Trial Two: Beast Compatibility Test
Here, applicants were placed into an arena filled with spiritual beasts. The goal? Bond with a beast—or at least not die.
The dragon-talented young master approached a majestic Thunder Tiger. The beast roared, then bowed its head, forming a spirit pact instantly.
The Misty Flower girl summoned a Frost Crane that circled gracefully around her, music swelling in the background.
Lin Feng entered the arena and was immediately chased by a duck.
"Why is that duck glowing?!" someone screamed.
"It's a Spirit Duck! Tier… uh… tier zero?"
The duck quacked, then bit Lin Feng on the shin.
"OW! I don't want to bond with you!"
The duck hissed and spat a tiny fireball. It singed Lin Feng's pants.
Lin Feng screamed and ran in circles.
The duck chased.
The other spiritual beasts just watched in confusion.
Finally, Lin Feng tripped and fell face-first into a pile of spirit apples. The duck stopped, quacked happily, and sat on his head.
"Congratulations!" the elder announced. "You've… inadvertently bonded with the world's first Fire-Spitting Spirit Duck."
Lin Feng sat up. "So… I passed?"
The duck bit his ear. Lin Feng screamed again.
---
Trial Three: Combat Evaluation
This was the real deal.
Applicants were paired up to test their actual skills. Naturally, Lin Feng was matched with the strongest candidate—the dragon boy, Long Wuji, whose spiritual dragon had visible abs.
"I don't want to fight," Lin Feng muttered.
Long Wuji snorted. "Then kneel and admit defeat. I might spare your dignity."
"I already don't have any."
Lin Feng glanced at the referee elder. "Can I forfeit?"
"Too late!" the elder barked. "Begin!"
Long Wuji launched forward, his fist glowing with golden qi. "Dragon Crushing Heaven Punch!"
It sounded dramatic enough to break planets.
Lin Feng screamed, tripped on a rock, flailed mid-air like a dying fish—and accidentally kicked Long Wuji in the groin.
A high-pitched squeal echoed across the sect.
Long Wuji crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut, gasping for breath as the crowd watched in horror.
Lin Feng looked up from the ground, confused. "Wait… did I win?"
The referee nodded, wide-eyed. "W-winner… Lin Feng?"
The duck flapped excitedly, spit a celebratory fireball, and set someone's robe on fire.
---
Aftermath
Lin Feng stood in front of the Grand Elder Council.
The sect masters rubbed their temples.
The Fire Spirit Sect's elder glared. "He broke the Spirit Stone."
The Beast Sect's elder muttered, "He tamed a duck. A duck."
The Martial Sect's elder whispered, "He defeated a dragon bloodline genius with… a crotch kick."
"But rules are rules," the Grand Elder sighed. "He passed all three trials."
Lin Feng was handed a sect robe—several sizes too big—and a shiny token that read PROVISIONAL DISCIPLE: HANDLE WITH CAUTION.
As he left the hall, someone whispered, "He's a walking disaster…"
Behind him, the duck followed loyally, quacking with murder in its eyes.