The towering walls of Xianglong's capital loomed like mountains against the sky, casting long shadows across the open road. Their sheer scale made the fortresses of the outer kingdoms seem like toy models in comparison. Carved into the stone were dragons and phoenixes, symbols of glory and dominion, their fierce eyes seeming to watch all who entered.
For Li Wei, the sight stole his breath. Even after weeks of preparation, nothing could have prepared him for the magnificence before him.
The group passed beneath the massive gates, the iron portcullis engraved with seals that faintly pulsed with spiritual light. Guards in lacquered armor stood at attention, their qi sharp and suffocating even though most had yet to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. In Xianglong, such men would have been lords. Here, they were merely gatekeepers.
The streets burst with life. Vendors shouted of rare talismans and spirit herbs, their voices battling against the din of passing caravans. Cultivators in academy robes strode through the avenues with pride in every step, their colors and insignias marking a hundred different schools and lineages. The air itself seemed heavier here, saturated with ambition.
"Look at all the people!" Mei gasped, clutching her pack closer. Her eyes darted to a trio of sword cultivators whose robes bore the insignia of the Ironwind Academy. Their blades hummed faintly even sheathed, the qi within so dense it distorted the air.
Li Wei steadied her with a quiet nod, though his own heart pounded. "Don't forget why we came. Admire the city later. For now—focus."
Yet even as he spoke, he couldn't help but drink in the sight. The capital was unlike anything he had known—each street a river of power, each passerby a ripple on a vast, unseen ocean.
They weren't alone in noticing. Across the avenue, a familiar figure turned at the commotion. Wang Zhao of Xiang Academy stood at the forefront of his group, his bracers gleaming under the sunlight. He met Li Wei's gaze and smirked, his confidence unshaken.
"I hope you're ready to lose," Wang Zhao called, his voice cutting through the crowd.
Li Wei's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. The urge to respond itched at him, yet he remembered the principal's words—strength was not just in power, but in discipline. Still, he clenched his fist at his side. I'll prove myself in the arena.
Their group pressed on until they reached the heart of the city, where an enormous square spread open like the palm of a giant hand. At its center stood a raised platform of black stone, wide enough to host a dozen duels at once. Banners of crimson and gold flapped from tall poles, each bearing the emblem of the Tianlong Sect—a coiling dragon whose head seemed to pierce the heavens.
The noise of the crowd dwindled as a figure stepped onto the platform.
An elder of the Tianlong Sect stood tall, his long sleeves drifting in a breeze that was not there. His hair, white as snow, cascaded down his back, and his gaze swept the plaza with the weight of an entire mountain range. His cultivation could not be measured; even his silence pressed against the hearts of all who beheld him.
The chatter ceased. Even the arrogant students of Xiang Academy lowered their heads.
"Welcome," the elder's voice rolled like distant thunder, yet carried clearly to every ear. "You gather here not as children of kingdoms, nor as mere disciples of academies. Today, you stand as seekers upon the path of immortality."
His words struck Li Wei's chest like a drumbeat.
"Remember this," the elder continued. "The Tianlong Sect does not seek mediocrity. It seeks those who can carve their way through despair, who can endure humiliation and emerge unbroken. Strength of qi is but one measure. The true trial lies in strength of heart."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some students straightened with resolve, while others paled, as if realizing the path ahead would not be paved with talent alone.
Li Wei clenched his fists, his blood surging hot. He remembered every late night of training, every moment he had thought of giving up but hadn't. This… this is why I endured.
The elder's gaze swept once more across the square. For the briefest instant, Li Wei felt those ancient eyes rest on him, piercing through to his very soul.
"Tomorrow," the elder said, "the first trial shall begin. Rest well tonight, for when dawn breaks, excuses will no longer shield you."
With that, the elder turned, his robes billowing as he departed the stage.
The crowd erupted into murmurs once more, students buzzing with speculation and fear.
Mei exhaled sharply, leaning closer. "The first trial… what do you think it will be?"
Li Wei's gaze lingered on the black platform, his pulse hammering. "It doesn't matter. Whatever it is… I'll be ready."
Above them, the banners of the Tianlong Sect fluttered in the wind, their shadows stretching long across the square.
---
Night had arrived.
The academy had arranged quarters within a large guest compound. Lanterns lined the courtyard, their faint glow giving the night a tranquil air. Most students retired early, whispering anxiously about the coming dawn.
But Li Wei found himself restless. Sleep refused to come.
At last, he rose, slipping quietly through the gates and into the streets. The capital by night was no less alive than by day. Drunken cultivators staggered from taverns, mercenaries boasted of past battles, and fortune-tellers plied their trade beneath the light of spirit lamps. The mingled scents of roasted meat and incense drifted on the breeze.
Drawn deeper, Li Wei wandered until the main streets gave way to shadowed alleys. It was there he heard it—an argument carried on harsh whispers.
Peering around the corner, he saw a youth no older than himself cornered by three older cultivators. Their robes bore no academy insignias; instead, the jagged emblem of a rogue sect was stitched crudely at their shoulders.
"Hand it over," one sneered, his palm glowing faintly with condensed qi. "A brat like you has no use for a jade slip of this caliber."
The youth clutched the slip to his chest, defiance blazing in his eyes. "I found it fairly. I won't give it up!"
Li Wei's gut twisted. He knew the type—bullies drunk on borrowed strength. The smart choice was to turn away, to avoid trouble on the eve of the tournament. Yet his feet refused to move.
The leader raised his hand to strike.
Li Wei stepped from the shadows. "Three against one? Hardly honorable."
The men turned, eyes narrowing. "Another meddler?"
The leader sneered. "Out of my sight, boy, unless you want broken bones before tomorrow."
Li Wei's hand hovered near his sword hilt. His heart hammered, but his voice came steady. "Then break them—if you can."
For a tense moment, the alley crackled with hostility. Then, perhaps judging that drawing attention here was unwise, the men cursed and withdrew, their footsteps fading into the night.
The youth sagged with relief, clutching the jade slip. "Thank you. If not for you—"
Li Wei shook his head. "Keep your treasures hidden. Not all who wear robes are righteous."
The youth nodded fervently, then vanished into the night.
Li Wei lingered. His heart was still racing, not from fear, but from the fire that had ignited within. If I had been weaker… I would have been helpless, just as I was back then.
Memories surged unbidden.
The night flames devoured his home. His parents' voices—shouts of defiance, cut short by the clash of steel. The shadowy figures who descended upon their village, stronger than anyone could resist. And Li Wei, too young, too powerless, watching everything crumble while his hands trembled uselessly at his sides.
That helplessness had burned itself into his soul.
It was the reason he trained until his limbs screamed. The reason he swallowed bitterness and exhaustion. The reason he stood here now, determined to step onto a path few dared to tread.
"I will never be powerless again," he whispered into the night, his voice hoarse but unyielding.
When he returned to the compound, dawn was already painting the sky with pale gold. Mei stirred as he entered, half-asleep. "Where did you go?"
Li Wei only smiled faintly, settling onto his mat. "Just needed some air."