Golden sunlight gradually spread across the horizon.
The first rays of dawn illuminated Black Rock City.
The bustling streets below had already awakened.
Countless cultivators streamed through the city gates.
Every one of them was heading toward the same destination.
The Cloud Sword Sect.
---
Aboard the spirit ship—
the young cultivators gradually stirred.
Those who had cultivated throughout the night slowly finished their breathing exercises.
Others stretched before checking their weapons.
The atmosphere was noticeably different from the previous evening.
Everyone wore serious expressions.
Today...
The entrance examination would begin.
Near the rear of the deck—
Ling Wei and Ling Yue remained exactly where they had fallen asleep.
Neither of them had moved an inch.
Several members of their group had already gathered around them.
Chi Bai scratched his cheek.
"...They're still asleep."
Song Qin glanced toward the rising sun.
"...It's already morning."
Gu Su frowned slightly.
"...Should we wake them?"
Fu Yao hesitated.
"...Maybe they're just exhausted..."
Duan Shen folded his arms.
"...At this rate..."
"...They'll miss the examination."
Chi Bai crouched beside Ling Wei.
"...Should I shake him?"
Before anyone could answer—
both siblings' eyes opened simultaneously.
"..."
"..."
They calmly sat upright.
For a brief moment—
they simply stared at the group surrounding them.
Ling Yue blinked.
"...What's wrong?"
She looked from one face to another.
"...Why is everyone gathered around us?"
Chi Bai nearly laughed.
"...'What's wrong?'"
He pointed toward the sky.
"...You two slept through the entire night!"
"The sun's already up!"
"We were starting to think you weren't going to wake up."
Song Qin nodded.
"...We almost thought you'd sleep through the examination."
Gu Su smiled helplessly.
"...You both looked far too comfortable."
Fu Yao couldn't help but ask,
"...Weren't you nervous at all?"
Ling Yue tilted her head.
"...About what?"
Everyone stared at her.
Chi Bai threw both hands into the air.
"...The examination!"
"The Cloud Sword Sect!"
"...The whole reason we're all here!"
Only then did realization appear on Ling Yue's face.
"...Oh."
She nodded once.
"...That."
Her casual response left everyone momentarily speechless.
Duan Shen rubbed his forehead.
"...You really weren't worried..."
Ling Wei stood up beside his sister.
He brushed a bit of dust from his sleeve.
"...Getting enough rest before an important day isn't a bad thing."
Chi Bai looked at him as though he had just said something outrageous.
"...'Enough rest?'"
"You slept longer than anyone else here!"
He leaned closer suspiciously.
"...Tell me honestly."
"...Are you two secretly cultivating some kind of sleeping technique?"
Ling Yue blinked.
"...A sleeping technique?"
Chi Bai nodded vigorously.
"...Exactly."
"The kind where you can fall asleep instantly."
"If there really is such a technique..."
"...Teach me."
"I'll owe you a favor for life."
Song Qin burst into laughter.
Even Gu Su couldn't hold back a smile.
Ling Yue glanced toward Ling Wei.
Then both siblings looked at each other.
Almost simultaneously—
they smiled awkwardly.
"...Sorry."
"...There isn't one."
Chi Bai sighed dramatically.
"...What a pity."
"I thought I'd discovered some incredible inheritance."
The group laughed together.
None of them realized—
that although only a single night had passed...
Ling Wei and Ling Yue carried themselves differently than they had yesterday.
Their movements were more natural.
Their eyes were calmer.
Even the way they instinctively stood revealed subtle changes.
To everyone else—
they had merely enjoyed an unusually deep sleep.
Only the tiny invisible white-scaled lizard resting atop Ling Yue's head knew the truth.
Within that single night...
The siblings had spent months tempering themselves inside the dream world.
And the results...
Would soon be tested against the finest young cultivators gathered from dozens of cities.
The cheerful atmosphere gradually settled.
Just then—
light footsteps echoed across the deck.
A young woman approached from the front of the spirit ship.
She wore the robes of the Chi Clan.
A sword rested quietly at her waist.
Her posture was elegant.
Her expression was composed.
The moment Chi Bai noticed her—
his eyes lit up.
"...Big Sister!"
The young woman smiled faintly.
It was **Chi Xue**.
One of the Chi Clan's recommended disciples.
She glanced at the gathered group before speaking.
"...Finished talking?"
Chi Bai scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed grin.
"...More or less."
Chi Xue nodded.
"...Then it's time to leave."
She looked toward the city beyond the spirit ship.
"...The other participants have already started making their way to the Cloud Sword Sect."
"We shouldn't fall behind."
The group instinctively looked toward the docks.
Sure enough—
countless young cultivators were already setting off.
Some traveled alone.
Others moved together in small groups.
The roads leading away from Black Rock City had become streams of people.
Ling Yue stretched her arms.
"...Looks like it's finally starting."
Ling Wei nodded quietly.
"...Let's go."
No one objected.
The group descended from the spirit ship together.
---
Waiting near the boarding platform—
Elder Zuo and the accompanying elders from the neighboring clans stood in silence.
As the younger generation approached—
Elder Zuo gave a satisfied nod.
His calm gaze swept across every face.
"...From this point onward..."
"...You will continue on your own."
He slowly pointed toward the distant mountains.
"...The Cloud Sword Sect is no longer far away."
"The road ahead is safe."
"There is no further need for our escort."
Several of the younger cultivators instinctively straightened their backs.
The elder continued.
"...Do your best."
"...Enter the sect."
"...Do not disgrace yourselves."
His voice remained calm.
Yet every word carried weight.
After a brief pause—
his expression softened ever so slightly.
"...Should any of you unfortunately fail..."
"...We will remain here until the entrance examination concludes."
"You may return to the spirit ship then."
Silence followed.
The elder slowly looked across each of them once more.
Then a faint smile appeared.
"...However..."
"...I sincerely hope..."
"...None of you will be returning."
The meaning behind those words was obvious.
Returning here...
Would mean failing the examination.
The young cultivators exchanged determined glances.
One after another—
they cupped their fists respectfully.
"We understand."
"We will do our best."
Elder Zuo nodded once.
"...Go."
Without another word—
the group turned.
Together with countless other young cultivators from every direction—
they began making their way toward the legendary Cloud Sword Sect.
Far ahead—
beyond layers of mountains hidden beneath drifting clouds—
their future awaited.
---
The mountain path wound endlessly upward.
Dense forests stretched along both sides of the trail.
Towering ancient trees blocked much of the morning sunlight.
Crystal-clear streams flowed quietly through the valleys below.
The air was rich with spiritual qi.
Everywhere—
young cultivators could be seen making their way toward the same destination.
Some leaped effortlessly from branch to branch.
Others relied on movement techniques to traverse steep cliffs and rocky slopes.
Many simply walked the mountain path in small groups.
The higher they climbed—
the greater the number of people became.
Hours later—
the forest suddenly opened before them.
An enormous clearing lay ahead.
More than a thousand young cultivators had already gathered there.
The crowd stretched as far as the eye could see.
Voices rose and fell without pause.
Some discussed the upcoming entrance examination.
Others silently observed the competitors around them.
The atmosphere was lively—
yet beneath the excitement lingered an unmistakable tension.
At the very front of the clearing—
stood a gate.
Or rather...
Something that merely resembled one.
It consisted of only two enormous stone pillars.
Resting atop them was a simple roof carved from pale jade.
There were no doors.
No walls.
Nothing connected to either side.
Only the sect's name.
Beyond it—
another mountain path disappeared into drifting clouds.
Ling Yue blinked.
"...That's it?"
"...The Cloud Sword Sect's gate?"
Chi Bai stared just as blankly.
"...It's... smaller than I imagined."
Ling Wei quietly observed the structure.
"...Simple."
"...Yet..."
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...It feels strange."
The gate radiated an indescribable presence.
At first glance—
it appeared completely ordinary.
Yet merely looking at it inspired an inexplicable sense of solemnity.
Around them—
the crowd continued to grow.
Ling Yue slowly turned in a circle.
"...There are so many people..."
"I knew there would be a lot..."
"...But this..."
She couldn't even begin to estimate their number.
Thousands.
Perhaps even more.
Everywhere she looked—
there were cultivators.
Some wore luxurious robes.
Others were dressed in simple clothing.
Weapons of every kind could be seen throughout the crowd.
Nearby—
a young man with bright crimson hair overheard their conversation.
He chuckled.
"...This isn't even everyone."
The group instinctively turned toward him.
He appeared to be around their age.
A long spear rested across his back.
His sharp eyes carried a confident smile.
Chi Bai tilted his head.
"...What do you mean?"
The red-haired youth glanced across the massive gathering.
"...Not everyone here is a cultivator."
He casually pointed toward several groups standing farther away.
"...Quite a few of them are mortals."
"They've come hoping to gain the opportunity to step onto the path of cultivation."
Ling Yue blinked.
"...Mortals?"
The young man nodded.
"...Some discover their talent later in life."
"...Others have encountered fortunate opportunities."
"...And some simply refuse to give up without trying."
He shrugged.
"...The Cloud Sword Sect doesn't completely reject people like them."
"So every year..."
"...They come."
Ling Wei nodded thoughtfully.
"...I see."
The explanation made perfect sense.
Even among ordinary people—
there would always be those unwilling to abandon hope.
The red-haired youth smiled before placing one fist into his open palm in greeting.
"...I almost forgot."
"My name is Feng Lu."
"I'm from the Feng Clan of Red Maple City."
His smile widened.
"...Looks like we'll all be competitors soon."
Chi Bai immediately returned the greeting.
"...Chi Bai."
"The Chi Clan."
One after another—
the others introduced themselves as well.
"Ling Wei."
"Ling Yue."
"Gu Su."
"Song Qin."
"Duan Shen."
"Fu Yao."
"Ling Jianfei."
"Ling Yufei."
Feng Lu nodded politely to each of them.
"...It's good to meet you all."
His gaze swept across the ever-growing crowd.
"...Looks like we arrived just in time."
Almost the instant his words fell—
a deep bell echoed from somewhere beyond the cloud-covered mountains.
**Dong—**
The sound rolled across the mountains like ancient thunder.
It was deep.
Heavy.
Ancient.
The conversations throughout the clearing came to an abrupt halt.
Thousands of heads turned toward the ancient gate at the same time.
The lively atmosphere vanished in an instant.
In its place—
an overwhelming silence descended upon the clearing.
Every young cultivator unconsciously held their breath.
Every gaze remained fixed upon the gate standing beneath the drifting clouds.
At that moment—
everyone understood.
The entrance examination...
Was about to begin.