City Lord Dongyue was tall and broad-shouldered, his very presence commanding respect. Standing high upon the dais, his piercing gaze swept across the hundreds of Ji clan disciples gathered below.
"Descendants of the Ji clan, hear my words!" Dongyue's voice thundered, silencing all murmurs. "In the Southern Wilderness, fiendish spirits run rampant. Calling themselves the 'Blood-Defying Sentinels,' they slaughter cultivators and torment the innocent! Their true master is none other than the false saint who has broken free from his ancient seal—Tianzhu!"
The crowd erupted in alarm. The name Tianzhu was infamous, carrying with it the terror of ages past.
"Only the Soul-Suppressing Alliance can reseal this monster!" Dongyue continued, gesturing to the three Daoists standing behind him. "Today, three True Daoists of the Alliance have come to Yunyang, seeking worthy candidates to join their ranks and receive their teachings. This is the highest of fortunes, yet also the gravest of trials! The Alliance unites the secret arts of the Flame Arrow Sect, the Darkcloud Sect, the Divine Path Sect, and even the profound methods of the Chan and Jie teachings. Their knowledge is vast and boundless! But Tianzhu is fierce beyond measure, his Blood-Defying followers merciless. Only those of courage and resolve may face him. To join is to risk life and death—glory or annihilation!"
His voice rose like a war drum: "I ask you! Do the sons of Ji have the will to study the mystical arts, to pursue ultimate mastery?"
"Yes!" The answering roar shook the heavens.
"And I ask again! Do the sons of Ji possess the courage to lay down their lives, to die for righteousness?"
"Yes!" The shout surged upward like a storm.
Dongyue nodded gravely and stepped aside. "Honored Daoists, the floor is yours."
The stout Daoist, Fuyuan, stepped forward first, bowing with clasped hands and smiling. "Blessings of the Boundless Celestial. I am Fuyuanzi." He gestured to the tall, gaunt Daoist. "This is my second brother, Lüyanzi." Then to the beautiful Daoist nun. "And this is our youngest sister, Lingyunzi. This trial is not of strength nor cultivation, but of the heart. Each of us shall pose a question. You need only answer true to your nature."
Fuyuanzi's question came like a dagger: "To your left stands a maiden of sixteen, to your right an elderly crone. Both are in mortal peril, but you may save only one. Whom do you choose?"
The hall froze. Under Fuyuanzi's impatient countdown, the youths hastily chose sides. Ji En moved to the maiden's side. Hao Lan at first chose the elder, but seeing his father frown, quickly shifted to the left as well.
Fuyuanzi then explained that he would save the maiden—her future carried more value to humanity. Many who had chosen the elder only did so out of fear of being judged as lustful; their hearts were insincere. Ashamed, they were dismissed.
Next, Lüyanzi stepped forward, his face stern. "In battle, would you choose sword or arrow? Sword to the left, arrow to the right."
Confusion rippled through the crowd. Ji En, struck by sudden inspiration, stood with the swords. Lüyanzi's verdict was swift: "There are no bows—what use are arrows?" The test was of careful thought, and many careless disciples were expelled.
Finally, Lingyunzi approached. She unleashed thirty-six questions, weaving through yin and yang, the five elements, and meridians. Hao Lan, eager to impress, answered swiftly and correctly, yet his impatience made Lingyunzi frown. Ji En, standing far back, was overlooked until the last question: "What causes nightmares during the noon rest?"
He stalled, splitting the problem into parts, cobbling together a shaky answer. Lingyunzi corrected him with a faint smile, yet acknowledged his effort.
In the end, she selected only three: Hao Lan, Lin Feng, and Xiao Wei.
Ji En, rejected, was about to leave when Hao Lan hurried after him.
"You'll just walk away? Not even plead?" Hao Lan asked.
"They want only three. Pleading is useless. And I never believed I must go." Ji En shook his head.
"Who will tend to me then?" Hao Lan demanded.
"The Alliance has strict rules. They won't allow such things." Ji En sighed, lowering his voice. "But what of the two girls you saved? You're leaving them behind."
At this, Hao Lan recalled Zhilan and Rona. After a moment's thought, he thrust the matter onto Ji En. "Tell the stewardess they are distant kin of Fu Bo. Have her arrange them some work."
Ji En was dumbfounded, but Hao Lan had already run off to pack. Left with no choice, Ji En spun a tale to the stewardess and settled the sisters in.
By the time he returned, Hao Lan was mounted and impatient. "Hurry! Pack up and follow me. If the Alliance won't keep you, at least stay nearby to watch over me!"
Ji En was speechless, but could not refuse. With only spare clothes, cookware, and Fu Bo's stale pastries, he led his stubborn donkey to the east gate. There, Hao Lan, Lin Feng, and Xiao Wei awaited. Hao Lan sneered at the sight of the donkey, but pressed for time, said nothing.
The four departed. Hao Lan and the others galloped proudly, while Ji En struggled on the braying donkey, shattering their heroic mood. At last, Hao Lan tossed him a travel pass and rode ahead, leaving Ji En trailing behind with a sigh.