As the sun dipped towards the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Wang Hao stood at the water's edge. His eyes scanned the surface, watching as more challengers dragged themselves onto the beach, gasping and sputtering. The task reminded him of being a lifeguard on Earth.
Further down, Mu Mein and Fang Tian maintained their posts, unlike Lin Fu, who lay unconscious near the trees, his face swollen beyond recognition. Wang Hao made no judgment; Lin Fu wasn't worth the trouble for now.
A splash and a cry caught Wang Hao's attention. He dove in, thinking it a hassle. His hand found something soft—an arm or a leg, he couldn't tell—and he hauled the body to shore. It was a young woman, coughing up seawater. "Thank you," she wheezed, "I thought I was—"
Wang Hao walked away before she finished. His job was done; she was alive. Making allies would be prudent, as she owed him a life debt, but connections only mattered if they were with capable individuals. For a mortal girl unable to maintain her balance after the ordeal of realm shifting, she was merely prey in these trials.
As night fell, the beach became a patchwork of exhausted bodies and hushed whispers. The overseer had vanished, claiming she needed to finish preparations. Wang Hao observed Mu Mein using this time to gain supporters, cleverly leveraging the gratitude of those she had saved.
The overseer reappeared, her bulk blotting out the stars. "Attention, challengers," her voice boomed. She explained the rules and the island's layout, describing the Five District Mountains and their respective temples.
"You will be divided into four groups," she continued. "Fang Tian will lead the Black Turtle team. Mu Mein, the White Tiger group. Lin Fu, the Vermillion group. And Wang Hao, you will lead the Azura group."
As each name was called, they stood to present themselves. Even Lin Fu, despite his condition, managed to stand, his killing intent palpable but restrained. Toward Wang Hao.
"Latecomers, divide yourselves into teams of ten or eleven. You may choose your team, but there is a limit."
Chaos erupted as everyone scrambled to form lines, most flocking to Mu Mein. The stronger, more aggressive fighters gravitated towards Fang Tian, while the rest split between Lin Fu and Wang Hao. However, Wang Hao quickly noticed that most of the people joining his group were the ones he had saved from the sea earlier that morning, including the girl he had ignored.
The overseer handed each leader a talisman. "This allows you to enter and exit your mountain's barrier. Only the leader can use it. Your temples will have supplies. This trial isn't about survival, so resources aren't a concern. You're here to learn."
She concluded, "Meet me at the Fifth Mountain Temple at sunrise. If even one person on your team is late, everyone will face punishment. Now, proceed to your designated temples."
Wang Hao found himself at the front of his group, setting a brutal pace towards the Azure Dragon mountain.
After half an hour, Wang Hao and his group reached the Azure Dragon mountain stairs. At the summit stood their temple and housing, along with the promise of dinner. The mountain loomed before them, its height rivaling half that of Mount Everest.
They reached the barrier, but the true challenge began with their first steps. The night seemed to stretch endlessly. Wang Hao's muscles screamed in protest, his lungs burning with each breath. Behind him, he heard thuds and cries as his team members collapsed. He forced himself to block out the sounds, focusing solely on the mantra: one foot in front of the other, just keep moving.
The overseer had conveniently forgotten to mention one crucial detail—gravity increased with each step as they climbed toward the temple. She had deceived them, presenting it as a simple walk when in reality, the entire island, from its valleys to its lakes and sea, was an elaborate training ground.
To further increase their pain, the scent of food wafted down from the temple, so strong they could smell it from the bottom of the stairs. Wang Hao's stomach growled in response, a reminder of the sustenance that awaited them.
His jaw clenched as the realization dawned on him: the path to immortality would be littered with corpses. He glanced at the haggard faces around him, wondering how many would still draw breath when the training concluded.
But to Wang Hao, it didn't matter. There could only be one winner, one fake cultivator, and he was determined to be that one. His ambition wasn't driven by a desire for eternal life or a revolt against the Gu masters for relegating mortals to second-class citizens. No, Wang Hao's goal was to roam the heavens and skies freely. He understood that to truly feel the world in all its glory, he must first experience its hells and curses. Only then could he hope to live a truly blissful life.
Wang Hao reflected on Buddha's journey to enlightenment. Buddha could only detach himself and find enlightenment after fully immersing himself in mortal life, experiencing all it had to offer. Only then was he ready to let it go and transcend with a smile.