Chapter 3: Sect Entrance Exams (I)

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Leng Rushuang stood there quietly, her presence a powerful contrast to the awe and silence that enveloped the crowd. Her stats were extraordinary: Zhenqi purity, S-tier; Quantity – 20… 200… 20,000; Physical strength – 10… 10… 10,000. The potential evaluation marked her as nothing short of remarkable – 9… 9… 90. These numbers reverberated in the minds of everyone present, leaving them speechless.

Long Xiwang couldn't help but feel small in comparison. He looked at his own results, feeling a cold wave of inadequacy wash over him. "And I was so happy about my 55," he muttered, lines of disappointment forming on his forehead as he tried to process the vast gulf between them.

Beside him, Ye Xiao leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Bro, she's kinda cute," he said, a sly smile spreading across his face. The comment was dripping with amusement, clearly aimed at easing the tension of the moment, but it only succeeded in making Long Xiwang cringe. Without a word, Long Xiwang raised his hand and smacked Ye Xiao on the back of the head.

"Are you nuts?!" Long Xiwang hissed, glaring at his friend. "Can't you see how strong she is?!"

Ye Xiao shrugged off the blow, still smiling as he straightened up. "I've got a chance with her. I mean, look at me," he said confidently, puffing out his chest. "I'm so handsome that flowers hide their petals in shame when I glance at them." His grin grew wider, as if he truly believed his own words.

Long Xiwang groaned, exasperation plain on his face. "You know what? Go seek death for all I care," he muttered, turning away from his friend. But before he could pull Ye Xiao along with him, a familiar cold voice rang through the air, freezing everyone in place.

"The examination has come to an end," the voice announced, cutting through the murmurs that had been growing among the crowd.

A bulky man, the examiner, stepped forward with authority. "Those of you whose names are called, wait behind," he said, his voice gruff and commanding.

Silence fell as the names began to be read. "Chu Feng, Zhang Xuan, Luo Qiqi, Mo Wen…" Each name echoed in the tense atmosphere, making hearts pound and breaths quicken. The list seemed endless, but then, the examiner's voice sharpened.

"Chen Feng, Wang Tong, Ye Xiao…"

Ye Xiao's playful demeanor vanished in an instant. His name being called felt like a shockwave, and suddenly, all his bravado crumbled. He glanced nervously at Long Xiwang, uncertainty clouding his eyes. He wasn't alone. All around them, the other kids shared the same anxious look, their thoughts racing with confusion and fear.

The names continued to be called, until finally, it came down to the last three. The cold, authoritative examiner pronounced the final names with a cutting precision: "Leng Rushuang, Xiao Zhan, and lastly, Long Xiwang."

Long Xiwang's heart skipped a beat. His name had been called. He wasn't sure what that meant yet, but the gravity of it weighed heavily on his chest.

"The rest of you can leave now," the bulky examiner added, almost dismissively, while taking a drag from his cigarette. The crowd slowly began to disperse, but the chosen ones remained rooted in place, their minds spinning with questions.

After what felt like an eternity, the 40 kids whose names had been called gathered in a tight group. The air was thick with tension as they waited for an explanation. Eventually, the bulky examiner spoke again.

"We kept you back because you're the only ones who made it to the Azure Dragon Sect Final Evaluation" he said, his voice gruff but clear.

His words were like a tidal wave crashing over them. Some of the kids fell to their knees, tears streaming down their faces as the weight of what had just happened sank in. Others remained standing, but their expressions were a mix of shock, relief, and disbelief.

One boy, still confused, raised his hand timidly. "Excuse me, sir," he began, his voice shaking. "Why did I pass? My potential evaluation was only 56, which is considered pathetic. I know someone who scored 69, yet he isn't here."

This was the question that had been lingering in everyone's mind, but no one had dared to ask until now.

The bulky examiner turned toward the boy, his face unreadable. "Did you really think a stupid orb could determine how strong you're going to become?" he replied, his tone carrying a hint of disdain. "The real tests will be done at the academy. This was just a preliminary round to see if you had enough physical strength to handle what's to come."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "All of you here have a physical strength of 5,000 or above. That's why you're here. Your friend probably didn't score that high, which is why he didn't make it."

The boy nodded slowly, the answer both satisfying and unsettling at the same time.

The examiner then looked over the group one last time. "Now, without further ado, this examination has officially come to an end," he said, handing out badges to each of the kids.

As they clutched their badges, the reality of their achievement began to settle in. These badges weren't just symbols; they were their tickets to a new life, a life at the Empire's best Sect.

"Meet here tomorrow," the cold woman added, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You will be taken to Sect City, where your final exams will be held."

With that, the two examiners turned and walked away, leaving the group to process everything on their own.

When Long Xiwang finally returned home, he felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. He shared the day's events with his parents, who listened intently and helped him pack his luggage for the journey ahead. Despite their reassuring words, the anticipation buzzing in his chest made it impossible for him to sleep. He lay awake for hours, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of what was to come.

Before he knew it, the night had passed in a blur, and it was already the next day. The sun's first light peeked through the window, and Long Xiwang shot out of bed, his heart pounding with a mix of nerves and eagerness.

Back at the square, the chosen kids gathered once more. They were all weary, dark circles under their eyes betraying the sleepless nights they had endured. Long Xiwang wasn't alone in his restless anticipation – Ye Xiao and several others looked equally exhausted.

Their journey to the train station was quiet, a collective hush falling over the group as they prepared to leave everything they had known behind. The train itself was lively, though – some kids used the opportunity to catch up on sleep, while others marveled at the views outside the windows. Despite the underlying tension, there was a sense of excitement that permeated the air.

After a few hours, the train began to slow, and the landscape outside shifted. They had arrived at Sect City. Long Xiwang's heart pounded in his chest as he gripped his bag tightly. His eyes darted around, taking in the towering buildings and bustling streets.

This was it. The beginning of his new life.

"Here we go…" he whispered to himself, taking a deep breath before stepping off the train and into the city that would shape his future.