The morning air felt thinner.

  Not colder.

  Not warmer.

  Just… lighter.

  Shen An noticed it during his first breath.

  He did not react.

  He joined the rows.

  Instructor Han gave no new instruction.

  Training began.

  —

  Qi entered smoothly.

  Too smoothly.

  Before, it had descended like sand settling into deep water.

  Now it flowed—

  As if the path inside him had widened.

  He completed the first segment.

  Stable.

  Second segment—

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  The core responded.

  Not heavy.

  Not rigid.

  Responsive.

  The density shifted faintly with each breath.

  Not dispersing.

  But adjusting.

  Like stone that remembered pressure.

  Shen An slowed instinctively.

  Something was different.

  He reached the final segment—

  And for a brief moment—

  The Qi did not stop at the core.

  It traced the outer edge.

  Thin.

  Searching.

  His breath trembled.

  Only slightly.

  He sealed the circulation immediately.

  Eyes opened.

  No outward disturbance.

  But inside—

  There had been movement.

  —

  Across the courtyard—

  Zhao Rui completed his second circulation cleanly.

  His presence felt sharper now.

  Defined.

  Contained within clear boundaries.

  Instructor Han gave a small nod.

  Then his gaze shifted.

  To Shen An.

  A fraction longer than usual.

  —

  After training, more disciples approached the wooden slate.

  Names were carved beneath Zhao Rui’s.

  Each stroke marked eligibility.

  Two stable circulations.

  Low-grade spirit stone allowance.

  The rule was simple.

  Shen An passed by the board once.

  He read it again.

  Registration for the allowance would close in five days.

  Five days remained before the slate was sealed.

  He did not step forward.

  But he no longer felt separate from the condition.

  —

  That evening, he sat alone.

  He circulated once.

  The core adjusted.

  Layering continued.

  Subtle.

  Controlled.

  He guided Qi to the boundary again.

  This time—

  He did not withdraw immediately.

  He allowed the thin current to complete a full circuit along the inner wall of the dantian.

  Not rising.

  Not forcing.

  Mapping.

  The dantian trembled.

  Very faintly.

  Not a crack.

  A seam.

  Shen An opened his eyes slowly.

  For the first time—

  Second circulation did not feel like upward movement.

  It felt like unlocking.

  —

  Five days remained before the spirit stone registration closed.

  He had not decided.

  But for the first time—

  He was no longer certain he would refuse.