I reached the academy a little earlier than usual.
The place was quieter than it used to be. Not silent, just missing people. I noticed it on the road first. Fewer students walking in groups. Less noise near the gates.
When I entered the classroom, it was obvious.
Several desks were empty.
I counted them without meaning to. It wasn't hard. Almost a third of the class hadn't shown up.
That answered a lot of questions on its own.
Most of the people who failed to awaken a talent probably decided not to continue. Some would transfer to normal schools. Some would start working early. Some might come back later, but most wouldn't.
Martial arts wasn't for everyone, and this world didn't pretend otherwise.
The students who were here had already chosen to stay on this path.
I sat down and leaned back in my chair.
A few classmates were talking quietly. Others stared at their desks or scrolled through their notes. No one looked excited. No one looked lost either. It felt like everyone was thinking about the same thing, just in their own way.
I rolled my shoulders once to loosen up.
"Guess today's about seeing where everyone stands," I thought.
Instructor Hale walked in a few minutes later.
He paused briefly near the door, probably noticing the empty seats, then went to the front without commenting on it.
"It's been five days since the Awakening Ceremony," he said. "Today's evaluation is for students who plan to keep cultivating."
That was all he needed to say.
"This isn't a ranking," he continued. "After today, attendance is flexible. The school won't force you to sit in class if you prefer to manage your own training."
A few people straightened in their seats when they heard that.
"What matters," he added, "is that you understand your current level and plan properly."
No one spoke.
Everyone here already knew what this meant.
We were led to the academy's internal training hall.
Compared to the public Martial Hall, this place felt calmer. No outsiders. No spectators. Just students and instructors moving through things at a steady pace.
Qi and Blood machines were lined up along the wall.
"Qi and Blood check first," Instructor Hale said. "Results will be recorded."
Students stepped forward one by one.
"Qi and Blood: 51."
"Qi and Blood: 56."
"Qi and Blood: 60."
Most numbers were a bit higher than before awakening. Five days was enough for some improvement, especially for those who trained seriously.
Some students looked relieved when they saw their results. Others looked disappointed but didn't say anything.
When my name was called, I stepped forward and placed my hand on the machine.
The familiar hum started.
Qi and Blood Value: 80
I nodded and stepped away.
Five days ago, I had been at seventy. Getting to eighty took effort, but it wasn't strange. Training had gone smoothly, and I hadn't pushed past my limits.
A couple of people glanced in my direction. No one said anything out loud.
Instructor Hale checked the screen.
"That's good progress for five days," he said. "Your foundation looks stable."
Then he moved on to the next student.
I went back to my spot and waited.
After everyone finished, Instructor Hale gathered us in the center of the hall.
"From here on, Qi and Blood won't rise as easily," he said. "Early growth is fast. After that, every increase takes more work."
Several students nodded. Some already looked tired just thinking about it.
"To officially break through and become a First-Level Martial Artist, you need 150 Qi and Blood," he continued. "That number is the first real wall."
I did the math in my head without trying to.
Eighty to one hundred still felt manageable. Past that was where things would slow down a lot.
Instructor Hale moved on to cultivation techniques.
"The academy provides basic cultivation techniques," he said. "They're not rare, but they're reliable and safe."
He looked around the room before continuing.
"What matters isn't how impressive a technique looks. What matters is how well you can use it."
That got everyone's attention.
"There are three common levels of technique proficiency," he said.
"The first level is basic understanding. You can follow the steps, but Qi flow is uneven, and mistakes are common."
"The second level is stable use. Qi moves smoothly, and the technique stops putting strain on your body."
"The third level is refined control. Movements feel natural, Qi responds quickly, and very little energy is wasted."
He paused for a moment.
"At your stage, reaching stable use is already good. Trying to rush refinement usually causes long-term problems."
That part stuck with me.
I wasn't in a hurry to mess up something that had just started going well.
After the explanation, jade slips were handed out.
When it was my turn, I received two techniques.
A Basic Body Refinement Technique and a Foundational Qi Circulation Method.
I flipped through them quickly.
The instructions were clear. The paths were simple. No unnecessary movements or strange requirements.
They weren't exciting, but they were easy to practice without making mistakes.
That worked for me.
Before dismissing us, Instructor Hale gave one last reminder.
"The college entrance exam is three months away," he said. "Your results there will decide which universities you can apply to."
The hall got quieter.
"Train properly," he added. "A strong foundation will matter more than rushing short-term results."
That was something everyone understood, whether they liked it or not.
After the evaluation ended, people started leaving in small groups.
Some talked quietly about training plans. Some left right away, probably eager to get started. A few stayed behind, rereading their techniques.
I walked out at my own pace.
Eighty Qi and Blood wasn't anything special, but it was solid progress for five days of steady training.
That evening, I trained the same way I had been training all week.
I warmed up, circulated Qi, took a short break, then continued again.
I grabbed something to eat and went back to training once more before stopping.
There was still time before the exam.
And there was still plenty to work on.