Dawn crept over the Wen Clan estate with a quiet stillness that felt different from every other morning. The mist clung to the bamboo groves, drifting through the narrow paths like soft, pale ribbons. Birds sang, servants hurried through their routines, children stretched sleep from their limbs—but beneath it all, a faint current of nervous excitement stirred the air.
Today was the Spiritual Root Assessment.
Wen Chen stepped out from his room, fastening the small wooden clasp of his robe. His movements were calm and unhurried, exactly as he preferred—letting the world come to him instead of chasing after it. The morning breeze brushed past him, carrying faint scents of dew, crushed leaves, and incense from the clan temple.
He paused at the stone steps leading down into the courtyard and took in the estate with a slow breath. He enjoyed mornings like this—quiet, simple, ordinary. A small slice of peace before the noise.
But today's peace felt fragile.
Whispers followed him as he walked toward the main grounds.
"Is Wen Chen really participating?"
"I heard he barely shows his cultivation… maybe he's hiding something."
"Or maybe there's nothing to show."
Wen Chen heard every word, but his expression didn't shift. He didn't speed up. He didn't respond. He simply walked, letting the comments slide past him like drifting leaves on water.
People expected a reaction, but Wen Chen rarely gave the world what it expected.
At a corner, Wen Jian—his older cousin—fell into step beside him. Wen Jian looked tense, shoulders stiff, eyes scanning the surroundings.
"You're awfully calm for today," he muttered.
Wen Chen glanced at him. "Being anxious won't change the result."
Wen Jian let out a strained chuckle. "Some of us can't be as detached as you. Do you realize the elders will be watching closely?"
"Elders always watch closely," Wen Chen said. "Today just gives them an excuse."
Wen Jian blinked. "You're talking like you've already thought ten steps ahead."
"I have."
It wasn't arrogance. It was simply how Wen Chen approached everything—quietly observing, quietly processing. He liked understanding the flow of events before stepping into them.
They reached the central field where the clan gathered each year. The open space was already crowded: elders seated on raised platforms, parents whispering nervously, children chattering and fidgeting while waiting for their turn.
At the very center stood the Spiritual Root Crystal. Tall as a man, shaped like a smooth pillar, carved with flowing patterns, glowing faintly with shifting blue light. It hummed quietly, an ancient artifact waiting to judge.
Wen Chen swept his gaze across the elders. Most looked merely curious, but a few—those with more influence—wore sharp, calculating expressions.
Elder Wen Zemin, especially.
His narrow eyes gleamed like someone already hunting a prize.
Wen Chen's gaze met his for a brief moment. Wen Zemin smiled thinly.
Wen Chen's expression remained calm, but something in his gaze cooled subtly. He didn't like that smile. He didn't trust the old man's hunger.
One by one, children were called forward to place their hands on the crystal. Colors flared inside it: muddy brown for Earth Roots, pale blue for Water, warm red for Fire. The stronger the brightness, the higher the grade. The field echoed with cheers, groans, sighs, and occasional proud laughter as parents celebrated or worried about their child's future.
Wen Chen watched everything with quiet attention.
Which children displayed pride.
Which elders leaned forward.
Which parents looked nervous.
Which cultivators whispered among themselves.
Details mattered.
He wasn't excited like the others. He simply observed, mind steady as the breeze.
Wen Hao's turn came. He stepped forward confidently, puffing his chest. "Watch closely!" he declared, so loudly everyone could hear.
The crystal lit up with a bright mid-blue glow—High Water Root.
Wen Hao grinned triumphantly. "That's how it's done."
Several children clapped. Some parents nodded approvingly. The elder overseeing the test offered a polite, "Excellent talent."
Wen Hao turned to look at Wen Chen, smirking. "Think you can beat that?"
Wen Chen didn't respond. He didn't even blink. His silence irritated Wen Hao more than insults would have.
"Hmph! We'll see," Wen Hao muttered.
More children came and went. Some results impressed, others disappointed, but the process continued smoothly—until Wen Jian's name was called. Wen Jian swallowed hard and stepped forward. His hands trembled slightly.
Wen Chen watched him with a calm, steady gaze—not warm, but not cold either. Just… supportive in his own quiet way.
Wen Jian placed his hands on the crystal.
A bright yellow glow burst forth—High Earth Root.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Wen Jian froze, stunned. "I… I did it?"
Wen Chen nodded once. "You did."
Wen Jian let out a shaky laugh. "I can't believe it!"
His joy was contagious, though Wen Chen only allowed a subtle curve at the corner of his lips—a small, controlled smile.
Then the elder overseeing the assessment raised his voice.
"Wen Chen. Step forward."
Silence fell.
The crowd turned. The elders leaned forward. Curiosity, doubt, jealousy, fear—dozens of emotions swept through the field.
Wen Chen walked to the crystal steadily. No rush. No hesitation. Each step was calm and grounded, as though this moment belonged to him from the start.
He placed his hands on the crystal.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then the crystal shook.
Light erupted—blinding, brilliant, fierce. Not pale blue, not bright blue, but a deep, pure, surging azure that washed across the field like a wave. The ground vibrated. Children screamed. Elders stood abruptly. Even the sky seemed to brighten, as though answering the crystal's call.
Ripples of water-like light flowed from inside the stone, circling Wen Chen in spiraling patterns.
"P–peak grade…"
"Impossible!"
"How can a child like him—?"
"Peak Water Root… our clan hasn't seen one in decades!"
Voices exploded everywhere.
Wen Hao's face lost all color. Wen Jian stared in awe. Parents gasped, their hands covering their mouths. The elders whispered frantically, some trembling, some blinking rapidly.
Elder Wen Zemin rose slowly from his seat, eyes burning with greed.
"So… a treasure appears."
Wen Chen, still touching the crystal, breathed out slowly. The light soaked into his skin, cold and refreshing, like rainwater. But inwardly, his mind remained steady.
Strong. Unusual. Unexpected.
Useful.
But also dangerous.
He withdrew his hands calmly, even as the crowd trembled in shock. The crystal continued glowing even after he stepped away—something that had never happened during any assessment.
The elder in charge stammered, "Peak—Peak Water Root! Wen Chen, you—y-you've…"
But Wen Chen didn't wait for praise. He simply bowed politely. "Thank you."
Then he stepped aside, expression smooth and unreadable, even as every gaze followed him with disbelief.
The whispers were no longer whispers.
"They must protect him!"
"No, they must train him immediately!"
"He'll be targeted… a talent like this…"
"The clan elders will surely fight over him!"
Wen Chen breathed quietly and observed everything once more.
Which elders looked greedy.
Which looked anxious.
Which looked planning.
Wen Zemin most of all.
The man's stare dug into him like hooks. Wen Chen met it briefly—eyes cold, almost sharp. Instead of flinching, Wen Zemin smiled wider.
"That one is dangerous," Wen Chen thought.
He walked back to Wen Jian, who struggled to form words.
"Y-you… how…?"
Wen Chen tilted his head slightly. "We'll talk later."
As the testing continued in chaos, Wen Chen stood quietly, letting the world swirl around him. He didn't bask in the moment. He didn't brag. He didn't show excitement.
He simply existed in the calm center of the storm.
Strong. Silent. Watching.
Slice-of-life stillness inside cultivation-world chaos.
He already knew today changed everything.
He already knew peace would become a luxury.
He already knew eyes—friendly and hostile—would track his every step.
But he also knew one other thing:
He would not let anyone decide his path.
Under the bright morning sun, surrounded by astonished shouts and hungry gazes, Wen Chen lowered his eyes slightly and whispered to himself:
"Let them come."