The Inner Sect Trials Are Announced
The sun had barely reached its peak when the outer sect square was filled with thousands of disciples, all murmuring among themselves.
This wasn't a normal gathering.
The sect drums had sounded earlier that morning, a signal that something important was about to be announced.
That's why everyone will gather there very early to find out what it was.
Shortly after.
A presence that froze the air, commanding absolute silence, arrived.
Even before that presence appeared, every outer disciple instinctively straightened, and lowered their voices.
Then.
A figure in deep blue robes, descended into the jade platform.
His expression was calm, yet authoritative, and every step he took was firm and stable.
This was Elder Sun, a 4th-level Golden Core cultivator, and one of the most respected authorities overseeing the sect's disciple promotions.
To outer disciples, even the weakest Golden Core cultivator was a towering existence, a figure of unreachable power.
For them, reaching this level was a lifelong dream, they didn't dare to dream any further.
The Elder Sun eyes swept over the disciples, sharp and unwavering.
Then, his calm, steady, yet filled with absolute authority voice
boomed across the outer square.
"The Azure Sky Sect's Inner Sect Trials will begin in ten days."
Direct and concise.
Elder Sun was never a man to waste words.
For a moment, it was as if the entire sect square had frozen.
Then… The crowd exploded into murmurs.
"This is it…!"
"The trials have been announced!"
"Ten days! That's not much time to prepare…"
But Elder Sun lifted his hand, and the murmurs died instantly.
His expression remained unchanged as he continued.
"This trial is not just a test of strength. It is a test of will, resilience, and adaptability."
"Only fifty outer disciples will be granted entry into the competition, chosen through the Azure Stairs Trial."
"Those who pass will enter the second phase; a series of battles where only the top ten will earn the right to enter the Inner Sect."
More whispers broke out.
"As expected, combat is included…"
"But the Azure Stairs? That's brutal!"
Elder Sun ignored their reactions and continued speaking.
"As for the rewards…"
A small scroll appeared in his hand.
"The top ten victors will be promoted to the Inner Sect, but those who distinguish themselves will receive additional benefits."
"First place will be rewarded with a high grade combat technique and a Sun Flower pill to refine their Qi foundation, Second and third place will receive a mid level combat technique each one."
"This is your one opportunity. Do not waste it."
Elder Sun lowered the scroll, his eyes growing sharper.
"Now, let me explain the first challenge; the Azure Stairs Trial."
The moment those words left his mouth, a ripple of tension spread through the disciples.
Some gritted their teeth.
Others turned pale.
Some of them knew about the Azure Stairs.
And they knew how brutal it was.
But for those who didn't, Elder Sun continued.
"The Azure Stairs is a Heaven-Grade Artifact, its function is to temper the willpower of cultivators."
The disciples listened in rapt silence.
"The stairs consist of one hundred steps. With each step, the pressure increases exponentially, the farther you climb, the greater the strain on your body, and soul."
Some disciples shuddered at the words, they had heard the stories…
How some collapsed before even reaching halfway.
How others pushed too far and suffered permanent Qi deviations.
Elder Sun's voice remained calm.
"Only the first 50 who reach the 50th step will be qualified to enter the next stage, The higher you climb, the better your ranking for the combat phase."
"And for those who cannot endure not even the first step…"
His eyes swept over the crowd once more.
"You do not belong in the Inner Sect."
Silence.
The sect square felt suffocating.
After saying everything he needed to, Elder Sun went on without paying any attention to the stunned disciples.
...
After Elder Sun left, the pressure finally eased a bit.
With that, a fuss fell over the square.
Every disciple in the outer square now faced the same truth.
In ten days, their fates would be decided.
For many, this was their last chance.
The age limit to participate in the inner sect trial was 30 years old, many were already at the limit.
The only path out of mediocrity.
Some disciples clenched their fists, eyes burning with determination.
"I've waited for this for years!"
"This time, I'll prove my worth!"
Others, however, looked nervous, even afraid.
They knew their chances were slim.
The Azure Stairs Trial was notorious.
A brutal elimination challenge where one's progress was determined not just by strength, but by mental resilience and Qi control.
Some had trained for years just for this moment.
Others knew they wouldn't even make it past the first trial.
But beyond the general excitement, one specific name kept being whispered through the crowd.
Lu Chen.
The mere mention of his name was like throwing oil into a fire.
"Is he even eligible?"
"The Seven Peaks Alliance won't let him pass that easily."
"Staying in the outer sect is at least a little safer, the inner sect is the alliance's territory."
"Maybe they'll eliminate him before the fights even start…"
"That idiot rejected their invitation… Does he think he can just walk into the Inner Sect now?"
Lu Chen ignored them all.
Instead, he simply observed.
This was expected.
...
At the edge of the square, a group of figures stood together, hidden from everyone's view.
The seven peaks alliance members.
Among them, Jiang Xuan's expression was unreadable, but his aura carried unmistakable coldness.
"Ten days…" he muttered, his fingers tightening slightly.
"That's plenty of time to make sure Lu Chen doesn't make it past the Azure Stairs."
Several alliance disciples nodded in agreement.
One of them mocked,
"We'll make sure he fails before at the first step, so we won't even need to eliminate him. The sect doesn't accept incompetents.."
...
Further away, a different group watched silently.
They are watching in this group of outer disciples, those who had potential and talent.
They weren't part of the seven peaks alliance, It was not clear which faction they belonged to.
But from the way they acted and positioned themselves, it was clear that they were experts in espionage and infiltration, perhaps even... assassination.
Among all the individuals they had an interest in, Lu Chen was among them.
...
Far from the gathering, seated comfortably in his secluded courtyard, sipping his favorite tea.
A jade slip hovered before him, detailing every significant disciple participating in the trials.
Gu Tianying. smiled.
"How will things unfold now?"
...
As the murmurs and gossip of the announcement settled, Lu Chen remained still.
He was already running through the possibilities.
Activating the Simulation System, a familiar blue glow flashed across his vision.
Within an instant, three possibilities paths unraveled before him.
[Simulation #1: Avoiding Early Fights]
[Simulation Begins…]
[From the very start of the Inner Sect Trials, avoided direct conflict, hid and ran away whenever possible.
Rather than standing out, he blended into the background, engaging only when necessary and keeping his battles quick and efficient.
The Azure Stairs Trial was simple, he climbed just high enough to qualify, reaching the 50st step before stopping.
Conserved his strength, avoiding unnecessary risks.
When the combat phase began, he followed a defensive strategy, always winning by a thread, as if it were always luck
In the end…
He secured a position in the top ten.
Was strong but unremarkable.
After seeing Luccen's mediocre performance the seven peaks alliance stops see him as a threat, so they didn't go out of their way to target him.
But he also never gained any real recognition.
When he entered the Inner Sect, he was just another.
Simulation End]
[Result: ORDINARY]
[Simulation #2: Disrupting Key Opponents]
[Simulation Begins…]
[Rather than hiding, you targeted major competitors from the very start.
During the Azure Stairs Trial, he climbed all the way to the 94th step, marking himself as one of the strongest candidates.
When the combat rounds began, went after elite disciples tied to sect factions.
Crushed a Seven Peaks Alliance disciple in a public fight, shattering their reputation.
Humiliated an arrogant genius.
Disciples feared him.
Rival factions watched him close.
And then…
They moved.
On the night before the final battle, Lu Chen was ambushed.
A group of Seven Peaks Alliance disciples cornered him.
A mysterious figure observed from the shadows.
Lu Chen fought with everything he had.
But it was impossible.
The combined forces of multiple inner disciples overwhelmed him.
He died.
In the dark, alone, before he even had a chance to prove himself.
Simulation End]
[Result: DEATH]
[Simulation #3: Train and Fight]
[Simulation Begins…]
[Rather than avoiding conflict or declaring war, you played the long game.
Climbed the Azure Stairs carefully, reaching the 63th step high enough to show strength, but not enough to become an immediate target.
When the combat trials began, did not seek out strong opponents immediately.
Instead, focused on sharpening techniques, and refining skills before making bold moves.
Dominated mid level opponents without revealing all his abilities.
Used deception, tactics, and precise strikes rather than brute force.
Allowed stronger competitors to fight amongst themselves.
Slowly but steadily, rose through the ranks.
By the final rounds, was one of the last ten standing.
The sect had taken notice of your strength.
The Seven Peaks Alliance viewed you as a threat, but they didn't make a move.
The Hidden Faction watched with interest, but had no reason to act.
You entered the inner sect.
Simulation End]
[Result: GREATSUCCESS]
The World Snaps Back to Reality
Lu Chen's breath steadied as he returned from the simulation.
His mind processed the three futures he had just witnessed.
Avoiding conflict led to an unremarkable life. No enemies, no allies, no recognition. In the grand scheme, totally irrelevant.
Acting too aggressively led to death. Being eliminated before could truly rise.
A balanced approach gave him the best results, without exposing too much or drawing too many enemies.
He exhaled slowly.
"I already know what I'm going to do."
He had ten days.
Ten days to prepare.
==========
Can you guess which route our protagonist will choose? Leave your opinion in the comments.