As everyone reached the top of the stairs, it led them into a large hall made of wood and stone. The ceiling was high, supported by thick pillars that ran along the sides of the room.
The ground was a smooth wooden floor. There were no windows in the walls. Instead, the spaces between the pillars were open, letting sunlight and fresh air flow inside. Through these openings, Lucius could see a garden surrounding the hall.
Flowers of different colors grew beautifully outside as they spread neatly along stone paths. Small trees stood between them, their leaves moving gently in the breeze. The scent of flowers drifted into the hall, making the space feel calm and peaceful, which was perfect for the entrance exam.
Lucius entered the hall with the others, quietly observing as the participants spread out inside. Some moved with confidence, walking straight ahead without hesitation. Others slowed down, looking around as if unsure where they should stand. Soft footsteps echoed across the wooden floor as the large room gradually filled.
Elder Victor stood at the front.
He lifted one hand, signalling for everyone to quiet down and the murmurs stopped almost instantly.
"Now everyone, space out evenly and form neat rows"
The participants quickly arranged themselves into lines, leaving space between each row. Lucius paused and looked around. Most people chose the middle or back of the hall, leaving the front rows mostly empty.
"I'm going to sit near the front," he said quietly. "Would you like to join me?"
Raveena hesitated. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her sleeves. Being surrounded by so many people already made her nervous, and the thought of sitting alone felt worse.
"I… yes," she said after a moment. "I'll come with you."
Lucius nodded, and they walked forward together. Raveena stayed close to him, her steps quick, as if she was afraid of losing sight of him in the crowd.
They took seats near the front, leaving a small space between them.
"Sit and cross your legs," Elder Victor said.
"The first test will begin soon."
Lucius sat down and Raveena followed, adjusting her dress before settling in. She took a slow breath, trying to calm herself.
Lucius looked at Raveena to his right and the space between them. He then glanced to his left.
A girl was seated there. The same girl, who first step forward and followed behind Elder Victor.
She had long white hair that fell straight down her back. Her blue eyes stared forward without emotion. She sat perfectly still with her back straight and shoulders rolled back. Her clothing was similar to Raveena, suggesting she was a noble.
But instead of Raveena's shy personality, there was something about her felt cold.
Lucius did not gaze long, only a short glance and looked away. A faint unease settled in his chest.
He was good at reading people. Most carried clear emotions like nervousness, excitement, pride. But from her, he felt nothing at all.
Like an empty shell.
The last time he had encountered someone like that, they had not truly been alive. They were humans turned into puppets by a Demon General, stripped of will and emotion.
Lucius' jaw tightened slightly and his gaze sharpened. He wondered if she was practicing some demonic technique. He pushed the thought aside.
Whatever she was, this was not the place and time to dwell on it.
Elder Victor slowly scanned the room. Everyone sat silently now, legs crossed with their backs straight.
"Before the examination begins," Victor said, his voice calm and steady, "there is something you must understand."
The hall grew quiet as Elder Victor spoke.
"We will begin with a lecture on qi—and the technique you will use throughout your cultivation journey"
Lucius listened closely.
"Pay close attention," Victor continued. "This knowledge will guide you from this moment forward. It is something you will return to again and again, no matter how far you progress."
Elder Victor stood at the front of the hall, his hands clasped behind his back. His calm gaze swept over the seated participants, making sure everyone was paying attention.
"Qi," he began, "is the foundation of cultivation."
His voice was steady, not loud, yet it carried clearly through the hall.
"Qi exists everywhere. It flows through the air you breathe, the ground you stand on, and every living thing in this world. Most people pass their entire lives without ever sensing it. Their bodies are simply unable to interact with it."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"The preliminary test you took was not a test of talent," Victor continued. "It was only to determine whether your body can absorb qi from a Spirit Stone."
Lucius listened closely.
"When the stone reacted, it meant your body opened itself to qi," Victor said. "Each of you here passed that test. You all possess the minimum requirement to cultivate."
A low murmur rippled through the hall, quickly fading as Victor raised his hand.
"Do not misunderstand," he said calmly. "Being able to absorb qi does not make you strong. It only means you are qualified to begin."
He turned slightly, gesturing toward the center of the hall.
"Now, I will explain the basic technique you will use to draw qi into your body."
Elder Victor let his gaze pass over the hall before speaking again.
"For cultivators," he said, "Qi Refining is the realm where the body is prepared to hold power."
He raised one hand slightly.
"Qi does not rush all at once. It enters the body in layers, strengthening it step by step. The ten stages of Qi Refining are not separate techniques, but phases of transformation."
He paused, then continued.
"The early stages focus on the flesh."
"In the first few stages, qi spreads through the muscles and skin. It makes the body denser and more resilient. Your strength increases and your endurance improves. Your body will becomes less prone to fatigue and injury."
"This is why beginners feel the changes first in their limbs."
Elder Victor paused, allowing everyone to absorb the information they just learnt.
"The middle stages temper the bones and organs," Victor said. "Qi seeps deeper, it reinforces the skeleton and protects the vital organs. Your bones grow tougher without becoming brittle. Your organs will also now work efficiently while, allowing qi to circulate more smoothly."
He gazed at the crowd once again.
"This is when a cultivator truly separates from ordinary people."
Victor's expression grew more serious.
"The later stages refine the entire body as one. Qi no longer strengthens parts individually—it binds everything together. Flesh, bone, and organs move in harmony. Your senses sharpen. Recovery becomes faster. Your body learns to endure strain that would cripple others."
He let his hand fall.
"The tenth stage is completion," he said simply. " You have created a perfect body for Qi to flow without resistance, and the body can hold it without collapse."
"A cultivator who completes Qi Refining is considered fully prepared," Victor continued. "Your lifespan extends to nearly two hundred years, not because qi grants life, but because it slows your aging. Your body wears down far more slowly."
He looked at them steadily.
"But Qi Refining is not the destination."
"When qi becomes stable and obedient, it settles instead of dispersing. When it settles, it forms the base for the next realm."
"Foundation Establishment."
"But that is not something we will discuss today. You must first pass the entrance test to earn that knowledge," he said calmly, fully aware that his words crushed many hopes.
Then Elder Victor gave a reassuring smile.
"The test will now begin."
He raised his hand and pointed toward the crowd. A gentle yet bright blue light shot from his fingertip. It split apart in midair, leaving faint trails as it flew toward each participant.
Lucius remained calm, but gasps echoed around him when the blue light touched their foreheads.
In an instant, new information poured into their minds.
Lucius raised an eyebrow as he absorbed it.
"This is the cultivation technique of the Clear Sky Sect," Elder Victor said.
Lucius closed his eyes and focused. The technique explained the precise way to absorb qi, the paths it should follow through the body, and the importance of keeping the mind calm. It warned of qi deviation—a dangerous state no cultivator ever wished to face.
If a cultivator fell into qi deviation, they would have only a brief moment to regain control. Failure meant becoming crippled, forever unable to cultivate again.
"You have six hours to reach the first stage of Qi Refining," Elder Victor said.
Many faces stiffened.
"You may wonder why the time is so short," he continued calmly. "But this is the Clear Sky Sect. We have stood as a top sect for over a thousand years."
"To maintain that status, we accept only talented disciples—those we will guide and nurture throughout their cultivation journey."
Silence filled the hall as the weight of his words settled in.