Morning sunlight poured over the Outer Sect as disciples hurried along the stone paths.For most of them, today was reward day.After completing missions, disciples could exchange their contribution points for cultivation resources, martial manuals, medicinal pills, or better equipment.The Resource Hall was always one of the busiest places in Moon Brim Sect.The moment Sawyer, Wang, and Chi stepped inside, they were greeted by a sea of people.Long queues stretched before dozens of wooden counters.Shelves lined the walls, displaying bottles of spirit pills, polished weapons, cultivation manuals, and rare herbs sealed inside crystal boxes.The scent of medicinal herbs filled the enormous hall.Wang rubbed his hands together excitedly."Finally!""I'm getting a new spear.""My old one looks like it survived a war."Chi smiled."You mean because it did."Wang proudly patted the patched weapon strapped to his back."It survived Blackwood Ravine.""It deserves retirement."Sawyer chuckle

The Outer Sect plaza had never been this quiet.Thousands of disciples stood beneath the enormous stone platform, waiting for the monthly assembly to begin.At the front of the plaza sat several elders and senior instructors.Behind them stood the administrative officials responsible for missions, resources, and disciple records.Normally, the monthly assembly was nothing more than an announcement.Rankings.Missions.Disciplinary matters.Rewards.Then everyone would return to their training.But today...Something was different.Whispers moved through the crowd."I heard Sawyer requested an investigation.""Again?""What did he find this time?""I heard something happened in the Resource Hall.""Luther's faction is involved."That last sentence immediately attracted attention.Luther Cain stood among his followers near the front of the Outer Sect disciples.His expression was calm.Almost bored.He had already heard the rumors.But he wasn't worried.There was no evidence.The hidde

The moment Sawyer stepped into the training grounds, he understood something.Winning the invitation had not made them strong.It had only given them permission to stand among the strong.The realization came without warning.Fifty disciples occupied the enormous stone courtyard, gathered beneath the towering banners of Moon Brim Sect. They stood in small groups, some speaking quietly, others stretching or meditating, while a few simply watched everyone around them with the calm confidence of people who already knew they belonged.Sawyer's eyes moved across the crowd.He did not look at their clothes first.He looked at their posture.Their breathing.The way they stood.The way their eyes moved.These people were different from the ordinary Outer Disciples.Even those who weren't speaking carried themselves with a quiet confidence.Their bodies were conditioned.Their movements were controlled.Their eyes were sharp.There were no nervous glances toward the elders.No excited whisper

The bell had barely stopped vibrating when laughter broke across the summit.It came from one of the disciples standing near the stone platform."So these are the famous three?"Another disciple glanced at Wang and Chi."They climbed together.""Of course they did."The first disciple chuckled."They probably couldn't have reached the summit alone."Wang's expression immediately hardened.Chi caught his arm."Ignore them.""I am ignoring them.""You are squeezing your fist."Wang looked down.His hand was already clenched.Sawyer stepped forward."Don't waste your strength."Wang looked at him."But they're insulting us.""They're trying to."Sawyer glanced at the surrounding disciples."There's a difference."The disciples who had already reached the summit were watching them carefully.They had expected three ordinary newcomers.Instead, Sawyer, Wang, and Chi had arrived together without exhausting themselves completely.That alone had attracted attention.One young man stepped away

The battlefield fell silent.For several seconds, nobody moved.The five disciples who had just been defeated remained scattered across the stone ground, staring at the three newcomers who had crossed the finish line ahead of them.Then the examiner raised his hand."Stop."A powerful wave of pressure swept across the battlefield.The remaining teams froze.The second stage had ended.Those who had already crossed the gate stood together, breathing heavily. Some had suffered minor injuries. Others were covered in dirt and sweat.But not everyone had made it.Several teams were still trapped on the battlefield.One group had been reduced to four after one of their members was knocked unconscious.Another had spent too much time fighting and was now scrambling toward the finish line.A third team had completely fallen apart.The examiner looked toward the enormous hourglass beside the platform.The final grains of sand dropped."Time."The gates closed.A wave of disappointment swept th