The morning air was crisp, carrying the bite of mountain cold. Elder Lu Heng stood at the edge of the broad stone courtyard, his hands folded behind his back, robes unmoving despite the occasional gust of wind.

  Below, the aspirants gathered. They clustered in groups—some huddling together for warmth, their cultivation insufficient to ignore the cold, while others stood apart with measured confidence.

  The entrance exams were quite the event, being held once every three years. Many curious outer and inner disciples had gathered to not-so-subtly watch the aspirants from a distance, though they carried themselves with a studied casualness. Elder Lu kept the minor amusement from his face. Back in his day, the disciples hadn’t cared so much about appearing dignified, all but crowding the aspirants and setting bets on how many would pass.

  It might be a little less lively, but the Sect Leader’s insistence on minding their bearing did have the effect of making them appear a little more aloof. While that could be harmful, it served as a useful reminder that cultivators should ultimately be above the foibles of mortals.

  The Azure Sky Sect’s reach spanned hundreds of miles, encompassing villages, towns, and smaller cities, and each exam drew hundreds of hopefuls. Yet, of those gathered, perhaps as few as fifty would pass. And of those fifty, only a handful would ever progress beyond the Outer Sect.

  Lu Heng let his gaze drift over the crowd, noting the variation in attire, dialects, and bearing. Some – though not many – came from humble villages, the majority from merchant families, and a rarer few from minor noble houses - children sent to test their talent in the hopes of elevating their clans. None from the major sects, of course. They had their own systems, their own standards. The Azure Sky Sect was one of the strongest in the region, but it was not the only one.

  To the west, the Ironwood Pavilion prided itself on rigid discipline and brutal efficiency, its disciples trained for war as much as cultivation. To the south, the Thousand Petal Grove produced healers, alchemists, and scholars, eschewing martial dominance for the pursuit of knowledge. Neither Sect was truly a rival, but their influence bordered Azure Sky territory. Competition was inevitable.

  The entrance exams were more than just a test of talent—they were a statement. A demonstration of strength. A declaration that the Azure Sky Sect remained an undisputed power in the region.

  Elder Lu Heng’s gaze passed over the gathered aspirants again. No sign of the boy.

  He had given Jiang Tian a high-quality elixir. Perhaps too high-quality. Perhaps it had been wasted. Had the boy failed to ignite his dantian? Had he collapsed on the road, his body never found? Or had he simply been too slow, missing his only chance?

  Lu Heng exhaled lightly. Ultimately, it was unimportant. A single failure, even a promising one, meant little. If the boy was dead, then so be it.

  After all, men make plans while the Heavens laugh, he mused.

  A gong sounded.

  One of the other Elders stepped forward, addressing the aspirants. Names were called, one by one, as those who had registered correctly were led inside the gates. Murmurs passed through the crowd as the selection process began, the weight of anticipation settling over them. Some had travelled for weeks. Some had prepared for years. This was their moment.

  Lu Heng stood back, watching impassively as each name was read, each hopeful either stepping forward or shrinking back. It was a familiar scene. He had seen it before and would see it again, and it rarely changed.

  By the time the last name was called, the remaining stragglers had been turned away, their disappointment palpable. It never failed to amaze him just how many people tried entering the Sect without even being able to touch Qi at all. The Sect wasn’t a school, or even really a place to learn – above all else, it was a place to cultivate. Certainly, there was a degree of learning required to cultivate, but that was secondary to the actual goal of getting stronger.

  The gates shut behind the accepted aspirants, and the other Elders began to disperse, moving to their respective positions to oversee the trials. The hopeful aspirants would be tested in a variety of ways, but truth be told, the decisions had already been made for most of them. The Elders had selected their favourites, picked out the promising disciples, and while it wasn’t impossible for a random aspirant to catch someone’s eye, it was exceedingly unlikely – especially as most Elders didn’t even bother watching at all.

  Even he rarely actually attended – and if it weren’t for the fact that he’d hoped to see the boy here, he probably wouldn’t have bothered returning to the Sect.

  Oh, well.

  Before he could turn away, though, he caught some movement out of the corner of his eye. Lu Heng turned his head slightly, gaze settling on the distant figure making its way up the steps.

  A smile broke out on his face.

  Well, well, well, he thought, it appears the Heavens may have plans for you yet, boy.

  Jiang Tian.

  The boy was moving fast, but not frantically. His breathing was steady, his steps certain. He had the look of someone who had travelled hard, but his pace did not falter.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  One of the Elders scoffed. “Late. He’ll have to wait for the next exams.”

  “Unfortunate,” another mused. “But then, if he had the ability to pass, he should have arrived on time.”

  Lu Heng didn’t look away. “I will sponsor him.”

  There was a brief silence before one of the Elders turned fully toward him, brows raised. “Really?”

  Lu Heng’s expression didn’t change. “Yes.”

  Curiosity flickered through the gathered Elders, though they were too polite to voice it.

  “Hmph,” the first Elder muttered. “Very well. Let’s see if he’s worth the trouble.”

  — — —

  Jiang took the last step, boots scraping against the stone. His breath curled in the frigid air, lungs burning, legs aching with exhaustion. He ignored it.

  The ten thousand steps up the mountain had felt endless, each one heavier than the last. Now, at the summit, he stood before the Azure Sky Sect’s gates. The entrance was massive, carved from stone and reinforced with iron, inscribed with faint patterns of flowing script.

  They were also shut.

  Jiang’s pulse slowed. Too late.

  The thought sat heavy in his gut. The village at the base of the mountain had warned him. The exams had started that morning. He had left immediately, but the climb had taken hours, and now—

  He exhaled through his nose, sharp and controlled. It didn’t matter. He was here. And if there were still people standing at the top of the gate, silhouetted against the morning light, then there was still a chance.

  Jiang squared his shoulders and strode forward.

  The figures above shifted as he approached. One stepped closer, robes catching in the wind. Even before the voice rang out, he recognized it.

  “You’re late, boy,” Elder Lu said, mild as ever.

  Jiang halted at the base of the gate, tilting his head up to meet the Elder’s gaze.

  “I made it,” he said simply. Either he would be accepted or not – at this point, it was out of his hands.

  A beat of silence.

  Then, with a smooth motion, the massive doors cracked open. Not much—just enough for a single person to slip through.

  Jiang didn’t hesitate. He stepped inside.

  The moment he was through, Elder Lu dropped down beside him, landing lightly despite the height. He gave Jiang a quick once-over, his expression unreadable.

  “You look different,” the Elder said, quirking an eyebrow inquisitively.

  “I do?” Jiang asked, taken aback. It had been three weeks; how different could he possibly look? Admittedly, he hadn’t exactly had the opportunity to check his reflection – the last stream he’d come across had been before he’d broken through, and since then, he’d been pushing too hard to stop and admire himself.

  Elder Lu hummed but didn’t elaborate, simply turning without a word and gesturing for Jiang to follow.

  Jiang fell into step behind him, gaze sweeping across the space beyond the gates.

  The entrance courtyard was enormous. The stone path beneath his feet stretched wide, leading toward an open plaza where several groups of cultivators stood gathered. To the sides, smaller paths veered off toward various buildings—long, multi-storied halls of wood and stone, their tiled roofs sweeping upward at the corners.

  Besides his village – now a burned-out husk – and the town of Wúyè – where he’d spent a grand total of about eight hours, most of which he was asleep for – he didn’t really have anything to compare it to. The Sect seemed… nice enough?

  It was clean, at least, and seemed like it was built to last. Beyond that, Jiang supposed he would be able to form a more educated opinion later. Assuming, of course, that he passed the entrance exams – which he was only just realizing he had absolutely no information on. His eyes flicked to Elder Lu’s back for a moment, and he debated asking the man what he should expect, but decided against it.

  If the Elder thought he needed to know something, he probably would have mentioned it by now.

  A few figures moved along the paths around them, robes shifting in the mountain wind. Some walked alone, their steps unhurried, while others strode in pairs or small groups, speaking quietly. No one paid him any mind.

  Elder Lu kept up a brisk pace, and Jiang focused on keeping up, setting aside his curiosity for later.

  It quickly became clear – even with his limited experience and knowledge – that the Azure Sky Sect was built for cultivation, not for grandeur. It was efficient, streamlined. The buildings were spaced apart, allowing for open courtyards—training grounds, Jiang realized as they passed one. A handful of disciples were engaged in practice, their movements precise and deliberate. Jiang couldn’t sense the flow of Qi in their strikes, but he could see the control in their stances, the way they adjusted between attacks.

  Further along, another open space held a raised platform, its stone surface marked with faint scars from past battles. A dueling ring, probably.

  They passed an area that smelled faintly of herbs, the scent sharp even in the cold. A medicinal hall? Alchemy? Jiang didn’t know enough about cultivation to say for certain.

  The path curved, leading them toward the largest gathering of people yet. A crowd of people – the only people he’d seen thus far that were dressed in anything other than light blue robes - stood in a loose formation, all facing forward where an Elder was addressing them. The man’s voice carried easily across the space, his words crisp and measured.

  Jiang caught only the tail end of what was being said as they approached.

  “—expect nothing to be given freely. Those who prove themselves worthy will earn their place. Those who do not…” The Elder’s gaze swept over the crowd. “Will leave.”

  Their entrance did not go unnoticed. While Jiang would have been perfectly content to quietly slip into the crowd, Elder Lu strode forward without pause. The crowd parted for him, people stepping aside without seeming to know why. Jiang could feel a subtle sort of pressure in the air, and he suspected the Elder was using a Qi technique of some kind.

  Eyes turned toward him, whispers passing between them. He caught pieces—curious, irritated, dismissive.

  “Latecomer?”

  “How did he get in?”

  “Must have connections.”

  Latecomer? Jiang resisted the urge to roll his eyes. If they’d run for days on end, they might’ve been late too.

  At the front, the Elder addressing the crowd barely paused, but his gaze flicked toward Elder Lu. A silent question. Elder Lu met his gaze evenly but didn’t say anything. The other Elder must have gotten something from that, because he simply exhaled through his nose and turned his attention back to the crowd.

  Before he could continue speaking, though, a boy near the front—older than Jiang, dressed in fine robes, clearly from money—huffed. “If anyone can just walk in, why even have exams?”

  A few muttered in agreement.

  The Elder on the platform silenced them with a single glance. “Unless you intend to question an Elder’s judgment, be quiet.”

  The boy stiffened, then looked away, shoulders tense.

  Elder Lu, for his part, seemed wholly unbothered. He clapped Jiang lightly on the shoulder. “Listen carefully, boy. You wouldn’t want to disappoint after all that effort, would you?”

  The nearby aspirants turned their attention back to the front, but Jiang didn’t miss the dark expressions they wore.

  Wonderful. It looked like he was already making friends.

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