Li Yun’s performance had once again stunned the examiners. His mastery of the breathing technique was far beyond what any of them had anticipated. The sect leader’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than before, though his expression remained unreadable. However, that single glance from the sect leader was enough to set off a silent ripple throughout the elders and even the examinees.

  A surge of competitiveness ignited within the remaining candidates. Some clenched their fists, some gritted their teeth, and others immediately began focusing on refining their own techniques, trying desperately to replicate Li Yun’s flawless execution. One by one, the examinees stepped forward, each performing their own version of the technique. While some managed a passable display, none could match Li Yun’s level of refinement.

  In the end, all 21 examinees passed—except for one. A boy named Xue Yan stood alone, beads of sweat forming on his brow. His hands trembled as he demonstrated the technique. While he had grasped the basics, it was clear he hadn’t fully comprehended it. His qi flow was unstable, his breathing erratic. The head examiner frowned deeply before shaking his head. “Xue Yan, you have failed.”

  Before Xue Yan could plead his case, a soft sound—like the rustling of fabric—filled the air. The librarian appeared behind him in an instant, her hand grasping his shoulder with an iron grip. “Come along now, dear,” she said, her voice eerily gentle. “Rules are rules.”

  Xue Yan’s face turned pale as he struggled, but it was useless. In a blink, the librarian dragged him toward the depths of the library, her figure vanishing into the swirling mists that clung to the entrance. A sharp silence filled the air. No one dared to speak. No one dared to ask what would become of him.

  They had all seen worse.

  The head examiner cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence. “Well done, examinees. The second exam is now concluded. You may return to your dorms and rest.”

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  Hearing this, everyone began descending the mountain, their bodies weary but their minds racing with everything that had transpired. Li Yun, however, remained deep in thought. While the second exam had pushed his mental capabilities to the limit, he couldn’t shake an unease that settled in his gut. Why had the system stated that the second exam was “set”? What did that mean? And why was there such a long gap between the second and third exams?

  Unbeknownst to him, he had gained the attention of not just the sect leader but another individual as well—an elder whose interest in him had gone far beyond mere curiosity.

  High above, unnoticed by both the examiners and her fellow elders, a woman stood upon the air itself, her presence hidden within the drifting clouds. She was known as the Wandering Sky Elder, head of the Shadowmist Peak, a hidden sect within the greater Heavenly Cloud Sect. Her movements were like whispers on the wind, invisible to all but those attuned to her presence. She had been watching Li Yun closely since the beginning of the exam. Something about him called to her, something familiar yet unknown.

  She needed him. No, she craved his potential.

  As the examinees returned to their quarters, she followed Li Yun, unseen and unheard, her form blending seamlessly into the very fabric of the sky. She observed everything—the way he moved, the way he carried himself, the subtle shifts in his qi. She followed him from the dorms to the training grounds, from the well to the quiet walkways where he paced in thought. It was an urge she could not resist.

  For two days, she remained in the shadows, content with simple observation. But on the third night, her curiosity became unbearable. She took a risk.

  Under the cover of darkness, she moved closer—so close that she could feel the rhythmic flow of qi within him as he slept. His body naturally absorbed the energy around him, pulling it inward with an efficiency she had never seen in someone so young. His mere presence stirred the air, as if the heavens themselves recognized him.

  She watched, entranced, as his breathing synchronized with the energy of the world itself. It was mesmerizing.

  Until his eyes snapped open.

  In a fraction of a second, Li Yun moved. His sword was in his hand, its edge resting against the elder’s throat before she could react. His pupils burned with a cold, calculating light as he growled, “Who are you? And what are you doing here?”

  For the first time in centuries, the Wandering Sky Elder found herself at a loss for words.