The morning sun rose over the peaks of Wuheng Mountain, scattering golden light across the sprawling expanse of the Providence Tribe's training grounds. The valley below shimmered with the visible threads of cultivation energy, snaking between towers, courtyards, and open training areas. Ruoxue felt a mix of awe and tension as she stepped across the ethereal bridge that connected the Moonlit Jade Pavilion to the tribe's territory. Each step was measured, deliberate, as if the energy beneath her feet could detect even the slightest hesitation.
Beside her, Guardian Yin Xiu walked in silence. His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over the valley, taking note of Ruoxue's posture, her breathing, and even the subtle tremor of her pulse.
"Remember," he said finally, "the Providence Tribe does not favor novices. They will test every part of you—strength, control, mind, and spirit. Do not underestimate them. Even one misstep could mark you as unworthy in their eyes."
Ruoxue nodded, keeping her face calm. She had known the path would be difficult, but hearing it aloud made her heart beat faster. "I understand, Guardian Yin Xiu," she replied.
"Good. Keep your senses sharp. I will remain here, but I will observe. Remember, the Nine Courts watch not only for skill but also for character and discretion."
As she stepped into the training grounds, Ruoxue felt the full weight of the tribe's reputation. Cultivators moved with fluid precision, swords clashing with elemental displays that lit the sky in bursts of flame, lightning, and wind. The air vibrated with power, thick with an intensity that made her lungs burn with every inhale. She could see the traces of energy etched into the earth, left by years of rigorous training, and she felt a flicker of anticipation in her chest.
A group of trainees approached, their eyes sharp with judgment.
"So this is the Moonlit Jade Pavilion's gift," one sneered, a tall girl with silver hair tied in a high braid. "I suppose the Nine Courts wanted to amuse themselves."
"Do you even belong here?" another chimed in, his voice low, eyes scanning Ruoxue from head to toe. "I've heard the pavilion sometimes sends… interesting candidates. But you… you look ordinary. Do you think you can survive here?"
Ruoxue's lips curved into a faint smile, not of amusement, but of quiet determination. She remembered Yin Xiu's words: control, focus, and patience. "I will see," she said softly, her voice carrying more confidence than she felt.
The taller girl's eyes narrowed. "We shall see indeed."
Before tension could escalate further, a bell rang across the grounds. The sound was sharp, resonant, cutting through the morning air. An instructor, tall and imposing, appeared in the center of the courtyard. His robes were deep blue, embroidered with golden sigils that shimmered with a faint energy. His eyes were piercing, scanning each trainee like a hawk observing prey.
"Today," he announced, "you will undergo the first formal trial. Control over elemental energy, adaptability, and resilience. All will be measured. Distraction, hesitation, or failure will not be tolerated. Begin."
The courtyard floor shimmered with etched runes, their light shifting between gold, crimson, and silver. Ruoxue could feel the hum of latent energy vibrating beneath her feet. She closed her eyes briefly, drawing her senses inward. The half-moon seal at her neck pulsed faintly, a steady rhythm that resonated with the energy around her.
Her first trial was simple in instruction, yet impossible in practice: draw energy from the surrounding elements and harmonize it into a single controlled form. She could feel fire, wind, water, and earth each tugging in a different direction, as if the world itself were resisting her.
The other trainees surged forward with raw energy. Sparks of flame, gusts of wind, and arcs of water rose into the air, uncontrolled and brash. A few managed to form small elemental orbs, but many were thrown off balance, crashing to the ground or losing focus entirely.
Ruoxue took a different approach. Instead of summoning force immediately, she moved her awareness through the courtyard, letting each elemental current brush against her skin, listening to the subtle whispers of energy. Fire spoke with urgency, wind with patience, water with calm, and earth with strength. Slowly, she guided them into a cohesive flow, blending and twisting until they formed a steady, hovering sphere above her palm.
The instructors murmured in surprise. She was not the loudest, the flashiest, or the fastest—but she was precise, deliberate, and instinctive in ways even the seasoned cultivators could not ignore.
"Interesting," the lead instructor muttered, jotting notes on a floating slate. "A rare instinct, and control beyond her apparent experience. She will be… worth observing."
After the trial, Ruoxue was escorted to the pavilion's quarters for rest. Her body ached from exertion, but her mind buzzed with awareness. She had seen the other trainees—some powerful, some arrogant, some desperate—but she understood that survival here would require more than raw strength.
As she rested, fragments of memory stirred: a shadowed figure standing at a cliff edge, a voice that was both comforting and commanding, a faint image of an ancestral sword. The memories were fleeting, like reflections on water, but they left her with a sense of purpose she could not yet explain.
A soft knock at the door drew her attention. She opened it to find the tall girl with silver hair from earlier, her expression unreadable.
"You handled the trial well," the girl said unexpectedly. "I did not expect the Moonlit Jade Pavilion's envoy to move with such… poise."
Ruoxue inclined her head. "Thank you. You did well too."
The girl hesitated, then nodded once. "I am Lin Yue. Perhaps we can… learn from each other."
Ruoxue's lips quirked. Alliances were fragile here, but a single word of truce could be the difference between survival and misstep. "Perhaps," she replied softly.
The next day brought a different challenge. The Providence Tribe instructors announced the first sparring matches. Each trainee would face an opponent of equal experience in controlled combat, testing adaptability, reaction, and strategic thinking.
Ruoxue's opponent was a boy named Han Ze, known among the disciples for his aggressive techniques and unrelenting speed. He grinned as he approached, eyes glinting with mischief and confidence. "I hope you are ready," he said. "I've heard of you. Moonlit Jade Pavilion's guest, right? Let's see if your reputation holds."
Ruoxue studied him carefully. His stance was wide, shoulders relaxed but coiled like a spring, energy radiating outward in sharp bursts. "I am ready," she replied, her tone calm.
The courtyard floor shimmered, forming the boundary of the sparring arena. Energy swirled, creating a hum that filled the air with tension. The instructor raised a hand. "Begin."
Han Ze lunged immediately, a torrent of wind and flame rushing toward Ruoxue. She moved instinctively, sidestepping and redirecting the flow with a precise wave of her hand. Sparks of energy collided, crackling in the air, and Ruoxue felt the exhilaration of combat ignite her senses.
The battle was not about brute force. Han Ze attempted to overwhelm her with speed, but Ruoxue's awareness allowed her to anticipate his movements, blending defense with subtle offense. Each strike she made was calculated, each counter measured, drawing upon both instinct and the faint memories that flickered in her mind.
Minutes passed like hours. Sweat stung her eyes, her limbs ached, but she did not falter. Finally, with a calculated movement, she used Han Ze's momentum against him, redirecting his energy and causing him to stumble, bowing to indicate surrender.
The courtyard fell silent, then erupted in whispers. Some disciples muttered in disbelief, others in admiration. Even the instructors nodded in subtle approval.
"Well done," the lead instructor said, voice carrying across the grounds. "Control, precision, and composure. She will survive this trial, though there is much to learn."
After the sparring, Ruoxue found a quiet courtyard by a small moonlit pond to rest. The reflection of her half-moon seal shimmered in the water. She traced it with a fingertip, feeling a strange warmth spread through her chest.
A rustle of leaves drew her attention. Zhen Ye emerged from the shadows, his presence calm yet commanding. "You are progressing faster than expected," he said quietly. "But strength alone is not enough. You must learn strategy, patience, and silence. The Providence Tribe will test your body, but the Nine Courts will test your mind and spirit. Remember that control begins within, not without."
Ruoxue looked up, meeting his gaze. "I will remember," she said.
Zhen Ye nodded, then handed her a small scroll. "Study this. It contains techniques that are not taught openly. They require understanding, reflection, and calculation. Mastery will take time, but you will need them soon."
Ruoxue accepted it with a bow, feeling the weight of responsibility settle upon her shoulders.
The following days passed in a rigorous cycle of training, observation, and reflection. Ruoxue's skills grew steadily. She learned to mold elemental energy with greater precision, to anticipate opponents' movements, and to maintain composure under extreme pressure. Yet with each success came the realization that the Providence Tribe had depths she had yet to uncover. Rivalries simmered among the disciples, alliances formed and dissolved like currents in water, and the shadow of greater challenges loomed ever closer.
One evening, as Ruoxue practiced alone in a quiet courtyard, she sensed a presence beyond the training grounds. A faint pulse of energy, dark and unfamiliar, rippled through the valley. She frowned, instincts alert. Someone—or something—was approaching.
The wind whispered through the trees, carrying a hint of malice and intent. Ruoxue's hand brushed the half-moon seal, her mind racing. This was no ordinary visitor. She felt the stirrings of a force that tugged at her memories, a connection she could not yet name.
Somewhere deep within, a voice—faint, distant, and urgent—urged her to prepare.
The journey through Providence Tribe had begun in earnest. Challenges awaited, alliances would be tested, and secrets—buried for centuries—were stirring, waiting for the right moment to awaken.
Beneath the moonlight, Ruoxue stood poised, her eyes reflecting determination and a spark of awakening. The trials of Providence were only the beginning.