Chapter 34 – Those Who Look Down from the Sky
The sky changed before anyone heard anything.
At first, it was subtle.
The clouds above the town did not move the way they should have. They did not drift. They did not scatter. Instead, they slowly… parted, as if something enormous was sliding between them.
Then the light dimmed.
Not like evening.
Not like an eclipse.
Like something was blocking the sun.
People in the streets began to notice.
Voices quieted.
Footsteps slowed.
Heads lifted.
Hao Tian, who had just stepped out of a small shop with a bundle of dried rations, felt it too—the sudden, instinctive pressure that had nothing to do with sound.
He looked up.
And saw it.
A ship.
But not a ship that belonged to any river or sea.
It floated in the air.
It had no sails.
No wings.
No visible means of propulsion.
Its body was long and narrow, made of dark wood reinforced with lines and plates of bronze that glinted faintly under the sun. The surface was etched with simple, functional-looking patterns—nothing ornate, nothing decorative. It looked… practical. Like something built to endure.
It moved silently.
Slowly.
But each moment it drew closer, the pressure in the air grew heavier.
A murmur spread through the town.
"…A flying artifact…"
"…It's here…"
"…The sect…"
Hao Tian felt his heartbeat quicken.
Not from fear.
From instinct.
From the same deep, wordless sensation he had felt when facing truly dangerous beasts in the forest.
This was different.
Those beasts were strong.
This…
This was on another level entirely.
The flying ship slowed.
Then stopped.
Directly above the town square.
It hovered there, casting a vast shadow over the ground, over the buildings, over every single person standing below.
Then—
A plank extended from its side.
No, not a plank.
A ramp of condensed light.
And a figure walked down.
He was an old man.
Not ancient-looking.
Not frail.
He looked like someone in his late fifties or early sixties, with long gray hair tied behind his back and a short, neatly kept beard. He wore simple gray robes with a faint, almost unnoticeable emblem embroidered at the chest.
He did not hurry.
He did not pause.
Each step he took down the light ramp was unhurried.
Natural.
And yet, with each step, the air seemed to grow heavier.
Not because he was releasing pressure.
But because his very presence felt… incompatible with the world below.
When his feet touched the ground of the town square, the light ramp faded.
The flying ship remained in the sky.
Floating.
Waiting.
The old man looked around.
His gaze was calm.
But when it swept over the crowd, countless people felt a chill run down their spines.
Not because his eyes were cold.
But because they felt… seen.
Completely.
Hao Tian stood at the edge of the square, mixed in with the crowd of cultivators and ordinary townspeople alike.
When the old man's gaze passed over him, Hao Tian felt as if something had lightly brushed across his entire body—from his skin, to his bones, to the depths of his meridians.
He did not react.
But inside, his heart tightened.
"…This is him," someone whispered nearby.
"The sect's elder."
"The one in charge of the examination."
The old man finally spoke.
His voice was not loud.
He did not shout.
And yet, it spread clearly across the entire square, as if it were being spoken directly into every person's ears.
"I am the third elder of the Crimson Furnace Sect. "
A wave of quiet shock rippled through the crowd.
Crimson Furnace Sect.
One of the true cultivation sects of this region.
Not a small clan.
Not a wandering school.
A real sect.
"I have come to preside over this year's outer disciple examination."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"From this moment onward, the town is under the sect's temporary authority. Any private fighting, any killing, any large-scale disturbance will be punished directly by sect law."
Some people visibly relaxed.
Some did not.
The old man paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.
Then he said, "Those who intend to participate in the examination, step forward."
The crowd stirred.
One by one, people began to move.
Dozens.
Then hundreds, then slightly over a thousand.
They gathered in the square, forming a large, uneven mass.
Young men.
Young women.
Some confident.
Some nervous.
Some hiding their excitement behind calm faces.
Hao Tian stepped forward as well.
He did not rush.
He did not hesitate.
He simply walked.
When he reached the main group, he stopped and stood still.
The old man's eyes swept over them again.
"This examination has two parts."
A slight stir ran through the crowd.
Some people had clearly heard rumors.
Some had not.
"The first is a test of cultivation."
He raised one hand.
A small, square artifact appeared beside him, floating in the air.
It looked like a simple mirror mounted in a dull metal frame. No light. No aura. No dramatic presence.
Just… a mirror.
"This is a testing mirror," the elder said. "Place your hand on its surface. It will display your cultivation realm accurately."
No grand name.
No exaggerated description.
Just a tool.
"The sect does not accept mortals," he continued. "Nor does it accept those whose cultivation is unclear or unstable. This test is mandatory."
Some people nodded.
Some swallowed.
Some clenched their fists.
Hao Tian looked at the mirror.
He could not feel anything special from it.
And yet, he knew—
This thing would expose everything.
"The second part," the elder said, "is the true examination."
The atmosphere subtly changed.
"The second part is a three-day trial."
"A battle trial."
"A survival trial."
"A competition."
He paused.
Then said, "Call it whatever you like."
Some people's expressions grew excited.
Some grew pale.
"This trial will take place in the outer regions of the inner forest."
A murmur broke out.
The inner forest.
Even its outer regions were far more dangerous than the forest Hao Tian had been hunting in.
"The sect has already prepared the ground; We have placed tokens on various beasts in that region."
He waved his hand again.
Four tokens appeared, floating in the air.
They were different colors.
One was wooden and dull.
One was iron-gray.
One was deep red.
One was pitch black.
"These tokens correspond to the strength of the beast carrying them," the elder said.
Then he explained, calmly, precisely:
"Wood tokens are carried by beasts from the seventh to ninth stage of Body Refining."
" Iron tokens are carried by beasts from the first to third stage of Qi Refining."
" Red tokens are carried by beasts from the fourth to sixth stage of Qi Refining."
" Black tokens are carried by beasts from the seventh to ninth stage of Qi Refining."
The square fell into near silence.
Some people's breathing became heavier.
Hao Tian's pupils shrank slightly.
Seventh to ninth stage Qi Refining.
High-level Qi Refining beasts.
"…That's not an exam," someone whispered.
"That's a slaughter field."
The elder continued as if he had not heard.
"Your goal is simple."
"Obtain as many tokens as you can."
"How you do it does not concern the sect."
A pause.
Then, clearly:
"You may hunt beasts."
"You may steal from others."
"You may cooperate."
"You may betray."
"As long as you follow one rule—do not leave the trial area before the three days end."
"Those who leave early are disqualified."
A chill ran through the crowd.
This was not a test of talent.
This was a test of survival.
"The value of the tokens is not equal," the elder added. "The sect will evaluate your performance based on both quantity and quality."
He looked at them.
"Three wood tokens are not equal to one iron."
"Three iron are not equal to one red."
"And ten red… may not be equal to one black."
"Also, the Crimson Furnace Sect will only be admitting 100 disciples during this exam"
A heavy silence.
Then someone finally asked, "Elder… what about killing?"
The old man looked at the speaker.
His gaze was calm.
"Death is part of cultivation," he said. "If you are afraid of it, you should not step onto this path."
No condemnation.
No encouragement.
Just a statement of fact.
Hao Tian felt his heart slowly sink.
Not in despair.
In clarity.
This…
This was the real starting line.
Everything before—
Body Refining.
The forest.
The pills.
The manuals.
Those were just preparation.
This was where people actually began to be sorted.
"After three days," the elder said, "you will bring your tokens to the sect's camp at the edge of the forest."
"The sect will decide who passes."
"And who does not."
He waved his hand.
The four tokens disappeared.
The testing mirror floated down and landed in the square.
"The first part of the examination begins now," he said. "Line up."
The crowd moved.
Slowly.
Tens.
Then hundreds.
One by one, people stepped forward and placed their hands on the mirror.
Light flashed.
Words appeared.
"Body Refining, eighth stage."
"Qi Refining, first stage."
"Qi Refining, second stage."
Occasionally—
"Unstable foundation. Disqualified."
Those people were escorted away.
Hao Tian waited calmly.
When it was his turn, he stepped forward and placed his hand on the mirror.
For a brief moment, it was cold.
Then—
Light.
Words formed clearly on the surface:
Qi Refining — First Stage. Stable.
He exhaled quietly.
Not in relief.
In acceptance.
He stepped aside.
Around him, some people looked proud.
Some looked worried.
Some looked grim.
When the testing was finished, the elder looked at the crowd again.
"Those who passed the first test," he said, "are now officially candidates."
"Only about 700 passed "
He paused.
"You have the rest of the day to prepare."
"At sunrise tomorrow, assemble here."
"We depart for the forest."
He turned.
And walked back into the sky.
The light ramp appeared again.
The flying ship did not move.
It simply waited.
The square slowly broke into noise.
People talked.
Argued.
Whispered.
Planned.
Hao Tian did not join any group.
He walked back home alone.
His mind was very calm.
Too calm.
"…So this is it," he thought.
"Beasts up to peak Qi Refining."
"Other cultivators."
"Three days."
He looked at his hands.
"…I'm still at the very bottom."
He did not feel discouraged.
He felt… clear.
Clear about how far he still had to go.
Clear about what this world truly was.
When he reached his door, he paused.
Looked at the sky.
And said softly:
"…Let's see how far I can go."
.