Su Lan

As the swirling vortex of the teleportation portal gradually dimmed, Meng Hao stepped forth, his figure emerging into the open clearing of the sect's trial ground. The portal behind him shimmered one last time before dissipating, leaving behind the remaining outer sect disciples who had also participated in the brutal trial. Dust swirled in the air, and the soft hum of spiritual energy still lingered faintly from where the gateway once stood.

The sky above the Heaven Gathering Sect was awash in the golden hue of twilight, as though the heavens themselves were bearing witness to this moment of selection. A light breeze rustled through the ceremonial banners lining the stone-paved platform ahead, and a sense of finality settled over the gathering.

The trial had come to an end.

All those who had managed to amass a thousand points—regardless of method, means, or morality—had been summoned to this sacred ground at the heart of the sect. The rest, those who had failed to reach the threshold, were already being quietly returned to the outer sect regions, their dreams of advancement deferred, perhaps indefinitely.

Upon the raised stage at the front of the vast arena stood the same elegant woman who had initially explained the rules of the trial. Dressed in flowing blue robes that shimmered like the surface of a moonlit lake, her expression remained calm, her gaze sweeping across the selected disciples with detached interest.

After a pause, she raised her hand, and her voice echoed across the grounds, imbued with spiritual energy so that none could miss her words.

"You have all done well in this test," she said, her tone formal yet not without warmth. "From this moment forth, those of you who stand here shall cast aside your outer sect identity. You are now disciples of the Inner Sect of the Heaven Gathering Sect."

A quiet murmur swept through the crowd at her words—relief, excitement, even disbelief visible on many faces. The blue-robed woman continued, "The Seven Peaks are open to you. Each of you may choose the peak that suits you best. Cultivation is a solitary path, but choosing the right path is often the difference between ascension and stagnation."

As her voice faded into the twilight, she raised her slender hand and made a graceful gesture. Instantly, seven glowing doors appeared in front of the disciples—each one unique in design, radiating a distinct aura. Some blazed with fire, others shimmered like flowing water, while one pulsed with a deep, serene rhythm like the heartbeat of the earth itself.

The disciples whispered among themselves, gazes filled with longing, hesitation, and ambition as they examined the doors. This was the final choice in the trial—a choice that would shape their cultivation path.

Meng Hao stood silently among them, his expression calm and unreadable. The whispers of the crowd faded into background noise in his mind. A string of system notifications appeared before his eyes—messages declaring that he had once again become a "favorite" in the hearts of dozens of disciples. Some had even reached a four-star level of favor, bordering on obsession.

He didn't even glance at them.

To him, these were irrelevant distractions, fleeting attachments from people who would never truly matter on his path. He dismissed the notifications with a mere thought. His heart was set on something far more important—no, someone.

Su Lan.

The Sixth Peak's master. A legend among the sect. Cold, powerful, and shrouded in mystery. She was the person Meng Hao's gaze sought even now.

High above the platform where the blue-robed woman stood, there was another, grander dais. Upon it sat nine seats arranged in a crescent arc. On the central, most elevated seat, a woman in crimson Daoist robes sat with an expression like still fire—calm on the surface, but radiating immense, suffocating power. Her hair flowed like ink in a river, and her presence commanded the attention of all around her.

This was Liu Mei, Sect Master of the Heaven Gathering Sect.

Beside her were the seven Peak Masters, each seated on ornate chairs below hers. Their appearances varied—young and old, serene and fierce—but each radiated a formidable cultivation aura. These were beings who had long since transcended the petty squabbles of the outer sect.

Liu Mei's eyes swept over the gathered disciples like a tide of judgment.

"The quality of disciples declines with every generation," she said coolly, her voice laced with disappointment. "Among this batch, only the girl named Li Yao is worthy of note. The rest… are forgettable."

The elders beside her nodded in agreement. One of them, a woman with sharp eyes and silver hair tied in a single braid, chuckled lightly. "Well, Sect Master," she said, "does it truly matter who among them is the best? In the end, all of them will choose Senior Sister Su Lan regardless."

Her gaze turned toward Su Lan, the master of the Sixth Peak.

Liu Mei's lips curved slightly into a faint smile as she turned to her. "So tell me, junior sister," she asked, "do you have any candidates of interest this time, other than Li Yao?"

Su Lan said nothing in response.

Draped in white, her posture was relaxed but her presence sharp as a blade in its sheath. Her expression was placid, yet her eyes were piercing. She simply gave a slight nod, then turned her head and looked down at the disciples gathered below.

Her gaze, unhurried and cold, swept across the crowd—until it paused.

There, among the sea of new inner disciples, her eyes landed on one figure in particular—calm, composed, yet burning with intent that far exceeded his peers.

Meng Hao.