Rejected by Fate  

Lu Chen's heart pounded as he stepped forward, his name echoing across the open courtyard. Hundreds of aspiring cultivators surrounded him, their hopeful gazes fixed on the grand stage where sect elders tested potential disciples. Today was the day that determined his future. 

At the center of the platform, an elder in deep violet robes sat with an air of quiet authority. In his palm, a jade slip pulsed faintly with spiritual energy — an artifact capable of assessing one's innate talent. 

Lu Chen swallowed hard. His entire life had led to this moment. He had trained relentlessly, refining his martial skills and meditating on the Dao, believing with unwavering certainty that he possessed the potential to stand among the greatest cultivators of his generation. 

The elder's gaze settled on him, unreadable. 

'Place your hand on the jade slip,' he commanded. 

Lu Chen took a steadying breath and obeyed. The instant his fingers met the smooth, cool surface, a ripple of energy coursed through his body. A faint glow shimmered around his palm as the artifact assessed his spiritual roots. 

Then — silence. 

A long, heavy silence. 

The crowd, once buzzing with anticipation, stilled. Lu Chen held his breath, waiting. 

The elder furrowed his brows. His fingers tightened around the jade slip, as if hoping for a different result. But in the end, he sighed. 

'Your spiritual roots are… mediocre at best.' The elder's voice was devoid of warmth. 'You lack the necessary aptitude to enter our sect.' 

The words struck harder than any blow Lu Chen had ever taken. 

His mind reeled. No. That can't be right. 

He had trained for years. He had sacrificed sleep, endured grueling exercises, pushed himself beyond his limits. He had envisioned himself rising through the ranks, proving himself worthy of the heavens' favor. 

And yet, in an instant, that dream was shattered. 

The crowd erupted. 

Laughter, whispers, mocking sneers. 

'A wasted effort.' 

'He really thought he had a chance?' 

'What a joke.' 

Lu Chen's fists clenched at his sides. The heat of humiliation crept up his neck, burning his skin. He wanted to argue, to demand another test, but the jade slip did not lie. It had judged him unworthy. 

Just as he turned to leave, his shoulders weighed down by the crushing disappointment, a clear, commanding voice rang through the courtyard. 

'Wait.' 

The sudden interruption silenced the crowd. 

A woman stepped forward, her crimson robes embroidered with golden phoenixes. Her long, flowing black hair was adorned with delicate jade ornaments, but it was her aura — powerful, unwavering — that truly demanded attention. 

Lu Chen recognized her immediately. 

She was from the Bai Clan — a Foundation Building family known for its solid but unremarkable standing in the cultivation world. They weren't one of the great sects or revered clans, but they held enough influence to demand respect. Their strength came not from sheer might, but from their pragmatic approach to cultivation and their focus on strengthening future generations. 

She studied him, her sharp eyes unreadable, before turning to the gathered crowd. 

'The Bai Clan is recruiting in-laws,' she announced, her voice carrying across the courtyard. 'We require men to father the next generation of geniuses. If you lack talent but wish for your lineage to thrive, step forward.' 

A ripple of shock passed through the audience. 

Lu Chen stiffened. 

The Bai Clan's method of selection was well-known but rarely spoken about in polite conversation. They sought only the strongest bloodlines, the most promising candidates. Women of the Bai Clan bore children with carefully chosen men — not for love, but for legacy. 

It was an offer that many would kill for. To be bound to a clan as stable as the Bai Clan meant wealth, protection, and status. Even if the man himself was untalented, his children would have every advantage. 

But it also meant something else. 

A life of insignificance. 

Lu Chen's jaw tightened. 

This was his alternative? If he couldn't become a cultivator himself, he was to simply sire one for someone else? 

He wanted to reject the offer. To turn and walk away. To find another path to power, even if it meant clawing his way up from the dirt. 

But then, the laughter from the crowd echoed in his ears once more. 

He knew what awaited him outside these gates. A future of mediocrity. A life spent struggling in a world where strength dictated fate. If he left now, he would be nothing — a forgotten name among the thousands who failed to reach greatness. 

But if he accepted… 

Even if he could not cultivate, his child would. His legacy would endure. 

Slowly, deliberately, Lu Chen stepped forward. 

The woman's lips curved into a knowing smile. 

'Welcome to the Bai Clan.' 

The whispers in the crowd grew louder, some in shock, others in admiration. 

Lu Chen kept his expression unreadable, but deep inside, a fire burned. 

This was not the end. 

He might have been rejected today, but fate had merely opened another door. 

One way or another, he would carve his own destiny. 

Even if it meant taking an unconventional path.