"Come on kid, you've come here every day since the examinations began a month ago. If you were going to be accepted, wouldn't you already be at a sect by now? You should go back home!"

Over the past 30 days Felix had become somewhat familiar with the guard at the entrance of the square, so he knew she just didn't want him to be disappointed again, but when his mother had died he'd sworn to himself that he would become a legendary cultivator like his father and make his mother proud, no matter what. So how could he let his lack of - well, everything - stand in his way?

"30th time lucky, right?" Felix replied whilst jogging past the guard. He had no time to lose!

Even though he had been coming here for the past month, he was still taken aback by the number of people. There were more people here than the entirety of his village, and that was including the dead people in the graveyard!

The majority of people were lining up to take the general test, which included testing for spiritual affinity and comprehensive ability, as there was no need for prior knowledge and was indicative of potential, rather than ability, so it was considered the easiest. Felix's spiritual affinity was, disappointingly, just below average, which was somewhat surprising, as it was generally acknowledged that children with cultivators for parents would have a higher affinity. This could have been overcome by having good comprehension, but it was even worse than his affinity. To anyone else this would have been quite predictable, considering how long it took him to learn the basics of carpentry in his village, and would have crushed their hopes of joining a sect, as even those with ordinary affinity and comprehensive ability would find it difficult to get an invitation. Felix's brain worked a little differently however, and he did not even consider giving up. He tried weapons, elemental affinity, body cultivation, and tested for special physiques, just to fail. He had even tried his luck at alchemy a few days ago, even though he knew nothing about making potions or pills and didn't even know what distillation was!

Having exhausted all the methods of getting into a sect, he only had one last thing to try. If this didn't work, he might really have to consider going home!

'Come on Felix, 30th time lucky'

Having encouraged himself, Felix lightly slapped his cheek to clear his mind and headed back towards the general testing area where he had been rejected on his first day here. This time though, he didn't join the long queue, instead going towards a handsome looking fellow with exquisitely embroidered robes.

Throwing himself onto his knees, Felix looked up at the man and saw his eyes widen in surprise before he quickly regained control over himself.

"Please sir, please give me a chance in your sect! I may not have a good affinity, and I'm not very intelligent, but I'm very hard working! I can make up for it by practicing twice, no, three times as hard as everyone else! Please! My father was a cultivator, and I must follow in his footsteps!"

Just as Felix was going to continue, the man started roaring with laughter, making Felix tremble.

'Oh no! Now I've gone and offended some big shot! Should I run?'

Felix dismissed that thought as soon as it appeared; if the stories had any semblance of truth, he would not even be able to make a step before his body would have to say goodbye to his head. When he started to consider begging for mercy, the man began to speak.

"No stranger has ever dared talk to me like that since I became the leader of the Endless Mountains sect. Quite refreshing actually, instead of the fearful glances I usually get. You know what? Since you put me in such a good mood I'll fulfill your request, but keeping yourself in the sect will be your responsibility. Be here tomorrow by noon."

Casually tossing Felix a peculiar coin, the man walked off, leaving Felix kneeling there in a daze. When his mind finally caught up with what just happened, a massive grin appeared on his face.

"Woohoo! 30th time lucky!"

Felix's shout drew a few glances, but he didn't care! He was going to be part of a sect! He took one last look at the square and all the examinations taking place before leaving, deciding he'd spend the rest of the day wandering round the city, admiring all these new and exciting things that you'd never encounter in his village. On the way here he'd even come across a musician playing on the streets!

'I hope I don't get lost'

***

In the end he did get lost, but it was easy enough to get directions back to the inn where he was staying, which, fortunately for him, had a discount during the examination period, otherwise he would not have been able to afford it after spending most of his savings on the journey from his village.

Given his lack of funds, he'd chosen the cheapest room in the cheapest inn he could find, and it really was not much; the poorly lit room was barely bigger than the bed, with a creaky floor and lumpy straw mattress. Given his excitement, he knew it would be a while before he fell asleep, so he took out the coin the Sect Leader gave him and admired it. It was made from a metal he had never seen before, though that was not saying much, with an intricate design on one face depicting an endless sea of mountains and clouds arranged to form the words 'Endless Mountains Sect'. In contrast, the other side was bare except for a few words, reading 'Outer Sect Admission Token'.

Closing his eyes he finally fell asleep, dreaming of becoming a cultivator, flying on swords and slaying dragons. Tomorrow was the first step in a long journey.