The air between them stayed still — thick with something unsaid.
Sheng Lian's eyes never left him. Her Qi didn't ripple, her breath didn't stir. But her silence spoke louder than thunder.
"You're not a genius," she said finally. "You're a fracture in fate."
Ren Wei looked down at his palm, where the last embers of his Qi breakthrough still flickered.
"I'm just catching up."
She took a step back, folding her arms behind her back. Her voice lowered, almost careful.
"The Heaven's Ring Platform will host its next challenge in three days. Normally, only Foundation Establishment cultivators are allowed to compete… but the Han Crest has submitted your name."
Ren Wei raised a brow. "Without asking?"
"They want you to make noise." Sheng Lian turned toward the door. "And if you fail, they'll say you were a stray dog they never claimed."
He smirked. "Then I'll bite louder."
Sheng Lian paused. She gave him one last glance, and for the first time — her tone lost its composure.
"Don't die, Ren Wei. You're… inconveniently interesting."
She vanished like mist.
---
Later, as dusk crept across the villa, Mei Rou approached with careful steps.
"Master Ren Wei," she said, bowing slightly. "This scroll was delivered by a servant of the Han Crest. It bears a message."
He took it wordlessly. As soon as his fingers touched the paper, the scroll unfurled on its own — golden light etching words into the air.
> **"Ren Wei. Your actions echo."**
> **"The Heaven's Ring Platform acknowledges your presence."**
> **"In three days, stand or kneel."**
The words shimmered — then burned away.
> *Ding!*
> **Public Trial Quest Activated: "Walk Untitled Among Heaven"**
> – *Survive the Heaven's Ring Duel*
> – *Optional: Win without weapon*
> – *Reward: Spirit Title (???)*
He didn't blink.
> "Three days is too long."
---
The next morning, Ren Wei walked to school on foot — no teleportation, no shortcuts.
The sun hung low behind the mist, and every step drew more attention than the last. Students whispered along the path.
"That's him, right? The one who crippled Liang Fei…"
"I heard he refused the Han Crest's offer."
"Doesn't he have two maids now? Who the hell even is he?"
He passed them like wind over ash.
Three students — loud, gold-badged, cocky — stepped into his path.
"Yo," one of them sneered, arms crossed. "Bringing your maids to shine your shoes again, street rat?"
Ren Wei stared at him.
He didn't speak.
Didn't raise a hand.
Didn't blink.
The student's grin faltered. His breath hitched.
Ren Wei stepped forward.
They stepped back.
---
He walked past them — clean, composed — as if nothing was there.
But in his mind, the system whispered:
> *Ding!*
> **Title Progress: "He Who Walks Uncrowned" – 34%**
---
As he stepped onto the school grounds, with the wind tugging at his uniform and the murmurs behind him growing louder, Ren Wei spoke to no one.
Just to himself.
> "So this is how it begins."
> "Let them watch."
As the school bell echoed through the halls, Ren Wei stepped out under a sky bruised with twilight.
He didn't take two steps before his instincts flared.
> *Ding!*
> **Minor Tracking Formation Detected – Origin: Li Family (Low Tier)**
> *Status: Neutralized.*
He didn't smile. He didn't flinch. He simply looked up and whispered,
> "They're not even trying to hide it."
He walked slower, letting the stalker behind him gain confidence.
A young man from the Li Family: Li Yuan stepped out from a noodle stall, fake surprise painted across his smug face.
> "Hey, isn't this the Han Crest's new charity case?"
> "I heard you live in a villa now. Must be nice, having rich women throw bones at you."
Ren Wei turned his head just enough for his eyes to lock with the fool's.
> "Come closer. I'll let you hear the bone break for real."
Li Yuan stiffened. His voice faltered.
But Ren Wei had already moved on.
---
At the villa, Su Yao awaited him.
The maid bowed slightly, eyes sharp like her mistress.
> "Lady Sheng Lian sends a message. She says your footwork is disgraceful."
She handed him a scroll wrapped in gray silk.
> **"Flowing Shadow Palm" – A Foundation-level Movement Technique**
> "Also," she continued, "she expects the Qi Harmonization Pill in 48 hours. For her advancement."
Ren Wei raised an eyebrow.
> "Tell her I'll do it—if she hands over her cultivation method. Fair trade."
Su Yao blinked, then smirked.
> "She predicted that answer. She accepts."
---
That night, while the city whispered in its sleep, a raven landed on his balcony.
A black scroll sealed with gold string dropped onto his table.
He read the note inside:
> "Ren Wei. Use this only if your life is one breath from ending.
> Do not misuse it.
> – Han Suiren."
Inside:
> **"Lone Radiance Slash" – One-time Sword Technique**
> → Requires Bloodline Catalyst
> → Draws from latent Dao memory
> *Ding!*
> **One-Time Skill Added: \[Lone Radiance Slash] (Locked – Bloodline Catalyst Needed)**
He stared at the blade beside him.
> "Suiren… I'll take your gamble."
---
Su Yao poured him tea quietly. Mei Rou lit incense from across the hall.
Two maids. Two crests. One storm.
Ren Wei ignored them both.
He sat in the center of his room, closed his eyes, and breathed in.
> *Ding!*
> **Cultivation Mode: Engaged**
> *Estimated Progress: Qi Refinement Level 6 → 7 (Pending)*
The world fell silent.
The storm within him did not.