Chapter 9: The Outer Peak Assembly
The Outer Peak buzzed with tension. Hundreds of new disciples stood in neat rows beneath the looming cliffs, a sea of fresh faces from every corner of the empire. Rich silks and noble crests stood beside plain robes and patched tunics — backgrounds meant nothing here.
Among them were those already well-known:
Ye Chen, calm and composed, the top scorer in the entrance test.
Bai Si, graceful and aloof, her eyes closed as if ignoring the world.
Liu Bing, once proud, now silent and withdrawn after his shocking aptitude reveal.
And Liu Guan Yi, standing apart, his expression unreadable, his black-luck halo pulsing gently — unseen by all.
Suddenly, a gust of wind stirred the crowd.
An elder appeared in mid-air, floating gently to the stone platform before them. His gray robes billowed, his eyes sharp as cold steel. He looked down upon the gathering of new blood without a trace of emotion.
"You have entered the Heavenly Sword Sect," the elder declared. "From this day forward, your status outside these peaks is meaningless. Noble or peasant — you begin here as equals."
The crowd fell silent.
"Today, you take your first step on the path of cultivation. That step is awakening your dantian."
A few disciples flinched. This was it — the moment that separated dreamers from true cultivators.
The elder raised a hand and continued, "Our world has nine cultivation ranks. The first five belong to the Mortal Realm. The next three — Ranks 6 through 8 — belong to the Immortal Realm. Every rank is divided into four stages: Initial, Middle, Upper, and Peak."
He paused and glanced around.
"To break through to Rank 8, one must create a spiritual body. And to reach the peak of Rank 8, you must open all eight leaves of your soul root. Remember this — because very few ever reach that far."
The crowd stiffened. Even the noble youths looked daunted.
"But before any of you can think about those heights…" The elder's gaze sharpened. "You must form your dantian. Only then will you truly begin walking the path."
Then he added, almost casually, "The first to succeed will receive one hundred primeval stones."
Gasps rang out.
Even the nobles' eyes lit up with greed. Primeval stones were precious, especially to those just starting out — each one filled with condensed energy that could drastically quicken early cultivation.
The elder flicked his sleeve. A long stick of incense lit itself and began to burn.
"You have until the incense burns out. Begin!"
In a breath, the disciples dropped into meditation. Some closed their eyes and steadied their breathing. Others looked confused, unsure of how to even start.
Liu Bing gritted his teeth and clenched his fists before focusing. Bai Si sat like a lotus — calm, distant, elegant. Ye Chen's body already radiated warmth, his breathing rhythmic, his aura naturally resonating with the energy around him.
And Liu Guan Yi?
He sat down slowly. No movement. No flashy glow. His eyelids lowered, and his breathing became so faint he might as well have disappeared. He didn't rush. He didn't even seem to try.
But deep within his body, the black fog around his dantian stirred — silent, thick, heavy. Unlike others who tried to feel the energy outside, Liu Guan Yi's thoughts sank inward.
"Focus. Compress. Anchor. Form."
Unlike the rest, he had a clear method. No reliance on instinct. Only control, discipline, and sheer will.
Minutes passed.
The incense stick burned lower.
And then — a ripple.
Qi surged somewhere near the front of the group. A few disciples looked up instinctively. Even the elder raised an eyebrow slightly.
A boy's body shimmered faintly with golden light.
The first dantian had been formed.
"Ye Chen..." someone whispered.
The elder nodded. "Well done. One hundred primeval stones, as promised."
A servant quickly stepped forward and handed Ye Chen a pouch. Ye Chen didn't even open his eyes — he simply accepted it and continued meditating.
Around him, dozens of disciples gritted their teeth and focused harder.
Liu Guan Yi opened his eyes just slightly.
"He won the reward, huh?"
He smiled faintly.
"Let them have their moment. This is just the beginning."