Lin Xu did not return to the Mission Hall immediately.
Not the next day.
Not even the day after.
Instead, he spent two more days training.
Not because he lacked urgency—
But because he understood something clearly now.
Rushing forward without stability…
Would only slow him down later.
On the third day, he returned to the Mission Hall.
This time, his steps were more familiar.
He didn't scan every panel.
Didn't hesitate long.
He chose quickly.
Stone Sorting – Outer Quarry
Simple.
Controlled.
The quarry was nothing like Blackridge.
There were no unstable slopes.
No hidden collapses.
Just piles of stone.
And yet—
It was not easy.
Each rock had to be examined carefully.
Qi-infused stones carried a faint trace—but weak, inconsistent.
Some were obvious.
Most were not.
Lin Xu made mistakes.
At first, he picked up stones that felt different—
Only to be told they were useless.
He adjusted.
Slower.
More precise.
By the end of the task, he completed it.
Barely.
Five points earned.
The next mission came the following day.
Water Transport – Eastern Reservoir
Simple work.
Physical.
Ten barrels.
By the fifth trip, his arms ached.
By the eighth, his steps slowed.
By the tenth—
He finished.
Three points.
Not much.
But enough.
Days passed.
Not in large jumps—
But in small, steady steps.
Lin Xu took missions he could complete.
Avoided those he didn't understand.
He returned to Blackridge once.
This time, faster.
More efficient.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Ten stalks.
Done.
By the end of the tenth day—
His contribution points had grown.
Not high.
Not impressive.
But no longer insignificant.
His training changed as well.
The Qi within him responded slightly better now.
Still slow.
Still resistant—
But no longer scattered at the slightest effort.
He could hold it.
Guide it.
For longer than before.
It was during one of these days—
After completing a task and returning to the sect—
That Lin Xu stopped again before the Technique Pavilion.
This time—
He didn't just stand outside.
He watched more carefully.
A disciple exited, holding a scroll tightly, expression focused.
Another walked in, hesitating briefly before stepping through the doors.
No guards stopped them.
No one questioned them.
But Lin Xu understood.
This was not a place to enter lightly.
Techniques were not just tools.
They shaped how one cultivated.
How one fought.
How one progressed.
Choosing wrong…
Would cost more than points.
That night, he returned to the cave.
The Ledger remained still.
He opened it.
No ripples.
No reaction.
Just silence.
Lin Xu looked at it for a moment.
Then closed it again.
Good.
This decision—
He would make on his own.
The next morning—
He stood before the Mission Hall once more.
This time, he did not look at the task panels.
Instead—
He turned.
And walked in the opposite direction.
Toward the Technique Pavilion.
The doors stood open.
For a brief moment—
He paused.
Not from hesitation—
But from awareness.
Everything until now had been preparation.
Small steps.
Small gains.
This—
Was different.
This would define his path.
Lin Xu stepped forward.
And entered.