The messenger's arrival at dawn brought a hush over the village, the kind that follows a storm—tense, expectant, and laced with unspoken fears. Ethan stood among the gathered villagers, his newly acquired bandit sword strapped to his side, its faint Qi hum resonating with his own growing energy. The horse the messenger rode was lathered in sweat, its flanks heaving from what must have been a hard ride through the night. The man himself wore robes emblazoned with a leaf emblem, flowing green with silver threads that caught the early light, marking him as an outer disciple of the Azure Leaf Sect. His face was stern, etched with urgency, as he unrolled a parchment and read aloud in a voice that carried authority.
"By order of Sect Master Liang, recruitment for new disciples is advanced! Beast tides ravage the borders— all youths of talent must report to the sect grounds by midday. Those who show promise will be trained to defend our lands. Failures... well, the wilds claim the weak." He scanned the crowd, his eyes lingering on the able-bodied, including Ethan. "Transportation provided for the worthy. Prove yourselves here, or perish out there."
Murmurs rippled through the villagers. Beast tides—Ethan had heard whispers during the night: waves of Qi-infused creatures surging from the depths of the forest, driven by some cosmic imbalance. It explained the increased dangers, like the bear he had slain. For the village, this was a double-edged sword: a chance for their young to rise, but also a risk of losing them to the sect's brutal trials.
Elder Wei pulled Ethan aside as the messenger prepared carts—simple wooden affairs pulled by sturdy oxen, reinforced with basic arrays for speed. "Lin, this is your path. The sect is no village skirmish; it's a den of wolves. But with your wits... you could thrive." His voice held a mix of pride and worry, the gratitude from the bandit raid still fresh.
Ethan nodded, his expression neutral but his mind churning. The sect represented structure, resources, and hierarchies ripe for manipulation. "I'll make use of it, elder. In return, remember our deal—send any useful herbs or news my way once I'm in." He had already planted seeds: a few villagers as informants, tasked with gathering low-level spirit items. Loyalty through mutual benefit, not blind devotion.
Mei Ling approached, her eyes bright with a determination that mirrored her fiery spirit. She carried a small pack, her simple robes tied for travel. "I'm going too. My brother was taken by beasts last year—I won't sit idle." She glanced at Ethan, a hint of admiration in her gaze. "You've inspired me, Lin. Let's watch each other's backs."
Ethan assessed her quickly. Qi Gathering Level 1, like him now, but with natural talent from village training. An ally could be useful—emotional, yes, but that made her predictable, easy to guide. "Agreed. Strength in numbers, for now."
The messenger tested potentials with a simple crystal orb, glowing when touched by those with Qi affinity. Ethan placed his hand on it, channeling a thread of energy. It lit up brightly, surprising the disciple. "Impressive for a wanderer. Board the cart." Mei Ling passed too, along with two other village youths—a burly boy named Hao and a sly girl called Jiao.
As the carts rumbled out, Ethan sat in the back, meditating to consolidate his gains. Nexus assisted: *Cycling Qi through meridians. Efficiency at 82%. Detect minor blockages—recommend pill usage later.* The bandit pills he had looted would help. The journey took hours, winding through forested paths that grew denser, then opened to rolling hills dotted with ancient ruins. Ethan noted them—potential exploration sites, Nexus marking coordinates mentally.
Conversations flowed among the recruits. Hao boasted of his strength, Jiao schemed about inner sect shortcuts, and Mei Ling shared lore: "The Azure Leaf Sect follows wood-affinity paths—growth, healing, but deadly poisons too. Trials test body, mind, and spirit. Fail, and you're demoted to servants... or worse."
Ethan listened, piecing together the sect's structure. Outer disciples handled grunt work, inner ones got techniques, core for elites. Elders schemed for power, the master aloof. Perfect for climbing—expose weaknesses, forge alliances, eliminate rivals.
By midday, the sect loomed: a massive compound on a mist-shrouded mountain, gates of jade-carved wood flanked by towering spirit trees that pulsed with life energy. Arrays shimmered in the air, protective barriers against beasts. Hundreds of recruits gathered in the outer plaza, a sea of hopefuls from nearby villages and clans. Sect disciples in green robes oversaw, their auras at Foundation Building or higher—intimidating, but Ethan saw the cracks: boredom in their eyes, favoritism toward richer arrivals.
A stern elder, face like weathered bark, addressed the crowd from a raised platform. "Welcome, ants. Today, you climb or fall. First trial: The Qi Labyrinth. Navigate the maze, gather spirit tokens. Top fifty advance to disciples. The rest... servants or expulsion." He waved, and gates opened to a foggy maze of hedges and illusions.
Ethan's group was herded in. The air thickened with Qi, disorienting. "Nexus, map it," he commanded.
*Scanning arrays. Illusion patterns detected—rotating every minute. Generating mental map. Tokens emit faint signals; prioritizing paths.*
The maze twisted, paths shifting like living entities. Recruits panicked, some trapped in loops, others ambushed by minor spirit beasts—illusionary wolves that drained Qi on contact. Ethan moved methodically, Nexus guiding: *Left turn, avoid trap. Token ahead.*
He collected his first token—a glowing jade piece that boosted his Qi slightly. Mei Ling stuck close, her wood-affinity sensing plants to avoid pitfalls. "This way feels right," she said, leading them to another token.
But conflict arose. A group of richer recruits, led by a smug boy named Zuo from a minor clan, blocked a path. "Hand over your tokens, peasants. Or we'll take them."
Hao charged foolishly, but Zuo's Level 3 Qi overpowered him, a palm strike sending him flying. Jiao fled. Mei Ling tensed, ready to fight.
Ethan stepped forward, cold eyes assessing. "Inefficient. Fighting here wastes energy. Share the path, or the maze claims us all."
Zuo laughed. "Bold words from a nobody." He attacked, fist glowing with basic technique.
Nexus simulated: *Dodge right, counter with claw strike.* Ethan evaded, using his bandit sword in a precise slash. It clashed with Zuo's weapon, sparks flying. The boy was stronger, but overconfident. Ethan feinted, then struck a pressure point Nexus highlighted—meridian disruption.
Zuo gasped, Qi faltering. Ethan pressed, disarming him and claiming his tokens. "Yield."
Humiliated, Zuo retreated with his group, muttering threats. Mei Ling stared. "How did you know his weak spot?"
"Observation," Ethan replied, absorbing a token's energy. Level 3 neared.
They pressed on, collecting more. Nexus evolved the map, predicting shifts. Near the exit, a real beast appeared—a vine serpent, Qi Gathering Level 4, lashing with poisonous tendrils.
It coiled around Hao, who had rejoined them weakly. Mei Ling used a basic wood technique to bind it, but it broke free. Ethan analyzed: *Core in head. Strike after distraction.*
He threw a token as bait, the serpent lunging. Mei Ling entangled its tail. Ethan leaped, sword piercing the core. The beast dissolved into Qi essence, which he absorbed—breakthrough to Level 3!
They exited the maze among the top, tokens in hand. The elder nodded approval. "Pass. Rest, then second trial tomorrow: Combat Arena."
As they were assigned quarters—basic barracks for outer potentials—Ethan planned. Zuo would seek revenge; alliances needed strengthening. Mei Ling thanked him again, her bond growing. Nexus noted: *Social matrix updating. Loyalty at 65%.*
Night fell, but Ethan didn't sleep. He cultivated, pills accelerating progress. This sect was his first conquest. Soon, he'd own it.But whispers reached him: "Beast tide incoming. The sect needs cannon fodder."