Minutes stretched into hours as Lin Tian fought for mastery over the chaotic forces he had unleashed. Lesser cultivators might have surrendered to exhaustion or fear, allowing the energy to disperse and wasting the opportunity for advancement. But Lin Tian persevered, his concentration unwavering despite the mounting fatigue.

  Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the last of the purified energy settled into his dantian. Lin Tian opened his eyes, his breathing ragged but controlled, his vision blurry from exertion. When his sight cleared, he looked down to find his meditation robe soaked with sweat and blood.

  The room swam around him as he tried to stand, his legs refusing to cooperate after hours of immobility. He settled for shifting to a more comfortable sitting position, taking inventory of his condition.

  The difference was immediately apparent. His Qi core had expanded dramatically—nearly doubling in size—and the quality of energy it contained felt more refined, more potent. By his estimation, he had progressed halfway through the first stage of Qi Condensation in a single session, an achievement that would normally require weeks or even months of gradual cultivation.

  As his awareness expanded to encompass his entire body, however, Lin Tian noticed something troubling. Around his newly expanded core, dark spots of resistance disrupted the otherwise smooth flow of Qi through his meridians—like pebbles in a stream, creating turbulence where energy should flow freely.

  "Feng," he called out weakly, his voice hoarse from exertion. "You may enter now."

  The door slid open immediately, revealing Lin Feng's worried face. The attendant's eyes widened at the sight of blood staining his master's robes and the floor beneath him.

  "Young Master!" he exclaimed, rushing forward. "What happened? Should I fetch a healer?"

  Lin Tian raised a hand to forestall his panic. "No need. This is a normal reaction to rapid advancement. But I can sense some impurities next to my Qi core prohibiting proper flow. What can be done about them?"

  Lin Feng's concern gave way to astonishment as he processed his master's words. "Advancement? You've... but how? With those materials..."

  "The materials were sufficient," Lin Tian stated simply. "Now, about these impurities?"

  Lin Feng stared for a moment longer before collecting himself. "Of course, Young Master. You can push the impurities out through the top layer of your skin via your meridians. It's called body purification. All cultivators must perform this step periodically, especially after breakthroughs, as impurities naturally accumulate during Qi refinement."

  Lin Tian nodded thoughtfully. "I see. And the technique?"

  Still visibly stunned by his master's unexpected progress, Lin Feng knelt beside him. "You direct your Qi along specific meridian paths leading to the surface, essentially flushing out the impurities through your pores. It's... it's usually taught to disciples after their first breakthrough, which typically occurs months into formal training."

  "Show me," Lin Tian said simply.

  Lin Feng hesitated only briefly before guiding him through the basic motions. "First, gather your Qi at your dantian, then direct it outward in thin streams along these pathways." He traced lines on Lin Tian's arm, indicating the major meridians. "The key is constant pressure without excessive force. Too gentle, and the impurities remain lodged; too forceful, and you risk damaging the meridians themselves."

  Lin Tian closed his eyes again, following the instructions with careful precision. He gathered a small portion of his newly expanded Qi reserves and directed it as instructed, creating gentle pressure along the specified pathways.

  At first, nothing happened. Then, gradually, dark beads of oily substance began to form on his skin, oozing from his pores like black sweat. The process was uncomfortable but not painful—a sensation of internal pressure slowly releasing, like air escaping from a sealed container.

  "Excellent, Young Master," Lin Feng encouraged, clearly impressed by Lin Tian's immediate grasp of the technique. "The darker the excretions, the more impurities are being removed. This is... remarkably effective for a first attempt."

  Lin Tian continued the process methodically, working his way through each major meridian pathway. As the impurities were expelled, he could feel his Qi flow becoming smoother, more efficient. By the time he had finished, his skin was stained with dark residue, but the internal blockages had largely disappeared.

  "Fetch clean water," he instructed. "I need to wash before continuing."

  "Continuing?" Lin Feng echoed, alarm returning to his voice. "Young Master, with all respect, you should rest after such advancement. Your body needs time to stabilize the new energy patterns."

  Lin Tian studied his attendant's concerned face. The advice was sound—pushing too far too quickly risked meridian damage or even core instability. Yet time was a luxury he could ill afford with the resonance test looming.

  "Perhaps you're right," he conceded after a moment's consideration. "I'll rest for now and continue tomorrow."

  While his attendant was occupied, Lin Tian carefully examined the spirit stones he had used. All were completely drained, their crystalline structures now dull and lifeless. Such rapid depletion was unusual—typically, even low-grade spirit stones retained some residual energy after a cultivation session. The fact that he had completely exhausted them spoke to the intensity of his technique.

  Lin Feng returned with a basin of clean water and fresh cloths. As he helped Lin Tian wash away the dark residue, his expression remained troubled.

  "Young Master," he began hesitantly, "may I ask what method you employed? Such rapid advancement is... unusual, especially with such limited resources."

  Lin Tian considered his response carefully. Too much truth might raise unwanted questions, but an outright lie would be easily detected by someone as observant as Lin Feng.

  "I simply applied the principles Master Zhou taught us today," he replied, which was not entirely false. "His emphasis on precision and control over raw power proved particularly suitable for my situation."

  Lin Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. "Master Zhou only would teach stance forms and Qi circulation exercises today. Nothing that would explain..." He gestured at the blood-stained robes and drained spirit stones.

  "Perhaps I extrapolated beyond his explicit teachings," Lin Tian admitted with a small smile. "When one's resources are limited, one must find creative solutions."

  Rather than pressing further, Lin Feng simply nodded, though his expression suggested he remained unconvinced. "The sect's quarterly assessment archive contains records of various cultivation techniques. Perhaps I could access some advanced methods that might complement your... creative approach."

  Lin Tian recognized the offer for what it was—both a gesture of loyalty and a request for greater transparency. Lin Feng was essentially volunteering to risk punishment by accessing restricted materials, all to better serve a master whose methods he didn't fully understand.

  "That won't be necessary for now," Lin Tian said, accepting a clean robe from his attendant. "But I appreciate your willingness to help. In the future, I may indeed require your assistance with research."

  As Lin Feng helped him change, Lin Tian noticed the attendant's momentary hesitation when his bare torso was revealed. "Is something wrong?"

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  "Your meridians, Young Master," Lin Feng said, his voice hushed. "They're... visible."

  Lin Tian glanced down at his chest and arms. Indeed, faint blue lines could be seen beneath his skin, tracing the pathways of his major meridians. This was a sign typically associated with cultivators at the peak of Qi Condensation, not beginners who had barely formed a core.

  "An interesting side effect," Lin Tian remarked casually, though inwardly he recognized the potential complication. Visible meridians would attract attention, raising questions he wasn't yet prepared to answer. "Perhaps a result of the purification process."

  Lin Feng seemed to accept this explanation, though his eyes lingered on the glowing pathways as he helped Lin Tian into the clean robe. "They should fade as your Qi stabilizes, Young Master. Until then, it would be wise to avoid public bathing areas."

  Lin Tian nodded in agreement. The last thing he needed was more scrutiny from the sect. His performance in the evaluation had already drawn enough attention; visible meridians would only intensify the interest of those who might see him as either a threat or an opportunity.

  Once dressed, Lin Tian moved to the small writing desk in the corner of his quarters. Though his body craved rest, his mind remained active, analyzing the results of his cultivation session and planning his next steps.

  "Feng, what do you know about the Qi Resonance trial?" he asked, dipping a brush in ink.

  Lin Feng, who had been gathering the soiled robes, looked up in surprise. "The trial that Master Zhou mentioned? It's traditionally administered to disciples entering the Inner Sect. A test of raw power and control, meant to measure one's compatibility with the sect's foundational techniques."

  "And its specific requirements?"

  "The disciple must channel their Qi into one of the sect's ancient formation stones," Lin Feng explained. "The stone resonates with compatible energy signatures, creating a visible reaction proportional to the disciple's strength and control. A minimum threshold must be met for acceptance."

  Lin Tian nodded, beginning to sketch a diagram on the paper before him. "And this threshold—is it fixed, or does it vary?"

  "It varies by cultivation level," Lin Feng replied, moving closer to observe his master's work. "Inner Sect candidates are typically at the third or fourth stage of Qi Condensation, so the threshold is calibrated accordingly. For... for disciples at your current level, I'm not certain what standard would be applied."

  Lin Tian's brush moved smoothly across the paper, creating a complex array of interconnected symbols that Lin Feng didn't recognize. "If one's raw power is insufficient, are there methods to enhance the resonance response?"

  Lin Feng hesitated. "There are... rumors of techniques that can temporarily boost one's Qi output. Energy-condensing pills, meridian-expanding exercises, even certain breathing methods. But such shortcuts often come with severe drawbacks. Meridian damage, core instability, even cultivation deviation."

  "I'm not interested in shortcuts," Lin Tian corrected mildly. "Merely in optimization. If one cannot change the quantity of water in a river, one might still alter its course to flow more efficiently."

  He completed his diagram and set the brush aside, studying the result with critical eyes. To Lin Feng, it appeared to be some kind of cultivation circuit—a visual representation of Qi flow through specific meridian pathways. But the configuration was unlike any he had seen in standard sect materials.

  "Young Master, where did you learn this pattern?" Lin Feng asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

  Lin Tian smiled faintly. "I didn't learn it. I designed it."

  Lin Feng's eyes widened. "Designed it? But meridian manipulation patterns are developed by sect elders with centuries of cultivation experience. They require extensive theoretical knowledge and practical testing to—"

  "To ensure they don't cause harm, yes," Lin Tian finished for him. "This is merely a preliminary sketch, Feng. A hypothesis to be refined before implementation."

  What Lin Tian couldn't explain was that the pattern was based on energy circulation techniques he had mastered in his previous life. The underlying principles of efficient energy flow were universal, even if the specific applications differed between mana and Qi.

  "I see," Lin Feng said, though his tone suggested he didn't entirely. "Perhaps some rest would help clarify your thoughts, Young Master. Today's advancement was significant—your body needs time to adjust."

  Lin Tian had to admit the wisdom in this advice. Already, fatigue was clouding his thinking, making it difficult to concentrate on the complex calculations required for his diagram. He set the paper aside and rose from the desk.

  "You're right. We'll continue tomorrow."

  As Lin Tian settled onto his sleeping mat, Lin Feng extinguished the lamps and quietly withdrew. The attendant paused at the door, looking back at his master's now-resting form with a mixture of confusion, admiration, and lingering concern.

  I don't understand what has happened to you, Young Master, he thought, but whatever it is, I hope it brings you the strength you need for the trials ahead.

  Lin Tian lay awake for some time after Lin Feng departed, his mind still active despite his body's exhaustion. The expanded Qi core within his dantian pulsed with new energy, still settling into its increased capacity. He could feel the changes spreading throughout his body—meridians widening to accommodate greater flow, tissues becoming more receptive to spiritual energy, even his bones seeming to grow denser as they absorbed the refined Qi.

  These were promising developments, but far from sufficient. The resonance test would demand far more than he could currently provide. Even with his newly expanded core, he remained objectively weak by sect standards—perhaps at the first stage of Qi Condensation now, when Inner Sect disciples typically operated at the third or fourth.

  Yet strength was not merely a matter of raw power. Throughout history, lesser forces had overcome greater ones through superior strategy, positioning, and timing. The key was to identify and exploit the specific mechanics of the test itself.

  Lin Tian's thoughts drifted to Master Zhou. The elder had created the Observational Disciple category specifically to accommodate those who showed promise in areas beyond raw power. Would he truly design a test that could only be passed through brute force? Or would there be some alternative path—a way for the clever and resourceful to succeed despite their limitations?

  As sleep finally began to claim him, Lin Tian resolved to observe the testing apparatus closely before his turn came. Every system had its rules, and every rule had its exceptions. He would find them, as he always had.

  In the corridor outside Lin Tian's quarters, a shadow detached itself from the deeper darkness near the ceiling. It moved silently along the rafters, pausing only briefly at the adjacent window before disappearing into the night. Had Lin Tian not been so exhausted, he might have sensed the faint trace of Qi that lingered in the air—evidence that someone had been listening, watching, gathering information.

  But Lin Tian slept, unaware of the ripples his unusual advancement had already begun to create throughout the sect. By morning, rumors would begin to spread. By midday, certain interested parties would be making discreet inquiries. And by the time the resonance test arrived, Lin Tian would find himself facing challenges beyond what even his considerable experience had prepared him for.

  The game had changed. The stakes had risen. And in the complex web of sect politics, a former trash disciple with inexplicable abilities had just become a piece worth watching.

  Dawn broke over the Eastern Pavilion, bathing its jade-tiled roof in golden light. Inside, Master Zhou sat in meditation, his ancient face impassive as he processed the report he had just received from his most trusted disciple.

  "You're certain?" he asked without opening his eyes.

  The kneeling figure before him bowed lower. "Yes, Master. The meridians were clearly visible beneath his skin—a sign typically associated with peak Qi Condensation cultivators. Yet his core was formed mere days ago."

  "And the method he employed?"

  "Unorthodox, Master. He arranged the spirit stones in a resonance array and processed the herbs using techniques I've never seen before. The energy compression he achieved should have been impossible with his limited cultivation base."

  Master Zhou's eyes finally opened, revealing sharp pupils that belied his apparent age. "Impossible, yet accomplished nonetheless. Interesting."

  He rose from his meditation cushion and moved to the window, gazing out at the sect grounds below. In the distance, he could see the Crescent Moon Spring where today's specialized training would take place.

  "Continue your observation," he instructed. "Report any further anomalies directly to me. And ensure that no one else becomes aware of your assignment."

  "Yes, Master." The disciple hesitated before adding, "There is one more thing. After his cultivation session, he sketched a meridian circulation pattern unlike any in our sect archives. It appeared to be his own creation."

  Master Zhou's eyebrows rose fractionally—the closest he came to expressing surprise. "Bring me this sketch if you can obtain it without detection."

  "As you command, Master."

  As the disciple departed, Master Zhou returned to his contemplation. The "trash" disciple was proving far more interesting than anticipated. Whether this represented opportunity or threat remained to be seen, but one thing was certain—Lin Tian was no ordinary cultivator.

  Perhaps it was time to accelerate the testing process. To push the boy beyond his limits and see what emerged from the crucible of pressure. After all, true potential revealed itself most clearly in moments of crisis.

  Master Zhou smiled faintly. The Crescent Moon Spring would provide the perfect venue for such a test.