[Attention from the Steward]
Three days after Lin Ye revealed his strength, the atmosphere in the camp seemed to shift subtly.
One of the stewards of the camp—Steward Wu—began to appear frequently in Lin Ye's training area.
This man was around forty years old, with a gaunt face and sharp eyes like an eagle. He rarely spoke but was the most difficult steward to deal with in the camp. His presence always made people involuntarily hold their breath.
Over the past few days, Steward Wu had stood at a distance, his gaze seemingly casual but perhaps intentionally landing on Lin Ye from time to time.
Lin Ye did not show any signs of unusual behavior. He knew that since the other party had started "observing," any inadvertent movement he made could be caught.
"However, in his expression... besides scrutiny, there's actually a hint of surprise?"
Lin Ye thought to himself.
His concealed strength had not been fully exposed, and perhaps the surprise in Steward Wu's eyes came from noticing the "flaws" Lin Ye had intentionally hidden.
"I'll have to be even more cautious."
[New Roommate]
At this time, the camp suddenly made a temporary accommodation adjustment.
Lin Ye's originally solitary room was now shared with another young man.
The boy was named Ah Li, around fifteen or sixteen years old. He was thin and pale, speaking very little. When they first met, he simply nodded at Lin Ye and silently began setting up his bed in the corner.
But Lin Ye noticed—although Ah Li appeared weak, his movements were not those of an ordinary person. Especially the alertness and wariness in his eyes, which seemed to conceal the nature of a beast hiding in the grass.
That night, Lin Ye intentionally tested him: "You must have just arrived at the camp, right?"
Ah Li answered softly, "Hmm."
"You don't seem like someone from Qing Stone City."
Ah Li fell silent for a moment before answering quietly, "No."
Then, he said no more.
Lin Ye did not press further. He knew that some secrets should not be touched lightly. But from Ah Li, he sensed something familiar—a survival instinct.
[Camp Rules]
After a few days of getting to know each other, Lin Ye gradually pieced together more truths about the camp through Ah Li.
This outer camp of Tian Yuan Sect was called "Qing Zhu Camp", a centralized training point for all preparatory disciples before they underwent assessment.
There were small-scale assessments once a month and large-scale assessments once every season—these two would determine a disciple’s standing and whether they could stay.
"If a disciple ranks at the bottom three in three consecutive assessments, they will be expelled from the camp, with no hope of entering the sect."
"Only those who rank in the top ten of the camp have the qualification to be accepted as a registered disciple by a true inner sect disciple of Tian Yuan Sect."
And being a registered disciple was considered the "true" entry into Tian Yuan Sect.
Resource allocation, cultivation techniques, pill distribution—all of it revolved around this tiered system.
"Strong ones advance, weak ones retreat. This is Tian Yuan Sect’s rule," Ah Li said coldly.
Lin Ye nodded.
He had already anticipated all of this, but hearing it spoken aloud made him even more cautious about his upcoming plans.
[Chapter End]
Night.
Lin Ye sat alone in the courtyard, gazing at the night sky.
Steward Wu once again appeared on a distant platform, silently watching the training grounds, his gaze occasionally sweeping in Lin Ye’s direction.
Lin Ye’s mind was clear:
"To survive in this sect, it's not just about strength—it's about hiding as well."
"But once the opportunity comes, I will never hesitate."
Inside the room, Ah Li had already fallen asleep but turned over in his sleep, revealing a part of his back—a faint, eerie symbol was barely visible, glowing softly under the moonlight.
Lin Ye glanced at it by chance, his gaze sharpening.
This boy… truly is not simple.
Next Chapter Preview:
Lin Ye gradually integrates into the camp, and Ah Li's identity begins to surface. A new assessment is approaching, and Steward Wu begins to arrange a special trial. Will Lin Ye be able to protect his identity amidst the rising tides and complete his transformation?
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