The disciples moved as one.
A wave of bodies surged toward the mountain range, everyone scrambling for position, for early kills, for any advantage.
Long Chen didn't rush. He let the crowd thin, watched where people went, then chose a different direction.
He'd written this world. He knew what lived in these mountains. Knew where the high-value targets nested. Knew which areas other participants would avoid.
Knowledge was its own kind of power.
Six hours later, Long Chen's token read "847 points."
He'd hunted efficiently. A few First Rank beasts to start—easy kills worth minimal points. Then he'd found a Second Rank spirit wolf and put it down with Void-Splitting Strike.
After that, he'd tracked a Third Rank stone bear to its den and killed it while it slept. Dirty? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
No one had tried to rob him yet. Probably because he looked unremarkable—plain robes, no clan insignia visible, traveling alone.
That changed when he encountered the Liu Clan disciples.
Three of them. All Qi Gathering Stage 6 or 7. They stepped out from between trees, blocking his path, weapons already drawn.
"Hand over your token," the leader said. A broad-shouldered youth with a scar running down his cheek.
Long Chen looked at them. "Really with just you."
"Then we'll take it."
They attacked together. Coordinated. Practiced.
Long Chen sidestepped the first strike, caught the second disciple's wrist, and broke it with a twist. The man screamed. Long Chen's palm shot forward, Sword Aura flaring, and driving into the third disciple's chest.
The impact lifted him off his feet.
The leader hesitated. Just for a moment.
Long Chen didn't. Phantom Step carried him forward. His hand closed around the leader's throat.
"Your token," Long Chen said quietly.
The man handed it over immediately.
Long Chen took it, absorbed the points—374—and tossed the empty token back. "Leave."
They left. Fast.
After that, Long Chen made it a point to look more threatening. He let a hint of Sword Aura leak from his blade. Let his dragon bloodline's pressure radiate slightly.
People gave him space.
By sunset, his token read "3,203 points."
Enough to qualify easily. Not enough to stand out.
Perfect.
The second round gathered all qualifying participants in a massive clearing at the mountain's base.
Exactly five hundred disciples had made it through. Long Chen recognized maybe a third of them—Dugu Jian, Dugu Lian, a few others from his clan. Some from the other clans in their city. The rest were strangers from other regions.
Five platforms had been erected in the clearing, one for each sect. Representatives stood on each platform, waiting.
Elder Qingshan's voice echoed across the space. "Choose your sect. Form lines. When called, step forward and face your examiner. Survive ten moves or demonstrate sufficient skill to pass immediately, your examiners are all early king realm outer sect members."
Long Chen looked at the five platforms.
Azure Peak Monastery—a bald monk with prayer beads.
Crimson Flame Palace—a middle-aged man wreathed in fire.
Thousand Beast Valley—a woman with a spirit tiger coiled at her feet.
Glacial Moon Pavilion—a cold-eyed elder radiating ice qi.
And the Immortal Sword Sect.
A woman stood on their platform. Maybe mid-twenties, though cultivators aged slowly so she could be older. Long black hair, sharp features, robes of deep blue that matched the sect's colors.
Beautiful.
Long Chen watched her dismiss a failed participant with a sneer.
He walked toward the Immortal Sword Sect's line.
It was the longest. Everyone wanted in. The prestige alone was worth the risk.
Long Chen joined the back and waited.
The woman—her name tag read "Senior Sister Hua"—processed participants quickly. Most failed within three moves. A few lasted five. One managed seven before her sword sent him flying off the platform.
She looked bored. Condescending. Like testing these "children" was beneath her.
"Next!"
Long Chen stepped forward.
Senior Sister Hua looked him up and down. Her lip curled slightly. "Another weakling?"
"We all started as weaklings," Long Chen corrected.
"How inspiring." She drew her sword lazily. "Try not to embarrass yourself. Begin."
She attacked.
Fast. Her blade came in low, aiming for his legs. Long Chen blocked, Sword Aura flaring around Demon Dweller.
Their energies met. Hers wavered slightly.
Her eyes widened. Just a fraction.
She attacked again. Three strikes in rapid succession. Long Chen parried the first two, dodged the third.
"You have Sword Aura. Interesting" she said, her tone shifting from boredom to mild interest.
"So do you."
"Mine is better."
She proved it by releasing a projected slash—Sword Aura extended beyond her blade. The crescent of energy shot toward him.
Long Chen met it with his own strike. Second stage versus second stage.
His was denser.
The attacks collided. Hers shattered. His continued, forcing her to sidestep.
For the first time, Senior Sister Hua looked genuinely focused. Trading only sword moves with him.
The next seven moves came faster. Harder. She stopped holding back, her sword techniques flowing together in combinations meant to overwhelm.
Long Chen held his ground. Blocked. Countered when openings appeared. Used Phantom Step to create distance when needed.
On the tenth move, she thrust forward with everything she had.
Long Chen caught the blade between two fingers, Sword Aura coating them like steel.
The platform went silent.
Senior Sister Hua stared at her trapped sword. Then at him.
"Pass," she said quietly.
Long Chen released her blade, nodded at her and stepped off the platform.
Behind him, he heard her call the next participant, her voice back to its usual condescension.
He found a spot to watch the remaining tests.
Minutes passed. Then Dugu Jian stepped onto the Immortal Sword Sect's platform.
Senior Sister Hua's expression shifted immediately. She straightened, suddenly interested. He was one of those with the highest point.
"Begin," she said.
Jian moved.
One step. His hand swept across the air.
A blade of pure Sword Aura manifested and shot forward.
Senior Sister Hua's eyes went wide. She raised her sword, channeled her Aura—
The Aura sword cut straight through it.
Through her guard. Through her defense. Through everything.
It stopped an inch from her throat.
The entire clearing went silent.
Jian lowered his hand. The Intent vanished.
"You're not worthy to test me," he said calmly.
Then he walked off the platform.
Senior Sister Hua stood frozen, face pale, hand trembling slightly where she gripped her sword.
Long Chen watched Jian disappear into the crowd.
'That's third stage sword Aura,' he thought. 'And he's still holding back.'
The examination continued around him, but Long Chen's mind was already elsewhere.
Whatever came next, it was going to be interesting.