled in horror. Li Yun caught Jiu Tang’s smirk, and he returned one of his own. They both knew—this test wasn’t going to be easy.

  “The rules are simple,” the examiner continued. “You will have three hours inside the Heavenly Misty Library. Your goal? Find what you need to pass. That’s it.”

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  Silence. Confusion flickered across everyone’s faces.

  “…That’s it?” someone finally whispered.

  The examiner’s eyes gleamed. “However, there are two conditions. One—you may not harm others. Two—you may not make a single sound.”

  The moment the words left his lips, an eerie chill settled over the examinees. A few looked around, uncertain, their expressions flickering between curiosity and apprehension. The air itself seemed to thicken, the weight of the unknown pressing down on them like an invisible force. Then, with a deep, resonant creak, the colossal doors groaned open, revealing a vast, towering space inside. A rush of cool air swept past them, carrying the faint scent of aged parchment and something indefinably arcane. Beyond the threshold, an impossible expanse of knowledge stretched endlessly, its presence beckoning and foreboding all at once.

  “Your three hours begin now.”

  Without hesitation, the crowd rushed inside.

  The interior of the library was impossibly vast.

  Endless bookshelves stretched into the heavens, some floating mid-air, others embedded seamlessly into the marble floors and walls as if they had grown there over centuries. Each shelf pulsed with a faint, golden luminescence, their ancient wooden frames seemingly untouched by time. The books themselves exuded an ethereal glow, some faint and gentle, others burning like miniature suns, as though the very knowledge they contained was too vast for the mortal mind to comprehend. Stairs twisted in unnatural directions, spiraling into the air without visible support, leading to pathways that defied logic—bridges that vanished mid-step only to reappear elsewhere, ladders that extended infinitely into an unknown void. The air thrummed with an ancient energy, thick with the weight of countless forgotten secrets, as if the very knowledge within the books carried a will of its own, whispering to those who dared to reach for them. A faint mist curled through the vast expanse, carrying the scent of parchment and ink mixed with something more elusive—something that smelled of destiny itself.

  And yet… Li Yun felt it before he saw her.

  A frail-looking old woman stood near the center, her silver hair neatly tied in a bun, a peaceful smile on her face. She looked like any ordinary librarian.

  Then—

  DANGER. DANGER. DANGER.

  The system’s warning screamed in his mind, an urgent, blaring siren.

  Immediate threat detected. Do not engage. Do not approach. Probability of survival—0%.

  Li Yun stiffened. What the hell?

  As the thought crossed his mind, another boy—frustrated—let out an annoyed shout.

  In a blur, the old woman vanished and reappeared next to him.

  With a sickening snap, she broke his arm.

  “You broke the rules, dear.” Her voice was eerily calm as the boy screamed. “No talking in the library.”

  She tossed him aside. The doors slammed shut.

  Silence.

  This really is the most unforgiving exam.

  The boy’s screams faded into nothingness as the massive doors of the Heavenly Misty Library slammed shut, sealing them inside. The air grew heavy, thick with tension as all eyes flickered between the discarded examinee writhing in pain and the elderly librarian, who had returned to her place as if nothing had happened.

  Li Yun felt his pulse slow, not out of fear but sharpened focus. The system’s alert still echoed in his mind.

  Immediate threat detected. Probability of survival—0%.

  He knew the system was rarely this dramatic. That meant this old woman wasn’t just a simple librarian.

  The lesson was clear—absolute silence.

  He turned his gaze away from the trembling examinees who now dared not breathe too loudly and instead focused on his surroundings. He had a three-hour time limit. That was all the instruction given. But if there was anything Li Yun had learned from past experiences, it was that cryptic trials like this had an unspoken rule: figure it out yourself.

  The library was massive, impossibly so. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would have thought it was its own separate realm. The vastness of it stretched beyond logic, with staircases that twisted mid-air, floating bookshelves suspended in nothingness, and pathways leading to unseen destinations. Some shelves stood upside-down on the ceiling, while others disappeared into the walls as though they had been swallowed by the building itself. It was a labyrinth of knowledge, an endless ocean of secrets.

  Li Yun’s crimson gaze narrowed.

  Three hours. No instructions. A silent guardian capable of breaking bones with a flick of her wrist. And a hundred examinees all scrambling for an answer.

  His lips curled upward. This is getting interesting.

  Without a word, everyone dispersed, moving carefully through the aisles and staircases. Some worked in pairs, exchanging hushed gestures, while others scoured the shelves with quiet desperation.

  Li Yun, however, remained still, his mind working through the puzzle. What exactly were they supposed to find?

  "Find what you need to pass."

  That could mean anything. A book? A manual? A hidden artifact?

  Then, an idea struck him.

  If there’s something hidden here, wouldn’t the system be able to help me locate it?

  He activated the system in his mind, sending a silent inquiry. A few moments later, a response flickered before his eyes.

  [Limited Assistance Available.]

  Unlocking "Qi-Sensing Eyes" for 5 Star Shards.

  A martial art that enhanced his ability to see traces of qi? That sounded exactly like what he needed.

  Li Yun didn’t hesitate.

  [Purchase Confirmed.]

  The moment he accepted, a tidal wave of information flooded his brain. His vision swam, turning blinding white as an unbearable pressure crushed his mind. He staggered, his knees nearly buckling under the weight of the influx. It was different from his previous purchases—this one was violent, overwhelming, like a river forcing its way into a narrow stream.

  His nails dug into his palm as he forced himself to endure. Breathe. Process. Control.

  After what felt like an eternity, the pressure snapped away, and when his vision cleared—everything had changed.

  The world around him was no longer the same.

  Bookshelves that had once seemed ordinary now pulsed with different hues of energy. Some radiated a soft, dull glow—ordinary books, nothing worth noting. Others gleamed a bright blue, containing some traces of qi. But then, scattered among them, were golden radiances—scrolls and manuals bursting with dense, refined energy.

  Li Yun’s lips twitched. That’s what I need.

  He didn’t waste a second. With swift, silent steps, he moved through the aisles, bypassing shelves filled with mundane texts. His new vision allowed him to navigate with precision, filtering through the noise and narrowing in on the truly valuable tomes.

  Then—he saw it.

  Tucked away, hidden within the shadows of a towering shelf, was a single golden scroll. Unlike the others, its radiance was richer, its aura more profound, as if centuries of wisdom had been meticulously etched into every fiber of its parchment. The glow it emitted was not just golden—it shimmered with a shifting iridescence, flickering between deep amber and molten gold, as though the energy within it was alive, pulsing in anticipation of being discovered. Unlike the other manuals that merely sat upon their shelves, this one exuded an undeniable gravitational pull, beckoning the worthy to reach out and claim its secrets.

  Li Yun’s instincts screamed at him.

  This is the key.

  He reached out, his fingers brushing against the aged parchment.

  Ding!

  [Congratulations, Host! You have discovered the hidden piece required to pass the exam!]

  A rush of relief filled him, but he didn’t celebrate yet. Carefully, he unrolled the scroll, scanning its contents. His brow furrowed.

  It was… a breathing technique?

  The instructions were intricate, filled with ancient terminology that didn’t quite match the common cultivation techniques he had studied before. The complexity of it made his head ache, but Li Yun was no stranger to deciphering difficult texts.

  Still, this technique was deliberately convoluted.

  He frowned. This wasn’t something he could just brute-force. He needed control, precision, understanding.

  And then—

  “System, assist in analyzing the breathing method.”

  [Understood. Providing real-time guidance.]

  A warmth spread through his chest as the system guided him, breaking down the steps into simpler, manageable pieces. Li Yun sat down in the lotus position, shutting out all distractions as he began the technique.

  The results were instantaneous.

  The moment he followed the correct breathing rhythm, he felt a surge of qi rush into his dantian. It was refined, purer than any he had ever absorbed before. It coiled inside him like a sleeping dragon, dense and untamed, pressing against the walls of his meridians.

  A satisfied smirk curled his lips. This technique is powerful.

  Time passed. One by one, his former teammates discovered their own golden scrolls. He gave them a subtle nod, gesturing for them to follow suit. As expected, each of them sat down, immersing themselves in the same technique.

  And then—they waited.

  Eventually, only 22 examinees had managed to find their way to the entrance, scrolls in hand. The rest? Still lost, searching blindly.

  The final five minutes dragged on painfully for those still scrambling. And then, just like that—

  The doors groaned open.

  The head examiner stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the remaining examinees. “Before you pass, you must demonstrate what you have learned.”

  Li Yun stepped forward first. With perfect control, he executed the breathing technique, drawing in the surrounding qi with an elegance that seemed almost effortless. It looked divine, supernatural even.

  The examiner’s eyes widened.

  …And in that moment, high above, the sect leader watched with interest.

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