The Tests Begin

Roy and Kevin stood in line, waiting with the others as the towering gates loomed ahead. The crowd buzzed with murmured conversations, nervous laughter, and the occasional sharp exchange of words. Roy leaned casually against Kevin, arms crossed, his red eyes scanning the crowd. "This feels like the start of something big," he said, a grin playing on his lips.

Kevin tilted his head, his expression calm. "It's the start of the test. Don't make yourself sound mysterious."

Roy chuckled. "You're no fun."

Nearby, Arlen and Selene exchanged quiet words, their tones measured yet confident. Lyra stood close, her piercing green eyes occasionally flicking toward Kevin. Eryk, with his broad axe strapped to his back, cracked his knuckles loudly. "Let's hope they don't keep us waiting too long," he muttered.

The line moved steadily, and soon it was Roy and Kevin's turn. As they stepped closer to the massive gates, the sheer scale of the intricately carved doors became even more apparent. Each door seemed alive, the engraved mythical creatures almost moving under the faint shimmer of energy surrounding them.

The moment they stepped into the vicinity of the gates, something unexpected happened. From the space ring hanging around Roy's neck, two glowing tokens emerged, hovering in the air. The guards nearby exchanged surprised glances, assuming the tokens came from a space ring, though they couldn't see it. Most contestants had been carrying visible space pouches, yet these two had no such items visible. This left the guards puzzled and whispering among themselves.

"Did you see that?" one guard whispered to another. "Space rings? These two?" Space rings are treasures only sect masters or high-ranking cultivators possess. How could they possibly have one? They thought they must be mistaken as it was not possible for both of them to have a space ring.

"Quiet," the senior guard hissed, his sharp eyes fixed on the tokens. The tokens shimmered brilliantly, casting shifting patterns of light that danced across the carved gates. An energy field erupted from the tokens, surrounding Roy and Kevin in a luminous cocoon. For a brief moment, it felt as though the very fabric of reality bent around them, the air vibrating with an otherworldly hum. Weightlessness consumed them, as if the ground itself had vanished. Then, with a final pulse of radiant energy, the tokens dissolved into the air, leaving behind nothing but the faintest trace of warmth lingering in their wake.

Roy raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's new."

Kevin's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Interesting start."

They were directed through the now-parted gates, entering a vast open ground. Strangely, the world beyond the gates seemed shrouded in a mystical haze. Everything except the ground they stood on was invisible. Other contestants appeared one by one, their forms materializing as they passed through the gates. The atmosphere was heavy with anticipation.

Roy glanced around. "Feels like we're standing in a dream."

Kevin's senses were sharper than most due to his blindness, and they painted a vivid picture of their surroundings. Yet, as much as he could detect subtle shifts in the air and faint vibrations on the ground, the hazy space beyond the gate eluded even his heightened perception. "More like a controlled illusion," he said, his voice low, frustration flickering in his tone. "This isn't ordinary."

All of this was very new to them. Although this was very normal for children from big sects or families, they were experiencing it for the first time. As the mystical energy around them shifted, Roy's mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming tests, while Kevin remained grounded, analyzing every detail he could.

The group waited in silence, the murmurs of the crowd behind them fading. After what felt like an eternity, a powerful presence approached. A tall man with sharp features and an aura that seemed to distort the air around him stepped onto the platform in front of them. His robes were dark, edged with silver patterns that shimmered faintly as he moved. His voice, calm yet commanding, carried across the silent ground.

"Welcome," the instructor began, his gaze sweeping over the gathered crowd. "You stand here because you believe you have what it takes to join the Heavenly Star Sect. You have survived the journey here, but survival alone does not prove worthiness. To enter, you must pass three tests."

The murmurs started again, a ripple of unease and excitement spreading through the group. The instructor raised a hand, silencing them instantly.

"The first test will measure your potential and consists of two parts. The first requirement is that all participants must be below the age of twelve and possess muscle forging cultivation. Hearing this, both Roy and Kevin felt a wave of tension rise, their faces betraying unease. This requirement had not been mentioned before, and its sudden revelation caught them off guard. Roy shifted uncomfortably, his hand brushing against the space ring hidden beneath his shirt.

"This wasn't part of the plan," Roy muttered under his breath, glancing at Kevin.

Kevin turned his head slightly, his voice low and uncertain. "What should we do?"

Roy exhaled slowly, his red eyes narrowing in thought. "There's no point in going back now," he said firmly. "We've come this far. We'll try to give the test and see if the instructor lets us through."

Kevin nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly at Roy's decisiveness. "Alright. Let's see how far we can go."

The instructor continues "The second part involves the Azure Stone. To proceed, you must imprint your hand upon it, but there is a condition—you cannot use aura within your body. Your imprint must be made from one centimeter above the stone, and the depth of the mark must be at least 0.5 centimeters. The size and clarity of your mark will further determine your strength and affinity."

Roy leaned toward Kevin. "Sounds simple enough."

Kevin's lips tightened slightly. "It might be," he said cautiously, though both of them silently doubted they'd even get the chance to try. The first requirement loomed over them, its ambiguity gnawing at their confidence. Despite that, they steeled themselves, knowing they had to bluff their way through and focus on reaching the test itself.

The instructor continued. "The second test will challenge your endurance and willpower. You will climb the Stairs of Resistance. Each step will weigh upon your body and mind, testing your fortitude."

"Why do they have to name everything so seriously" Roy muttered.

Kevin smiles hearing this.

The instructor's eyes gleamed as it felt like he also heard it but he moved on to the final test. "The third test is one of survival. You will be released into the Forest of Trials for seven days. You will face dangers, both natural and crafted by the sect. Only those who demonstrate skill, intelligence, and resilience will pass."

He paused, letting the gravity of his words settle. "This test will also operate on a point system. Each beast you defeat will earn you points based on its strength and rarity. Low-level beasts will earn minimal points, while defeating stronger, more dangerous beasts will grant a substantial reward. There are no penalties, but staying inactive or avoiding conflict will naturally result in a lower score. At the end of the trial, those with the highest scores will have priority in rankings."

The murmurs swelled again as the instructor continued. "And for the top three performers, there will be rewards—items and techniques crafted to propel your cultivation forward."

As the group absorbed the information, the instructor's gaze settled on them, his aura pressing down like a heavy weight. "Prepare yourselves. The tests will begin shortly." With that, he turned and vanished into the mist, leaving the contestants to contemplate the trials ahead.

Roy turned to Kevin, his expression attempting to mask the concern in his eyes. "Let's hope it works out," he said, forcing a small smile that wavered ever so slightly.

Kevin tilted his head slightly, his tone dry but laced with a hint of warmth. "It's not like you to worry so much."

Roy exhaled, his smile fading into something more thoughtful. "Ever since I left—or even before I left the Demonic Blood Sect—I've wanted to become strong. I've got that chance now, power that most people my age would kill for. But this is the next step, Kevin. I don't want to miss it. I can't wait another year for the next test." 

As the crowd dispersed into smaller groups, Roy couldn't help but glance toward Lyra, who stood a short distance away. Her silver hair seemed to glimmer faintly in the mist, and though she said nothing, her gaze lingered on Kevin with quiet intrigue. Arlen's loud laugh broke the moment. "If this is the lineup for our competition, I think we're in for a good time," he said, nudging Selene, who simply rolled her eyes.

Eryk stretched his shoulders, his broad axe clanking softly against his back. "Let's hope they don't throw too many curveballs. I'd rather deal with beasts than illusions."

Selene's calm voice cut through the chatter. "Illusions are really dangerous and hard to handle, especially if you let them get into your mind."

Soon, a few other instructors emerged from the mist, their commanding presence immediately silencing the murmur of the crowd. Clapping their hands, one of them called out, "Form ten lines, now!" Their voices were steady yet authoritative, leaving no room for delay.

The crowd quickly began dispersing, each contestant finding their place in one of the lines. Roy and Kevin exchanged a glance, moving to stand beside each other in the same line, their expressions a mix of tension and quiet determination.

Once everyone was settled, the instructors snapped their fingers in unison. Suddenly, the ground before them shimmered, and ten massive, 100-foot-square azure stones materialized, their surfaces glowing faintly in the dim light. A collective gasp rippled through the contestants as their jaws dropped in awe at the sight.

The azure stone was legendary, known to be a special material native to the Azure Mountain Range. Its reputation was fearsome—imprinting on it was nearly impossible for anyone in or below the muscle forging stage. The challenge ahead became all the more daunting as the contestants absorbed the sight before them.

One of the instructors stepped forward, his piercing gaze sweeping over the group. "This is the Azure Stone. Your task is simple yet demanding. But before we proceed, we will ensure you meet the requirements."

Other instructors stepped forward and began calling names from a list, his voice carrying across the silent field. "Arlen!" he called.

The boy with scruffy brown hair stepped forward confidently, his wiry frame radiating a sense of readiness. The instructor extended his hand, sending a faint pulse of aura into Arlen's body. After a moment, he nodded. "Age 12 verified. Cultivation— 5th muscle forging stage. Proceed to the imprint test."

Arlen grinned and walked toward one of the massive azure stones, his excitement barely concealed. As he reached the stone, he held his hand 1 centimeter above its glowing surface, his face growing serious. Taking a steadying breath, he paused for a moment before striking downward. A loud crack echoed as his palm connected with the stone. The impact left faint cracks radiating outward from the imprint. An instructor stepped forward, measuring the depth with practiced precision. "Imprint depth: 0.9 centimeters. Power control: normal. You pass."