The world on the back of the Crimson Albatross had been one of endless sky and clouds. The world they arrived at was a spectacle of impossible grandeur. The Red Cloud Sect was not built on a single mountain; it was a mountain range, a series of dozens of majestic, cloud-piercing peaks all interconnected by elegant, swooping bridges and winding stone pathways. Waterfalls cascaded from impossible heights, their mist creating permanent rainbows in the air. Magnificent pavilions with crimson-tiled roofs seemed to grow organically from the cliffsides, and the very air was thick and sweet with a concentration of spiritual energy so dense it was like breathing liquid life.
The great albatross landed with a gentle, ground-shaking thud on a vast, circular plaza carved from the summit of the tallest, central peak. This was the heart of the Red Cloud Sect.
Elder Jin stepped off the beast first. "Disciples, welcome to your new home."
His words were directed at all of them, but his actions immediately drew a line. A group of sect officials in the crisp, gray robes of the outer court deacons approached.
"Deacon Han," Elder Jin said to the leader of the group, a stern-faced man with a neatly trimmed beard. "These thirty are the new additions to the outer sect. Take them to the Registration Hall and see to their arrangements."
The deacon nodded, his gaze sweeping over the thirty hopefuls with a critical, appraising eye. "This way," he commanded, his voice sharp and business-like. "Listen carefully and do not stray. You thirty will be given your robes, your living assignments, and your introductory manuals. You will have a chance to advance to the inner sect in six months via a similar competition to the one you just endured. Do not waste this opportunity."
The thirty outer disciples, including familiar faces like the Bai sisters and Xi Rou, bowed respectfully and followed the deacon. As they were led away down a wide, descending path, their group looked back with a mixture of envy and respect at the two figures who remained.
Lei Man and Chu Qinqing stood alone on the vast plaza before Elder Jin. The parting of ways was immediate and absolute. They were no longer part of the larger group; their path was a different one entirely.
As Deacon Han's group disappeared from view, another figure approached. It was a young woman, perhaps only a few years older than them, but her bearing was confident and her crimson robes were of a finer quality, embroidered with silver clouds—the mark of an inner disciple. She had a friendly, curious smile and a long ponytail that swished as she walked.
She bowed deeply to Elder Jin. "Elder, I was told to expect you."
"Senior Disciple Rina," Elder Jin said, his stern expression softening slightly. "Yes. These are the two prodigies from the Verdant Creek City trials. This is Chu Qinqing, the champion, and this is Lei Man, the runner-up."
Rina's eyes widened slightly as she looked them over, her gaze lingering for a moment on Lei Man's simple, non-clan robes. "Two at once? The rumors were true. It's an honor." Her smile was genuine, without a hint of the arrogance Lei Man had come to expect from the talented. "Come with me, you must be the new inner sect members. I will take you to the Inner Sect Registration Peak to receive your credentials and find you your new residences."
She turned to lead the way, her ponytail swinging. "The outer sect is a noisy, crowded place, a constant struggle for the smallest scrap of resources. The inner sect... well, it's quieter. The struggles are just a bit more... refined."
Lei Man and Chu Qinqing exchanged a brief, silent glance. This was it. The journey was over, and the real test was about to begin. They followed Senior Disciple Rina, walking across the magnificent plaza and towards a smaller, more elegant path that wound its way up, towards the even higher, more secluded peaks where the true elites of the Red Cloud Sect lived and trained. The air here was even richer, the silence more profound. They had left the world behind, and now, they were leaving the rest of the sect behind as well.
Senior Disciple Rina led them away from the grand, central plaza and onto a path paved with smooth, white stones that wound its way higher into the peaks. The spiritual energy in the air grew noticeably richer, and the architecture became more elegant and secluded. They were entering the domain of the inner sect.
"The Inner Sect is divided into several factions, mostly centered around the major peaks and the elders who reside there," Rina explained, her voice friendly and informative. "Your choice of faction will determine your master, your resources, and your rivals. It's the most important decision a new disciple can make."
As she spoke, they arrived at a smaller, yet even more magnificent plaza. This one was an open-air pavilion, its roof held up by massive, ornately carved pillars, offering a breathtaking view of the entire mountain range. Several other inner disciples were present, and they all turned as Rina and the two newcomers arrived.
Before Rina could continue, a loud, boisterous voice cut through the air. "Well, well! The new blood has arrived! I saw your final match from the projection stone. Impressive!"
A tall, muscular young man with fiery red hair and a confident grin strode towards them. His crimson robes were open at the chest, revealing a powerful physique. "The name's Huo Long, of the Flame Peak Faction. Forget the others. Power is everything, and our Flame Peak is the forge of the sect. Join my faction, both of you! We'll turn you into true dragons!"
Before Lei Man or Chu Qinqing could even react, a second figure glided forward. It was a young woman with a serene, almost detached expression, her movements as smooth as flowing water. "Do not listen to this brute, juniors," she said, her voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of steel. "Power without control is just a tantrum. I am Shui Ling, of the River Peak Faction. Our master is an expert in the fluid arts. Your talents would be truly nurtured with us. Join the River Peak Faction."
She and Huo Long glared at each other, a palpable tension crackling between them, fire and water in a silent standoff.
Suddenly, a third voice, light and airy, seemed to drift down from above. "Why choose between a hot temper and a cold shoulder?"
They all looked up. Perched gracefully on the curved roof of the pavilion was another disciple, a young man with a playful smile and eyes that seemed to dance with amusement.
"The true path is not in brute force or rigid control," he said, hopping down to land silently on the plaza floor. "It is in freedom, in the boundless expanse of the sky. I am Feng Xiao of the Cloud Peak Faction."
He gave them a charming, almost conspiratorial wink. "Our master values comprehension and ingenuity above all else. He doesn't force you into a mold. He teaches you how to soar above it." He looked from Chu Qinqing's water arts to Lei Man's unclassifiable movement style. "An ocean and a ghost... you both seem like you'd prefer the freedom of the sky to being stuck in a forge or a stream. Join the Cloud Peak Faction."
The three disciples, representing the three most powerful factions of the inner sect, stood before them, their invitations hanging in the air. It was a political battlefield, and Lei Man and Chu Qinqing were the prizes.
Lei Man looked at Huo Long's aggressive, overbearing power. It was the antithesis of his own art. He then looked at Shui Ling. Her River Peak Faction, specializing in water arts, was a perfect fit for Chu Qinqing, but for him, it would be a restrictive path, forcing his formless style into a specific elemental mold.
Then he looked at Feng Xiao. Freedom. Comprehension. Ingenuity. The words resonated with him. His entire journey had been one of unorthodox methods and finding his own, bizarre path. A master who valued that, who wouldn't try to "fix" his strange, trip-fueled cultivation, was exactly what he needed.
He glanced at Chu Qinqing and saw a flicker of the same thought in her eyes. Her art was water, yes, but her victory had come from a transcendent understanding, from rewriting the rules of the battlefield. The rigid doctrines of the River Peak might be a cage for her as well. She was the sea, but the sea was cousin to the sky, both vast and boundless.
Lei Man made his decision. He gave a polite bow to all three senior disciples. "Thank you for your generous offers. I have made my choice." He turned to the playful, unconventional disciple. "I will join the Cloud Peak Faction."
A moment of surprised silence fell. Then, Chu Qinqing spoke, her voice calm and clear, reinforcing his choice. "I also choose the Cloud Peak Faction."
Huo Long and Shui Ling stared, their faces a mask of disbelief. The two greatest prodigies in a generation had both rejected the factions of power and elemental purity, and had instead chosen the smallest, most eccentric, and least orthodox faction in the entire inner sect.
Feng Xiao's playful smile widened into a massive, triumphant grin. "Excellent choice!" he chirped, clapping his hands together. "The master will be so pleased. He does love a good puzzle."
He threw a smug, victorious look at his stunned rivals. "Well then, I'll be taking our new Junior Brother and Sister to meet the master. Do try to keep up, you two!"
He turned and led Lei Man and Chu Qinqing away, leaving the representatives of the Flame and River Peaks standing in a state of frustrated, bewildered defeat. Their first choice in the Red Cloud Sect had been made.