Astral Flame Sect

The Fallen Rooh World was a realm of magic and wonder, where each region held its unique mysteries and secrets. To the North lay a vast expanse of mountainous terrain, known as the Myriad Heaven Expanse.

The Myriad Heaven Expanse was a land of mighty mountains, where even the most remarkable hills failed to earn the title of "mountain" unless they exceeded the staggering height of ten thousand feet. The Myriad Heaven Expanse boasted hundreds of thousands of such gigantic mountains.

Among them stood a celestial behemoth referred to as Xing Huo Mountain, the sacred seat of the Astral Flame Sect. It was a mere fraction of the breathtaking grandeur that graced this ancient land.

'The Myriad Heaven Expanse is a place where the clan system strives, and the cultivators here place great importance on blood ties. Very rarely do you come across the sect system here in the North, and most of the time these sects are founded by either lone or demonic cultivators.'

'Though I am not familiar with this Astral Flame sect, Myriad Heaven Expanse is still my homeland. The way of the north is simply ingrained in my soul.' Wei Wushang's thoughts drifted aimlessly, he was currently standing in a long line.

In his previous life, Wei Wushang had also spent his entire life in the Myriad Heaven Expanse, and his Wang clan stood proudly at the southernmost corner of the continent until it met its tragic demise at the hands of Wei Wushang himself.

The much-anticipated day had finally arrived; the Astral Flame Sect's entrance examination was in full swing outside the sect entrance gate.

Ten separate lines had been formed, each containing between sixty to seventy hopeful mortal boys and girls, all anxiously waiting for their turn to be tested and possibly granted entrance into the prestigious Astral Flame sect. The atmosphere was undoubtedly tense, with nervous whispers and occasional bursts of excited chatter in the air.

Standing in front of each of the ten lines were young Rank 1 Immortals, all of whom had smug looks on their faces.

Some of the mortal children waiting in line for the sect trial recognized a few of these young immortals from their villages, as they had once been a part of their community.

Even though they knew them, they didn't dare to strike up a conversation. After all, what right did mere mortals have to converse with an immortal?

To put it nicely, in the Fallen Rooh world mortals were not quite appreciated by the cultivation society. In the eyes of these immortals, the mortals were, uh.. expendable, dispensable, and replaceable.

Basically, they were oxygen thieves.

Wei Wushang and Wei Sang, like most of the other mortals, also came from the nameless hill located to the south of Xing Huo Mountain. However, their village was comparatively puny.

Even though Immortals of the Fallen Rooh world treated mortals poorly, there were some rare exceptions. For example, in the case of the Astral Flame sect, these mortal villages were not entirely useless. They played a considerable role in injecting new blood into the sect.

Even though the chances of a mortal awakening were extremely low, It wasn't nonexistent. Generally speaking, in a group of a hundred mortals, it was a decent outcome if three or four of them awakened their dantian.

However, this awakening rate was limited to mortals born in ordinary households. In stark contrast, mortals from a cultivation background were almost guaranteed to awaken their dantian. For them, the likelihood of any mishap occurring was extremely low, almost negligible, with only a one in a million chance of failure.

As the children waited patiently in line, an elderly man with a slightly hunched back, shiny bald head, a thick beard, and long eyebrows silently appeared atop the Sect Entrance Gate. He stood there with his hands behind his back, his crimson eyes looking down at the children with piercing intensity.

The ten Rank-1 Immortals, who had been standing with haughty and conceited expressions on their faces, suddenly showed reverence as they clasped their hands and half-bowed toward the old man. "Greetings, Elder Shang!" they said respectfully.

Shang Fei momentarily shifted his attention to the ten youths dressed in Astral Flame Sect's battle robes. With a nod of acknowledgment, he then turned his focus back to the mortal children and addressed them with a booming voice.

"Listen up, you milky brats! Today marks the greatest turning point in your lives. Some of you will have the privilege of entering my Astral Flame Sect, while the rest of you will see your dreams crushed. But do not lose hope if you fail, the sect always has a demand for mortal servants. As for those who succeed, consider it your greatest honor." He paused, letting his words sink in. "Now, let's not waste any more time. The greatest moment of your lives starts now. You juniors, bring these children to the Spirit Awakening Cave."

"Yes, sir!" The Immortals replied collectively. Shang Fei smiled lightly, his ethereal presence captivating the children. Suddenly, a web of delicate cracks spread across his body, resembling the fragile patterns of a broken mirror, only to vanish like the morning mist at sunrise.

"Woah, magic! This is immortal magic!"

"Man, that's so cool. If we become cultivators, can we also vanish like that?"

"Lord immortal disappeared just like that, how did he do it...?"

"Fuck my grandmother! I thought he fell on the other side."

The group of youths made surprised noises, their innocent hearts buzzing with curiosity.

The entrance of the Astral Flame Sect was a sight to behold, exuding an air of grandeur and mystique that befitted a thousand-year-old cultivation sect. Towering walls, adorned with intricate carvings of mystical beasts and divine flames, encircled the sect's vast compound like a sleeping dragon.

At the front gate, a pair of majestic stone lions stood guard, their stony eyes seemingly watching all who dared approach. The gate itself was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, featuring a breathtaking display of fiery motifs and celestial symbols.

As the young immortals led the group of children through the entrance, an aura of reverence and anticipation filled the air. This was a place of endless possibilities, where mortal youths aspired to ascend the ranks and become mighty cultivators, destined to leave their mark in the annals of the Astral Flame Sect's history.

The young immortals guided the children toward a secluded part of the sect, where an eerie cave entrance awaited them. The mouth of the cave resembled that of a fiendish python, its sinister fangs bared, seemingly ready to swallow anyone who dared to enter.

As the children approached, their hearts thumped with a blend of excitement and trepidation. Even Wei Sang, who had appeared dull and lifeless before, had a change of expression.

As for Wei Wushang, he remained expressionless throughout the entire journey. His keen eyes silently surveyed the sect's surroundings, absorbing every detail like a vigilant hawk.

Methodical footsteps echoed as Elder Shang emerged from the Spirit Awaking cave. With a subtle nod, he accepted the name list from the young immortals before dismissing them. Turning to the children, he commanded, "Follow me."

The children exchanged nervous glances but mustered their resolve, taking a collective step forward to follow the elder into the depths of the cave. As they entered the dimly lit interior, the atmosphere grew heavy with anticipation.

They walked several hundred steps, the darkness deepening as a faint, alluring aroma began to permeate the air. As they turned around a corner, the youths gasped in wonder at the sight that greeted them.

The cave's interior was both spacious and a spectacle to behold, ornamented with an ethereal collection of luminous crystals. The radiant light of these crystals seemed to dance with the vibrant hues of the aurora, casting a bewitching glow that bathed the youths' faces in an otherworldly splendor.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Wei Wushang's attention was captivated by a different sight. Not far from the group, there lay a vast field of flowers - the Astral Flame sect's meticulously cultivated Blissful Yang petals. These exquisite blooms displayed a mesmerizing fusion of orange and yellow shades, their delicate petals swaying gracefully akin to a dancing candle flame. The stems of the flowers glimmered like precious gold, and the very core of each blossom emitted a warm brilliance that seemed to illuminate the surrounding space with vitality.

'Blissful Yang petals are an extraordinary treasure of the fire path, they possess a broad range of uses. This expansive field of flowers should be one of the biggest resource points of the sect, or it could quite possibly be the most important economic pillar of the sect.' Wei Wusheng reflected deeply within his heart.

If Wei Wushang intended to become a part of the sect, delving into its inner workings became an obligation. Understanding the sect's needs, advantages, foundation, and overall power structure, as well as exploring the various types of resources available, held the utmost importance for him. With his cunning and ruthlessness, Wei Wushang would then be able to exploit the sect's resources to further his own ambitions, using any means necessary to climb the ladder of power and dominance.

But all of this hinged on one crucial factor - whether or not Wei Wushang could successfully awaken his dantian and secure his position within the sect.

'Hehe, I wonder how things will unfold. Will I succeed in my awakening or will I be slapped in the face with failure?' Wei Wushang chuckled lightly, mocking the unpredictability of the outcome.

The awakening ceremony held the key to his future, determining whether his ambitions would flourish or fade away. Success would propel him on the path of immortality, while failure could toss him into the abyss of mediocrity.

While most people would be filled with anxiousness and worry about the impending results, Wei Wushang faced it with a calm heart, ready to accept whatever destiny had in store for him.

'No use in worrying over the outcome that I can't control. Success or failure, I'll embrace it with the truest of my emotions.'