"Very interesting."
Yan Fu's calm voice echoed through the courtyard as he looked at the young man standing inside the glowing formation.
Zhao Tian.
The name quietly settled in his mind.
The brilliant golden light of the Spirit Root Formation slowly faded, but the tension among the crowd did not. Everyone present had seen the blinding radiance that erupted when Zhao Tian stepped onto the platform.
Even those with little knowledge of cultivation could tell that the young man possessed extraordinary talent.
Li Fei stood beside Yan Fu, staring carefully at Zhao Tian.
"That light…" Li Fei muttered quietly. "I've never seen a spirit root shine like that before."
Yan Fu nodded slightly.
The system had already given its evaluation.
Divine Talent.
Such a rank was extremely rare, even among powerful sects.
Yet Zhao Tian's expression remained calm, as if the attention surrounding him meant nothing.
Yan Fu studied him for a moment before speaking.
"You may step down."
Zhao Tian bowed respectfully and walked off the platform.
The trials continued.
Several more candidates stepped forward, but none of them produced results as impressive as Zhao Tian's. Most possessed only common spirit roots, while a few showed moderate talent.
By sunset, the Spirit Root Trial had concluded.
Out of the hundreds who arrived that day, only fourteen people remained.
The rest had already been dismissed.
Yan Fu looked at the remaining candidates gathered in the courtyard.
"Congratulations," he said calmly.
"You have passed the first trial."
Some of them smiled with relief.
Others looked nervous, aware that the next tests would only become more difficult.
Yan Fu raised his hand again.
"The second trial will now begin."
The disciples standing nearby quickly moved to clear the center of the courtyard.
A large circular arena was revealed beneath the stone floor.
Ancient runes ignited around the edge of the arena as a protective formation activated.
Tianlong circled above the arena, lightning flickering along his long body.
"Combat Trial," the storm dragon said with interest.
Vorath yawned lazily nearby.
"Now things get entertaining."
Yan Fu turned to the candidates.
"The second trial is simple."
He pointed toward the arena.
"You will fight."
A murmur spread through the group.
Some candidates looked excited.
Others suddenly looked pale.
Yan Fu continued.
"You may choose your opponent."
"The goal is not to defeat them completely but to show your combat instincts, technique, and adaptability."
He paused before adding,
"However… if someone cannot even defend themselves, then they have no place in Ji Xia Sect."
The arena gates opened.
"Begin."
For a few moments, no one moved.
Then two young men stepped forward.
Both appeared to be wandering martial artists.
They entered the arena cautiously.
The protective formation sealed the arena with a faint barrier of light.
One of them raised his sword.
"Let's do this."
The fight began immediately.
Steel clashed.
Both fighters moved quickly, exchanging blows and testing each other's defenses.
Although neither possessed extraordinary strength, their movements showed solid martial training.
After several exchanges, one of them lost his footing.
The other immediately seized the opportunity and knocked the sword from his opponent's hand.
The match ended.
Yan Fu nodded.
"Both of you pass."
The next fights continued.
Some were quick.
Others lasted several minutes.
A few candidates revealed surprising techniques that impressed the watching disciples.
But soon—
The moment everyone was waiting for arrived.
Zhao Tian stepped forward.
The courtyard immediately became quiet.
Many of the remaining candidates looked nervous.
After all, everyone had seen the overwhelming talent revealed during the Spirit Root Trial.
Zhao Tian calmly walked into the arena.
"Who will fight me?"
Silence.
No one volunteered.
Li Fei crossed his arms and chuckled.
"They're scared."
Finally, one young cultivator stepped forward.
"I'll fight."
He carried a long spear and appeared confident in his abilities.
The two opponents faced each other inside the arena.
The protective barrier activated.
Yan Fu watched carefully.
Let's see what kind of fighter this Zhao Tian is.
The spear cultivator moved first.
With a shout, he thrust his weapon forward with surprising speed.
The spear shot through the air like a flash of silver.
But Zhao Tian did not panic.
He simply stepped slightly to the side.
The spear missed him by a few centimeters.
The crowd gasped.
Such precise movement required incredible reaction speed.
The spear user attacked again, launching a series of rapid thrusts.
Each strike carried increasing force.
Yet Zhao Tian continued dodging with calm precision.
He had not even drawn a weapon yet.
The spear cultivator grew frustrated.
"Stop running!"
He channeled spiritual energy into his weapon.
The spear glowed faintly as he unleashed a powerful downward strike.
This time—
Zhao Tian finally moved.
His hand shot forward like lightning.
He grabbed the spear shaft mid-strike.
The entire courtyard froze.
Even Vorath lifted his head with interest.
Zhao Tian twisted the spear slightly.
The weapon flew from the other cultivator's grip.
Before the opponent could react—
Zhao Tian placed two fingers against his chest.
The pressure point strike froze the man's body instantly.
The fight ended.
The entire exchange had lasted less than ten seconds.
Silence filled the courtyard.
Then Vorath chuckled.
"Well… that was easy."
Yan Fu narrowed his eyes slightly.
Zhao Tian had not used brute force.
He had used perfect timing and precise control.
Such combat instincts were rarely seen in ordinary cultivators.
Yan Fu spoke calmly.
"Impressive."
Zhao Tian bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Sect Master."
But Yan Fu wasn't finished observing him.
"Where did you learn your martial arts?" Yan Fu asked.
Zhao Tian hesitated for a moment.
"I traveled," he replied simply.
Yan Fu watched him carefully but said nothing more.
Interesting.
The Combat Trial continued for another hour.
When it finally ended, nine candidates remained.
Yan Fu stood before them once again.
"You have passed the second trial."
Some of them smiled with relief.
But Zhao Tian remained calm.
Yan Fu raised his hand.
"The final trial will begin tomorrow."
He looked toward the mountain peaks surrounding the sect.
"The Dao Heart Trial."
Several candidates looked confused.
Li Fei whispered quietly to another disciple.
"That's the hardest one."
Yan Fu continued speaking.
"The Dao Heart Trial will test your will, courage, and determination."
He pointed toward a stone staircase leading up the mountain behind the sect.
"At sunrise tomorrow, you will climb the Path of the Celestial Mind."
The staircase stretched upward through thick mist.
No one could see where it ended.
Yan Fu's voice became serious.
"Only those with an unbreakable Dao Heart will reach the top."
The candidates looked at the path with nervous expressions.
But Zhao Tian simply glanced upward calmly.
Yan Fu noticed.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
This one…
He might become something extraordinary.
High above the sect, the wind whispered through the mountain peaks.
And the final trial of Ji Xia Sect was about to begin.