The First Test

Li Wei woke up early, the excitement from yesterday's plans still burning in his chest. The sun hadn't even fully risen, yet his mind was already occupied with thoughts of how to grow his sect.

"I've got it!" Li Wei muttered to himself. "Today, I'll lead the disciples into the forest for a real test. We'll show them the power of Heavenly Cloud Sect!"

Lin Yue, who had overheard his plans, raised an eyebrow. "You're going to lead them into the forest? You know that place is crawling with wild beasts, right?"

Li Wei grinned. "Exactly! What better way to test their strength than by throwing them into the wild?"

Lin Yue shook her head. "You've really got no regard for safety, do you?"

Li Wei shrugged. "Safety is for the weak. If they can't handle the forest, they're not cut out for this sect!"

"Right, because if they get killed, it'll be their fault," Lin Yue quipped, crossing her arms.

Li Wei didn't seem to care about her skepticism. "Exactly! But don't worry, I'll be there to protect them. I'm the Sect Master, after all!"

---

As the disciples gathered at the edge of the forest, Li Wei stood at the front with a confident grin. "Listen up!" he shouted, his voice carrying across the group. "Today, we're going to hunt some beasts. The goal is simple—survive and bring me their spiritual cores. If you can't do that, then don't even bother coming back!"

The disciples exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to expect.

Xuan Tian, who had been sleeping earlier, suddenly perked up. "Hunt beasts? That's it? You really know how to pick the fun tasks, Sect Master!"

"Of course," Li Wei said with a wink. "I'm not about to waste time on boring things. Now, let's go!"

---

The forest was dense, with towering trees and thick underbrush. The air was heavy with the scent of earth and damp moss. As the disciples ventured deeper, the atmosphere grew tense.

Li Wei led the group with a sense of ease, cutting through the trees like a knife. "Don't fall behind! We're not here to sightsee!"

Lin Yue stayed close to him, her eyes scanning the surroundings for danger. "You sure this is a good idea? These beasts are no joke."

Li Wei flashed her a confident smile. "Don't worry. We've got everything under control."

---

Suddenly, the air grew still, and the sound of movement broke the silence. A massive boar, easily twice the size of a normal one, burst through the trees, its tusks gleaming in the dim light.

"Beast!" one of the disciples cried, drawing his sword.

Li Wei grinned. "That's what we came here for!"

---

The disciples hesitated at first, unsure of what to do. But Li Wei wasn't waiting for them. With a flash of speed, he dashed forward, drawing his sword. The massive boar charged at him, its tusks aimed directly at his chest.

In one fluid motion, Li Wei sidestepped and slashed at the boar's side, cutting through its thick hide. The beast roared in pain, but Li Wei was already on the move again, his sword flashing in the air.

The boar's eyes narrowed, and it swung its tusks viciously, but Li Wei was faster, dodging the attack effortlessly. "Come on, is this all you've got?" he taunted, circling around the boar.

One of the disciples, a young man named Yang Hui, finally gathered enough courage and charged in with his sword raised. He slashed at the boar's leg, causing it to stumble.

Li Wei seized the opportunity. "Nice work, Yang Hui! Now, let's finish this!"

With a final, decisive strike, Li Wei cleaved the boar in half, its massive body collapsing to the ground with a heavy thud.

---

The disciples stood in stunned silence.

"Good job, everyone," Li Wei said, wiping his sword clean. "Now, let's gather the spiritual cores and head back. This was just the warm-up!"

Lin Yue approached him, shaking her head. "You really have no sense of caution, do you? That beast could have killed them if you hadn't stepped in."

Li Wei just smiled. "But they didn't, did they? You've got to take risks if you want to grow stronger. No pain, no gain!"

---

As they made their way back to the village, Li Wei's mind began to race again. This was just the beginning. There were bigger challenges ahead, and he was determined to face them head-on.

But as they neared the village, a dark figure stood in the distance, watching them with keen eyes. The figure's lips curled into a smile, sensing the growing power within Li Wei and his sect.

"I'll have to keep a closer eye on this one," the figure whispered. "He might just be the key to something much bigger."