1 Nine Peaks Sect

*Pant* *Pant*

Daniel bent over with his hand on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Climbing the steep mountain wasn't as easy as it originally seemed, but he didn't care. He had made it! Before him, the large, imposing gates of the Nine Peaks Sect stood in all its intimidating might, casting a large shadow over him. Just beyond it laid one of the newest, but most promising Swordschool of the Southern Continent.

He stood up, taking a deep breath of the mountain air, before letting it out all at once. On the large black gates, the insignia of the Nine Peaks Sect was carved into the dense metal. It depicted a lone mountain, with a sky of rolling clouds above it. Nine thin swords hung above the mountain pointing upwards, as though intending to pierce the sky.

"Welcome, traveler. How may I be of service to you?" As Daniel was basking in his dreams of enrolling in the Nine Peaks Sect to further his sword skills, a sooth, calm voice drew him back to the present. Before him, a robed man had appeared from seemingly out of nowhere. The man bore a pleasant, polite smile as he waited for Daniel's reply.

"Ah, good day." Daniel put his hands together and bowed from the waist down, as was the customary way to greet an elder where he was from. This earned a nod of approval from the robed man. "I am here to seek enrolment in the Nine Peaks Sect." He announced his reason for being there, his voice firm and confident as he spoke.

"Oh?" The man's squinted eyes opened slightly, revealing a hint of blue beneath his lashes. His gaze was sharp, and Daniel could feel the skin at the back of his neck prickling. This feeling only lasted for a moment before vanishing, but Daniel didn't forget it.

'This man is strong.' Daniel noted mentally. If someone who was stationed as the gates was already this strong, ten just how strong were the actual disciples of this school? He gulped as he awaited a reply from the man. The enrolment of students in the Nine Peaks Sect had always been a bit of a head spinner to Daniel. Outstanding students were sometimes turned down, while those who were only average at best sometimes made it in. It was almost as if they accepted students at random.

"Follow me. I will put you through our entrance test." The man finally replied. He turned around and led Daniel to the foot of the ten meter tall gate.

"Nanuk! Open up the gates!" His voice rose much higher than what he had used to speak to Daniel only a few moment ago. In the next moment, the large metal gates began to open, surprisingly making no sound as it opened up just enough for Daniel and the older man to step through.

On the other side, three other men and a woman stood, bowing from the waist at the older man with their hands held together.

"Elder." They all greeted in unity. The man waved them down before continuing on. Daniel blinked when he saw this. Who the hell had welcomed him to the Nine Peaks Sect?

"Come on, boy. Do you not want to join my Sect again?" The man stopped a few meters ahead and turned down, a brow quirked up. One of his eyes cracked open just a tiny bit, allowing Daniel to catch a glimpse of the unfathomable blue depths that laid beneath. That chill from earlier crept down his spine again as he hurried to catch up.

"Forgive me." He mumbled as he fell into step a couple feet behind the man. It seemed he had run into the head of the Nine Peaks Sect on his first day... How scary. He had no idea f he should call it good luck or bad luck that the Sect Leader himself had chosen to examine him... Well, if he looked at it from the perspective of a pessimist, then it would be back luck, as the bar would be set much higher than usual. Oh well, there was nothing he could do about it.

Soon enough, the two of them passed the initial buildings that had been right after the gate. But what laid after them was something that left Daniel with his jaw hanging. Another impossibly long flight of stairs led even higher up the mountain.

"Pick up your jaw, young one. The beginning of any swordsman is his endurance. If you can not last in a battle, then you can not expect to reach the level of a Swordmaster." The elder spoke to Daniel with his arms folded behind him before beginning the journey up. After a few moments of collecting his emotions, Daniel followed right behind him.

The two of them climbed up the steps, one at a time, occasionally coming across a few students who paid their respects to the elder. The man only nodded his head as he passed, not speaking or stopping for anyone.

Daniel took the opportunity to take in the man's details this time. He wasn't old looking in any way. It was quite the opposite in fact! If one didn't pay attention to all the details, or know the man's identity before hand, one could easily mistaken him for an average man in his mid-late thirties! This was actually quite mind blowing for a man powerful enough to found an entire Sect that managed to stand out in every way since its founding. What one would expect from such a figure is someone who would be old, with a long, white beard, and of course, also senile.

By the time they reached the top of the stairs, Daniel's face was red from exertion, coupled with the thinner air that was up here. It would take him quite some time to get accustomed to it, but he was sure he could do it with time.

When he raised his head, he was stunned by the sprawling sight that unfolded before him.

'Is this the Nine Peaks Sect?!'