Rudra and his brother Arnav stood ready.
Both of them were prepared to leave for the Neelchandra Sect.
Soon, the village chief arrived to take them. Many boys and girls had gathered with him. All of them were excited. Their faces were filled with anticipation.
For them, gaining immortality meant everything.
The stories they had heard since childhood…
Today, they would finally witness that world with their own eyes.
But Rudra and Arnav were different.
Their purpose was not the same as the others.
They were going only for the hundred gold coins promised to their family.
Soon everyone began following the village chief.
Behind them, their uncle, aunt, and sister stood silently, watching them leave. Their eyes had already turned moist.
Rudra and Arnav turned around once more and waved their hands.
Both of them were smiling.
As they walked, the children whispered among themselves.
Many of them had already become friends.
But Rudra and Arnav still hadn't spoken to anyone. They were the only two from their village who were going to join the sect.
Rudra kept walking silently.
He still remembered how his father had left them in pursuit of immortality.
But Rudra was not leaving for himself.
He only wanted the people who loved him to live happily.
He looked back at the village and whispered softly,
"I will return. This village… is my home."
They passed through the old street.
Rudra used to walk through this place many times before. But today felt different.
His eyes slowly moved toward his old house.
For a moment, he felt as if he was searching for his mother.
His gaze stopped at the place where her ashes were buried.
Inside his heart, he whispered,
"Mother… I will return soon."
For a moment, he felt as if his mother was watching him from somewhere far away.
Then he slowly looked away and continued walking.
The journey was long.
They crossed mountains, passed through deep forests, and walked along rivers for days.
Finally, after several days of traveling, they arrived at the Neelchandra Sect.
Everyone was exhausted and breathing heavily.
But the moment they looked up…
They froze.
A divine scene stood before them.
The children immediately began whispering among themselves.
Arnav looked at Rudra with wide eyes.
"This place… is beautiful," he said.
"It feels like heaven has descended to earth."
In front of them was a deep abyss.
Clouds floated inside the valley like waves in the sky.
Beyond the abyss stood several enormous mountains that pierced through the clouds.
And above those clouds…
stood the Neelchandra Sect.
To cross the abyss, there was only a narrow wooden bridge.
The village chief folded his hands respectfully.
Suddenly, a young man flew down from the sky.
The chief immediately bowed to him.
The young man greeted him calmly.
After that, the village chief turned back toward the children.
"From here on… everything depends on you," he said.
"Work hard."
His gaze stopped briefly on Rudra and Arnav.
"Make the village proud."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Slowly, his figure disappeared from their sight.
The children silently watched him leave.
The young man then landed on the ground.
"Hurry," he said coldly.
"Cross the bridge and reach the mountain."
The moment he finished speaking, the children began running.
It was as if they could sense something dangerous in his tone.
Rudra and Arnav were behind everyone.
The young man stared at them coldly.
Both of them felt the hairs on their bodies stand up.
They immediately ran faster.
Rudra was the slowest among them.
But he refused to give up.
Everyone ran with all their strength.
Some children began to fall while running.
One boy slipped from the bridge and fell into the abyss below.
His scream echoed through the air.
But no one stopped.
Some even stepped over him and continued running.
Here, boys and girls were equal.
No one cared about anyone else.
The young man suddenly flew through the air and reached the mountain ahead.
By the time the children crossed the bridge, they were still far from the mountain.
Now the competition had become fierce.
Everyone wanted to reach first.
Some pushed others aside.
Some tried to make others fall.
For them, this was completely normal.
Finally, they reached the base of the mountain.
A girl arrived first.
She looked weak, but she had defeated everyone.
In the group…
only the winner was respected.
Rudra arrived last.
Arnav supported him as he struggled to breathe.
The young man looked at everyone and said,
"Climb the stairs and reach the top."
"I will be waiting."
The moment he finished speaking, his body became light.
He shot into the sky and disappeared beyond the clouds.
Everyone stood there in shock.
Then they began climbing.
Their legs were already exhausted.
But even then…
they kept climbing.
Their willpower was extraordinary.
Two days later…
Above the clouds, inside the sect, stood a man who looked slightly old.
But his presence was overwhelming.
Powerful waves of energy radiated from his body.
His name was Mahadevan.
He was one of the five main elders of the sect.
The young man approached him.
"They will arrive soon," he said.
Mahadevan nodded calmly.
Soon, the children began arriving one by one.
Around fifty of them had survived.
Half boys, half girls.
Rudra and Arnav arrived last.
Everyone stood in front of the sect gate.
A thick mist covered the entrance.
The children whispered nervously among themselves.
Mahadevan stood before them.
He looked at everyone.
His eyes suddenly glowed with a faint golden light.
A wave of energy spread outward and passed through every child.
The mist covering the gate slowly retreated.
Mahadevan raised his hand.
One by one, the children began floating toward him.
Inside the sect, there were three types of disciples:
Assistant disciples.
Healer disciples.
Sadhak disciples.
Each had their own role.
Mahadevan began examining their divine meridians.
Meridians were divided into five levels.
Level one could only become assistant disciples.
Level two and three were suitable for healer disciples.
Level four and five were capable of sadhana.
But meridian level alone was not enough.
They also examined elemental energy.
How many elements existed within a person's meridians determined their potential.
One boy floated before Mahadevan.
Energy entered his body.
His expression changed rapidly.
Joy. Pain. Fear. Anger.
Every emotion appeared on his face.
Some passed the test.
Others failed.
Those who failed were sent back home.
Their faces were filled with despair.
Soon only two remained.
Arnav.
And Rudra.
Arnav floated toward Mahadevan.
It felt as if gravity had stopped affecting him.
Mahadevan examined him.
Arnav's expression changed.
Then Mahadevan spoke.
"Third-level divine meridian."
"Seven elemental energies."
He paused for a moment.
"Sadhak disciple."
Arnav was placed among the sadhak disciples.
But his eyes were fixed on Rudra.
He wanted to know what would happen to him.
Rudra slowly floated toward Mahadevan.
The moment Mahadevan saw him…
he could see straight through his body.
"Fourth-level divine meridian," Mahadevan said.
Then his voice became calm.
"But only one elemental energy."
He paused.
"Assistant disciple."
Rudra's eyes widened.
He lowered his head.
Inside his mind, only one thought remained.
Will I remain an assistant forever?
Will I still be able to help uncle and aunt someday?
He silently walked toward the assistant disciples.
Arnav clenched his fists.
He did not accept this result.
But he couldn't say anything.
Many children hadn't even become disciples.
They possessed no elemental energy at all.
Mahadevan looked at everyone and said calmly,
"Assistant disciples can also cultivate."
"But they will never reach great heights."
He had already seen the disappointment on their faces.
Soon several assistant disciples brought trays.
Round pills were placed on them.
Each child received one.
"This is the Energy Gathering Pill," Mahadevan said.
"It will help you begin your sadhana."
"And make your early stages easier."
One boy hesitated and asked,
"Master… why are there sadhana levels?"
Everyone became silent.
Mahadevan looked at him.
"Is having levels wrong?" he asked.
The boy became embarrassed.
"I just wanted to know… why they are necessary."
Mahadevan slowly began explaining.
"In ancient times, sadhaks advanced without direction."
"They did not know where they were going."
"To end this confusion…"
"They created the ancient Vedas."
"They recorded their experiences and the laws of the world."
"So that future sadhaks would not wander blindly."
"And before ascending to the heavens…"
"They divided sadhana into levels."
"So that every sadhak could follow a clear path."
Rudra listened carefully.
His heart filled with excitement.
If there is a destination… there must also be a path, he thought.
Without a path, one could only wander endlessly.
But sadhana gave direction to power.
Still, one thought shocked him.
How powerful must those ancient sadhaks have been… to create such rules?
Mahadevan continued.
"The first sadhana realm…"
"Spirit Awakening."
"There are seven stages within it."
"In each stage, one of your senses will awaken."
"And your body will slowly purify and stabilize your power."
The children immediately began whispering among themselves.
Everyone had their own thoughts.
Mahadevan raised his hand.
"From here on… your journey depends on your own effort."
"If you want to learn more, go to the first section of the library."
"Everyone has permission to enter."
After saying that…
Mahadevan slowly rose into the sky and disappeared.