The day of the Outer Hall Trial arrived without ceremony.
No drums echoed through the sect.
No grand announcements shook the mountains.
Yet the air itself felt heavier—
as if everything was quietly watching,
waiting to see who would step forward,
and who would be left behind.
Keeping the words "Start with small things—because what awaits ahead is anything but small" close to his heart, Nilan left the Outer Hall training area. His steps were calm and measured, but beneath that calm, his thoughts never truly rested.
The Inner Hall.
The trial.
And his current level.
When he returned to the Outer Hall living quarters, he immediately sensed something unusual. A crowd had gathered. Dozens of disciples stood in a loose circle around a senior disciple who was clearly speaking loudly on purpose.
"Listen carefully," the senior disciple said. "The Outer Hall Trial is approaching—but it is not meant for everyone."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"New disciples usually remain at the Qi Gathering Stage—Low Level. That is normal."
Nilan already knew this.
"But," the senior disciple continued, his voice growing heavier, "only those who reach Level Two or Level Three within the Low Level may apply to participate in the trial."
Quiet murmurs spread through the crowd like ripples on still water.
Nilan did not stay to listen further. He returned to his room without reacting. He understood this reality better than most.
In the Outer Hall, nothing was given freely.
No techniques.
No weapons.
No guidance.
Only those who stepped into the Inner Hall gained access to true resources.
Forcing a breakthrough without a solid foundation was meaningless. Power built without understanding would collapse the moment it was tested.
So Nilan returned to what he trusted most—small creations.
At first, he deliberately avoided forming complete figures. Sometimes he carved wings. Sometimes claws. Sometimes eyes. Only after fully understanding each individual part did he begin shaping complete forms.
A bird.
A rabbit.
A small cat.
In the beginning, they were nothing more than wooden figures—lifeless, unmoving, no different from ordinary carvings. But with time and patience, something subtle began to change.
After nearly a month, faint movements appeared. A twitch. A shift. An unconscious response. They were not alive—yet they were no longer mere dead objects.
These three creations entered the Qi Gathering Stage—Low Level (Level One).
They were not exceptional.
They were not at the peak.
They simply existed.
Yet faint streams of spiritual feedback began returning to Nilan. His eyesight sharpened. His reactions became quicker. His Qi flow steadied, no longer chaotic.
This was not explosive power.
This was foundation.
Nearly two months passed.
With the experience gained from his first three creations, Nilan began again. This time, his hands moved with greater certainty, his intent clearer.
A snake.
A hawk.
A turtle.
These creations were different from the very beginning. Their forms were more stable. Their internal spiritual circulation smoother and more refined. A faint sense of awareness lingered within them.
Unlike the first three, these stabilized directly at Qi Gathering Stage—Low Level Peak (Level Three Peak).
They were still within the Low Level—
but they had reached its absolute limit.
Through them, Nilan gained sharper perception, stronger defensive instincts, and resistance to toxins. And as that accumulation settled—
Nilan himself broke through to Qi Gathering Stage—Level Two.
At the same time, his first three creations stabilized completely at Level One.
This was no coincidence.
Growth fed growth.
Foundation reinforced foundation.
Fifteen days remained before the Outer Hall Trial.
Nilan registered without hesitation.
That was when he saw a familiar face.
Rick.
Already an Inner Hall disciple, Rick possessed proper techniques and guidance thanks to his medium-grade fusion root. He had reached the Low Level Peak of Qi Gathering and stood on the edge of a higher realm.
Rick looked at Nilan with surprise.
"You've entered the Qi Gathering Stage," he said. "Low Level."
Nilan nodded calmly.
Rick smiled faintly. "Then registering was the correct choice."
A moment later, his expression turned serious.
"Remember this," Rick said evenly. "Level alone doesn't decide a battle. Without techniques, even higher Qi cannot be used properly. Someone with lower cultivation—but superior mastery—can defeat you."
He paused before adding,
"This trial isn't just about entering the Inner Hall. It's about proving that you are worthy of the power you've already built."
Rick turned and left.
Nilan remained where he was, silent and unmoving.
The trial ahead was no longer preparation—
it was the moment where everything he had built would finally be tested.