Morning mist drifted across the Sacred Peaks.
The entrance examinations had entered their final stage.
Thousands of applicants who had arrived days earlier had now been reduced to only a few hundred.
Some had withdrawn.
Others had failed to meet the Academy's standards.
The remaining applicants stood silently within the Grand Martial Arena.
Today...
The Trial of Ability would begin.
---
Unlike the previous examinations...
This one drew an audience.
The surrounding stands were occupied by Academy instructors, senior students, and invited guests.
No cheers filled the arena.
Only quiet anticipation.
The Academy's final examination was never about spectacle.
It was about potential.
---
An elderly examiner stepped onto the central platform.
"The Trial of Ability is the simplest of the four."
He waved his hand.
Dozens of crystal pillars rose from beneath the arena floor.
Each pillar shimmered with pale blue Magna.
"You will demonstrate the greatest ability you currently possess."
"It may be combat."
"It may be movement."
"It may be craftsmanship."
"It may be healing."
"It may even be something none of us have seen before."
The applicants looked at one another in surprise.
"There are no restrictions."
He smiled.
"The world itself has never restricted the growth of genius."
---
One after another...
The applicants stepped forward.
A young swordsman demonstrated flawless footwork.
A noble girl manipulated flames into the shape of blooming flowers.
Another applicant used earth manipulation to construct a sturdy stone wall in moments.
The audience applauded politely.
Several instructors made notes on jade slips.
---
Mira stepped onto the platform.
She carried no elaborate weapon.
Only a simple wooden staff.
After bowing respectfully...
She began moving.
Her staff danced gracefully through the air.
Its movements flowed like water.
Each strike naturally transitioned into the next.
Though her cultivation wasn't exceptional...
Her fundamentals were nearly flawless.
One instructor nodded.
"Excellent foundation."
Another smiled.
"Someone taught her well."
Mira bowed once more before leaving the stage with a bright smile.
---
Next came Ronan.
His spear moved with astonishing precision.
No wasted motion.
No unnecessary flourish.
Every thrust struck exactly where intended.
When he finished...
The spear's tip rested against the same spot where it had begun.
Perfect control.
A veteran spear instructor quietly remarked,
"A rare temperament."
---
Selene's demonstration surprised everyone.
She didn't draw a weapon.
Instead...
She calmly arranged several formation flags upon the ground.
Within moments...
A simple defensive array activated.
Though modest in power...
Its construction was elegant and efficient.
The instructors exchanged approving glances.
"Formation talent."
One quietly recorded.
---
Then...
"Kieran."
The arena fell noticeably quieter.
Several instructors looked up from their notes.
This was the applicant whose name had quietly spread through the Academy.
The boy with extraordinary comprehension.
The boy who...
Could not cultivate.
---
Kieran walked calmly onto the platform.
He bowed.
The examiner smiled kindly.
"You may begin."
Silence.
Several breaths passed.
Finally...
Kieran spoke.
"I cannot demonstrate cultivation."
"We know."
The examiner replied gently.
"What ability do you wish to show?"
Kieran thought for a moment.
Then...
"May I borrow a sword?"
A practice sword was handed to him.
He accepted it with both hands.
---
He didn't attack.
He didn't display a martial art.
Instead...
He closed his eyes.
The entire arena watched in silence.
Then...
He moved.
One step.
One slash.
One turn.
Simple.
Almost painfully simple.
There wasn't a trace of Magna.
Yet every movement flowed naturally into the next.
Like falling leaves carried by the wind.
Like water following the course of a river.
The form ended exactly where it had begun.
---
Silence filled the arena.
Many applicants looked confused.
"...That's it?"
One noble youth scoffed.
"He didn't even use Magna."
But the instructors...
Remained silent.
One elderly sword instructor slowly stood.
His eyes never left Kieran.
"Again."
Kieran nodded respectfully.
This time...
He performed the same form even more slowly.
Every shift of weight.
Every breath.
Every movement.
Nothing was wasted.
Nothing was excessive.
When he finished...
The elderly instructor closed his eyes.
Then...
He laughed.
Not loudly.
But with unmistakable joy.
"I've searched for this for twenty years..."
Several nearby instructors looked at him in astonishment.
"What do you mean?"
The old man smiled.
"He didn't show us a sword technique."
"He showed us..."
"...perfect fundamentals."
He looked toward Kieran.
"Every unnecessary movement has already been removed."
"There is nothing left to simplify."
---
Even the Headmaster's gaze sharpened.
Most people pursued stronger techniques.
Faster techniques.
Deadlier techniques.
Very few understood...
That the highest level of any art began with mastering its simplest form.
---
The examiner accepted the practice sword.
"You may step down."
Kieran bowed.
As he walked back toward the other applicants...
Mira grinned.
"You looked so calm."
"I was."
Ronan nodded once.
"...Beautiful."
Selene smiled faintly.
"I think..."
"You taught the instructors something today."
Kieran looked genuinely puzzled.
"I only demonstrated what Master Kael taught me."
Far away...
In the Hidden Valley...
Kael suddenly sneezed.
Crystal looked up from preparing tea.
"...Someone's talking about you."
Kael rubbed his nose.
"I hope it's for something good."
Crystal smiled knowingly.
"It is."
She gazed toward the distant horizon.
"The seed we planted..."
"...has finally reached fertile soil."
End of Chapter 71