The Starfall Immortal Sect stood upon a mountain that pierced the clouds like a spear thrust into heaven.
Silver waterfalls streamed down its cliffs. Spirit cranes circled its peaks. Thousands of disciples in white and blue robes moved along suspended stone bridges, their swords humming faintly at their backs.
At the base of the mountain, a massive jade plaza had been prepared.
Today was recruitment day.
Hundreds of hopeful cultivators gathered, each radiating ambition, fear, and hunger.
And among them—
Nine peerless women.
And a child wrapped in white silk.
Before the trials began, a towering elder with silver hair stepped forward, his voice amplified by spiritual energy.
"Talent determines potential. Potential determines destiny."
Behind him, a massive crystal pillar rose from the center of the plaza.
He continued:
"In this world, talent is divided into six ranks."
The crowd fell silent.
"Mortal Rank — Those who struggle even to enter Qi Condensation."
"Earth Rank — Average cultivators."
"Heaven Rank — Rare and promising."
"King Rank — One in ten thousand."
"Saint Rank — One in a generation."
"And finally…"
His gaze swept across the plaza.
"Divine Rank — Blessed by heaven itself. One in an era."
Murmurs erupted.
Divine Rank.
Most had never even seen one.
The elder's expression was calm but proud.
"The crystal will measure bone structure, meridian purity, and spiritual resonance."
He gestured.
"Step forward."
One by one, candidates approached.
A young man placed his hand upon the crystal.
Light flickered faintly.
"Earth Rank," the elder announced.
Polite applause.
Another approached.
"Heaven Rank."
Gasps.
Hours passed.
Most were Mortal or Earth.
A few Heaven.
One young woman achieved King Rank and nearly fainted from joy.
Then—
The air shifted.
Nine figures stepped forward together.
The crowd instinctively parted.
Even suppressed at the Fifth Realm — Nascent Soul Realm, Third and Fourth Stages — their presence felt… different.
Mu Xueqing stood calmest among them.
In her arms, the child blinked sleepily.
He sucked lightly on his fingers.
Unaware of the tension around him.
The elder frowned slightly.
"Age?"
Mu Xueqing answered evenly. "Under thirty."
It was not a lie.
Divine Beasts measured time differently.
The elder nodded.
"Place your hand on the crystal."
The Dragon stepped forward first.
Her palm touched the surface.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then the crystal erupted in blinding light.
Silver turned gold.
Gold turned violet.
Violet turned pure white.
The pillar cracked with a thunderous sound.
The entire plaza shook.
The elder stumbled back.
Above the pillar, ancient runes ignited.
DIVINE RANK.
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
The crowd forgot to breathe.
The Phoenix stepped forward next.
The crystal, still trembling, accepted her touch.
Light exploded even brighter.
The crack deepened.
Again—
DIVINE RANK.
The Tiger.
DIVINE RANK.
The Xuanwu.
DIVINE RANK.
The Fox.
DIVINE RANK.
The Roc.
DIVINE RANK.
The Serpent.
DIVINE RANK.
The Rabbit.
DIVINE RANK.
Eight Divine Rank talents stood calmly beneath the stunned sky.
The elder's hands shook visibly now.
He turned to Mu Xueqing.
She stepped forward without arrogance.
Her palm rested lightly upon the fractured crystal.
It shattered completely.
Light surged upward like a pillar piercing the heavens.
The mountain itself trembled.
Even sect elders watching from above rose from their seats in alarm.
When the light faded—
A new rune hovered above the broken base.
Not just Divine.
But glowing with ancient script.
Perfect Divine Rank.
The elder's knees nearly gave out.
Nine Divine Rank talents.
Appearing together.
Impossible.
Unprecedented.
The crowd erupted in chaos.
Then—
A small sound interrupted the uproar.
"Waa…"
The child began to cry.
All nine turned instantly.
"He's hungry."
"He doesn't like the noise."
"Who let them shout?"
Killing intent flickered unconsciously.
The nearest candidates stumbled backward in terror.
The elder swallowed nervously.
"The… child must also be tested."
Mu Xueqing looked down at him gently.
He sniffled.
Tiny fists rubbing watery eyes.
He truly looked like nothing more than a newborn overwhelmed by sound.
She stepped forward.
His small hand was placed against a secondary, smaller crystal brought hurriedly by trembling disciples.
The moment his skin touched it—
The smaller crystal disintegrated into powder.
The fragments rose into the air, glowing brilliantly.
Above them formed a radiant symbol.
Not merely Divine.
But pulsing with layered resonance.
The elder's voice came out hoarse.
"Divine Rank… with… innate spiritual awakening."
The child hiccupped softly.
Unbothered by the awe around him.
His cultivation pulsed gently.
Spirit Awakening Realm — Fifth Stage.
For a newborn—
It defied logic.
The Sect Master himself descended from the main peak in a streak of light.
His eyes locked onto the group.
Nine Divine Rank women.
One Divine Rank infant.
His heart pounded violently.
"This… is heaven's blessing upon Starfall Sect."
The Fox smiled faintly.
"Is it?"
The recruitment trial did not end there.
Talent was only the first gate.
The elder forced composure.
"Second trial — Pressure Steps."
A massive staircase manifested, extending upward toward a suspended platform.
Each step increased gravitational pressure.
Spirit Awakening cultivators often collapsed before step fifty.
Nascent Soul cultivators could reach one hundred.
The Dragon stepped forward first.
She walked.
Casually.
Pressure bent around her like wind around stone.
One hundred steps.
Two hundred.
Three hundred.
She stopped only because the staircase ended.
The Phoenix followed.
Flames flickering gently around her ankles.
She matched it.
The others repeated.
Effortless.
Murmurs of fear replaced earlier excitement.
Then—
Mu Xueqing approached with the child.
"Will he endure?" an elder whispered.
She placed one foot on the first step.
Pressure descended.
The child blinked.
Then yawned.
By the time she reached the hundredth step—
He was asleep.
Soft breathing against her chest.
The staircase groaned faintly beneath the accumulated spiritual presence of nine Divine Rank beings.
When they reached the platform, the Sect Master bowed slightly.
"From this day forward, you are inner disciples."
The crowd below stared in stunned silence.
Nine newly recruited disciples.
All Divine Rank.
And a baby.
The Fox's eyes scanned the observing elders.
Ambition.
Greed.
Fear.
The Tiger's lips curved faintly.
Let them try.
Mu Xueqing adjusted the sleeping child gently.
He stirred.
Whimpered softly.
She soothed him instantly.
The Upper World had tested them once.
The sect had tested them again.
Both had witnessed the same truth.
They were not ordinary cultivators seeking refuge.
They were beings carrying something that bent the rules of heaven.
And as the wind swept across the mountain peak—
The Starfall Immortal Sect unknowingly welcomed not just nine Divine Rank talents.
But the center of a future storm.