The capital of Xianglong stirred long before the sun had fully risen, its streets alive with the restless energy of thousands. Merchants unfurled their stalls, hawking steaming buns and fragrant tea to bleary-eyed passersby, while carriages rattled down stone-paved roads. Yet it was not trade that gave the city its pulse this morning, but the presence of cultivators—scores upon scores of them, clad in the robes of their academies, weapons strapped to their backs, each bearing the same feverish gleam in their eyes.
Li Wei stood with the other students of Lianhua Academy near the great plaza. His breath misted in the cool air, though heat coiled in his chest. Today was the day—the opening of the Tianlong Sect's selection tournament, the first step toward immortality.
Beside him, Mei tugged at her sleeve, her eyes wide as she watched the growing crowd."There must be thousands here. Look—those colors, that's Thunderclap Academy from the east. And over there, the Crimson Lotus School. I never thought I'd see them outside the scrolls."
Li Wei followed her gaze. Indeed, the plaza seemed a sea of banners and insignias, each one a symbol of ambition. He could feel the tension humming like a drawn bowstring; rivals sized one another up, whispers of rumors and boasts rippling through the throng.
A sharp voice carried over the din.
"Well, if it isn't Lianhua's little prodigy."
Li Wei turned. Wang Zhao of Xiang Academy strode toward him, his presence commanding even amid the chaos. He was flanked by several of his academy's students, all wearing smug expressions. Wang Zhao's eyes glittered with mockery as they locked onto Li Wei.
"I trust you enjoyed your comfortable little journey here," he said. "Best savor it—because once the trials begin, you'll realize what it means to face true talent."
The words were barbed, yet Li Wei kept his expression calm."We'll see whose talent shines brightest on the platform," he said evenly.
A ripple of surprise crossed Wang Zhao's face—just for a heartbeat—before he smirked. "Confidence. Let's hope it's not hollow." With that, he turned away, his laughter echoing as he rejoined his group.
Mei exhaled sharply. "That man—he thinks he's already won."
Li Wei said nothing, but inwardly, he welcomed the challenge. Wang Zhao's arrogance was fuel; it fanned the fire already burning within him.
The square erupted into silence as a group of figures approached the central platform. Their steps were measured, their robes shimmering faintly with threads of qi. At their head stood an elder of the Tianlong Sect, his hair a silver cascade, his eyes bright as stars. Though his aura was restrained, a single breath from him carried the weight of a mountain; even the proudest students bowed their heads instinctively.
"Welcome," the elder said, his voice resonant, carrying without effort to every corner of the plaza. "Today marks the beginning of your trial. You have all come bearing the hopes of your academies, your kingdoms, and your clans. But let me remind you: here, such things are but shadows. What matters is strength, resolve, and the ability to carve your own path forward."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"The first trial," the elder continued, "will test your adaptability and spirit. You will be cast into an illusory realm—a world of beasts and dangers crafted by formation. Within it, you must secure as many spirit tokens as possible. Each token represents the defeat of a manifested beast or rival competitor. Only those with sufficient tokens shall proceed to the next round."
A murmur ran through the plaza. Illusions or not, a formation crafted by the Tianlong Sect would be no child's play.
"Remember," the elder said, his tone suddenly sharp, "the formation may be false, but the pain you feel within it will be real. Hesitate, and you will suffer. Fear, and you will fall."
He raised a hand. Qi surged, and the massive platform at the plaza's center shuddered. Symbols ignited along its surface, glowing like molten gold. The very air seemed to warp, and the crowd drew back instinctively as the formation awakened.
"Enter," the elder commanded. "And let the trial begin."
One by one, students stepped forward, swallowed by the shimmering veil of light. When Li Wei's turn came, he breathed deeply, steadying himself. Then, with Mei close at his side, he walked into the formation.
A blinding flash engulfed him. The world twisted.
When his vision cleared, he stood in a dense forest. Ancient trees loomed overhead, their canopies blotting out the sun. The air was thick with mist, carrying the faint growls of unseen beasts. Around him, figures appeared—other competitors scattered at random, their faces already tense. Somewhere deeper in the woods, faint glimmers of light pulsed: the spirit tokens.
Mei appeared at his side, clutching her blade. "So it begins."
"Stay close," Li Wei said.
A rustle. Then a roar split the silence. From the undergrowth burst a spirit beast, its form half-wolf, half-shadow, eyes glowing red. It lunged with terrifying speed.
Li Wei stepped forward, drawing his sword in one fluid motion. The Whirlwind Slash swept outward, qi coiling like wind itself. The arc struck true, cleaving through the beast's neck. With a howl, it dissolved into motes of light—leaving behind a small, glowing token that floated gently into Li Wei's hand.
His pulse quickened. One token. Many more to go.
They pressed deeper into the forest. Around them, chaos erupted—shouts, clashes of steel, bursts of qi techniques as students fought beasts and one another alike. Li Wei saw two cultivators locked in desperate combat, their duel interrupted by a serpent-beast that struck them both down. Elsewhere, a girl from Crimson Lotus screamed as her arm was torn by an illusory tiger. Though the wounds were not lethal, their agony was real.
Mei glanced at Li Wei. "This is madness. They're not holding back."
"They shouldn't," Li Wei replied grimly. "Neither can we."
Hours seemed to blur as they hunted, fought, and evaded. Li Wei's token pouch grew heavier, each battle sharpening his instincts further. Yet he knew it was only the beginning.
At one point, they crossed paths with Wang Zhao himself. The Xiang Academy prodigy stood over the dissipating body of a massive spirit beast, tokens floating into his palm. His aura burned fiercely, his confidence unshaken.
When his eyes met Li Wei's, a silent challenge passed between them. Wang Zhao smirked—and turned away without a word.
Mei bristled. "He looks down on us."
"Let him," Li Wei said, though his hand tightened on his sword. "When the time comes, we'll see who stands taller."
As the illusionary sun dipped low, the forest trembled. A new presence stirred—far greater than the beasts before. The ground cracked, and from the shadows emerged a monstrous spirit ape, its body towering, its fists like boulders. Tokens shimmered across its fur, dozens of them embedded like stars.
Students screamed, scattering. Some rushed forward in desperation; others fled outright.
Li Wei's heart pounded. To defeat this beast would mean an immense advantage—but also immense risk.
"Li Wei," Mei said, her voice tight. "What do we do?"
He looked at her, then at the rampaging ape. Fear whispered at the edge of his mind, but he pushed it down. He remembered the night his parents died, the helplessness that had carved itself into his bones. He would not turn away now.
"We fight," he said.
The battle raged. The ape's fists crashed down, shaking the earth, each blow sending shockwaves of force. Li Wei darted in and out, his blade flashing, carving shallow wounds across the beast's legs. Mei struck with precision, her qi-infused strikes drawing roars of pain.
But the creature was relentless. One blow sent Li Wei flying, pain exploding in his ribs. He tasted blood, his vision swimming. Yet as the beast loomed over him, he forced himself up, teeth gritted.
No. I will not fall. Not here.
With a roar of his own, he summoned every ounce of qi he had, channeling it into his blade. The Whirlwind Slash erupted—not just a strike, but a storm. The arc of wind curved upward, slicing into the ape's exposed throat.
The beast staggered. Mei leapt, driving her blade into its chest. Together, they brought the monster crashing down.
The tokens scattered like falling stars. Li Wei's hands shook as he gathered them, his body battered, his breath ragged. But his eyes burned with triumph.
Around them, other students stared in shock. Whispers spread—Lianhua Academy's Li Wei had felled the great spirit ape.
When the trial finally ended, the forest dissolved into mist, and the students were expelled back into the plaza. Li Wei stumbled to his feet, clutching his pouch heavy with tokens.
On the platform, the elder's gaze lingered on him for a long moment. Then the faintest of nods.
Li Wei bowed his head, heart still pounding.
He had survived the first trial.