In the grand clan hall, the Clan Chief sat upon his aged wooden throne, surrounded by the senior elders.
His brows furrowed slightly before he began speaking,
his voice calm yet filled with authority.
"Recently, many geniuses have appeared in the other tribes… talents we haven't seen for years.
It is also said that there is a young girl in the academy—extremely intelligent.
Despite her age, she has already shown an astonishing level of ability."
He raised his brows slightly and turned toward the Second Elder, Zhang Qinglan, Shui Lan's father.
"We need to observe her abilities. Therefore, we will organize a competition for children between the ages of twelve and thirteen. Hopefully, this girl will participate."
He then gestured toward Dong Fang, the Fourth Elder of the clan.
"Go to her and inform her that she must participate. This will be her chance to prove herself."
Dong Fang bowed slightly.
"Understood, Clan Chief."
Meanwhile, the Second Elder, Shui Lan's father, smiled inwardly—a confident smile mixed with faint disdain and pride in his daughter.
"Hah… who is this little girl that suddenly appeared in the Fang family?" he muttered to himself.
"Isn't she Dong Fang's niece? The girl who lost her parents in that horrific incident with a Rank Four Shard Master… I remember it clearly.
They were completely crushed… turned into nothing but flesh paste."
He sighed in quiet satisfaction.
"Yes… Shui Lan will crush her easily."
He leaned back slightly.
"All my efforts in training Shui Lan were not in vain."
A calm smile formed on his lips as he lifted his cup of tea.
Inside, he was certain.
Soon, everyone will witness the strength of the Lan family.
That evening was quiet inside Dong Fang's home.
The dim yellow light of an oil lamp illuminated the dining room.
Su Yi arranged the dishes on the table while Dong Fang sat silently drinking tea.
After a moment, he lifted his head slightly.
"Mo Xuan."
Soft footsteps echoed from the corridor.
Mo Xuan appeared at the doorway.
"Yes, Uncle?"
Dong Fang gestured toward the chair across from him.
"Sit."
She sat down calmly.
He studied her for a moment before speaking.
"The clan will be holding a competition soon."
Mo Xuan raised her eyes slightly.
"…A competition?"
Dong Fang nodded.
"For children between twelve and thirteen."
Then he added calmly,
"The Clan Chief wants you to participate."
A brief silence followed.
Mo Xuan's expression did not change.
"…Why me?"
Dong Fang smiled faintly.
"It seems some instructors at the academy have spoken about you."
He placed his cup down.
"The winner will also receive a reward."
Mo Xuan paused.
"What reward?"
Dong Fang replied,
"Fifty silver coins… and ten gold coins."
Mo Xuan's hand paused slightly.
That amount was not small for a child.
"…I understand."
Dong Fang looked at her.
"So you will participate?"
Mo Xuan closed her eyes for a brief moment.
Then she opened them again.
"…Of course."
But inside…
Her thoughts were completely different.
A purely physical competition…
No Shiao.
That meant strength alone would not determine victory.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Interesting.
Mo Xuan stood before the small wooden mirror in her room.
She gazed quietly at her reflection.
Several years had passed since the day she woke up in this world.
Back then…
Her body had been small and fragile, barely that of an eight-year-old child.
Her black hair had been short and neatly trimmed, and her pale face had shown the marks of poor nutrition and constant exhaustion.
But now…
Many things had changed.
Mo Xuan had grown noticeably taller.
She was no longer the small child who disappeared among the other kids.
Her body remained slender, yet it had become far more balanced after years of training and daily work.
She wasn't simply physically stronger—her movements had become steady and light, as if her body had grown accustomed to obeying her mind.
Her black hair had grown much longer.
It now reached nearly the middle of her back, flowing smoothly behind her.
During training, she usually tied it with a simple string.
Her face had also changed.
Her features had grown slightly sharper—especially her eyes.
Two calm black eyes.
But behind them was a depth that did not belong to a child her age.
A depth filled with observation…
And thought.
In the training yard, children ran and shouted with excitement.
But Mo Xuan…
Mostly watched.
Observed.
And waited.
She lowered her gaze slightly toward her hands.
"…Soon."
She murmured softly.
Soon she would turn fifteen.
And only then…
Would her aperture open.
Only then would the real path begin.
But until that time…
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"…For now, the body alone is enough."
I must win no matter what happens…
But I wonder what kind of challenges await… and who will participate.
Early the next morning, the training yard was nearly empty.
The pale light of dawn filtered through the surrounding trees, casting long shadows across the dirt ground.
Mo Xuan stood in the center of the yard.
In her hand was a simple wooden staff.
She took a calm breath.
Then she moved.
Whoosh!
The staff cut through the air.
One step forward.
A light spin.
A sideways strike.
Her movements were not overly powerful, but they were precise.
Every motion calculated.
Every step deliberate.
Bang.
The staff struck the wooden training dummy.
The dummy trembled slightly.
Mo Xuan stopped.
She looked at the point of impact.
"…Timing is better than strength."
She muttered quietly.
If she relied only on strength, she would exhaust herself quickly.
But a strike at the perfect moment could achieve far more.
She lowered the staff.
Then placed it aside.
She didn't need more training today.
The competition wasn't a real battle…
At least not for her.
A few hours later, the academy had become far noisier than usual.
In the courtyard, children gathered in small groups, speaking excitedly.
"Did you hear? The competition is in two days!"
"The winner gets fifty silver coins!"
"And ten gold coins too!"
Many eyes widened.
"Ten gold?!"
But soon the conversation shifted toward a single name.
"…Shui Lan."
One child said quietly.
"She's the strongest among us."
"I heard she can knock down three kids at once."
Another laughed.
"Who would dare fight her?"
At that moment, the crowd parted slightly.
A girl walked toward the training ground.
Her hair was tied tightly behind her head, and her steps were confident.
It was Shui Lan.
She stopped before the training dummy.
She clenched her fist.
Then struck.
Bang!
The dummy shook far more violently than before.
One child stepped back.
"See?!"
"Her strength is terrifying…"
But Shui Lan didn't seem interested in their praise.
She simply shook her hand slightly.
"Don't exaggerate."
She said calmly.
"It's just a children's competition."
A short distance away, beneath the shade of a tree…
Mo Xuan stood silently.
She did not speak.
She did not interfere.
She simply watched.
Her black eyes followed every movement.
Her physical strength is decent…
But her center of gravity rises when she strikes.
Mo Xuan lowered her gaze slightly.
A clear mistake.
Against a faster opponent, it would create a large opening.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"…Interesting."
But after a moment…
She turned and left the training yard.
There was no reason to stay.
What she had seen was enough.
Half an hour later, Mo Xuan had already left the clan's territory.
A dirt path led her toward the nearby forest.
The forest was relatively small, but children rarely ventured deep inside it.
Mo Xuan entered without hesitation.
The trees grew denser as she walked deeper.
Finally…
She stopped in a small clearing.
She looked around.
No one.
She took out her training staff again.
But this time…
Her movements changed.
They became faster.
Sharper.
Her steps were light, as if she were gliding across the ground.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The staff sliced through the air twice in succession.
Then she stopped.
Mo Xuan breathed slowly.
"…Just a precaution."
She said with faint sarcasm.
After all…
Most children in the clan relied only on strength.
But for her…
Strength alone was the most foolish way to win.
She raised the staff slightly.
Then lowered it again.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"…Let's see."
She whispered softly.
"…how long they can last."