The first rays of dawn stretched across Greenstone City, illuminating the cobbled streets and the white stone walls of the Chen Clan Estate. Wen Chen, dressed in his ceremonial training robes, stepped out into the crisp morning air. Each breath of air was charged, not with danger, but with the unspoken weight of attention.
The Greenstone Cultivation Pavilion awaited him, the venue for today's formal exchange gathering. Though designed to be a place of cooperation, the pavilion often became a subtle battlefield of observation—power, reputation, and influence all vying to assert themselves. For a cultivator like Wen Chen, Stage 3, this was an arena unlike any he had faced before.
He walked down the familiar path, quietly observing his surroundings. Merchants hurried to their stalls, cultivators practiced basic Qi formations in the open courtyards, and a few curious mortals stared, unaware of the invisible energies brushing past them. Wen Chen's panel flickered faintly, reminding him of his current state:
[Status Panel]
Name: Wen Chen
Realm: Spirit Initiate
Stage: 3
Progress: 132 / 400
Condition: Stable
Evaluation: Stage 3 breakthrough consolidated. Awareness of nearby cultivators confirmed.
Despite the calm morning, Wen Chen felt the stirrings of rival attention. His panel highlighted subtle fluctuations in Qi around him—others of comparable power observing, analyzing, judging. The green and silver aura of a young cultivator caught his eye: Zhao Han, his known rival, stood across the square, casually leaning against a pillar, his gaze sharp. Stage 3 as well. But Wen Chen could see the slight tension in Zhao Han's Qi—the uneven distribution marking him as slightly less refined than Wen Chen at this moment.
"Wen Chen," Zhao Han called, his voice calm but carrying a clear challenge, "I see the Chen Clan's reputation hasn't exaggerated your progress."
Wen Chen inclined his head slightly, voice measured. "Zhao Han. Your cultivation is stable… but your posture betrays your confidence."
Zhao Han smiled faintly, as if impressed by Wen Chen's perception. "Perhaps. Or perhaps I merely wait to see how you handle the pavilion."
The Pavilion itself was enormous, a white-stone complex decorated with intricate spirit runes. Platforms designed for demonstration, trading, and cultivation observation dotted the halls, each radiating a faint suppressive aura to prevent uncontrolled combat. Elders of various clans sat upon elevated platforms, watching silently. Each of their gazes weighed, measured, and calculated.
Wen Chen stepped onto the main exchange courtyard, the faint hum of Qi suppression arrays brushing against his body like a light wind. Most cultivators faltered slightly under the arrays, their bodies shivering as the ground beneath them pulsed. Wen Chen's steps were smooth, measured; the Ancient Refining Pot within him rotated gently, converting the stress into refined Qi circulation. With every step, his progress nudged forward.
[Status Panel Update]
Stage: 3
Progress: 142 / 400
Condition: Minor exertion
Evaluation: External Qi interference converted into refinement.
He reached the center of the pavilion. A hush fell. Some elders leaned forward, their interest piqued. Stage 3 cultivators in such a small city were rare. Stage 3 cultivators walking unassisted through a suppression array… rarer still.
A soft murmur rippled through the crowd:
"He walks through the field as if it were nothing."
"Stage 3… so young…"
"The Chen Clan is hiding something."
Wen Chen ignored the whispers. Every cultivator here was a potential rival or ally. Every glance, every subtle Qi signature mattered. And today, he was here to measure, not to impress.
Suddenly, Zhao Han moved forward. A subtle wave of Qi radiated from him, and the suppression array seemed to press harder against his aura. He stepped beside Wen Chen. "Shall we demonstrate, or simply trade words?"
Wen Chen raised an eyebrow, calm. "I prefer actions to words."
They moved into the designated duel platform, a circular stage reinforced by formation barriers. The air seemed heavier here, not from pressure, but from anticipation. Every cultivator present held their breath, waiting for a spark.
They bowed briefly—a formality. Then they began.
No explosive bursts. No flashy techniques. Only controlled movement, careful Qi manipulation. Zhao Han struck with a precise palm thrust. Wen Chen sidestepped, guiding the Qi harmlessly into the ground.
His panel tracked Zhao Han in real time:
[Status Scan – Zhao Han]
Stage: 3
Progress: 218 / 400
Condition: Stable, slight Qi turbulence
Evaluation: Forced breakthrough detected, foundation solid
The match continued with subtle exchanges, each blow testing timing, control, and refinement rather than raw power. Wen Chen's Qi flowed in smooth cycles, each strike and block absorbed, refined, and returned in miniature adjustments. He felt a deep satisfaction—this was cultivation in its purest form: growth through opposition, refinement through challenge.
Hours seemed to pass in moments. Observers whispered among themselves, some leaning closer to elders, others trading notes. Even the Lin Clan's disciples watched closely, intrigued by Wen Chen's calm mastery of Qi.
Finally, both cultivators stepped back. No victor declared, but respect silently acknowledged. Zhao Han's gaze met Wen Chen's. "You're growing faster than I expected."
Wen Chen inclined his head. "As are you."
And yet, beneath the calm exterior, both knew this was only the beginning.
The rest of the day continued with controlled exchanges. Wen Chen mingled with representatives from the Lin Clan and other independent cultivators. Each conversation, each trade, revealed subtle patterns of ambition, alliances, and rivalry. The panel flickered, recording every encounter:
[Status Panel]
Stage: 3
Progress: 156 / 400
Condition: Stable
Evaluation: External attention rising; potential alliances noted
By evening, Wen Chen returned to his private chambers. The pavilion's lights glowed behind him as he reflected on the day. Stage 3 had not only proven his strength—it had drawn attention, both cautious and curious.
The Ancient Refining Pot rotated slowly within him, converting the day's exertion and observation into deeper refinement. He exhaled slowly, knowing that being noticed carried consequences, and that every step forward now would shape both his path and the Chen Clan's future.
As the first stars appeared over Greenstone City, Wen Chen's mind was clear: the Exchange Gathering was more than a test. It was a launchpad, a place where ambition echoed, alliances were forged, and rivalries quietly festered.
And he was ready for all of it.