Chapter 2: The Jiu Tian Sect

An hour later, her ship arrived within the sect's private airspace. A heaven-kissing white pagoda stood above an S-shaped litany of magnificent edifices, the shadows of its black roofs slicing the ground like the thorns of a dark rose.

Tens of thousands of disciples ambled, cultivated, or trained around the sect's expansive courtyards, leaving flashes of might under the blue sky.

But the largest commotion came westward, where people crowded near the sect entrance.

She would soon be part of that crowd as well—

"This is the Jiu Tian Sect private airspace. State your identity and your purpose this instant or you will be perceived as an enemy, and be dealt accordingly," an electronic voice intoned on their public comms link, masking their identity as well.

A female pilot snorted, then replied, "We are from the Duala Empire, carrying its Crown Princess, Lyshisha Ngwi Asong Duala, Queen of the Dibano Kingdom, who came here to participate in the great Jiu Tian Sect 2022nd admission ceremony. Here are our diplomatic credentials."

Her left hand touched a hand-shaped glass panel, sending information to their other party. She then contacted her Queen who was in another room and told her to do the same, which she did.

"So it's Her Royal Highness private ship. Of course, your delegation can land in our private airspace, but I will have to remind Your Royal Highness that we shall remain impartial during the admission test, and therefore shall not reveal any favoritism nor allow any helpers to further your chances of success. We sincerely hope you can understand," the voice said a moment later in a much more deferential tone.

"I perfectly understand, and shall abide by the sect rules, even if I become a disciple," Lyshisha said in a sweet voice.

"Aahh, we thank Your Royal Highness for not making things difficult for us. However, you can rest assured that if admitted, my Jiu Tian Sect will always take in account Your Royal Highness status during her stay here, as we do for all the nobles and royals in the Zhònghuà Empire or overseas," the voice replied.

If.

If.

She heard that.

So did he imply that she may not be admitted due to her broken sun core?

Well, if she's treated fairly as he said, she'll have to change his and the sect's mind about that, making history at the same time!

"I thank you for your concern. Our ship will land now," Lyshisha said.

"Of course, Your Royal Highness. Good luck on the test, it will start in a few…"

They easily landed in a sparser area, where ships belonged to the local nobles and she even recognized the insignias of a few foreign dignitaries like her as well.

The Jiu Tian Sect reputation wasn't stolen at all, having existed for more than two thousand years.

Its foundations were very deep, indeed.

She exited her ship within a car that drove her near the waiting line. She passed by nine empty platforms abutting the sect's premises by which the raucous crowd milled behind, like tall grass swaying under a windy sky.

Eyes fervent with hope clashed with those lingering with apprehension, some brimming with determination while a minority patiently stood by, like a pine unshaken by the vagaries of a squall, the possibility of failure slimmer than the sky falling upon themselves.

Although she could directly cut the line and even go before the local nobles due to her royal status, she decided to wait in line like everyone else.

Well, she wouldn't go all the way back in the line, but she wouldn't aim the front either.

Somewhere down the early middle would do.

The very very early middle.

That would be enough.

"What's this woman doing here with a f*cking foundation cultivation level? Is she insane?" one person standing in line nearby said under his breath.

"She's just courting a severe beating. Does she think that because she can cut in line with her guards she can cajole or bully the Sect into accepting her?" another voice said.

"This is gonna be one hell of a fu*king sh*tshow. Let's see how this loaded human Queen will smart her way out of this." A young woman laughed.

"Isn't she a bit old for the test, anyway? She's twenty-seven!"

"The sect only give eighteen years old as a minimum, but there's no limits to stupidity, indeed…"

These mocking voices brought a smile inside Lyshisha's heart, though sometimes, she'd prefer that her implanted chip didn't translate those disparaging sentences.

But what could she say?

She was a head-of-state after all, and while it has its perks, it also went along with its inconveniences, as well.

Hopefully, this sect could cure her ailing sun core after she saved her sister…

However, if they could do something about their lingering sweat, it would make their arguments sooo much better…

Apparently, she'll have to convince the crowd as well.

So be it.

A few minutes later, a young man wearing a crimson tang suit appeared, caressing his detached pointy ear in the fifth platform. His yellow skin glinted under the sun, keeping a folded but sharp gaze under his pebbled eyebrows.

Raising his hands silenced the crowd.

This troll picked her curiosity.

How strong was he?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

[Cultivation level: 32] ~Personal Information~ [Next level: 21 %]

[First Name: Pan] VITALITY :{100%} [Species : Troll]

[Middle Name(s): None] MANA : {100%} [Surname: Zhiqiang]

[Sex: Male] STAMINA :{100%} [Cultivation status: Traveler (1) Star]

[Height: 6 ft] [Body Weight: 235 lbs]

[Skeletal Age: 24 (Born: September 10th 2178)] [Blood Type: A-]

[Bone Frame: 5th Grade] [Epithet: None] ~Status~

Normal [Jiu Tian Sect Inner Court Disciple]

|__________________________________________________________________________________________|

Her internal chip gave her his stats from a single gaze.

Sh*t!

A first star traveler at just twenty-four years old?

That's pretty good!

And they asked an inner sect student to administer an entry test at this age and not an elder instead?

This sect has quite the gall to offer this as a birthday gift…

Then again, she's been the queen of a country since she was twenty-two, so who was she to judge on an organization's matters?

"Welcome everyone on my sect's 2022nd admission test. The rules will be the same as last year, but for those who don't know what they are, listen carefully. The first test will ask you to hit moving targets with mana-infused energy. The more you hit, the better it'll be.'

'The second test will ask you to discern illusions using brain matter to deflect ink-based attacks without moving from your position. The least amount of ink on your body will determine the success of this test.'

'The third test will be a spar against an outer-court disciple. You won't be required to defeat them, but the better you perform… you get the idea. Obviously, killing your opponent will give you a ticket out of my sect and straight to jail. So let's start with the first test, shall we?" he said.

Snapping his fingers, eight disciples took their place inside the remaining platforms, as countless moving targets emerged from the platforms.

"The first nine hundred participants, please enter the platforms. We'll send you the results directly through your chip. If your results match or are above a hundred and eighty out of three hundred, you'll pass. Let's go!" he said…