Hidden Power and Sect Trials

Chapter 17: Hidden Power and Sect Trials

Everyone who witnessed Sanjeev's Chakra weapon during the God Spirit Awakening ceremony believed it to be a relatively straightforward instrument, primarily suited for attack and defense. Its spinning form and golden energy gave the impression of a versatile but ultimately simple tool. Sanjeev himself initially shared this assessment, viewing the Chakra as a potent but uncomplicated extension of his will.

That perception, however, was about to change.

Later that night, after the excitement of the awakening ceremony had subsided, Sanjeev found himself alone in his room, the Chakra resting on his palm. He gazed at it intently, its golden surface shimmering in the soft light of the room. A nagging curiosity lingered in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this weapon than met the eye.

He rotated the Chakra slowly, examining its intricate patterns. They seemed more complex than mere decoration. As he focused his spiritual energy, tracing the lines with his mind, he noticed that some of the patterns seemed to shift, to subtly rearrange themselves. It was as if the Chakra was responding to his intent, revealing a hidden layer of complexity.

Driven by a growing sense of anticipation, Sanjeev delved deeper, pouring more of his consciousness into the weapon. He began to discern faint, almost imperceptible symbols within the patterns. They were ancient, elegant, and strangely familiar. Sanjeev recognized them as Sanskrit, the language of his past life, the language of the gods.

His heart quickened. Sanskrit on a weapon in this world? It was an anomaly, a mystery that demanded to be unraveled. With renewed determination, he painstakingly deciphered the symbols, his mind racing as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.

As the meaning of the symbols became clear, Sanjeev's eyes widened in astonishment. The patterns weren't mere decorations; they were an inscription, a set of instructions, a key to unlocking the Chakra's true potential. He realized that his spiritual weapon was imbued with divine techniques, ancient and powerful abilities far beyond anything he had imagined.

The Chakra was not just a weapon; it was a conduit, a gateway to a higher realm of power.

Sanjeev learned that the techniques were layered, locked behind spiritual barriers that would unlock as he grew stronger. The first technique, however, was already accessible to him. It was an ability of incredible power, a technique that defied the very laws of this world.

He discovered that he could capture and contain other cultivators within the Chakra.

The implications of this were staggering. He could imprison his enemies, his opponents, anyone he deemed a threat. The captured cultivators would be completely under his control, their souls bound to the Chakra, forced to obey his every command.

The technique wasn't limited by realm, either. Sanjeev could capture cultivators of the same realm as himself, or even those one realm higher. It was an ability that could turn the tide of any battle, an ability that could make him virtually unstoppable.

And the capacity... the Chakra could store up to twenty thousand cultivators.

Sanjeev was both exhilarated and terrified by the implications of this power. To have such control over others, to hold their very souls in his grasp... it was a power that could be easily abused. He knew he had to tread carefully, to use this ability only when absolutely necessary.

Driven by a need to understand this power, Sanjeev began to practice the technique. He focused his mind, visualizing the process of capture, feeling the energy of the Chakra respond to his will.

Suddenly, his consciousness was pulled into the Chakra itself.

He found himself in a vast, self-contained space, a world within a world. It was a landscape of breathtaking beauty and serene power. Towering mountains rose towards a sky that shimmered with golden light. Crystal-clear rivers flowed through lush valleys, and ancient trees with glowing leaves dotted the landscape. It was a realm of untamed natural beauty, a sanctuary of immense spiritual energy.

This, he realized, was the internal space of the Chakra, a place where he could store the cultivators he captured. It was a world of his own creation, a world bound to his will. He could control the environment, shape the landscape, and even influence the flow of time within this space.

Sanjeev spent hours exploring this inner world, marveling at its wonders. He realized that this space was not just a prison; it was a potential stronghold, a place where he could train, meditate, and even build a community of loyal followers.

He could bring cultivators here, and they would be subject to his rule. They could live in this world, cultivate its resources, and contribute to his power. The possibilities were endless, limited only by his imagination and his control.

Eventually, exhausted but filled with a sense of awe and trepidation, Sanjeev left the Chakra's inner space and returned to his room. He lay in bed, his mind racing with the implications of his discovery. He knew that this power would change everything. It would make him a force to be reckoned with, a power that could shape the destiny of this world.

The next morning, Sanjeev awoke with a sense of purpose. The day had arrived for the Lotus Blade Sect entrance exam, the first step on his path to becoming a true cultivator, a path that now seemed intertwined with the secrets of his divine weapon.

Sanjeev and Xiner prepared meticulously for the journey. They gathered their belongings, checked their weapons, and made sure they were mentally and physically ready for the trials ahead. There was an air of excitement and anticipation in the Xue family estate, a sense of embarking on a grand adventure.

Before they left, Xue Rong gave them a stern warning. "Remember," he said, his voice grave, "the world is full of dangers and deceit. You must be cautious, and you must protect yourselves. And there is one more thing... to ensure your safety, and to test your resilience, I want you to conceal your true identities."

Sanjeev and Xiner exchanged surprised glances. "Conceal our identities?" Sanjeev asked. "But why, Grandfather?"

Xue Rong explained that he wanted them to face the challenges of the sect trials without the benefit of their family name. He wanted them to prove their worth based on their own merits, not on their lineage or reputation. He believed that this would forge them into stronger, more independent cultivators.

"You will register under different surnames," Xue Rong instructed. "Sanjeev, you will be Sanjeev Luo. Xiner, you will be Xiner Luo. This will make you appear as distant relatives, not brother and sister, and certainly not members of the Xue family. Do you understand?"

Sanjeev and Xiner nodded, understanding the wisdom behind their grandfather's words. It was a test of their character, a trial by fire that would push them to their limits.

With their new identities in place, Sanjeev and Xiner set off for the location where the Lotus Blade Sect entrance exam was to be held. As they approached the site, they were greeted by a scene of overwhelming activity.

A massive crowd had gathered, a sea of aspiring cultivators from all corners of the continent. Young men and women, their faces filled with determination and hope, jostled for position, their voices a cacophony of nervous chatter and excited anticipation.

The sheer number of applicants was staggering. Sanjeev and Xiner had expected a large turnout, but this was beyond anything they had imagined. It was a testament to the allure of the Lotus Blade Sect, its reputation as one of the most prestigious and powerful sects in the world.

Vendors hawked their wares, selling everything from spiritual herbs and elixirs to enchanted weapons and protective talismans. The air was thick with the scent of incense, the aroma of exotic spices, and the palpable energy of thousands of cultivators gathered in one place.

Sanjeev and Xiner made their way through the crowd, their senses heightened by the sheer density of spiritual energy. They registered for the exam, providing their new surnames and receiving their identification tokens. The process was chaotic but efficient, a testament to the sect's organizational prowess.

As they waited for the trials to begin, Sanjeev and Xiner observed their fellow applicants. They saw cultivators of all shapes and sizes, from towering warriors with muscles like granite to slender mages with an air of quiet intensity. They saw humans, elves, and other races, all united by their ambition to join the Lotus Blade Sect.

Finally, a hush fell over the crowd as a figure appeared in the sky.

It was an elder of the Lotus Blade Sect, his white robes billowing in the wind as he soared through the air on a flying sword. He was a vision of power and grace, a living embodiment of the sect's mastery of cultivation.

The elder landed gracefully on a raised platform, his voice booming across the assembly. "Welcome, aspiring cultivators," he announced, his voice amplified by spiritual energy. "You have come here today to prove your worth, to earn the right to join the ranks of the Lotus Blade Sect. The trials ahead will test your strength, your skill, and your resolve. Only the most exceptional among you will succeed."

He gestured towards a vast, open space before them. "To begin the trials," he declared, "you must ascend the Heavenly Steps."

A collective murmur of confusion rippled through the crowd. Everyone looked around, searching for the steps the elder had mentioned. But there were no steps to be seen. The ground was flat and unbroken, stretching out before them like an endless plain.

The elder smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You do not see the steps?" he asked. "That is because they are not yet manifest."

He reached into his sleeve and withdrew a small, unassuming object. It was a miniature pagoda, no larger than his hand, crafted from a dark, lustrous wood. The pagoda pulsed with a faint, inner light, and Sanjeev could sense a powerful energy contained within it.

"This," the elder announced, holding up the pagoda, "is a Spatial Artifact, a treasure of our sect. It has the power to manipulate space itself."

With a flick of his wrist, the elder tossed the pagoda into the air. As it ascended, it began to grow, expanding rapidly until it became a colossal structure, a towering mountain that dwarfed everything around it.

The ground trembled as the pagoda landed, its base forming a series of steps that spiraled upwards, reaching towards the heavens. The steps were made of the same dark wood as the pagoda, each one glowing with intricate runes that pulsed with spiritual energy.

The Heavenly Steps.

A collective gasp rose from the crowd. The sheer scale of the structure was awe-inspiring, a testament to the power of the Lotus Blade Sect and its mastery of spatial manipulation. The steps were not just a physical challenge; they were a test of one's will, a trial designed to weed out the weak and the unworthy.

The elder's voice boomed across the assembly once more. "The Heavenly Steps will test your limits. They will challenge your endurance, your courage, and your determination. Only those who possess the strength to overcome these trials will be deemed worthy to join our sect. Now... begin!"