Moon Brim Sect never truly slept.Even after the final bell echoed across the nine mountains, the sect remained alive.Torches flickered along ancient stone paths.Night patrols moved through the courtyards with disciplined precision.Some disciples cultivated beneath waterfalls.Others practiced sword forms under the moonlight.From distant peaks came the rhythmic clang of blacksmiths forging weapons through the night.To outsiders, Moon Brim was peaceful.To those living within it...Every hour was another chance to become stronger.Or fall behind.Inside the trio's dilapidated courtyard, Wang lay flat on his back, staring blankly at the leaking roof."My arms hurt."Silence."My legs hurt."Silence."I think my bones hurt."Chi didn't even look up from repairing another broken roof tile."You've been complaining for twenty minutes.""Because I've discovered muscles I didn't know existed.""You discovered them yesterday.""They've become more painful today."Chi smiled despite himse

The sound of drums rolled across the Outer Sect.Boom!Boom!Boom!Unlike the morning bells that summoned disciples to lectures or missions, these drums carried a different kind of excitement.Disciples abandoned training grounds.Martial pavilions emptied.Even instructors paused their lessons as streams of disciples hurried toward the central square."It's Ranking Day!""The new rankings are out!""I heard someone broke into the Top Fifty!""Move! I want to see!"The usually disciplined Outer Sect became unusually chaotic.Even Wang looked curious."What ranking?"Chi shrugged."I don't know."One passing disciple overheard them and laughed."You two really are newcomers.""It's the Monthly Outer Disciple Ranking.""The most important day of the month."Sawyer quietly followed the growing crowd.The three eventually arrived at the largest plaza they had seen since entering Moon Brim Sect.Unlike the training grounds or lecture halls, this square was built around a colossal stone mon

The news of Sawyer's victory spread through the Outer Sect much faster than anyone expected.An unranked disciple defeating the holder of Rank 978 was not exactly unprecedented.But the manner in which Sawyer had won...Without overwhelming strength.Without flashy martial arts.Through pure observation and strategy.That was what people remembered.By the following morning, wherever the trio walked, disciples whispered behind them."That's him.""The one who beat Gavin.""I heard he studied his opponent for an hour.""He's clever.""But cleverness only gets you so far."Wang puffed out his chest as they walked through the stone pathways."You hear that?""We're becoming famous."Chi rolled his eyes."They're talking about Sawyer.""They're talking about us by association.""Same difference."Sawyer smiled but remained silent.His eyes were fixed on the Ranking Monument standing proudly in the center of the square.His name now glowed faintly near the bottom.Rank 978.One victory.On

The sharp clang of weapons echoed throughout the Outer Sect training grounds as hundreds of disciples practiced beneath the afternoon sun.Every training field was alive with movement.Swords flashed.Spears thrust forward.Palm strikes cracked against wooden dummies.The smell of sweat and dust hung heavily in the mountain air.On a quiet practice field near the edge of the grounds, Sawyer stood with his arms folded while Wang repeatedly thrust his spear toward a weathered ironwood training post."Again," Sawyer said calmly.Wang inhaled deeply, adjusted his footing, and attacked.Thud!The spear struck the center of the target."Better.""But your right shoulder still rises before you attack."Wang rolled his eyes."You always notice everything.""I notice because your opponent will."Wang clicked his tongue before resetting his stance.Ever since the Ranking Battles, his confidence had soared.He had finally begun combining Sawyer's teachings with his own natural strength.His reck

Three days after their cultivation room had been sabotaged, a bronze bell echoed throughout the Outer Sect.Dong!Dong!Dong!Unlike the bells that announced lectures or Ranking Battles, this one carried an unmistakable sense of urgency.Disciples poured out from their residences and hurried toward Mission Square, where a large crowd had already gathered.Rows of elders stood on a raised stone platform, while dozens of mission boards displayed newly posted assignments.Wang squeezed through the crowd, nearly knocking over two disciples in the process."Move! Move! If all the easy missions are taken, I'm blaming both of you!"Chi grabbed the back of his robe."You've said that every mission day.""And one day, I'll be right."Sawyer simply smiled as he followed behind, his eyes scanning the gathering rather than the mission boards.He noticed Luther Cain standing beneath a pavilion with several followers.The moment Luther saw them, the corner of his lips curled into a faint smile.It