“You three must take care of each other. Especially you, Kent… don’t hesitate to take help. These two are more experienced and knowledgeable than you. So, respect them and follow their lead if possible.”
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the young boy, and the serious-faced girl who had followed him all this way.
“I will wait here for one week,” Master Lei Zhen continued, his hands folded behind his back. “By then, your qualification test will be finished. If you succeed, you will stay here for a year, receiving great support from our Kulu Nation. You will represent us in the Golden Hair Heir Tournament after a year of training. If you fail…” His eyes turned sharp, like two daggers piercing through their spirit. “You return with me. Empty-handed.”
Before anyone could react, the sky trembled slightly, and a figure descended like a falling star. An elder, dressed in flowing white robes with a golden tree embroidered on his chest, appeared mid-air. His presence alone silenced the murmuring crowd.
He lifted a small silver wand to his throat, and when he spoke, his voice echoed across the entire mountain like the rolling thunder.
“There are two thousand one hundred disciples gathered here today!” he declared. “But only nine hundred of you will be selected to train for one year within the Immortal Living Pool.”
A wave of shock and tension rolled through the crowd like a tidal storm.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Cherish it! Give your full effort!” The elder’s gaze swept across everyone like a divine judgment.
“You must climb this mountain and reach the Castle at the top,” he continued, his voice booming like a war drum. “The true qualification test will take place there! You are allowed to use treasures, spells, or any kind of magic—no restrictions!”
Excited murmurs spread among the disciples.
“But remember this,” the elder added sharply, “the more magic you use, the greater the resistance you will face! Use your strength wisely!”
After those final words, the elder waved his sleeve, vanishing into thin air, leaving behind only an oppressive silence.
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Then suddenly — an explosion of energy!
Disciples dashed forward like floodwaters breaking a dam, each desperate to be the first.
Some disciples summoned flying swords, magical beasts, or sparkling carriages, showing off their treasured artifacts for all to see. For a moment, the base of the mountain was bathed in dazzling light, treasures flashing like stars being born.
But pride has a price.
Barely a few meters into their climb, a howl of invisible wind swept down the mountain.
BOOM!
One after another, disciples who dared to fly or show off were slammed mercilessly against the rocks, falling like withered leaves in a storm.
Cries of pain echoed in the air.
Kent watched it all calmly, without a flicker of emotion in his eyes. Unlike others, he chose to walk with his own legs, feeling the living energy of the mountain under his feet.
He turned and bowed slightly to Master Lei Zhen.
“I’ll be back,” he said simply.
Without waiting for a reply, Kent started moving, step by steady step, up the ancient, worn path leading to the Castle above.
The young boy who had traveled with Kent summoned a massive silver wolf and leapt onto its back, ignoring Kent as he sped forward, dust kicking up behind him.
The serious-faced girl, dressed in plain black robes, silently matched her steps with Kent, neither looking at him nor speaking a word.
They climbed.
The mountain air grew thinner with every step, the pressure increasing like an invisible hand pressing down on their shoulders. The surrounding trees twisted and whispered in voices unheard by mortal ears, and every stone seemed to test their will.
At the three-hundredth step, Kent noticed that the serious-faced girl beside him was beginning to struggle, her breathing heavy, her face pale under the sun’s glare.
Kent, ever courteous, turned his head slightly.
“Do you need some help?” he asked in a calm tone.
The girl snapped her head toward him, her eyes sharp as blades.
“I don’t need your help,” she spat harshly. “You’re not even qualified to speak with me!”
Kent’s eyes narrowed slightly but he said nothing.
The girl lifted her chin proudly.
“I was selected for the Immortal Living Pool three years ago!” she announced loudly, almost as if declaring her superiority to the heavens. “I was nurtured with the best treasures and cultivation resources by my sect! I have trained under masters you cannot even dream of!”
She sneered.
“And you? Some nobody, who just showed a few cheap tricks with a bow and somehow scraped into eligibility!” She gave a disdainful snort. “What right do you have to walk beside me? Save your breath. You will not last long.”
After her venomous words, she summoned a grand chariot from her spirit ring. Seven majestic white horses materialized, their manes glowing with holy light, pulling the chariot smoothly up the mountain path.
With an arrogant toss of her hair, she rode ahead, leaving a trail of disdain in her wake.
Kent simply smiled.
A cold, emotionless smile.
He said not a word, not a curse nor a complaint. He simply continued walking with his own legs, every step calm, every breath steady.
The mountain might be steep.
The wind might be harsh.
The pressure might be unbearable.
But Kent’s heart was as firm as steel.
Above them, the inverted bowl-shaped mountain loomed like a silent giant, and atop it stood the ancient, stony Castle with its pointed towers stabbing into the blue sky like spears. The Castle itself looked battered by endless years, yet it stood proud and immovable, wrapped in a soft, misty aura.
Below this mountain, hidden inside the deep stone belly, lay the legendary Immortal Living Pool.
The air was thick with spiritual energy—so rich that even breathing felt like drinking heavenly nectar. Every breath sent waves of cool vitality into their bones, clearing their mind and strengthening their muscles.
It was an environment that could change destinies.
And it waited for those who could survive the climb.