All the disciples were standing at the gates of the sect. After their examination was completed, everyone was allowed to enter the sect.
The sect was divided into three parts.
Inner disciples, outer disciples, and assistant disciples.
Everyone had already been given the title of outer disciple. But Rudra and many other boys were assistant disciples, so they were not allowed to live in the outer disciple area. They had to build huts outside the sect. They were responsible for growing herbs, cleaning, and assisting in every kind of work.
Every month, a energy gathering pill was distributed.
Outer disciples received ten pills. Inner disciples were watched much more closely. They were called the future of the sect.
To become an inner disciple, outer disciples had to prove themselves.
Arnav and the other boys were given places to stay in the outer area.
Rudra was given a hut. But four other boys lived there with him.
They were talking about Rudra.
"This is the new boy. I heard his meridian level is fourth level… but he only has one elemental energy," one of the boys said. He was slightly tall.
They all laughed a little.
Rudra ignored them and quietly sat down beside his bedding.
He was thinking.
With only one energy gathering pill a month… I will never awaken the Spirit Awakening stage.
With that thought, the night passed.
Today was Rudra's first day in the neelchandra Sect.
The tall boy came to Rudra and said,
"Boy, what is your name?"
"My name is Rudra," he replied.
"Alright Rudra. Today you clean the library. I will water the herbs."
Rudra nodded and asked,
"Will I be cleaning alone?"
The tall boy was not arrogant like the others. So he calmly replied,
"You won't be alone. Many other disciples will be there. Don't worry."
Then he left.
Rudra also left for his task.
After some time, he finally reached the library.
The moment he saw it, he was shocked.
"I knew the library would be big… but I never imagined it would be this big. It will take five months just to clean this place."
But he did not lose courage and walked inside.
A boy there, who was an outer disciple, looked at Rudra with disgust and said,
"Who is this beggar walking inside without even asking?"
Rudra looked at himself. His clothes were old and torn in many places.
He lowered his head without saying anything.
He registered his name and started working.
The boy became angry at being ignored.
"I don't know why these dirty wild animals are even accepted into the sect."
Rudra became furious inside. He was about to say something.
But a cleaning boy stepped forward and said,
"Young master, I apologize on his behalf. He is new here."
The boy smiled slightly but said in an angry tone,
"Explain things to him properly. Otherwise… who knows what might happen."
Then he left.
The cleaning boy looked at Rudra and said,
"You are new, so be careful. People like us… our lives have no value here."
Rudra felt a little disappointed.
But the next moment, determination appeared on his face.
Many other boys were working with Rudra. Everyone continued their work.
Meanwhile, Arnav was alone.
A boy approached him and asked,
"You are a new disciple, right? The one selected yesterday?"
Arnav nodded.
The boy said,
"You are still here? You should go get the Spirit Awakening scripture."
Arnav asked,
"Where can I find it? And what is it?"
"A scripture contains the rules and explains the cultivation stages in detail. There are many types… but for you, Spirit Awakening is the correct one."
After saying this, the boy started to leave.
Arnav thought for a moment.
"I should go to the library as well."
After asking around, he eventually reached the library.
There he saw Rudra and walked toward him.
When Rudra saw Arnav, a smile appeared on his face.
Arnav asked,
"You didn't face any trouble, right?"
"No. Why did you come here?"
"I came to get the Spirit Awakening scripture. It contains all the information about awakening the first stage."
After talking for a while, Rudra said,
"You look for the scripture. I will finish my work quickly."
Rudra returned to his work.
Arnav found the scripture. He looked at Rudra once more and then left.
Slowly, time passed.
Before they realized it, a week had gone by.
Arnav had not come to meet Rudra. After taking the scripture, he became completely busy with his sadhana.
Every day Rudra went to the library to clean. While working, he read whatever books he could find—scriptures, records, and ancient texts.
However, assistant disciples were only allowed to read low-level books.
Every day someone scolded him.
He had begun to realize that assistant disciples had no respect.
Rudra was sitting in his hut. The other boys had gone outside for work.
Rudra sat in meditation.
He began recalling everything he had read.
Ever since he arrived, he had been trying to meditate. But he never felt any difference.
Today he finally used the energy gathering pill he had been saving.
After consuming it, energy began rising inside his body.
He focused his mind and tried to enter the first stage.
His senses started becoming sharper.
But the next moment everything returned to normal.
The energy completely disappeared.
Rudra sighed in disappointment.
"If I had more pills… I would definitely have entered the first stage."
Just then, he heard footsteps approaching the hut.
The door opened.
The tall boy walked inside.
He asked,
"Were you cultivating? You should know… assistant disciples can never awaken their power."
Rudra frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The boy explained,
"Until now many assistant disciples have come here. But none of them became sadhaks.
Our lives are spent serving others."
Rudra replied with firm determination,
"But I will never give up. I came here to solve the financial problems my family is facing. But now I feel… I want to achieve something myself."
Inside his mind he whispered,
Father… when I become stronger than you, I will come to meet you. Then I will ask why you left mother to die alone.
There was fire in Rudra's eyes.
The tall boy said,
"If you had more than one elemental energy, you would have been a sadhak too. Your divine meridian level is very high… but your fate is terrible."
Rudra thought quietly.
Yes… having a high meridian level means nothing if elemental energy is weak. That is why I was made an assistant disciple.
Rudra stood up and said,
"I'm feeling lazy sitting here. I'll go for a walk."
Then he left the hut.
For the past week Rudra had been cleaning the library.
He had noticed that no one respected assistant disciples. They were humiliated in every possible way.
Thinking about all this, Rudra walked into the forest.
Meanwhile, Arnav had been cultivating continuously for seven days.
His meridian level was third level. Because of that, he could cultivate properly even without a energy gathering pill.
Finally, he entered the first stage.
He received another energy gathering pill, and because of it his level advanced faster than all the other disciples.
He opened his eyes.
Energy surged through his body.
His senses became sharper.
Even with his eyes closed, he could feel everything around him.
He opened his eyes and said,
"I feel much better than before. My power has increased."
Meanwhile, Rudra was walking alone in the forest.
His heart was heavy.
He was lost in thought.
He had walked very far without realizing it.
He had already crossed the protective barrier of the sect.
But he did not remember that.
Suddenly, his gaze moved toward the sky.
What he saw next…
left Rudra completely shocked.