The mountain path twisted like a dragon's spine, its jagged stone steps bathed in the unrelenting glare of the midday sun. Wind howled like a restless beast, slamming against the backs of the disciples with invisible force. It was more than mere weather—it was the living will of the Immortal Living Pool itself, testing each soul who dared to climb its sacred path.
The once-vibrant crowd had thinned into scattered clusters of exhaustion. Many who had dashed forward proudly with flashing treasures and radiant spells now sat hunched on the edges of the trail, pale and gasping. Some clutched their knees, others lay sprawled with heaving chests and trembling limbs, their magic depleted and pride shattered.
