Morning light filtered through the mist outside Qīng Shí Pavilion,
Falling softly onto the bed.
Xiǎo Chén opened his eyes,
Sat up,
And saw Xuán Chén already standing by the window,
Hands behind his back.
His expression was calm,
His figure still as stone,
Bathed in dawn.
Outside the courtyard,
Footsteps echoed—
Scattered and brisk.
A few low shouts followed—
Senior stewards urging the new students to assemble for class assignment.
Xiǎo Chén brushed his hair aside,
Yawned—
"Brother,
Any idea which class we're getting shoved into this morning?"
Xuán Chén didn't turn.
He replied softly—
"Class doesn't matter.
People do."
—
The two joined the crowd of new students
Gathered on the stone steps outside Yuntai Hall.
At the front,
A gray-blue robe fluttered in the morning wind.
Dù Jīn stood with a scroll in hand,
His gaze cold as a blade,
Sweeping across the rows of students—
Just as sharp as the night before.
"All those listed—
Line up by number.
Verify your marks, assess your form,
Then receive class assignment."
He paused,
Then continued—
"Class grouping is based first on mark count,
Then on meridian strength.
Similar levels will be grouped together.
Strong and weak will be mixed—
To sharpen each other."
He looked up,
Adding—
"The academy does not forbid sparring between disciples—
But private fights are strictly prohibited."
"If you truly wish to settle a life-and-death match,
Both parties must sign a death pact with the academy,
And it must be held on the arena stage."
His few words,
Carried by the cold wind,
Snapped the sleepy crowd awake.
From within the group,
Several eyes lingered on Xiǎo Chén and Xuán Chén—
Curious, probing,
But none dared step forward.
—
During mark verification,
Xiǎo Chén raised his palm.
A faint glow shimmered—
Five rings hovered lightly.
A few murmurs stirred in the crowd,
But Dù Jīn swept his gaze across them,
And said coldly—
"This disciple's fate marks
Have been personally reviewed by the Headmaster.
The count is recorded.
This display is symbolic.
No further comment."
Next came Xuán Chén.
The talisman thread passed over his fingers—
But his palm remained blank.
Just as whispers began to rise,
Dù Jīn cut in—
"Special meridian cultivation.
Marks are difficult to measure.
He will be placed by meridian strength."
"Anyone who disagrees—
May step up and test him."
—
At that moment,
A figure stepped forward from the crowd.
It was Sūn Lièfēng.
His face flushed red.
He bowed—
"Disciple Sūn Lièfēng
Requests a match with Xiǎo Chén—
To clarify things for everyone."
The air beneath the steps tightened.
Someone drew a sharp breath.
Xiǎo Chén looked up at him,
A smirk tugging at his lips—
"Sure.
Let's call it a warm-up."
After Sūn Lièfēng stepped out,
Xiǎo Chén turned to Dù Jīn,
Grinning—
"Mind if I borrow a stick?"
Then he looked back at Sūn Lièfēng—
"What weapon do you want?"
Sūn Lièfēng's voice was low and firm—
"A wooden blade."
The two stepped onto the arena,
Wooden weapons in hand.
Sūn Lièfēng stood firm,
Eyes sharp as blades.
Xiǎo Chén held his staff with both hands,
Expression calm,
A faint smile playing at his lips.
Dù Jīn flicked a talisman from his sleeve,
Voice low—
"Begin."
Sūn Lièfēng surged forward,
Feet coiled with power—
Like an arrow loosed from a bow.
He closed in,
Spun his waist,
And slashed horizontally with his wooden blade—
Fast as lightning.
Xiǎo Chén's gaze didn't shift.
He reversed his grip,
Tapped the ground with his toes,
And spun into a handstand.
His staff followed his motion,
Deflecting the blade's force with a gentle twist.
Sūn Lièfēng's strike landed—
But hit only air.
The force was cleanly redirected.
The staff followed the blade's arc,
Then suddenly coiled like a live serpent—
And slammed downward with a dull thud.
The staff bent,
Its momentum fierce,
Whistling through the air.
Sūn Lièfēng gritted his teeth,
Let out a low shout,
Raised his blade to block—
Bang!
A shockwave rippled across the arena.
Sūn Lièfēng staggered back three steps.
His palms trembled,
Eyes wide with disbelief
As he stared at Xiǎo Chén.
He had thought Xiǎo Chén's feat—
Breaking Xuān Yuán Dié's wooden sword—
Was due to the power of the Dragon Soul Spear.
But now,
Having faced him directly,
He realized—
The boy's technique held finesse.
His force carried meridian depth.
It wasn't just the weapon.
A bitter taste rose in his chest.
He took a deep breath,
Then dropped to one knee,
Bowed deeply—
"Sūn Lièfēng… concedes."
The crowd fell silent.
No one dared speak.
Dù Jīn swept his gaze across the arena,
His voice cold as stone—
"This match stands as proof.
No empty fame.
In this class,
He holds his place."
"Anyone who stirs trouble again
Will answer to academy law first."
The air froze.
Only Shī Tóngbǎi, scribbling notes nearby,
Muttered under his breath—
"…People like that…
Best not to question too casually… heh…"
—
Class assignments were completed.
Xuán Chén and Xiǎo Chén were placed in the same group.
Dù Jīn scanned the crowd,
Talisman scrolls fluttering from his sleeve—
"Top twenty—
Follow me to the Inner Hall."
"In half a day,
You will receive instruction
From Master Gǔ Gēngmò."
—
In the afternoon,
New students filed into the Qīng Shí Courtyard.
A stone wall stood behind,
Bamboo curtains half drawn.
Inside the hall,
An elderly man in a blue robe stood tall.
His hair and beard were white,
But his voice was steady and strong—
His presence as solid as a mountain.
Outside the hall,
Dù Jīn spoke briefly—
"This is Master Gǔ Gēngmò,
The academy's longest-serving lecturer,
And the chief record keeper of the Inner Court's Archive Tower."
Gǔ Gēngmò raised a hand,
Signaling the students to sit.
His gaze swept across the room,
Briefly pausing on Xuán Chén and Xiǎo Chén,
Then moved on.
He spoke quietly—
"At the start of your journey,
You must understand the foundation of this academy's path—
The Ten Marks of Fate."
He pointed to the stone wall behind him.
Talisman threads flowed from his fingertip,
Revealing a simple diagram.
"Qi, Form, Guard, Meridian, Root, Sense, Star, Fate, Symbol, Creation."
"From Qi it begins,
To Creation it ends.
Ten marks, ten stages."
"Most beginners reach only Meridian.
A few glimpse Root.
Rare are those who awaken Sense or step into Star."
A student couldn't help but raise a hand—
"Master…
Has anyone truly reached all ten?
Isn't it just legend?"
Gǔ Gēngmò turned,
His gaze calm as still water.
He answered softly—
"Records exist.
Those who reach Ten Marks—
Either carry destiny from birth,
Or encounter rare fate."
"They can be heard,
Can be remembered,
But cannot be sought."
"In three hundred years,
Only one has been known to prove it."
"These hidden veins—
Few outsiders understand."
The hall fell silent.
Xiǎo Chén instinctively tugged at his sleeve,
His fingertips trembling slightly.
Xuán Chén remained quiet,
Eyes lowered to the desk.
Gǔ Gēngmò tapped his bamboo scroll against the table.
"This hall teaches only what can be pursued—
Not idle dreams."
"Remember this:
Each mark is a stage.
Fate marks continue in sequence."
"Once you reach Meridian,
Your internal qi and soul begin to resonate—
Only then can Root be opened."
"Root leads to Sense.
Sense connects to Star.
Star links to Fate."
"To step into Symbol—
Ancient texts record it.
The academy has precedent.
It is real."
"As for Creation…"
He chuckled faintly.
"Few have ever recorded it.
If you hear even a whisper of it in your lifetime—
This hall will have served its purpose."
His voice remained calm.
He turned to the wall behind the rankings.
"The Hidden Dragon List is a record.
Built upon the Ten Marks."
"Who holds higher marks,
Whose realm is stable,
Who can kill—
All are listed."
"One name per person.
No empty titles."
"To place your name on it—
You must prove it with your fists."
"The academy builds the list,
Builds the name,
Builds the rules—
All with intent."
"Three years ago,
The academy revised its regulations—"
He paused,
His gaze sweeping the room,
Cold as starlight.
"From now on,
Anyone entering the Inner Court
Must have reached at least the Meridian Mark."
"This is not gatekeeping—
It is survival."
"In recent years,
Competition over marks and rankings has grown fierce."
"Some students,
Lacking sufficient cultivation,
Died during sparring sessions."
"This rule was set
To prevent needless deaths—
And preserve the foundation of the path."
He looked at the students below.
His tone was mild,
But every word struck deep—
"If you lack the power to protect yourself,
Entering the Inner Court is no blessing—
It is a curse."
The hall fell silent.
It felt as if even the spirit platform trembled.
Gǔ Gēngmò stood quietly for a moment,
Letting the warning settle into every heart.
Then he slowly stepped forward,
And spoke again—
"The academy's resources—
Crystals for energy and recovery,
Talisman paper for inscription and use."
"Even martial cultivators who don't study talisman arts
Will find talisman paper essential—
For messaging, healing, or battle."
"Thus, both crystals and talismans
Are standard currency within the Inner Court."
—
The lecture continued.
Gǔ Gēngmò did not stop at the Ten Marks.
He spoke of the history of the Seven Sects and Five Houses of the Central Plains—
Their rise, fall, and division.
Some sects vanished into history,
Leaving only six names today.
Some lineages scattered among the common folk.
Others were absorbed by the Five Houses.
Sects and academies now restrain and rely on each other.
His tone remained calm.
Occasionally, he paused—
Mentioning lands beyond the Central Plains,
Hidden past distant seas and impassable peaks.
The students listened with varied minds.
Some memorized every word.
Some drifted in thought.
None dared ask more.
Gǔ Gēngmò's gaze did not shift.
He ended with one quiet line—
"This is enough for today.
The rest—
Will be proven in time."
—
As the midday lecture ended,
New students streamed down the stone steps.
Some whispered quietly.
Some glanced around.
Others gathered near the Starwatch Wall,
Hoping to see new names etched onto the Hidden Dragon List.
Shī Tóngbǎi trailed behind,
Flipping through a scroll of talisman paper.
He ambled up to Xiǎo Chén and Xuán Chén,
Grinning as he lowered his voice—
"Senior brothers,
That lecture was something, huh?"
"You've heard of the Hidden Dragon List, right?
Heh—update's coming in two days."
"Some old names are about to drop.
Others are scrambling to hold their spots."
"Word is, someone from White Profound Society
Plans to send challengers to Tàixuán Pavilion and Supreme Academy—
Kick down doors, climb the rankings."
He shook his head,
Like watching two wolves gnawing at each other's tails.
"Some are targeting the bottom-rung veterans—
Knocking them off to make room for their own."
"If this blows up,
It'll be way more fun than the usual academy squabbles."
Xiǎo Chén raised a brow,
Glanced at Xuán Chén—
"We're quite the spectacle."
Shī Tóngbǎi chuckled,
Rubbed his nose,
Took a few steps forward,
Then turned back, voice low—
"If you're planning to wander tonight,
Best avoid the rear cliff of the Inner Court."
"Not all lights there will be peaceful—
And not all eyes watching you
Come in pairs."
Xiǎo Chén said nothing.
He simply rolled up his talisman paper.
Xuán Chén's gaze remained calm.
He replied softly—
"Just watching the show."
Shī Tóngbǎi studied their expressions,
Then added another whisper—
"These two factions—
One uses rules to suppress,
The other uses fists to coerce."
"Heh…
If I had to choose,
I'd rather reason with fists."
Xiǎo Chén gave a quiet snort,
Clapped Shī Tóngbǎi on the shoulder—
"Keep listening.
Don't stir up too much noise.
We're still watching."
—
Just as Shī Tóngbǎi finished whispering about the ranking challenges,
Xiǎo Chén and Xuán Chén turned to leave.
From around the corridor corner,
A figure stepped out—
A student in a silver-embroidered robe.
His face wore a smile.
He bowed with cupped fists—
"You two are the brightest stars of this cohort.
Even during the trial and class sorting,
Steward Dù took extra notice."
"Our Silver Mirror Division
Values talent like yours."
Xiǎo Chén smiled,
Returned the gesture—
"You're too kind, senior.
If you want us to join—
We're not opposed."
"But the terms
Need to be clear."
The student's smile widened—
"Join us,
And the rules will protect you.
Resources will be unlocked early.
We'll shield you from unnecessary trouble."
"If you aim to climb the Hidden Dragon List—
With us behind you,
Your foundation will be solid."
Xuán Chén gave a quiet scoff,
Shook his head—
"Don't feed us dreams."
"Let's be real—
Ten beauties,
Half a million spirit crystals,
And those rare scrolls from the Archive Tower."
"If you can't offer that,
Don't bother talking."
The student's smile froze.
His tone cooled—
"Heh…
Quite the bold pair."
"But if you insist on walking alone—
Ao Tian's rules may be strict,
But they don't always protect everyone."
"This is a battlefield.
Think carefully."
Xiǎo Chén
raised a brow,
His voice calm and unhurried—
"Appreciate the offer.
Keep your rules for yourself."
Before the words had fully landed,
A scoff rang out behind them.
Xiàng Yuán stepped forward,
Flanked by several disciples of White Profound Society.
His gaze was amused—
"Rules?
We don't deal in promises.
We deal in arenas."
His voice dropped low—
"The entrance list?
Sure, everyone can see it.
But seeing it doesn't mean you can hold it."
"Lose on the arena—
And your head follows."
"You'll still be listed,
But the position and resources?
They belong to White Profound."
He tapped the embroidered Hidden Dragon List emblem on his chest,
His tone cold—
"Those listed on the Hidden Dragon List
Receive monthly resource allocations from the academy."
"It's called 'the list feeds the man, the man feeds the list.'"
"If you can hold your ground,
You eat."
"If you fall,
You crawl back to the mud."
He smirked,
Eyes locked on the two—
"If you lose this match,
You won't just join White Profound—
You'll hand over your top-ten entrance resources
As my prize."
Xiǎo Chén raised a brow,
Smiled coldly—
"And if I win?"
Xiàng Yuán snorted—
"You win,
I'll give up ten percent of this cohort's resources.
As your prize."
Xiǎo Chén turned to Xuán Chén,
A grin tugging at his lips—
"Ten percent's too little.
Let's make it fifty."
Xiàng Yuán's eyes darkened.
He hissed through clenched teeth—
"Thirty.
Any more…
And tomorrow on the arena,
I'll break one of you first."
Xuán Chén lifted his gaze,
His voice cold as frost—
"Tomorrow's arena—
One hand delivers the fighter,
One hand delivers the list,
One hand delivers the resources."
Beside them,
Shī Tóngbǎi shrank back,
Muttering—
"They really went for it…
Just stepped in the door
And already clashing blades from both sides…"