Bai Tian froze, bewildered by the sight before him. It took him a long moment to regain his senses, and the arrogance that once filled his heart had now drastically diminished.
At that moment, several streaks of rainbow-colored light shot swiftly toward them. As each light faded, it revealed a disciple of the Rainbow Cloud Sect, each accompanied by a few young individuals around eighteen years old.
These youths were a mix of boys and girls, each with diverse appearances. When they landed, the expressions on their faces were not much different from Bai Tian's group: filled with curiosity, slightly shocked, and a few appeared cautious.
The Rainbow Cloud Sect disciples who escorted the youths gathered at the side of the field and began discussing the newcomers. After waiting for a while, all the recommended youths had arrived at the sect.
A middle-aged woman dressed in black appeared. Her gaze was cold, sweeping across the crowd as if she were inspecting inferior creatures. Her voice was flat and emotionless as she said:
"Among all of you, only a handful will be chosen as disciples of the Sect."
The words struck like lightning at noon. Gasps echoed among the youths. Bai Tian's heart trembled. He counted in his mind—the number of participants for this test reached into the thousands.
The woman spoke again with a sharp tone:
"Cultivation is the path to immortality. You must be prepared to endure endless solitude. This path depends on natural talent and the courage to keep moving forward. Those who wish to withdraw, step back now. Do not waste my time."
Her gaze sharpened, and she announced:
"The first test is to examine the strength of your spirit. Whoever I point to, step forward and take the test."
She pointed to a young man. His legs trembled as he took a step forward, forcing himself to advance. The woman placed her hand on his head and said coldly:
"Not qualified. Stand to the right, near that large tree."
Immediately, the young man's legs felt powerless. His face darkened, his eyes empty, yet he slowly walked toward the tree on the right side of the field.
Next, another young man stepped forward, fear written all over his face.
"Not qualified.""Not qualified.""Too weak, does not meet the standard.""Not qualified.""Too fragile. Better to remain an ordinary person."
Twenty people failed this test consecutively. So far, not a single person had been permitted to stand on the woman's left side.
Now it was Xio Yuan's turn. His face was pale, and all his pride had vanished. He stepped forward cautiously.
When the woman's hand touched Xio Yuan's head, his eyes emitted a faint glow. She asked:
"What is your name?"
Xio Yuan answered firmly:
"My name is Xio Yuan."
The woman nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"So you are the one recommended by that rascal. Your foundation is not strong yet, but still better than most of the trash here. Stand to the left."
Xio Yuan walked to the left with his head held high, enjoying the admiring gazes of the other participants. Despite the somewhat condescending comment, his eyes now radiated arrogance and satisfaction. He glanced at the crowd with a disdainful look, as if untouched by anyone.
Bai Tian muttered with a sneer:
"Hmph, that lazy one is truly lucky."
His heart tightened. Images of his parents, full of hope, flashed in his mind. He clenched his fists.
The middle-aged woman exhaled slowly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd like a blade peeling the hearts of every participant. When her eyes reached the back row, they stopped.
There stood a calm-faced girl—Mu Xingyue. Even without moving, her natural aura radiated unshakable tranquility, like the moon reflecting light over a midnight sea. With just a glance, the woman immediately understood: the girl's talent surpassed the average, even exceeding that of some core disciples of the sect.
She gazed deeper, a subtle smile forming at the corner of her lips.
"The girl at the very back… what is your name? Are you—"
But just as the words were halfway out, the world seemed to collapse.
A tremendous pressure suddenly descended from the sky. The air around them vibrated, the ground beneath everyone creaked, and even the thin mist over the mountains was scattered. The participants' breaths caught in their throats, their bodies tensed as if crushed by an invisible mountain.
Bai Tian felt his heart race wildly, eyes wide. This pressure… was not from an ordinary human!
The middle-aged woman froze, her eyes sharp. But instead of anger, she sighed again—this time with understanding.
"I see… a master has recruited you beforehand."
A thin smile graced her face, but in her heart, she acknowledged that she had no qualification to compete for the girl. Calmly, she averted her gaze and continued the selection as if nothing had happened.
However, whispers began circulating among the crowd, and participants sensitive to energy could all sense the same thing.
Several other participants were called. Some passed, some failed. Until it was Bai Tian's turn. He walked forward, nervous.
Seeing the fear in Bai Tian's eyes, the middle-aged woman smiled faintly and asked:
"What is your name?"
Bai Tian replied respectfully:
"My name is Xio Tian."
The woman nodded, her eyes narrowing.
"Oh… so you are the son of that rascal Xio Feng. But why do you not resemble him?"
Bai Tian fell silent. The woman beckoned him to step closer. After placing her hand on his head, she commented:
"Hmm… your talent is poor, but your foundation is solid. That rascal seems to have been quite caring. Go to the right, wait for another chance."
Bai Tian did not even remember how he reached the right side. The woman's voice echoed in his ears, like thunder in early spring.
After all participants were tested, only a few stood on the left. To the spectators, they appeared as immovable mountains.
Xio Yuan looked at Bai Tian with disdain. Yet beneath that gaze was also confusion—after all, Bai Tian was known for his diligence.
The middle-aged woman spoke again:
"To become a cultivator, a strong spirit is fundamental, but perseverance is far more important. Even ordinary students, with enough perseverance, can become sect disciples. The second test is the trial of perseverance."
She paused briefly before continuing:
"Climb this stone staircase. The first one hundred to reach the top will pass. The rest will be sent back to their families. If you feel incapable or face danger, shout loudly, and someone will come to assist."
After giving the instructions, she led the disciples who passed the first test and disappeared toward the mountains.
Bai Tian drew a deep breath. His eyes were filled with determination. Without hesitation, he began climbing the stone steps, starting the second trial.
Among thousands of youths, some were pressured, some burning with determination, and others filled with fear. Each marched toward their own future.
The stone steps seemed ordinary—flat and solid—but shortly after stepping, an immense pressure descended from above. Several participants collapsed instantly; some even suffered joint dislocations.
Seeing this, those who had not yet stepped forward became fearful. Some chose to retreat, valuing their lives above all.
A young female disciple at the side of the field shouted:
"Attention! This stone staircase is a heritage of the second generation of the Rainbow Cloud Sect. The higher you climb, the greater the pressure you will face. This trial can result in death. Consider carefully before ascending!"
Her words made many participants shiver. Yet among them were also youths from impoverished backgrounds, seeing this as their only chance to change their destiny. With determined faces, they stepped forward nonetheless.