Chapter 6: The Azure Cloud Pavilion
The Spirit Realm was a world of vibrant excess. Towering jade-green trees stretched toward a sky streaked with auroras, their leaves shimmering with faint qi. Rivers flowed with liquid essence, and the air buzzed with energy that made Li Wei's skin tingle. He stood at the edge of a cliff, the World Gate's glow fading behind him, clutching the Nine Worlds Ascension Art scroll. Before him sprawled the Azure Cloud Pavilion, a sect nestled in a valley of floating islands, each connected by bridges of woven vines. Pavilions of white jade gleamed under the eternal dawn, their roofs curved like dragon wings.
Li Wei's heart raced with equal parts awe and caution. The disciples who had watched him emerge from the gate—three youths in azure robes—approached. Their leader, a lanky boy with sharp eyes named Zhao Feng, appraised him. "A mortal fresh from the gate? Bold, but foolish. State your purpose."
"I seek to join the Azure Cloud Pavilion," Li Wei said, straightening. "I wish to cultivate and grow stronger."
Zhao Feng smirked. "Everyone wants strength. Prove you're worth our time." He tossed a jade token, etched with the sect's cloud emblem. "Present this at the outer court. If you survive the trials, you might become an outer disciple."
Li Wei caught the token, its cool surface pulsing with qi. The disciples turned, vanishing into the mist with graceful leaps. Alone, Li Wei descended the cliff, using Wind Step to navigate the rocky path. The scroll in his robe hummed, revealing a new technique: Spirit Sense, a method to extend his perception through qi. Activating it, he sensed the valley's energy flows—nodes of power where spirit herbs grew and beasts lurked.
At the outer court, a sprawling plaza of polished stone, hundreds of hopefuls gathered, their qi ranging from Qi Condensation to early Foundation Establishment. An elder, a stern woman with silver hair named Mei Ling, addressed them. "The Azure Cloud Pavilion accepts only the worthy. Pass three trials—Strength, Skill, and Spirit—and you may join. Fail, and leave or die."
The first trial, Strength, was a test of raw power. Disciples faced a Stone Golem, a construct infused with mid-Qi Condensation qi. Li Wei watched as others struggled, their punches barely denting the golem's surface. When his turn came, he channeled the Qi Spiral Technique, focusing his fourth-stage Qi Condensation into a rotating fist. The golem shattered, earning murmurs from the crowd and a nod from Elder Mei.
The second trial, Skill, required navigating a formation maze filled with illusions and traps. Li Wei's Spirit Sense proved invaluable, detecting hidden qi currents to avoid pitfalls. He emerged unscathed, one of only twenty to pass. The final trial, Spirit, tested mental resolve. In a meditative chamber, Li Wei faced visions of his past—starving in Hidden Mist Valley, abandoned by all. The Nine Worlds Ascension Art steadied his mind, its words anchoring him: The dao is your own. He awoke clear-headed, an outer disciple's robe handed to him.
As he donned the azure robe, Zhao Feng reappeared, his smirk gone. "You're no ordinary mortal. But don't get cocky—outer disciples are ants here." Li Wei nodded, sensing the truth. The Spirit Realm was a new battlefield, and he was only beginning.