Lucius glanced toward Raveena. Since breaking through to the first stage of Qi Refining, he could now sense the qi around him. Especially the Qi drifting through the air and flowing through the bodies of those nearby.
It felt similar to mana sense from his old world, allowing him to feel the flow of energy in others and judge their condition.
When he first began cultivating, Goddess Celestia had guided qi toward him. Because of that, sensing qi now came easily. He was grateful for her help. Without it, adjusting from mana to qi might have taken much longer.
Lucius focused briefly on Raveena.
From the qi flowing around and within Raveena, Lucius could tell she was doing well. Her breathing was steady, and she seemed to be able move Qi into her body smoothly. She showed no signs of struggle.
She would break through soon.
The thought made him smile. Raveena was his first friend in this world, and knowing she would likely pass the entrance exam eased his heart. If she succeeded early, it might also help her confidence when facing the next test. He estimated she would reach the first stage long before the six-hour limit.
A calm voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh? Another one has passed so early."
Lucius turned toward the sound which was coming from Elder Victor.
Elder Victor stood nearby, his gaze fixed on someone seated close to Lucius.
The white-haired girl had opened her eyes.
Lucius raised an eyebrow slightly. He had not expected anyone else to break through so quickly—especially not her. She had been silent from the start, showing no emotion or reaction to anything around her.
It was the same girl who had unsettled him earlier.
Her blue eyes met his.
There was no joy in them. No surprise. Not even relief. She looked at him as though this outcome had been certain from the beginning, as though passing the test was nothing worth noting.
Lucius felt a faint chill.
He pushed the feeling aside.
It was not his place to judge others. Comparing himself to them would only lead to useless thoughts. Jealousy and doubt were seeds of corruption, which could lead to evil thoughts and he had seen where such paths ended.
Lucius believed in acknowledging effort when he saw it.
He turned slightly toward the girl and spoke calmly in a sincere tone, "Congratulations on passing."
The girl paused, then let out a quiet sound.
"Mm."
It was barely a response and she turned her attention toward Elder Victor, who was already preparing to speak to her.
Lucius took it as a sign to mind his own matters.
He closed his eyes once more and returned to cultivation. With a qi-gathering formation active in the hall, it would be foolish to waste this chance.
There was no reason to waste time watching others. He had already passed the first stage, but that did not mean he was finished. The qi-gathering formation beneath the hall continued to draw energy into the space, making it easier to sense.
.
.
.
.
Time passed quickly as Lucius became fully absorbed in cultivation. Since he first began, controlling the qi within his body had grown much easier. He could guide it smoothly through his skin and into his muscles.
With this improved control, he felt the amount of qi inside him steadily increasing. The energy felt fuller and denser than before.
The sensation filled him with quiet excitement.
He knew this meant he reached another milestone in his cultivation.
Lucius had broken through to the second stage of the Qi Refining Realm. Just one more stage, and he would be able to move on to strengthening other parts of his body.
Even so, he knew this was not enough. Once the entrance exam was over, he would still need to train his body through physical exercise. Qi alone could not replace real strength.
Lucius slowly opened his eyes.
He clenched his hands and felt the difference immediately. His grip was firmer, his arms lighter, yet filled with power. Compared to when he first arrived in this world, the change was undeniable.
A calm voice echoed through the hall.
"Time is up," Elder Victor said.
Lucius stopped gathering qi and allowed his breathing to settle. A sense of pride filled his chest. He had made full use of the qi-gathering formation, allowing him to break through two stages in one sitting. It was progress he could not ignore.
He turned his head and looked toward Raveena.
She let out a clear sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing as the tension left her body.
"Congrats on passing, Raveena," Lucius said with a warm smile.
Raveena turned to face him. At first, she simply sensed the qi within his body—but then she felt it was stronger, denser and more refined.
Her white eyes widened.
"Lucius… you're at the second stage," she whispered in disbelief.
She kept her voice low, careful not to draw attention to him. Still, her shock was clear. Knowing that he had passed made her happy, but this was far beyond what she had expected.
Lucius simply smiled calmly in response.
Seeing his expression, Raveena quickly looked away, avoiding his gaze. Her cheeks felt warm again, and she could feel her heart beating faster. Having someone like Lucius look at her so directly made her uneasy in a way she did not understand.
She took a quiet breath and steadied herself.
Raveena could tell now, Lucius was not ordinary. His talent was frightening. Perhaps he was even a prodigy.
A question formed in her mind.
Can I really keep up with someone like him?
She felt that her own efforts seemed useless compared to Lucius.
From a young age, she had spent most of her time in the library, reading everything she could find on cultivation. Her mother had even given her a cultivation technique that was just as powerful as the one used by the Clear Sky Sect.
Yet, standing beside Lucius, all of that suddenly felt small.
Still, she held onto one quiet hope.
Once she joined the Clear Sky Sect and Lucius met other disciples, she hoped he would not drift away. No matter how talented he became, she wished they could remain friends.