Master Yue stood before the gathered children and boomed out the instructions:
"Listen carefully, everyone! From here, follow the path through the bamboo forest and head towards the Bone-Refining Cliff. The first section of the route will be through the bamboo forest, followed by a rocky section, and finally, a sheer cliff. Only those who make it to the top of the cliff before noon can qualify to join the Seven Mystical Gates as official disciples. If you fail to reach the top, you won't be accepted, but if you show exceptional ability along the way, you may be considered as outer disciples."
Han Li didn't fully understand what being an "outer disciple" meant, but he knew that he needed to move forward and climb the mountain. Looking ahead, he saw a slope covered with thick bamboo shoots that didn't appear particularly steep or difficult to climb.
He glanced at the other children. The atmosphere among them had shifted, the competitive tension palpable. Everyone seemed eager to prove themselves.
Master Yue glanced at the rising sun and then announced, "It's time. Get ready to set off. Don't be afraid. The senior disciples will be behind you to protect you. They will ensure your safety."
Han Li turned to look at the senior disciples standing behind him, realizing they were likely former disciples of the Seven Mystical Gates. He couldn't help but wonder if he, too, would one day wear the same impressive robes.
While lost in these thoughts, Han Li noticed the other children had already dashed into the bamboo forest. Realizing he had been daydreaming, he quickly followed.
The bamboo forest was vast. As the thirty or so children rushed in, they quickly spread out. A tall, thin senior disciple followed Han Li closely but said nothing, his face cold and expressionless. Han Li felt a little scared and didn't dare speak. He bent low, taking careful steps as he slowly made his way up the slope.
At first, the journey didn't seem too difficult. But after a while, Han Li's legs began to feel heavier and heavier, and he soon found himself using one hand to grip the bamboo stalks to help propel himself forward. The climb was becoming exhausting.
After struggling for a long time, Han Li finally had to rest. He slumped onto a nearby mound of earth, gasping for breath.
He glanced back at the tall disciple behind him. Despite the steepness of the terrain, the disciple remained perfectly still, not a speck of dust on his clothes. His posture was as upright and rigid as a bamboo stalk, and he was silently watching Han Li.
Feeling self-conscious under the disciple's cold gaze, Han Li quickly turned away. He could hear the sounds of children resting up ahead. He realized he had been left behind, so, after catching his breath for a moment, he hurried on.
The slope was becoming steeper, and with each step, Han Li felt more and more drained. His body ached, and his clothes were beginning to tear. His knees scraped against the rocks, and his hands, as he reached for the stone outcroppings, were cut and bruised. Despite the pain, he pressed on, determined to keep up.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached the edge of the bamboo forest. Before him stood a massive boulder with several children already scrambling up its rocky face. Behind them, a few senior disciples, similarly dressed, kept watch. Without hesitation, Han Li ran towards the rock wall.
The stone was jagged, layered with weathered deposits that crumbled at the touch. Some sections were sharp enough to cut through his skin, leaving small but painful cuts. In less than an hour, Han Li's hands were a bloody mess, and his clothes were ripped. He kept climbing, his wounds stinging as dust and gravel seeped into the gashes, making the pain even worse.
The children in front of him were slowly pulling ahead. Han Li gritted his teeth, remembering the warnings his father and uncle had given him. He couldn't give up now. He pushed himself harder.
Han Li didn't care much about passing the test anymore; what mattered now was not falling behind. He had made it this far, and he refused to let the others outpace him.
Ahead, he saw Wu Yan, the boy who had been leading the group from the start. Wu Yan was older than Han Li and had trained in martial arts, so he moved much more easily up the cliff. Han Li knew it was futile to catch up to him, but he couldn't stop himself from trying. His body felt like it was made of lead, and the weight of exhaustion threatened to pull him down.
As he continued to climb, the sunlight grew hotter, and the distance to the top seemed to stretch on forever. Wu Yan had nearly reached the summit. Han Li's movements were sluggish, and he felt like he was losing strength with every step.
He glanced back and saw that some of the children were still far behind, breathing heavily, their faces flushed. Seeing them struggle gave him a small boost of hope, but when he looked ahead, the top seemed so far out of reach.
He kept climbing, but just as he reached the final stretch, the pain in his arms and legs became too much to bear. His hands slipped from a rock, and his body lurched backward, falling. His heart skipped a beat as he plummeted down.
Panic surged through him. He frantically pressed his body against the cliff face, trying to stop the fall. It was only when he felt his hand latch onto a more secure rock ledge that he managed to steady himself.
After a few moments of sheer terror, Han Li took a deep breath and calmed himself. He reached up again and found another handhold. Slowly, carefully, he made his way to the next rock, then the next.
Behind him, the cold-eyed senior disciple had moved closer, positioning himself in a protective stance, ready to catch Han Li if he fell again.
Grateful for the disciple's vigilance, Han Li pushed onward. His hands were still raw, and his body ached, but he was determined to keep going. After a brief rest, he resumed climbing, heading for the ropes hanging from the top of the cliff.
By the time Han Li reached the first rope, the sun was nearly at its zenith. Wu Yan had already reached the top, waving triumphantly as he looked down.
Han Li gritted his teeth and grabbed the thick rope. His fingers were numb, and his muscles screamed in protest, but he refused to give up. He pulled himself up, inch by inch, toward the summit.
The last stretch was excruciating, but he could see the top just ahead. With one final push, he managed to grab the last knot in the rope, and with all his remaining strength, he hauled himself over the edge.
He collapsed onto the ground, completely spent. His body trembled with exhaustion, his hands raw and bleeding. He had made it. He had survived the test.
Looking back down the cliff, he saw that there were still a few children struggling to make it. Han Li gave a small, bitter smile. Although he had been slow, he was still among the first to reach the top.
But as he lay there, panting and trying to catch his breath, he realized that the hardest part of his journey had just begun.