The colossal Leviathan came to a halt in the courtyard just outside the majestic Spectral Haven Main Hall, an architectural masterpiece designed to exude power and freedom.
With its towering dome that reached thousands of meters high and magnificent pillars adorned with the purest gold in the universe, the hall emanated grandeur. Its pristine white walls were adorned with archaic symbols resembling leaves, intricately woven in deep shades of blue.
A group of inner disciples, clad in immaculate white robes with blue shoulder pads, stood in orderly rows outside the hall's entrance.
They stood with their backs straightened, awaiting instructions from the elders, who were draped in resplendent gold robes. Every elder maintained a rigid posture, their undivided attention fixed upon a youth dressed in black, leisurely sipping tea within the howdah. They dared not display any expressions that might offend the young man.
Questions swirled in their minds. Should they wait for him to finish his tea before summoning him? Or should they call him forth immediately?
Rumors abounded about the enigmatic young man. The most prevalent rumor depicted him as a tempestuous figure, prone to explosive fits of rage.
It was said that even a minor misstep could cost one their life. While the validity of such claims remained dubious, rumors often contained a kernel of truth, didn't they?
Breaking the prolonged silence, one of the elders stepped out of formation and approached, cupping his hands in a respectful bow, his voice amplified by the essence within him. "Elder Lang greets Young Master Wei," he declared.
As if roused from a trance, the other elders swiftly followed suit, and the legion of inner disciples resounded in unison, their voices booming and causing birds in distant forests to take flight. Long Wei savored the final sip of his tea before delicately placing the cup on the saucer that Elder Cai presented. He dusted off his attire, rising from his seat and lightly tapping the floor with his toe.
With graceful elegance, he soared through the air, leaping from the back of the Leviathan and landing soundlessly on the marbled tiles of the courtyard. His hands rested gently behind his back, while his chin tilted at a perfect thirty-degree angle, gazing toward the heavens.
He basked in the reverence bestowed upon him by the disciples and elders for a fleeting moment before clasping his fist into his palm and bowing, reciprocating the respect they had shown. After all, his father would be gravely disappointed if he failed to maintain proper decorum outside the Palace.
"Thank you, esteemed elders and disciples of the Spectral Haven Sect, for the warm welcome. I am unworthy of such grandeur," he spoke in a gentle tone, a genial smile adorning his lips.
"It's merely a modest reception, Young Master Wei. Nothing too extravagant. Please, come. The others are eagerly awaiting your presence inside," Elder Lang interjected hastily, eager to prevent further conversation.
His mind raced with silent curses, contemplating who could possibly be deemed worthy of a formal greeting if the crown prince himself was not. Did they wish to give the elders heart attacks?
The legion of inner disciples parted, unveiling the imposing golden doors behind them. Most of the elders remained silent, uncertain of their roles. Within the Spectral Haven Sect, they held certain status and could flaunt it when visiting other places and clans.
However, in the presence of the Long Clan, that status seemed to evaporate, leaving them nowhere to hide. Offending the young master jeopardized the standing they had worked so hard to attain. Only the Core Elders could assert their dominance confidently in his presence, which partially explained their absence during this reception.
The two elders who had been guarding Long Wei leapt from the Leviathan, landing beside him. They offered quick bows to the elders and students before adhering closely to his side, their presence akin to two sticks glued together. Elder Lang pushed aside the nerves welling within him and took the lead.
The journey proceeded mostly in silence, interrupted only by the occasional squeak of shoes against the pristine tiled floors. Though their steps may have appeared leisurely to the untrained eye, they traversed the vast hallways, spanning thousands of meters, within seconds.
Elder Lang stood as the sole brave elder guiding them, while the others followed along, maintaining a discreet distance.
Long Wei broke the silence as they reached the hallway, inquiring, "Could you explain Spectral Haven's recruitment process, particularly the trials? I find them rather intriguing."
"Young Master Wei, there is no need for you to concern yourself with such matters. We will forgo the usual process, as it is primarily designed to assess the potential of a specific group of prodigies. Your exceptional capabilities render such tests unnecessary," Elder Lang hastened to assure him.
"But you haven't answered the question," Elder Cai's powerful voice resonated.
"Ah, yes, you are correct. The prospective disciples will undergothree major trials after passing through a verification process. First, their soul and bone age will be assessed, followed by an evaluation of their potential and talent, and finally their cultivation level. Once these three aspects meet the required criteria, participants become eligible for the three trials: the Dao Heart test, a survival challenge, and a profession assessment."
"Many sects and even some clans employ this particular method due to its comprehensive nature, taking into account the three core elements necessary for a cultivator to become a Supreme expert. Firstly, an unwavering Dao Heart is essential, as cultivation involves strengthening not only the body and spirit but also the core of one's being—the heart. It represents one's principles, limits, desires, needs, and personality, all condensed into a singular entity," Elder Lang expounded passionately, his speech taking on a fervent tone.
They rounded the last corner leading into the main hall, and Elder Lang concluded his explanation. Long Wei listened intently, finding it intriguing.
Throughout his life, he had primarily focused on cultivating and learning royal scheming from his unpleasant stepmothers and half-siblings.
He considered the Palace both safe and dangerous, and his conviction on that matter remained unshakable. Sects hadn't captured his interest much. The resources they could offer were no different from what his father could provide.
A single item from his mother held immeasurably greater value than any gem or cultivation resource any sect could ever afford. That had been his previous perspective. He had never bothered to research and expand his knowledge about sects or understand their workings. But now, he had changed his mind.
Hearing information directly from others proved far more entertaining than reading about it, especially the mundane details.
They entered the main gathering hall, adorned with spirit lamps of various sizes hanging from the ceilings, casting warm orange hues upon the lofty mix of brown and pale white walls.
Youths from powerful backgrounds occupied the vast space of the hundred square meter hall. Those from dragon lineages secluded themselves in a corner on the far left of the massive stage at the center. Their powerful bodies were adorned with rippling muscles, and their towering heights surpassed that of most other races present.
Without the dragon tattoos peeking through the collars of their tightly bound robes, they would resemble normal humans. However, this distinction extended beyond the dragons.
A human form was crucial for cultivation. Every God Beast possessed a human form and needed to cultivate to the Immortal Realm to unlock the true potential of their bloodline.
Humans themselves were forced into their 'human' forms due to an event that occurred countless years ago, which extracted their God Beast bloodline, leaving behind mere remnants.
The members of the Phoenix clan were quite talkative, capturing Long Wei's attention. They were loud and obnoxious, chatting incessantly about various topics, jumping from one tidbit to another, mixing stories and narratives that they shouldn't have. In short, they chattered like common birds in the early morning hours.
Kun Pengs were known for their boastful nature, and the rumor didn't disappoint Long Wei. One particular individual caught his eye.
"I have already mastered the First Level of a Heaven-Grade technique bestowed upon me by my great-grandfather. And it is immensely powerful. A single breath of mine can blow you all away," a confident, rotund young man proclaimed to a group of young ladies from the formidable Silent Siren Clan. One of the girls, unimpressed, puffed her cheeks, her face turning pink with blush, and left. The rest followed suit, leaving the young Peng bewildered.
Silence descended upon the room as Young Master Wei's figure formally entered the hall. All eyes turned towards him, studying his deep black eyes.
Some eyes expressed confusion, unable to comprehend the reason behind the sudden hush.
One particular gaze caught his attention — it belonged to a girl around his age, obscured by a group of girls dressed in sky-blue dresses with purple-pink floral embroidery around the waist. The hatred emanating from her gaze was unimaginable. What had he done to offend the owner of that gaze? He couldn't care less.
"Carry on with what you were doing. I won't bite," he remarked.
The silence persisted, filled with pounding hearts and heated breaths that tainted the once lively atmosphere. No one dared to be the first to speak.
Even those who considered themselves peerless within the same realm kept their mouths shut and read the room. Long Wei himself was utterly confused by the sudden silence that greeted his appearance.
He had ventured into the outside world no more than fifteen times, and each occasion had been for special training purposes.
"I'm not that intimidating, am I?"