Chapter 6: The Approaching Assessment
Weeks turned into months, each night an agonizing ordeal beneath the Grand Waterfall of Azure. The spiritual cascade was a relentless hammer, pounding Kaelen's body and soul. Every fiber screamed in protest, his skin constantly pricked by the sheer density of spiritual energy. The jade pendant, a constant warm presence against his chest, glowed faintly each night, working tirelessly to contain the furious, chaotic hum of his Apex Genesis Bloodline as it reacted to the overwhelming spiritual force.
Yet, with each dawn, Kaelen emerged not broken, but subtly reforged. He still couldn't 'condense Qi' in the conventional sense. His Dantian remained stubbornly inert, a well of dormant power refusing to flow into the expected channels. But his body… his body was changing. His skin, though still appearing normal, felt denser, subtly tougher. His muscles, already resilient, had taken on an almost metallic quality, their endurance seemingly boundless. Cuts and bruises from training healed faster than any normal human, or even an early stage cultivator, should manage. His long, dark hair, constantly wet from the spiritual mist, seemed to grow even thicker, its strands possessing an unusual sheen. He felt a deep, thrumming vitality that defied his lack of spiritual progress.
During the day, Kaelen maintained his grueling physical training, often adding extra drills when no one was watching. He'd run the mountain paths until his lungs burned, push the spiritual boulders until his vision swam, and spar until his limbs ached, always pushing beyond what he thought were his limits. Instructor Ren remained baffled.
"Thorne! Your endurance is monstrous! Your physical might… it's almost unnatural for someone with no Qi!" Ren would mutter, scratching his head. "But you're still stuck in Dormant Core, barely sensing Qi! How can you be so strong, yet so spiritually stunted?"
Kaelen would simply nod, offering no explanation. He couldn't. How could he describe the roaring cascade of spiritual energy, the internal pressure, the deep, primal thrumming in his bones as his bloodline subtly reforged him from within? It was a secret he guarded fiercely, a trust placed in him by Elder Valerius.
In the Outer Disciple dormitories, the mockery from Lian Jin and his cronies continued.
"Look, it's the sect's physical training dummy," Lian Jin sneered one evening, as Kaelen entered, his long hair still damp from training, clinging to his face. "Still no glow, Thorne? Still no hint of a beast trait? Even the new recruits from last month have manifested something." Lian Jin flexed his hand, and a faint, scale-like pattern briefly appeared on his knuckles, a proud display of his minor snake bloodline. "Some of us are born for the Path of Blood and Bone. Others… are born to be dust."
Kaelen ignored him, moving towards his corner. He was used to it. He opened his Qi Condensation manual, trying to find some new insight, but the words still felt dead. He knew his body was getting stronger, but it wasn't the right kind of strong in the eyes of the sect.
A few days later, as Kaelen was meticulously cleaning his training blade, a soft shadow fell over him. He looked up to see Xiao Mei, her serene eyes fixed on him. Her long, dark hair was as neat as ever, complementing her calm demeanor.
"You're always working, Kaelen Thorne," she said, her voice quiet. "Even when others rest."
"There's little time to waste," Kaelen replied, not looking up, sensing no malice from her.
"Your progress in Qi Condensation is… slow," she observed gently, stating a fact he couldn't deny. "But your physical tempering… it's remarkable. I've never seen anyone with such raw endurance, even among those with strong physical beast bloodlines."
Kaelen paused, then looked at her. Her gaze was insightful, not mocking. "I just push myself."
Xiao Mei nodded slowly. "I see. Your skin, it has a subtle glow after training, a healthy luster. And your eyes… sometimes, when you are deeply focused, they seem to hold a unique depth. Something ancient." Her gaze briefly lingered on the jade pendant Kaelen wore beneath his robes, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes before she quickly averted them. "Whatever your path, Kaelen, do not give up. The Dao has many branches. Not all walk the same."
She offered him a small, encouraging smile before turning and walking away, leaving Kaelen with a strange sense of being seen, truly seen, for the first time since he arrived. Her words echoed Elder Valerius's. The Dao has many branches. It was a quiet confirmation that his unconventional path might not be a dead end after all.
The following week, a solemn announcement shook the outer disciple dormitories. A stern-faced Inner Elder, flanked by several instructors, stood before them.
"Listen closely, outer disciples! In three months' time, the annual Outer Disciple Advancement Assessment will commence!" the Inner Elder's voice boomed, chilling many to the bone. "This assessment will determine your future in the Azure Sky Sect. Those who demonstrate sufficient progress will advance to Inner Disciple status. Those who fail… will be expelled."
A collective gasp swept through the hall. Expulsion meant returning to the outside world, without the sect's protection or resources, often seen as a mark of utter failure. The pressure in the room became palpable.
The Elder continued, detailing the assessment criteria:
Spiritual Foundation Test: Demonstrate stable Qi Condensation and the ability to maintain internal spiritual flow. (This was Kaelen's weakest point).
Bloodline Affinity Test: Showcase initial manifestation of one's beast bloodline (First Unleashing), even if minor. This involved channeling Qi to briefly summon a claw, an eye trait, a patch of fur/scales, or a specific sensory enhancement. (Another massive hurdle for Kaelen, whose bloodline was suppressed).
Martial Prowess Test: Demonstrate mastery of sect-specific martial forms and basic combat application. (Kaelen's only real advantage).
Failure in any two categories meant immediate expulsion. Failure to show any Qi Condensation or bloodline manifestation was an automatic failure.
Fear and desperation rippled through the outer disciples. Many immediately intensified their spiritual meditation, others frantically sought out resources to hasten their bloodline's awakening. Lian Jin's group looked smug, confident in their conventional progress.
Kaelen felt a cold knot form in his stomach. Spiritual Foundation and Bloodline Affinity. Two categories where he was, by all conventional metrics, a complete failure. His physical prowess, while exceptional, might not be enough to compensate. Three months. Three months to somehow bridge the vast chasm in his cultivation.
He left the hall, the weight of the assessment pressing down on him. Doubts, cold and sharp, assailed him. Had Elder Valerius's guidance been a mistake? Was he truly just a crude tool, unable to grasp the refined path of cultivation? He remembered Lyra's hopeful eyes, his parents' sacrifices. No. He wouldn't fail them. He couldn't.
That night, Kaelen made his way to the Grand Waterfall of Azure. He stared up at the roaring cascade of spiritual energy, no longer seeing just a source of pain, but a crucible. This was his only hope.
He stripped off his robes, his long hair fluttering as the spiritual winds intensified. He stepped into the torrent, not with apprehension, but with a fierce, burning resolve. The pain was immediate, overwhelming, but he pushed through it, a silent roar echoing in his soul. He would not condense Qi the way they demanded. He would not manifest a common beast trait. He would force his Apex Genesis Bloodline to awaken in its own way, to forge a path that defied all conventions.
The assessment was coming. And Kaelen Thorne, the rustic commoner with the untamed, primordial bloodline, would either rise or be broken under its immense pressure.