The two-meter-high plum blossom poles, each with a diameter less than half a foot, were a test of one's agility. For beginners, this test was even harder than the wooden dummy.
Aizen had no confidence in walking the plum blossom poles. While it was true that he had learned basic sorcery techniques, he hadn't learned the basics of movement, and sorcery techniques didn't provide any advantage in walking on the poles.
But now he had to become a disciple of the Heavenly Demon Clan, and even without confidence, he had no choice but to try.
The two-meter-high poles were something Aizen had to climb onto, which caused Steward Cassian to shake his head in disapproval.
In the past, other servants had attempted to become black-clad disciples, but at least they managed to jump directly onto the poles with stability. While they might not have been graceful, they at least put on a decent show.
Lilith also felt anxious seeing Aizen in this state.
Standing atop the pole, Aizen took a deep breath and felt his legs trembling slightly.
The poles were arranged in a plum blossom pattern with large gaps between them. He had to step on each pole and complete the entire route to pass.
There were basic techniques for walking the plum blossom poles, but Aizen had only heard of them and never learned them. There were also basic step changes, but he had never studied them either.
Now, he could only rely on the flexibility of his legs and hope that the fifty taels of silver he had offered would have some effect.
Extending one foot, Aizen stepped onto the nearest pole. The half-foot-wide pole wobbled as soon as Aizen put his weight on it, causing him to sway slightly.
"Move faster!" Steward Cassian shouted impatiently.
Aizen gritted his teeth and pressed on, picking up his pace.
Step by step, Aizen's forehead began to sweat. After just a few moments, he had taken seven or eight steps. His concentration was at its peak, and he was performing beyond his normal capabilities.
His erratic movement could hardly be called walking on the poles.
But Steward Cassian turned a blind eye to this. It was an unspoken rule—since he had accepted Aizen's bribe earlier, turning a blind eye during the test was to be expected.
Of course, this leniency would only go so far. If Aizen fell off the pole or failed to complete the entire route, he would still fail the test.
After a dozen breaths, Aizen finished the course. He stood on the final pole, his face slightly flushed, and looked at Steward Cassian.
"Hmm."
Steward Cassian nodded indifferently, signaling that Aizen had passed.
Overjoyed, Aizen quickly jumped off the pole and bowed to Steward Cassian.
"Alright, Aizen, you've passed the test to become a black-clad disciple of the Heavenly Demon Clan. You can now come with me to register and receive your identity token and clothing."
Steward Cassian waved his hand, clearly not wanting to waste any more time.
Aizen glanced at Lilith, who had always supported him. She smiled at him, giving him a thumbs-up, her dimples showing as she beamed with joy.
The two followed Steward Cassian back to the hall. After a simple registration, Steward Cassian handed Aizen a set of black clothes and a token indicating his new status as a low-level disciple of the Heavenly Demon Clan.
The token was made of ironwood, engraved with the emblem of the Heavenly Demon Clan—a demonic face resembling a skull. The back of the token bore a number: 104503.
This number indicated that Aizen was the 104,503rd person to become a low-level disciple of the Heavenly Demon Clan, placing him at the bottom of the hierarchy, with over one hundred thousand people ahead of him.
"System notification: Congratulations, host, on being promoted to 'Cannon Fodder of the Demonic Path.' Reward: 300 activity points."
Aizen felt a bit dizzy. Promotion from a servant to cannon fodder seemed like something to celebrate? But the unexpected reward of 300 activity points was something Aizen was satisfied with.
After calculating, he realized that he now had 500 activity points, enough to exchange for a medium-level activity chest. But now was not the time to use it, so Aizen decided to wait.
Taking his new clothes and identity token, Aizen and Lilith bowed to Steward Cassian and then left the Hall of Glory together.
As they walked, Lilith joked, "I didn't know you had been secretly practicing. Your sorcery techniques aren't bad, but your movement could use a lot of work."
Now that Aizen was a low-level disciple, he walked with confidence, even though he was still wearing his servant's clothing.
Though Aizen was excited by Lilith's playful remarks, he hadn't forgotten the other important matter. Glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, he quietly told her about killing Steward Edric and Stanley.
Lilith sensed something was wrong when Aizen's expression became serious, but even though she had been somewhat prepared, she was still shocked by what she heard.
"You actually killed..."
She stared at Aizen, unable to finish her sentence. The look of disbelief in her eyes said it all.
How could she not be surprised?
Although she knew that Aizen had picked up some basic sorcery techniques, Steward Edric was no ordinary person. He had been a disciple of the Heavenly Demon Clan for quite some time, and his sorcery abilities were far superior to Scar's.
If Aizen could kill Scar, just how deep did his true strength go?
"I knew you'd react like this," Aizen said calmly. "But now we need to figure out how to deal with this situation. I'm not sure if anyone else knew they were coming to find me. That's why I was so eager to become a disciple—to avoid punishment from the Clan's enforcers."
The two of them had almost reached Aizen's hut by this point.
By now, the other servant disciples had finished their chores and returned. Seeing Aizen walking with Lilith, they made sure to keep their distance.
These disciples had often ridiculed Aizen in the past, but now they were afraid he would seek revenge while Lilith was around.
Aizen paid no attention to these insignificant lackeys. He and Lilith entered his hut, ignoring the envious looks from the other servants.
"Who does he think he is? Looks like Aizen is getting too full of himself. He even brought Lilith into his hut!"
"I didn't know this guy had it in him. Has Lilith ever entered any other man's room before? This must be the first time."
"Shut up! If Lilith hears you, you'd better be ready to lose your tongue!"
The servant disciples whispered among themselves, astonished and envious of Aizen's boldness.
Once inside Aizen's hut, Lilith immediately noticed the bodies of Steward Edric and Stanley lying in the corner. She walked over to examine them, and her pupils dilated slightly when she saw the condition of the corpses.
When she turned to look at Aizen, her eyes held a new depth of understanding.
The bodies of Steward Edric and Stanley didn't have many visible wounds, but Lilith wasn't inexperienced. With just one glance at the injuries, she could tell that Aizen's strength far surpassed theirs.
There was no need to mention Stanley, but Steward Edric had been known for his combat skills. Yet now, looking at the wounds, it was clear that Aizen had first broken his right arm and then finished him off by crushing his throat.
Simply put, Aizen had taken down Steward Edric in just two moves.
Could that even be possible?
As Lilith looked into Aizen's calm, smiling eyes, the serenity and trust reflected back at her conveyed a shocking message.
It was entirely possible.