The Heavenward Skiff slowly came to a halt, its steady hum began to fade until the air around them fell into quiet stillness. Raveena was the first to notice the change, she looked behind Lucious towards the railing and her pale eyes widening slightly.
They had arrived at a vast open clearing.
Below the skiff lay a wide stone platform that was so large, the Heavenward Skiff barely took up any space. As Raveena continued to look around, she noticed other ships descending from above. One after another, ships which looked similar to the one she was currently on with Lucius, landed slowly around the platform.
Lucius stood up from his seat and followed her gaze.
"It seems we've arrived."
Raveena nodded in response, but she remained seated for a moment longer. Her attention stayed on Lucius as he moved closer to the edge of the deck. He looked past the other ships—and then he saw it.
Ahead of them stood a massive gateway.
There were two towering pillars of pale stone that rose high into the air, their surfaces inscribed with faint glowing markings. Between them was a large arch, carved deep with bold characters that stood out clearly against the stone.
CLEAR SKY SECT.
Lucius lingered on the name carved above the gate. Around the entrance, intricate formations were etched into the stone with complex patterns that hummed faintly with power. They reminded him of magic arrays from his own world, the kind used to ward against enemies and suppress intruders. And the formation was definitely not weak, the presence alone was overwhelming.
His gaze drifted past the towering gate, and only then did he fully grasp where they were.
The stone platform beneath their feet was not anchored to any land below. It rested upon a floating island, suspended in the open sky.
And it was not alone.
Countless islands hovered around them, scattered as far as his eyes could reach. Each looked as though it had been torn straight from the earth and lifted into the heavens. Towering mountains rose from their centers, jagged peaks piercing through drifting clouds. Rivers traced bright paths down their slopes, winding through forests and valleys before spilling off the edges, vanishing into the mist below.
Dense forests clung to sheer cliff faces, their deep green canopies swaying gently in the wind. Waterfalls poured endlessly into open air, breaking into silver mist long before they disappeared.
Clouds drifted lazily between the islands, brushing against mountain peaks as though unbothered by gravity. Sunlight reflected off stone and water alike, bathing the floating world in shades of soft gold and pale blue.
"Impressive," Lucius muttered.
For once, the word felt honest.
It was easy to see why the Clear Sky Sect had such a reputation. From what Raveena had told him earlier, they were one of the most influential sects in the region. Standing here now, Lucius felt that reputation was well deserved.
Behind him, movement stirred as the other participants began to disembark. One by one, they stepped onto the stone platform. Some walked with confidence, as if they already belonged here. Others moved slowly, their heads tilted upward in open awe, clearly overwhelmed by the sight.
Lucius turned back toward Raveena.
"Would you like to head down together?" he asked.
The question caught her completely off guard.
"E—eep!" she let out softly, eyes widening before she quickly nodded. "Y-Yes."
She stood and moved to his side. As she did, Lucius found himself watching her more closely. She was beautiful, but it was more than that. There was a quiet elegance in the way she carried herself, even when she was nervous.
A noble, he thought.
No—she definitely was one, judging from everything he had observed so far.
Noticing her nervous expression, Lucius smiled.
"Don't worry," he said gently. "Let's go together, Raveena. Do you mind if I call you by your first name?"
She hesitated briefly, then shook her head.
"No… no, I don't mind," she replied softly. "Can I call you Lucius."
Lucius nodded and gestured for her to walk ahead. Together, they disembarked from the Heavenward Skiff. As their feet touched the stone platform, Lucius took in the scene around them. Participants from the other ships were already gathering, forming small groups as they looked around in awe.
A quick glance told him there were nearly five hundred people present for the entrance exam.
That was a large number.
He couldn't help but wonder how many of them would actually be accepted into the sect. From what he understood, quality mattered far more than quantity. Power was not built by numbers alone.
His thoughts drifted to the last battle, he fought with his party.
The Hero's party had only six members, yet they had stood against entire demon armies under the Demon King himself. Strength had never been about how many stood beside you—but how far each one could go.
Lucius glanced at Raveena, and the feeling returned.
She reminded him of someone, the female mage from his old party. She was gentle by nature, calm in speech and very knowledgeable when it came to magic.
The realization stirred a quiet ache in his chest. Though he had been in this new world for only a short time, the loss still felt fresh. He knew he would never see his old companions again.
Selene.
The others.
They were no longer part of this world—or of the living. They had returned to Goddess Celestia's embrace, far beyond his reach.
Lucius clenched his hand for a brief moment, then slowly relaxed it.
Low murmurs filled the stone platform as the gathered participants waited. Voices overlapped one another, some excited, some nervous, others were in audible awe.
Then, a deep sound echoed through the air.
Thoom.
All voices fell silent.
At the far end of the platform, beneath the towering gateway of the Clear Sky Sect, massive stone doors slowly began to open.The doors parted just enough to reveal a wide staircase carved directly into the mountain behind them.
The stairs ascended upwards and the top was not even visible as it disappeared into the mist. At the base of the staircase stood a single man.
He had long gray hair that reached behind his back and a thick beard that flowed down his chest. His face was lined with age, yet he he held himself with confidence. Though he looked old, the air around him felt different.
Lucius immediately noticed it.
This man was strong. It was nothing like the man who had tested Lucius with the Spirit Stone earlier.
This was the presence of someone who stood at the peak.
The old man took one step forward, and his voice carried across the platform without effort.
"I am Victor Halewind," he said evenly. "An elder of the Clear Sky Sect."
His gaze swept over the crowd sharply observing each participants.
"You have already passed the first requirement," Victor continued. "The preliminary test confirmed that your bodies can absorb qi. That alone places you above ordinary people."
A few participants straightened proudly at those words.
"But do not misunderstand," Victor added calmly. "That test only proved potential. It did not prove worth."
The brief confidence in the crowd faded.
"Today," he said, "we will determine whether you possess the ability to join the Clear Sky Sect."
"It does not matter whether you come from a cultivation family or know nothing about cultivation at all. At the Clear Sky Sect, your background holds no weight."
Victor paused, letting his words sink in.
"You will either pass," he said, "or you will fail."
"Now follow me," Victor continued, turning toward the staircase. "The entrance examination will take place above."
Without another glance back, the elder began walking up the steps. Everyone stood in place, until a girl with long white hair stepped forward first.
For a moment, everyone only stared because the nervousness was beginning to settle. But slowly, other the participants began to follow.
Lucius stepped forward with the others and looked at Raveena who clasped her hands together tightly.
"I hope I pass…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to disappoint my mother."
Lucius turned to her, noticing the tension in her shoulders. She looked like a nervous wreck. But she was his new friend he made, and he would want her having any mishaps during the test.
"Just take the test with a calm mind," he said gently. "Don't rush or overthink it. You'll figure it out, you're smart."
Raveena looked up at him, surprised by his confidence and listened to his comforting words. Then she nodded, drawing in a slow breath and clenched her hands at her chest. Her white eyes shone with quiet determination as she hurried to keep up, refusing to fall behind.
She looked up the stairs and saw Lucius' broad frame in front of her. With her new determination, no matter what happened in the exam. She at least made a new friend, she hoped to tell her mother about.