Located near the martial city's northern border edge, a crowd of like-minded individuals all moved to the same beat and drum of anticipation. Among the flock of people that strutted about on a cloudy day, two stunning women stood out from the rest, moseying along while they carried on with their conversation.
" I still can't comprehend what was so important that you would blatantly disturb my beauty rest this early in the morning..."
The young, amply curved lady with a mixture of scarlet and peach colored hair and eyes, groggily mumbled to her old friend Julep.
" Come on, stop being such a grouch, Amber. Do you already tire of my company after just a week?"
Julep asked as her snowy white brows crinkled in dismay at Amber's lack of enthusiasm.
" Don't be so sensitive, it's been 5 years since we last saw each other at my family's palace. Obviously, I'll be foolish to take our time together now for granted.
I'm just still exhausted from the long, arduous journey over here."
Amber responded while rubbing the crust from her eyes, trying to muster some much-needed energy. Being reminded, her closest friend recalled the prior incident that Amber informed her of when they first reunited.
" I see, forgive me. Understandably so, anybody would be shaken up by the experience you've gone through, Amber..."
" Shaken? Please, I had them right in the palms of my hand! It was only a slight inconvenience on my end. The real issue stemmed from having to deal with such an unruly annoyance, but I'm already over it now as we speak."
The woman wearing an extravagant crimson and gold garb replied with a hiss, downplaying the situation of almost being abducted, as Amber's sheer pride wouldn't allow her to admit that she still held those events heavily in mind.
Knowing one another since childhood, Julep knew her friend better than most. Behind her false bravado, Amber had a softer side that was smothered by internal and external pressure exerted by her family's great prestige and accomplishments.
" Okay, I get it, you're tough as nails. By the way, where did you get that gold bracelet that you've been fiddling with since we met? It looks familiar."
Julep pointed out as Amber grew embarrassed,
" It's nothing really, just a mere trinket I happened to take a liking to and bought along the way."
Once again, she feigned her true emotions, making up this story off the cuff. Amber failed to mention that she was actually saved, despite her explaining to Julep about the Dark Arts Coalition member who went by Purple Tear and his motives.
The Zeal family's youngest daughter made it seem like she defeated and drove the assailants off with the assistance of her guards, instead of the mysterious Masked Panther.
Thankful and indebted to him for his help, Amber still couldn't bring herself to acknowledge to anyone else that she was made helpless. Not aware of the full scope of things, she still caught wind that Amber was hiding the true importance of her only piece of jewelry shown, for some odd reason.
" Is that so? Well, from my point of view, you cherish that way more than you're letting on... Hey, don't tell me it's from a boyfriend you failed to divulge about?"
" Are you ridiculous? I'd rather spend the time and effort on honing my craft than chasing after a frivolous relationship with a so-called boyfriend!"
Amber's voice rose as she blushed, while Julep continued to tease her, feeling that she hit the nail right on the head.
Soon, their steps slowed to a halt as those choosing to witness the newest spectacle happening in the Martial City met some resistance.
"Back up and make way! If you don't carry the proper credentials, you will not be allowed to move past this checkpoint!"
One of the guardsmen barked immediately at the mass of onlookers gathering nearby. With most of them turning away in disappointment, Julep grasped Amber's hand, making a path towards the front.
An ocean of people parted like the Red Sea as her tranquil Qi gently waved them aside. Observing this strange occurrence, both guards instantly recognized the exalted figure approaching in a white, blue-crested, and cloaked double-breasted robe.
" Greetings, inner disciple Julep Peng."
The men both bowed, with Julep later flashing her ID while claiming Amber as an official guest. They passed by the checkpoint with no issue, as a few citizens whispered about this sight, somewhat cluelessly,
" I wonder who those two bombshells were?"
" No idea, but I guess they must have been disciples of the Martial Alliance."
"You idiots, that isn't just a regular old disciple but an inner disciple who happens to be the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader, himself."
Someone randomly straightened out the confusion, referring to the long, snow-haired young lady who resembled a fairy. Creating some distance from those who weren't allowed onward, Julep and Amber traveled a pebbled path surrounded by a rocky forest still within the Martial city's great walls.
Eventually, they arrived near the foot of the northern steps that were wider than a highway and as steep as a mountain.
There, waiting below, were several hundred martial art cultivators from different walks of life, all vying for this rare opportunity to become an outer disciple.
Once upon a time, the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families pulled together their collective force and resources to defeat the oppressive Demon Lord and his Demonic Cult more than a hundred years ago.
Participating in a war that seemed endless to everyone involved.
Through sheer blood, sweat, and tears, the Martial Alliance finally abolished its devilish stranglehold.
However, there were still rumors that remained that the Demon Lord still lived on somewhere, biding his time in seclusion until he was able to rise to prominence once again.
After the war, from the outside looking in, every other martial clan, sect, or family found it nearly impossible to become a part of this prestigious Alliance.
Wanting to reap the benefits filled with ample cultivating resources, territory, control, notoriety, and honor that weren't usually granted at such a high level in today's climate for martial cultivators.
Standing behind at the cusp of these same practitioners who answered this unheard mass invitation, Julep and Amber listened intently to what was currently transpiring.
" Attention candidates who have valiantly traveled from far and wide across the entire Eastern Region. I, Sensei Haruto Tang, welcome and congratulate you all for passing the first three evaluations on this final obstacle to becoming an outer disciple."
Front and center, a middle-aged, pony-tailed man wearing a white, green-crested, and cloaked double-breasted robe greeted them in a calm yet booming voice.
Among the thousands who began this journey, only around 400 remain to this point, after a week of performance.
Mixed, within these potential up-and-comers who made it thus far, Zeke, along with the other eight from the Hidden Cave of Untold Shadows, were waiting together. While Bookie looked on from the sideline, accompanied by other various masters whose students still stood to become an outer disciple.
....
Flashing back to the beginning, the first evaluation involved a written questionnaire on the Martial Alliance's history, chain of command, morals, and core principles. Those who succeeded moved on to where their Stage aptitude would be evaluated, having to meet the criteria of at least Stage 2Disciple.
However, unbeknownst to some, inspecting their Stage level wasn't the sole reason of those in charge. They vigilantly scanned whether any candidate had any demonic or dark arts riddle within their eternal energy.
Weeding out any potential spies, this included searching for foul play, such as the Blood Centipede. Expecting this probe, the Three Reapers had a contingency plan in mind, removing the blood centipede beforehand.
They relied on another option that was hard to develop and acquire, compared to the more common blood centipede. Not willing to relinquish their control over these fledglings from afar, they implanted a Brain Parasite instead, having a similar effect as its counterpart.
It was undetectable to anyone below a Stage 5 Grandmaster or a 7th circlemage. If by some unforeseen occurrence an outside expert were able to discover these means, the parasite would instantly obliterate the slave's brain in which it inhabited.
During this process, before they appeared above ground. Zeke had to recreate the centipede that he removed previously.
Still hiding the fact that he was immune to their tactic thanks to his Blood Physique, he wasn't worried about the Brain Parasite, neutralizing its effect with the Three Reapers being none the wiser once embedded.
Moving on without a hiccup, the third evaluation required a martial demonstration showcasing their skills, alongside their respective master, whom they arrived with.
Bookie took the reins, sparing all nine fledglings as the official oversaw their diverse techniques. Needless to say, everyone under the Chameleon clan alias passed soon after.
...
Fast forwarding to the present day, Sensei Haruto Tang continued to explain what the final evaluation entailed.
"The last step towards everyone's ambition stands right before your eyes at this very summit. Prove yourself by meeting me atop within an hour, and you'll finally become a part of our grand Alliance."
Haruto announced, as he then jolted off towards the stairs peak, ordering them to wait for his signal. While most of the candidates scratched their heads, befuddled, feeling that this task appeared far too simplistic at face value.
"It has to be a catch to all this, right?"
Kenshin asked Zeke, standing shoulder to shoulder as he replied sarcastically,
"What do you think?"
Meanwhile, at a short distance away, leaning on a statuesque tree, Julep and Amber continued to watch all of them from behind.
" Is this what was so important? Hmph, I thought you knew me better than this, Julep. I have no interest in observing these weaklings!"
"Hey, would you quit with the whole sour puss routine already, Amber. Throughout the century since the Martial Alliance was first established, this unprecedented gathering will most certainly go down in history. So, count yourself fortunate.
Besides, you never know, there may be someone here who catches your fancy, yet."
"Psst, I highly doubt it."
Amber chided, still refusing to change her stance that this all was just a big waste of time. Several minutes passed as more inner disciples entered the outer perimeter, taking notice as well.
Soon enough, the hundreds of eager candidates heard a voice transmission given by Haruto,
" Begin!"
Even though they couldn't view the 200-meter-high peak with the naked eye, everyone left was skilled enough to perceive Haruto's position. Estimating that at full speed, it wouldn't take more than half an hour until they reach him.
Eventually, some of them stampeded forward, while most of these martial cultivators took a moment of pause. Using those who ventured forth as test dummies, surmising there had to be an untold trap or gimmick to this final evaluation.
Promptly, those who waited immediately got an example of the difficulty that lay ahead as the rumbustious bunch of bodies collapsed instantly onto the stoned stairs.