The Selection & The Path to a Domain

The tense atmosphere of the trial ground lingered even as more disciples successfully cleared the yellow portal. Shen Yuan, leaning lazily against a rock, observed the results with an indifferent expression. One by one, the strongest candidates emerged, their abilities now laid bare.

Tang Jiyan had cleared the black portal swiftly, his time closely matching Xiang Xiaoli's. Soon, two more figures walked out from the black portal, drawing murmurs from the crowd—a middle-aged man with sharp, hawk-like eyes and a steady presence, Guo Bohai, and a woman around the same age, Shi Meixiu, her aura calm but unfathomable. Both stood at the 7th Layer of Nirvana Realm.

Shen Yuan's gaze flickered. Counting Tang Jiyan, who had now broken through to the peak 9th Layer, these four were currently stronger than him in raw cultivation. But power wasn't everything. But still he felt a pressure on him, as if he couldn't let them just surpass him.

Then, as another group of disciples was about to attempt the trials, Shen Yuan suddenly raised his hand.

"Stop!"

His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an authority that made every disciple freeze in place. All eyes turned to him.

Standing up from his relaxed position, Shen Yuan slowly swept his gaze over them, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

"Congratulations to those who cleared the trials." His voice was smooth, yet unreadable. "I have chosen my team."

The announcement wasn't unexpected. Most already had a rough idea of who would be chosen. Yet, as he listed the names, murmurs spread through the crowd.

"First, Tang Jiyan."

No surprise.

"Second, Xiang Xiaoli."

Obvious.

"Third, Shi Meixiu."

A powerful candidate.

"Fourth, Guo Bohai."

Solid choice.

Everything made sense up until that point. However, when Shen Yuan uttered the final name, the entire trial ground fell into silence.

"Dong Chen."

Stunned silence. Then—

"What?!"

The crowd erupted.

"Why him?"

"He didn't even complete the black portal!"

"There were stronger candidates who cleared the yellow one entirely!"

"This is unfair!"

Many disciples who had cleared the yellow portal felt bitter. Shen Yuan had said only the black portal would be considered but had never clarified how. If he had told them earlier, some of them might have dared to attempt it.

One particularly bold disciple, his frustration clear, stepped forward and questioned him.

"Senior Brother Shen Yuan! You told us that clearing the black portal would be considered, but you never said that just entering it would matter! Why—"

Before he could finish, Shen Yuan's cold gaze landed on him.

A suffocating silence followed.

Then, Shen Yuan chuckled softly. It wasn't an amused laugh, but rather one filled with mockery.

"What?" he said lazily, tilting his head. "Did you expect me to explain everything point by point? Are you a newbie or an elite?"

The disciple paled, realizing his mistake.

"This was a test of courage and fear, not just raw strength." Shen Yuan's voice was calm but razor-sharp. "If you lacked the intelligence to realize that, you were never going to be chosen in the first place."

The entire crowd fell silent.

The disciples finally understood—it wasn't just about courage, it was about intelligence too. They had focused only on brute force, while Dong Chen had recognized the true nature of the test.

Shen Yuan glanced at them before speaking again.

"But since I'm such a generous person…" he said, stretching lazily. "I will reward those who cleared the yellow portal. Each of you will receive a Yang Soul Pill to help your cultivation. As for those who only cleared the green portal…"

His voice turned ice cold.

"You deserve nothing."

A visible shift in the atmosphere occurred as he flicked his hand, sending small jade bottles flying toward the yellow-portal-clearers. They quickly caught them, relief washing over their faces.

As for those who cleared the black portal?

They already knew what they were getting into.

Once the distribution was complete, Shen Yuan stood up from his seat, pulling out a jade slip. With a flick of his fingers, he tossed it toward Tang Jiyan.

Tang Jiyan caught it easily. Glancing at the inscription on the slip, his eyes widened.

"Ghostly Sword Formation?"

He looked up in confusion. "Why a formation technique?"

Shen Yuan smirked. "Because this formation is based purely on offense and counterattacks. It will be our key to winning team matches."

Dong Chen looked even more confused. "But why was I chosen as an extra member?"

Shen Yuan glanced at him. "Because you'll be my substitute."

The group froze.

"Wait. You're not participating in the team matches?!"

Shen Yuan stretched his arms lazily. "Not unless necessary. I don't have time to practice this formation." His expression turned serious. "I need to focus on my cultivation. I'm still only at the 10th Stage of Heaven Path Realm. I might have a 10th Halo and comparable to some 4th or 5th layer Nirvana Realm experts, but I'm still not even at Nirvana Realm yet."

The group finally understood.

No matter how monstrous Shen Yuan was, he couldn't yet compete with a peak Nirvana Realm expert like Tang Jiyan. If they were just fighting purely on cultivation without any trick or Shen Yuan's secret abilities, then it was obvious who would have won.

After going over everyone's roles—Tang Jiyan as the core, Dong Chen as the phantom striker, Xiang Xiaoli as the counter-attacker and Guo Bohai and Shi Meixiu as the attack and defence coordinates—the team immediately began practicing the formation.

Shen Yuan, however, gave a small smirk before silently walking away. None of them noticed it.

After a few moments, arriving at the grand sect leader's hall, Shen Yuan found Wu Daozhen and Xue Linghun already waiting for him.

Xue Linghun was the first to speak. "How did your selection go?"

Shen Yuan casually shrugged. "There were a few problems. But in the end, it worked out. Now, I'm ready for my training."

Wu Daozhen chuckled. "Good. But do you know what kind of training we will give you?"

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow. "How am I supposed to know?"

Wu Daozhen smirked. "Naturally, you wouldn't." He crossed his arms. "Do you know how one advances to the Elysian Realm from Nirvana?"

Shen Yuan narrowed his eyes. "By comprehending one's Domain."

Xue Linghun nodded. "Correct and these domains are specific concepts in nature that we manifest through comprehension of that particular concept. And today, you will be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—to experience our Domains."

Shen Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Experiencing the Domains of two Elysian Realm experts at his level? When he isn't even a Nirvana realm cultivator, yet! This was more valuable than anything!

Still, he was cautious. "Am I supposed to inherit one of your Domains?"

The two sect leaders laughed.

"No," Xue Linghun said. "You will be using our Domains as reference to comprehend your own."

Shen Yuan's eyes widened. There are two ways to comprehend a domain, first way is to comprehend the domain of an already Elysian realm master, which is what most Elysian realm experts do as it is the easiest but also weak too, compared to self comprehension.

Like the two sect masters here are examples of self comprehension, so even if Shen Yuan did gain the same domain to theirs via comprehending theirs, his version would be weaker, therefore most cultivators who want to reach even beyond the Elysian realm, comprehend their own domain.

Self-comprehension of a Domain was the hardest path, yet also the strongest. They had that much faith in him?

He clenched his fists, his determination igniting. "Then I will create a Domain unlike any before."

Sensing his unwavering will, the two sect leaders exchanged a glance before speaking in unison.

"Then let your own path truly begin."

A surge of power erupted as their Domains unfolded, swallowing Shen Yuan whole.