A moment later, Elara Stonefield felt a tightening around her waist, her whole body suddenly lightened, and then she was involuntarily lifted upwards.
Elara quickly turned her head to see the senior apprentice who had been following her closely, now with one arm around her waist, his other hand and legs nimbly scaling the steep cliff face. At the same time, Elara also noticed that the sun high above was already suspended directly in the center of the sky.
So, she had failed to complete this arduous trial path within the stipulated time after all. A wave of disappointment and sadness washed over Elara's heart. She had clearly tried so hard, so why was she still not as good as the others?
In the blink of an eye, they had reached the top of the cliff. Elara looked around and saw only six children sitting aside resting on the flat clifftop. The boy named Roric Stonehand was currently conversing with an imposing, elderly man of about fifty, dressed in a deep blue, exquisitely tailored robe, his hands clasped behind his back. Examiner Graham, whom she had seen earlier, and another Outpost official referred to as "Guardian Alrin," stood respectfully beside this old man. Several other Outpost members stood near them, seemingly waiting together for the young senior apprentices to bring the other, slower-climbing children up from below the cliff one by one.
After waiting a little longer, all the children who had participated in the trial were brought up. At this point, Examiner Graham stepped forward, his expression solemn as he faced all the still-shaken children.
"In this entrance trial, there are a total of seven who have qualified. Six of them will enter our Outpost's 'Hall of Hundred Forges' and officially become inner apprentices of the Stonefist Outpost," he announced slowly, his voice clear and firm.
"The other one, Roric Stonehand," Examiner Graham turned to the old man in the deep blue robe, nodded slightly, and continued, "as the first to successfully reach the clifftop, his performance was particularly outstanding. He will be directly recommended to the 'Hall of Seven Arts' to learn our sect's most profound core techniques." Hearing this, the old man gently stroked his beard and nodded at Examiner Graham with satisfaction.
"As for the others..." Examiner Graham's gaze swept over the remaining children. He then raised his right hand, gently stroked his chin, and after a moment of slight contemplation, continued, "Tyg, Elara Stonefield, although you two failed to reach the clifftop on time, your performance during the trial was commendable. It seems you are capable of enduring hardship and have the potential to cultivate martial arts or magic. You two may temporarily follow some basic instructors in our Outpost to lay a foundation. You will be assessed again in half a year. If you pass, you can officially become inner apprentices; if you fail, you will be assigned to the outer areas to serve as outer apprentices."
Elara glanced at the other child who had been called out at the same time, the boy named Tyg. She recognized him; he was the boy who had been climbing the rock wall right behind her, also dangling from a rope, and had almost made it to the clifftop.
"Guardian Alrin," Examiner Graham turned to the Outpost official and ordered in a slightly cool tone, "give each of the remaining children who failed the trial some silver coins for their dismissal, and then send them all home."
"As you command!" Guardian Alrin stepped forward, bowed to accept the order, and then led the children who had not passed away from the clifftop and down the mountain.
"Alaric, Breyn," Examiner Graham then instructed two young senior apprentices, "you two, take these children who have passed the initial screening to my hall and hand them over to Deputy Hall Chief Gustav and Instructor Leon respectively."
Two more young senior apprentices stepped forward in response, divided Elara and the other remaining children into two groups, and led them towards another path down the mountain. One of them was the same cold-faced senior apprentice who had been following Elara earlier. As they left the clifftop to descend, Elara couldn't help but look back at Roric Stonehand. She saw he was still standing and talking with the mysterious old man in the blue robe, showing no intention of leaving with them.
"He's not like you," the other senior apprentice, Breyn, who had a lean face, seemed to notice the question in Elara's mind and spoke up to explain, though his words carried an unmistakable hint of envy and jealousy. "He's a core apprentice directly selected for the 'Hall of Seven Arts.' Once he completes his training, he'll at least secure a Guardian position in the Outpost in the future."
"Hmph, isn't it just because he has a cousin-in-law who's a Deputy Commander in the Outpost backing him!" The previously cold-faced senior apprentice, Alaric, suddenly snorted, speaking in an extremely low voice filled with disdain. "If it weren't for his lucky cousin marrying Deputy Commander Magnus, him! His age already exceeds the entry limit, and he still wants to enter the 'Hall of Seven Arts'? Dream on!" When Alaric said this, his voice was extremely low, but the chill in it sent shivers down the spines of those around.
"Alaric, are you tired of living!" Breyn was shocked by Alaric's words. He hurriedly looked around and, seeing no one else besides them and these new children, he relaxed slightly but still warned in a hushed voice, "Is the Deputy Commander someone we can casually slander! If any other colleagues hear this, neither of us will escape punishment in the Reflection Cell!"
The senior apprentice named Alaric snorted again, seemingly a little wary himself, and said no more. Only then did Elara realize this cold-faced senior apprentice was named Alaric. She understood their conversation only vaguely, but she had a faint feeling that the boy named Roric Stonehand hadn't entirely relied on genuine talent to enter the impressive-sounding "Hall of Seven Arts." Rather, it was because he had a relative who was a Deputy Commander in the Outpost acting as his patron, allowing him to receive such preferential treatment so easily.
Walking on the rugged mountain path, the spirits of these two senior apprentices seemed to have grown heavy from recalling the frustrating and unfair matters within the Outpost. They were no longer in the mood to speak, merely leading Elara and the others forward in silence. And Elara and the other new children dared not even breathe loudly, nor did they dare to converse privately. Perhaps, in their young hearts, they had all vaguely realized that this Stonefist Outpost was very different from the lives they had experienced at home or in their villages.
As they passed through a dense, deeply shadowed, and lush forest, an old man slowly emerged from the gloom between the trees. This man appeared to be around sixty years old, tall and thin, his skin an unhealthy sallow yellow, yet he had a head of snow-white hair that fell to his shoulders. As he walked, he coughed violently and incessantly, bending over. Seeing his agonizing coughs, it looked as if he might collapse at any moment, truly making one sweat for him.
Upon seeing this old man, Alaric and Breyn showed no concern on their faces. Instead, they both hurried forward and bowed deeply and respectfully to the frail elder.
"Physician Morus, good day! Is there anything you require us to do?" Alaric, completely shedding his previous cold demeanor, showed heartfelt respect on his face. To him, this withered old man seemed more deserving of his respect than the Hall Chiefs, or even the Deputy Commanders.
"Oh, it's you. Are these new disciples who have just come up the mountain?" The old man finally managed to suppress his cough and asked slowly, his voice hoarse and dry.
"Yes, Physician Morus. Among them, six are apprentices who have officially passed the initial screening, and two are probationary apprentices," Alaric replied meticulously, his tone devoid of any disrespect.
"Hmm, I happen to be short-handed right now. I need an apprentice to assist with potion brewing and another to gather medicinal herbs. These two children will come with me." The old man, known as Physician Morus, casually extended a withered finger, pointing directly at Elara and Tyg, the two children who had just been declared probationary apprentices. His words, though calm, were filled with an undeniable authority.
"As you command, Physician Morus!" The two senior apprentices showed no sign of objection. Breyn even rushed to say, "It is truly an honor for these two probationary apprentices to receive your esteemed favor, Physician Morus! What are you two still standing there for? Hurry and pay your respects to Physician Morus! If you can learn even a fraction of Physician Morus's medical skills in the future, it will benefit you for a lifetime!" As he spoke, his face was wreathed in a fawning smile, clearly trying to curry favor with this Physician Morus.
Seeing that neither senior apprentice had any objections, Elara and Tyg, being new arrivals, naturally had no right to refuse. They could only obediently follow this sickly-looking old man into the depths of the forest.
Physician Morus led Elara and Tyg along a winding path through the forest, walking unhurriedly despite his unsteady gait. After winding through several dense thickets, the view suddenly opened up, and a small valley brimming with vibrant life and covered in lush green vegetation appeared before them.
On the left side of the valley was a large field of medicinal herbs exuding a strong, peculiar fragrance. Within the field, many strange herbs that Elara had never seen nor could name were planted in neat rows. On the right side of the valley stood a dozen or so simple wooden huts of varying sizes, all interconnected. Elara quickly scanned her surroundings and found that, apart from the tree-shrouded entrance they had just come through, this small valley seemed to have no other exits to the outside, as if it were a secluded, hidden place.
"This is 'Quietstream Valley.' Apart from the disciples within my valley, outsiders generally do not come here unless they are gravely injured or have been afflicted by a rare poison. From now on, you two will live here. Go to that small hut over there to rest and unpack your belongings. In the evening, come to the main hall of my residence to see me; I have something to say to you." The old man stood before several closely connected wooden huts, pointed to one of the smaller ones, and instructed Elara and Tyg.
"You can call me Old Morus in the future," the old man said, pausing slightly before adding, "Of course, calling me Physician Morus is also fine."
Having said this, Physician Morus paid no more attention to Elara and Tyg, and walked by himself, step by step, accompanied by suppressed coughs, into a larger, more imposing hut nearby that seemed to be the main residence.
Elara was already exhausted and couldn't be bothered with the equally bewildered boy named Tyg beside her. She threw herself onto the simple wooden bed in the small hut assigned to them and immediately fell into a heavy, drowsy sleep. To her, no matter what the future held, at least she had one foot inside the gates of Stonefist Outpost.