The sun hadn't yet risen when the bell tolled.
It echoed across the inner valley, a deep, resonant chime that rolled through the mountain's veins like the heartbeat of a slumbering beast. Disciples stirred from their beds in silence. Some adjusted their robes with shaking hands. Others sharpened their swords, though no weapons were allowed. Today, raw talent would decide everything.
I stood on the cliff's edge, watching clouds move beneath the peaks. The wind here didn't howl--it whispered. As if it knew that below, lives were about to be sorted, elevated, or discarded.
The sect trial had begun.
Beneath me, the plaza was already filling. Towering stone obelisks loomed in a half-circle at the base of the platform--old, weatherworn things etched with lines that shimmered faintly with spirit light. One for each attribute: Qi sense, affinity, willpower, physique, and soul resonance.
In my past life, I would've scoffed at such crude tools.
Now, standing in the shell of a crippled boy, I had no such luxury.
They gathered us into rows. Over a hundred outer disciples, ranked by recommendation, potential, or plain old sect politics. I stood near the back, where the orphans, villagers, and former servants huddled. The sect elders watched from the pavilion above, seated like silent judges. At their center was Elder Mo Tian--the one who oversaw recruitment. The same man who had sneered when I arrived two months ago.
Behind him, a figure stood in shadow, arms folded. Robed in black and silver. I couldn't see his face, but I felt his gaze linger. Watching. Evaluating.
Just like before.
"Form a line!" a sharp voice barked. "Each will step forward and be tested. No complaints, no delays. If you fail to reach the threshold in at least three categories, you will not be allowed to proceed to the next stage."
Murmurs broke out.
Everyone knew the rules: five pillars. Each scored on a scale from one to nine. Most would score a two or three in one or two areas. If you were lucky, you'd hit a four. A five meant you had some actual potential. A seven or higher? You'd be treated like a core disciple before you even stepped into the inner sect.
They called the first name.
"Huo Lang."
A tall youth with red hair strode confidently toward the stones. He clasped his hands to the elders, then pressed his palm against the first obelisk.
Qi Sense.
The pillar lit up with a glow that rose steadily until it stopped at five. The crowd gave a collective gasp.
Next, he moved to the Affinity stone.
Five.
Physique.
Four.
Willpower.
Six.
Soul resonance.
Two.
He stepped back, face unreadable.
"Qualified," the elder said flatly. "Next."
More followed. Some cried when they failed three stones. Some shouted and were dragged away. A few drew gasps when they hit fives and sixes. The highest so far was a smug girl named Wei Qingling, who scored six in affinity and seven in soul resonance. The elders nodded approvingly.
Then a name that drew whispers.
"Han Yiren."
The boy who had mocked me at the entrance exam. Tall, sharp-featured, and dressed in embroidered robes that clearly weren't issued to outer disciples.
He walked up like the plaza was his home and placed his hand on the first pillar.
Qi Sense.
Seven.
The elders stirred.
Affinity.
Six.
Willpower.
Five.
Physique.
Six.
Soul resonance.
The stone lit up for a long moment… and hit eight.
A murmur rippled through the disciples. Even the watching black-robed figure tilted his head.
Han Yiren turned and bowed, smug.
"Exceptional," Elder Mo Tian said. "Promising. Very promising."
He turned toward the crowd and let his gaze sweep us like insects. Then he smiled.
"This is the difference between true bloodlines and mongrel talent."
I clenched my fists. My turn was approaching.
When they finally called my name, I heard laughter.
"Lin Feng? The cripple?"
"Did they let him in just to fill the count?"
I ignored it all. My feet felt like lead as I walked past the crowd and stepped into the circle of stones. The obelisks hummed with energy, each one pulsing like a heart waiting to judge me.
I took a breath and laid my hand on the first.
Qi Sense.
Nothing.
No light. No hum. Just silence.
A low laugh came from the pavilion. "Not even a one?"
I moved to the second.
Affinity.
The pillar flickered--once. Then stopped.
One.
A snort.
Third stone.
Physique.
The glow this time was faint… then, slowly… rose to three.
I heard a few murmurs of surprise.
Willpower.
I pressed my hand, willing myself not to flinch. The stone resisted… then pulsed, once… twice… and stopped at four.
Soul resonance.
My fingers brushed the stone and immediately, a jolt ran up my arm.
A pulse.
Then another.
Then the stone flared. Bright enough to force some of the disciples to squint.
Seven.
Gasps.
Even Elder Mo Tian narrowed his eyes.
"What…?" someone whispered.
"Is that right?"
"Is it broken?"
But no one said anything aloud. The elder cleared his throat.
"Minimum criteria passed. Proceed."
I stepped back, heart thudding. My body was shaking--but not from fear.
I felt something again. Something old. Something watching.
The talent tests continued until dusk. In the end, barely thirty of us made the cut.
We were instructed to rest and report at dawn the next day for the next phase.
As I turned to leave the platform, Han Yiren brushed past me. He didn't speak, but his shoulder hit mine--deliberately.
I didn't move.
But my eyes locked with his.
And I smiled.
The sect trials were only beginning.
He had no idea what waited inside that illusion array.