After the first exam ended, there was a brief period of waiting.

I found myself staring blankly at the sky, enduring the boredom.

‘No stars yet.’

The sun was setting, but it wasn’t dark enough for the stars to appear.

I continued circulating my internal energy while watching the flow of the sky, making sure to be careful not to let it brush harshly against my meridians. I had to guide it toward my upper dantian.

As the energy gathered, I could feel its delicate threads lightly tapping at the door of my upper dantian.

It was a faint and …