The Nine Azure Sect had stood in the Azure Cloud Range for three thousand years. During that time, generations of disciples had entered its gates, some remaining ordinary cultivators while others rose to positions of influence throughout the Great Sun Continent. Its territory extended across several mountain peaks, with the main sect buildings occupying the highest ground and the outer courts spread along the lower slopes.
The sect was situated in the eastern reaches of the continent, where spiritual energy was abundant. Its location had made it a suitable place for cultivation long before the Nine Azure Sect was established.
Among the sect's many traditions was the Grand Selection, held once every ten years. Young people from nearby cities, villages, clans, and smaller families gathered at the sect to have their spiritual roots examined. Those who demonstrated sufficient talent were given an opportunity to become disciples.
For many, it was the first and perhaps only opportunity to change the course of their lives.
That year, thousands had arrived.
The selection was held in the sect's outer square, a broad open area paved with white dragon-scale stone. Temporary arrangements had been made to accommodate the candidates, while sect disciples and attendants supervised the gathering.
At the centre of the square stood a raised platform. An ancient obsidian pillar, crossed by glowing silver veins, occupied its middle. It was known as the Spirit Testing Stone, and its purpose was to examine the spiritual roots of those who placed their hands upon it.
Elder Han was responsible for overseeing the ceremony.
He stood on the platform in long grey robes, watching the candidates assemble. His cultivation had reached Body Tempering, Level 10 Perfection, the highest level of the first cultivation stage. Having served the sect for many years, he had witnessed numerous selections and had seen candidates of every background pass before the testing stone.
Some arrived with the support of powerful families. Others came from distant settlements with little more than the clothes they wore. Their circumstances differed, but the test was the same for everyone.
Once the candidates had settled into their places, Elder Han stepped forward.
"Everyone, listen carefully. We will begin the selection shortly. When your name is called, come forward and place your palm on the Spirit Testing Stone. Do not remove it until the examination is complete."
He paused and looked across the gathering.
"The sect will assess your spiritual roots and current cultivation. Those who qualify will be accepted as new disciples. Those who do not should not cause a disturbance. There are other paths in life besides cultivation."
With that, he signalled to the overseer standing beside him.
"Begin."
"First, Ye Xuan of the Ye Clan!"
A young man dressed in clean blue robes stepped out of the crowd. He walked towards the platform without hesitation, his appearance and manner suggesting that he was accustomed to being treated with respect.
Several candidates recognised him.
"That's Ye Xuan, the third son of the Ye Family from the Capital."
"I've heard about him. Wasn't he born with a strange birthmark on his chest?"
"Apparently, it resembles a dragon. I wonder what kind of spiritual root he has."
Ye Xuan reached the platform and placed his palm against the Spirit Testing Stone.
For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then a low hum came from within the pillar.
A crimson glow appeared at its base and gradually travelled upwards through the silver veins. The light grew brighter until the entire pillar was illuminated. A faint roar resembling that of a flame-dragon accompanied the display.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Five distinct bands of fiery light appeared before the glow settled into a brilliant golden colour.
Elder Han examined the result.
"High-Grade Single-Attribute Fire Spirit Root."
He looked at Ye Xuan before announcing his cultivation.
"Body Tempering, Level 3 (Initiation). Fifteen years old and already at the third level. That's a promising start."
The candidates exchanged glances. Reaching the third level of Body Tempering at such a young age was an achievement worth noting, particularly for someone who had not yet entered a cultivation sect.
Ye Xuan withdrew his hand.
He appeared satisfied with the result, although he made little effort to hide his confidence. After receiving instructions from an attendant, he moved towards the designated area for the promising candidates.
The next name was called.
"Lin Feng! Servant from the outer kitchens!"
A young man in worn, patched clothes stepped forward. His face was stained with dirt, and his clothes were considerably less presentable than those of the other candidates.
A few people recognised him as well.
"Lin Feng? Isn't he one of the kitchen servants?"
"What is he doing here?"
"Perhaps he wants to try his luck. Though I doubt he has the resources to cultivate properly."
Their remarks reached him, but Lin Feng continued walking.
He had become accustomed to such treatment. Working in the outer kitchens had never given him much standing among the sect's disciples, and he had little reason to expect their attitude to change today.
There was something else on his mind.
Inside the pocket of his ragged tunic rested a worn black ring. He had found it three days earlier in a deep mountain ravine. Since then, it had occasionally grown warm against his skin. He had not told anyone about it.
Lin Feng reached the testing stone and placed his palm against its surface.
The pillar responded almost immediately.
A pitch-black light spread from its base, moving through the silver veins. At the same time, an ancient aura accompanied the display. It was subtle enough to escape the attention of everyone present.
Then came the sounds.
Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
Seven resonant strikes rang out from the pillar.
The candidates fell silent.
Elder Han, who had been waiting for the next result, looked towards Lin Feng with renewed interest. He examined the pillar before speaking.
"Seven reverberations... A Dark-Attribute Heavenly Spirit Root!"
He turned his attention towards the young man.
"Your cultivation is..."
A moment later, he announced the result.
"Body Tempering, Level 5 (Moderate)!"
For the first time that morning, Elder Han's composure gave way to genuine surprise.
"A kitchen servant who has already reached the fifth level?"
The crowd began talking all at once.
"Level 5? Did I hear that correctly?"
"How did a kitchen servant reach that level?"
"His result is even higher than Ye Xuan's!"
Lin Feng withdrew his hand. The black ring inside his pocket had grown cool again.
He had no answer for the questions surrounding him. Nor did he understand why the testing stone had produced such a result.
On the elevated steps, Ye Xuan watched him with a displeased expression. His hand tightened beneath his blue silk sleeve. A moment earlier, the attention of the entire gathering had been on him. Now, it had shifted to a servant boy.
Lin Feng paid little attention to the reactions around him. He was still thinking about the ring.
Then, a faint voice sounded inside his mind.
'A decent seed... but far too weak to inherit my lineage yet...'
The voice was raspy and ancient. It faded almost as soon as it appeared.
Lin Feng stood still for a moment.
Had he really heard something?
He glanced down at his pocket but found no explanation. Eventually, he composed himself and walked towards the accepted candidates.
He stopped a few steps away from Ye Xuan.
Neither youth spoke.
The overseer called the next name, and the examination continued.
Over the following two hours, hundreds of candidates were tested. The majority possessed ordinary spiritual roots, often containing three or four attributes. Although such roots did not necessarily prevent someone from cultivating, they were generally considered less desirable than single-attribute roots.
The elders recorded the results and assigned the candidates according to their qualifications. Some were accepted into the outer court, while others were considered more suitable for ordinary sect duties.
As the examination progressed, two more candidates attracted the elders' attention.
The first was Mu Chen, the son of a mercenary captain from the northern wilderness. He wore worn leather armour and maintained a quiet demeanour. Unlike the more confident candidates, he showed little interest in the surrounding crowd.
When his turn came, he placed his hand against the Spirit Testing Stone.
A pale blue light spread across the pillar. Frost formed over its surface, gradually covering the stone in intricate patterns of ice.
Elder Han examined the result.
"Single-Attribute Ice Spirit Root. Body Tempering, Level 4 (Moderate)."
Mu Chen acknowledged the announcement with a small nod before leaving the platform.
The next notable candidate was Chu Wan'er, a young girl from the distant Lotus Pavilion. She carried an emerald flute and approached the testing stone calmly.
When she placed her hand against it, the pillar began to glow with a clear green light. A faint fragrance, reminiscent of blooming lotus flowers, spread through the immediate surroundings.
Elder Han looked at the result.
"High-Grade Wood Spirit Root. Body Tempering, Level 3 (Initiation)."
Chu Wan'er withdrew her hand and stepped aside.
By the time the examination ended and the sun began descending towards the western peaks, four candidates had attracted considerable attention.
Ye Xuan of the Ye Clan, with his Fire Spirit Root.
Lin Feng, the kitchen servant who possessed a Dark-Attribute Heavenly Spirit Root.
Mu Chen from the northern wilderness, with his Ice Spirit Root.
And Chu Wan'er of the Lotus Pavilion, with her Wood Spirit Root.
Their backgrounds and circumstances were different, but all four had demonstrated the potential to become capable cultivators. The elders had taken particular note of their results, and their names would be remembered among the new disciples.
Elder Han stood at the edge of the platform and addressed the accepted candidates.
"The selection is over. Those whose names have been recorded will follow the attendants to the outer court."
He waited until the crowd had quietened.
"Tomorrow, you will enter the Black Wood Forest for the Trial of Survival. This will be your first test as members of the sect. You will have to rely on your own judgement and abilities. Do not assume that having a good spiritual root will keep you safe."
His gaze passed over the newly accepted disciples.
"Pay attention to your surroundings, think before you act, and don't take unnecessary risks. The forest is not a place where carelessness can be easily forgiven."
The elders and attendants began organising the candidates and leading them towards the outer court quarters.
Among them was Lin Feng.
As he walked away from the square, his hand moved unconsciously towards the pocket containing the black ring. He looked back once at the testing platform, then towards the mountain peaks rising above the sect buildings.
He had spent his days working in the outer kitchens, never expecting that a single examination would change his circumstances so suddenly.
Tomorrow, he would enter the Black Wood Forest.
For now, he had more questions than answers.