"Registration opens today," Elder Duan concluded. "Train well. Fight fiercely. This is your time to rise."
As he stepped down, disciples exploded into heated discussion.
"Did you hear that?! The Pavilion!"
"Three weeks isn't enough time—I just broke through to 9th stage of Foundation Establishment Realm!"
"Tch, doesn't matter. Inner sect disciples always dominate the rankings anyway."
Feng Yin exhaled, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
"Three weeks, huh. That's a short fuse."
Tian Shen glanced toward the sky where Elder Duan had departed.
"Exactly the kind of deadline that separates the stagnant from the driven."
Feng Yin chuckled.
"So you're going to join, I take it?"
"Of course."
Tian Shen's voice was calm, but behind it pulsed a blaze.
"There's something I want from the Pavilion. And this is the first step."
As the crowd began to thin, disciples scattered across the sect began training in earnest.
