The spirit ship continued gliding steadily through the sea of clouds.
Its formations hummed softly beneath everyone's feet.
The surrounding winds were completely blocked by an invisible barrier.
Standing upon the deck felt no different from standing on solid ground.
Time passed peacefully.
The young cultivators gradually relaxed.
Some remained gathered in small groups, chatting amongst themselves.
Others stood quietly along the railings, admiring the endless scenery stretching beyond the ship.
Far below—
towering mountain ranges drifted past.
Ancient forests extended as far as the eye could see.
Occasionally—
powerful spirit beasts could be seen soaring through the skies far beneath the vessel.
None dared approach.
The emblem of the Cloud Sword Sect displayed upon the spirit ship was more than enough warning.
Near the railing—
Chi Bai folded his arms.
"...I wonder how many people will be taking the examination."
Gu Su answered after a moment of thought.
"...Several thousand."
Chi Bai nearly choked.
"...Several thousand?"
"...You're joking."
Gu Su simply shook his head.
"Not at all."
"The Cloud Sword Sect recruits disciples from dozens of cities."
"There'll be cultivators from noble clans..."
"...Independent cultivators..."
"...And even disciples recommended by smaller sects."
Song Qin nodded.
"I've heard only a small portion actually pass."
"The entrance examination has always been notoriously difficult."
Duan Shen quietly added,
"...Strength alone isn't enough."
"I've heard they also test talent..."
"...Comprehension..."
"...Temperament..."
"...And luck."
Chi Bai scratched his head.
"...Luck?"
"...How do you even test that?"
Nobody answered.
After all—
none of them had ever taken the examination before.
Everything they knew came from rumors and hearsay.
Ling Yue listened quietly before speaking.
"...I hope there isn't a written test."
Everyone turned to look at her.
She coughed awkwardly.
"...I mean..."
"...I'd rather swing a sword than hold a brush."
Chi Bai burst into laughter.
"...For once..."
"...I completely agree."
Even Ling Wei allowed a faint smile to appear.
The atmosphere noticeably lightened.
Not far away—
Ling Jianfei listened in silence.
His expression remained calm.
Yet inwardly—
he dismissed the entire conversation.
*Worrying about rumors is meaningless.*
*Only strength matters.*
*As long as I display enough talent...*
*The Cloud Sword Sect will naturally value me.*
At the front of the spirit ship—
Elder Zuo stood alongside several elders from the neighboring clans.
None of them interrupted the younger generation.
They simply watched from a distance.
Quietly.
Occasionally—
their gazes swept across the deck.
Observing.
Evaluating.
Silently measuring the temperaments of every youth under their care.
---
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
The spirit ship sailed day and night without interruption.
Mountains gradually gave way to vast plains.
The plains eventually became winding rivers.
Countless cities appeared beneath the sea of clouds before disappearing into the distance once more.
The young cultivators gradually settled into a routine.
Some spent nearly every waking moment cultivating inside their cabins.
Others sparred upon the open deck beneath the watchful supervision of the accompanying elders.
Eventually—
the spirit ship began slowing.
The steady hum of its formations softened.
Its altitude gradually decreased.
"...We're descending."
Chi Bai stepped toward the railing.
Leaning over carefully, he peered downward.
"...Are we there already?"
The others quickly gathered beside him.
Far below—
an enormous city slowly came into view.
Massive walls stretched for miles in every direction.
Countless buildings filled the city within.
Spirit ships could already be seen arriving from every corner of the sky.
Some bore the banners of great clans.
Others displayed the insignias of smaller sects.
The heavens above the city were unusually crowded.
Ling Yue's eyes widened.
"...There are so many people..."
Song Qin slowly nodded.
"...Every one of them is probably here for the entrance examination."
The spirit ship continued its steady descent.
Just as excitement began spreading through the younger cultivators—
one of the accompanying elders stepped forward.
A faint smile rested upon his face.
"...Calm yourselves."
The conversations gradually died down.
The elder looked toward the city below.
"...No."
"...We have not yet arrived."
He raised a hand and pointed toward the sprawling city beneath them.
"...This is Black Rock City."
"It is one of the nearest major cities to the Cloud Sword Sect."
"Every year, participants gather here before the entrance examination begins."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"...The examination will begin tomorrow."
"...We shall spend the night here."
"...At dawn..."
"...You will depart for the Cloud Sword Sect."
Understanding spread throughout the deck.
"So this is only a stop..."
"I thought we'd already arrived."
"Tomorrow..."
Several youths unconsciously became nervous.
Rumble...
The spirit ship slowly descended toward one of the enormous docking platforms built specifically for flying vessels.
Its formations dimmed one after another.
With only a gentle vibration—
the ship settled smoothly upon the platform.
The boarding bridge extended outward.
The elders led the way.
"Come."
"Do not wander too far from the group."
One after another—
the young cultivators disembarked.
The moment they stepped into the streets—
everyone froze.
The city was overflowing with cultivators.
Every street was packed with people.
Young men and women carrying swords across their backs.
Cultivators riding majestic spirit beasts through the avenues.
Groups wearing the uniforms of various sects.
Clan disciples dressed in luxurious robes embroidered with family insignias.
Powerful auras could be sensed almost everywhere.
It was unlike Lotus City in every conceivable way.
Chi Bai slowly looked around in amazement.
"...There are so many..."
Ling Yue nodded repeatedly.
"...I've never seen this many cultivators gathered in one place."
Even Ling Wei quietly observed his surroundings.
*Most of them must be here for the entrance examination...*
The atmosphere itself felt different.
Competition.
Expectation.
Confidence.
Anxiety.
All of it mixed together into an invisible pressure hanging over the city.
Ahead—
several inns had long lines stretching far outside their entrances.
Every one of them was already packed.
Some innkeepers were even hanging wooden signs outside their doors.
**No Vacancies.**
Chi Bai stared blankly.
"...We're not actually going to find a place to stay..."
"...Are we?"
One of the elders glanced around before letting out a small sigh.
"...As expected."
"This happens every year."
He turned toward the group.
"...Finding empty rooms tonight will be extremely difficult."
"...If necessary..."
"...We shall remain aboard the spirit ship for the night."
None of the youths objected.
Compared to sleeping on the streets—
the spirit ship was more than comfortable.
Even so—
their gazes continued wandering across the bustling city.
Tomorrow...
The Cloud Sword Sect's entrance examination would finally begin.
---
Night gradually settled over Black Rock City.
The bustling streets outside remained lively.
Yet aboard the spirit ship—
everything had become much quieter.
The younger cultivators had scattered themselves across the deck.
Some sat cross-legged, cultivating in preparation for tomorrow.
Others silently practiced sword techniques beneath the moonlight.
Several quietly reviewed cultivation methods they hoped would sharpen their focus before the examination.
Sleep...
Was the last thing on most people's minds.
The Cloud Sword Sect's entrance examination was now only hours away.
Very few could remain completely calm.
Near the rear of the deck—
Ling Wei and Ling Yue lay peacefully upon the wooden floor.
Not particularly close to one another.
Their breathing was slow.
Steady.
Perfectly even.
They were completely asleep.
Several nearby youths couldn't help glancing in their direction.
Chi Bai scratched his head.
"...They're unbelievable."
Gu Su smiled helplessly.
"...The examination is tomorrow..."
"...And the two of them fell asleep almost immediately."
Song Qin looked equally amused.
"...I thought at least one of them would be nervous."
Duan Shen slowly shook his head.
"...Apparently not."
Chi Bai folded his arms.
"...Maybe they're secretly cultivating some kind of sleeping technique."
Everyone turned to look at him.
He shrugged.
"...What?"
"...Think about it."
"The moment they laid down..."
"...They were already asleep."
Fu Yao laughed softly.
"...I don't think such a technique exists."
Chi Bai remained completely unconvinced.
"...You never know."
"There are strange inheritances everywhere."
He looked toward the sleeping siblings with obvious envy.
"...If that's really the case..."
"...I'm asking them to teach me tomorrow."
Song Qin couldn't help laughing.
"...You actually want to cultivate sleeping?"
Chi Bai nodded with complete seriousness.
"...Of course."
"Imagine being able to fall asleep whenever you want."
"...That's an incredible ability."
Even Gu Su laughed this time.
"...Only you would think that."
Their quiet laughter gradually faded.
No one disturbed the sleeping siblings.
They simply assumed the two possessed exceptionally calm minds.
None of them noticed—
the faint ripple that briefly passed through the tiny white-scaled lizard resting peacefully atop Ling Yue's head.
---
Within the dream—
time no longer possessed any meaning.
Ling Wei slowly opened his eyes.
An endless white world stretched infinitely in every direction.
There was no sky.
No earth.
No horizon.
Only endless emptiness.
Nearby—
Ling Yue was already standing.
She casually stretched her shoulders before looking around.
"...We're here."
Ling Wei nodded before respectfully cupping his fists.
"...Senior."
"...This junior thanks Senior for granting this humble request."
The moment those words fell—
the scenery transformed.
Mountains erupted from the endless white.
Forests rapidly spread across the horizon.
Towering stone cliffs pierced toward the heavens.
The empty world disappeared completely.
Instead—
they now stood within an immense battlefield.
Before them—
dozens of opponents slowly materialized.
Some wielded swords.
Others carried spears.
Several fought barehanded.
Each possessed cultivation comparable to their own.
Ling Yue smiled.
"...Looks like today's training starts immediately."
Ling Wei slowly drew his sword.
"...As always."
Without another word—
the first opponent charged.
---
Hours quietly passed outside.
The moon continued its slow journey across the night sky.
The spirit ship remained perfectly still.
Everyone believed the siblings were simply enjoying a peaceful night's sleep.
None of them knew—
that inside the dream...
Weeks had already passed.
Battles without end.
Countless defeats.
Countless victories.
Every mistake corrected.
Every weakness exposed.
Every movement refined.
Time continued flowing differently.
Outside—
only another hour passed.
Inside—
months quietly slipped away.
Swordsmanship.
Footwork.
Movement.
Combat instincts.
Coordination.
Adaptation.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The tiny white-scaled lizard silently watched over the dream world.
His golden eyes calmly observed every exchange.
Every strike.
Every mistake.
Every improvement.
Occasionally—
the battlefield itself shifted.
Towering mountains became dense forests.
Forests transformed into ruined cities.
Ruined cities became narrow valleys hemmed in by sheer cliffs.
Each new environment forced the siblings to adapt.
There was no room for complacency.
Every victory was followed by an even stronger opponent.
Every improvement was met with an even more difficult challenge.
To everyone aboard the spirit ship—
Ling Wei and Ling Yue were peacefully asleep.
Only Lizarius knew...
That while the world patiently waited for dawn...
His two followers were living through months of relentless training—
all before tomorrow's examination had even begun.