The Mirror Boundary Field was silent.
No wind.
No sound.
Only reflections.
Chen Yuan stood at the center of the formation circle, surrounded by mirror-like surfaces that showed countless versions of himself—some sharper, some sluggish, some subtly flawed.
And one stepped forward.
The reflected Chen Yuan moved first.
His stance was perfect.
His breathing smooth.
His aura identical.
No wasted motion.
So this is how the field evaluates me, Chen Yuan thought calmly.
The reflection attacked.
Fast.
Too fast for brute reaction.
Chen Yuan did not retreat. He adjusted.
He shifted his footing half a step too late—and the reflected palm grazed his shoulder.
A jolt ran through his arm.
Not pain.
Feedback.
Mirror Feedback Registered
Error: Footwork delay — 0.3 seconds
The system remained quiet.
This was not something it would solve for him.
Chen Yuan exhaled slowly and re-centered his stance.
Again.
The reflection struck—this time feinting high, sweeping low.
Chen Yuan anticipated it.
He blocked cleanly.
The mirrors rippled.
Better.
They exchanged dozens of blows.
No dramatic techniques.
No reckless force.
Every strike was evaluated.
Every flaw recorded.
Sweat beaded on Chen Yuan's brow.
The system activated quietly.
Trial Buff Active
Spirit Consumption Reduced
Mental Load Increasing
Chen Yuan felt it.
His thoughts sharpened unnaturally—but maintaining that clarity burned like fire behind his eyes.
He pressed on.
Time lost meaning inside the Boundary.
The reflection adapted.
So did he.
At one point, Chen Yuan overextended in pursuit—and the reflection punished him instantly, striking his ribs.
His breath faltered.
The mirrors flashed red.
Warning:
Focus degradation detected
Chen Yuan steadied himself.
He recalled every beating.
Every insult.
Every moment he had swallowed anger.
This is nothing.
He slowed his movements deliberately.
Less force.
More intent.
The reflection hesitated.
That was the opening.
Chen Yuan stepped in and placed his palm against the reflection's chest.
Not a strike.
A statement.
The reflection froze.
Cracks spread across the mirror surfaces.
Adaptation Achieved
Combat Control: Improved
With a sound like glass shattering underwater, the reflection dissolved.
The mirrors faded.
Chen Yuan found himself standing once more in the plaza.
His clothes were damp with sweat. His temples throbbed.
But his posture was steady.
A projection appeared above the formation.
Mirror Boundary Results — Chen Yuan
Control: High
Stability: Exceptional
Resolve: Above Standard
Overall Evaluation: Outstanding
Murmurs erupted instantly.
Instructor Lu's eyes narrowed slightly—not in suspicion, but in interest.
"This result," he said quietly to an elder beside him, "is not something a reckless cultivator achieves."
At the edge of the crowd, Zhao Ming's expression darkened.
Outstanding?
Impossible.
Chen Yuan felt the system activate one final time.
Trial Completed
Reward Issued: Refined Qi Circulation
Effect: Cultivation Efficiency Permanently Increased
The mental strain lifted like a tide receding.
Chen Yuan breathed freely again.
This time, he allowed himself a faint smile.
As he left the formation, several students instinctively stepped aside.
Not out of fear.
Out of recognition.
Zhao Ming watched him go, nails biting into his palm.
This cannot continue, he thought.
And for the first time, he did not plan a simple humiliation.
He planned obstruction.