{Two days later..}
The sun was barely hanging onto the sky by the time we left the city behind. The dirt road leading to the Heaven Crushing Sect was nothing short of a cliché—twisted trees, an eerie wind, and enough shadows to make you second-guess why you didn't just stay home. Not that I had a home to return to at the moment, but you get the idea.
As the carriage rumbled along the uneven dirt road, I glanced out the window, My mind flickered back to the strange events that led us here—escaping the empty city, teaming up with Kael, and now, barreling toward the Heaven Crushing Sect like we were on a misguided adventure.
"Is it just me, or do we look ridiculously out of place?" I said, glancing sideways at Kael, who was nonchalantly leaning against the window, his crimson eyes hidden beneath the shadow of his hood.
Kael chuckled softly. "You're right. The fashion sense here is severely lacking."
"Fashion sense? More like 'let's see how many layers of fabric we can pile on before we suffocate.' I mean, look at us. We look like we just crawled out from under a rock. The only way this could get worse is if we started rolling in mud for authenticity." I couldn't help but let a smirk creep onto my face, imagining the horrified looks of the disciples when they caught sight of our shabby appearance.
The atmosphere in the carriage felt tense, a strange mix of anticipation and dread. The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange hue over the landscape, and I could almost sense the weight of the sect looming in the distance. Every bump in the road jolted my thoughts as I mentally prepared myself for whatever awaited us at the Heaven Crushing Sect.
Eventually, we crested a hill, and there it was-the Heaven Crushing Sect, majestic and imposing. A tall stone wall, adorned with intricate carvings of mythical beasts, encircled the sect, giving it an air of impenetrable strength. The wall's surface glistened in the fading sunlight, as if it were infused with some kind of spiritual energy. Massive gates, flanked by two imposing statues of fierce dragons, stood at the entrance, their mouths open in silent roars, as if warning intruders to think twice before entering.
"What do you think?" Kael murmured, his voice low as he took in the sight.
"It's like they took 'over-the-top' and cranked it up to eleven. Are those dragons on the gates? I can't tell if they're here to guard the place or audition for a petting zoo," I quipped, unable to suppress the urge to lighten the mood, even as my heart raced at the sight of the sect.
Kael smiled faintly. "You'd be surprised what can be found in a sect. Just keep your wits about you."
As we got closer, I noticed the crowd. Oh, great. There were other people here—people who actually looked like they belonged. Some of them were practically dripping with wealth, their clothes shimmering in the fading light, while Kael and I looked like we'd been rolling around in a ditch somewhere. Which, to be fair, wasn't that far from the truth. Our black cloaks and masks weren't exactly helping our case, either. But hey, if you're gonna be underestimated, might as well lean into it.
The landscape within the walls was a harmonious blend of nature and architecture. Small pagodas dotted the grounds, each with sweeping roofs and intricate wooden carvings. Flowering trees lined the pathways, their petals drifting gently to the ground, creating a picturesque scene that belied the intensity of the sect's training.
"Ready?" Kael asked, a faint hint of a smile on his lips.
I took a deep breath, rolling my eyes inwardly. "I was born ready for awkward encounters. Let's get this over with."
As we got closer, we saw that Two disciples stood by the gate, both young, maybe in their early twenties. Their navy-blue robes were embroidered with intricate silver patterns, their postures rigid and serious. One of them had a long spear resting against his shoulder, while the other carried a sword at his waist. Their auras were sharp, like a pair of wolves watching for any sign of weakness in a flock of sheep.
I could hear the murmurs and whispers from the other prospective disciples who were gathered near the gate. Some were already forming small groups, chatting in nervous excitement about what their talent grade would be. Others stood alone, their eyes darting toward us in curiosity, but quickly dismissing us when they saw our ragged appearance.
We decided to just get in the sect instead of standing outside as we were tired.
The two gate disciples exchanged a glance as we approached. Their eyes swept over us, narrowing in disdain.
"Stop right there," the taller of the two said, stepping forward. His voice was loud enough to draw the attention of the nearby crowd, and I could feel several pairs of eyes turning toward us. "State your names and purpose."
Kael remained silent, his hood low over his face. I glanced at him, waiting to see if he'd speak, but when he didn't, I stepped forward instead.
We're here for the Heaven Crushing Sect's enrolment test," I said, keeping my voice calm.
The disciple eyed us suspiciously. "And you expect to be taken seriously looking like that?"
I held back my punch, but before I could say anything, Kael's hand lightly brushed my arm—a silent signal to stay quiet. The second disciple stepped forward now, crossing his arms and eyeing us up and down.
"You look more like beggars than cultivators," he sneered. "The Heaven Crushing Sect doesn't entertain beggars, shoo shoo. I don't think you will even have a cultivation talent, turn back now."
Behind us, the crowd started to mutter, their whispers barely audible but unmistakably judgmental.
"Look at those two. Did they seriously think they could just waltz into the sect like that?"
"I bet they're just hoping for a miracle. No way they're getting in."
I shot a glance back at the onlookers, some of whom were snickering openly at us. being in a face slapping scene was only fun at the end phase.
I glanced at Kael again, and for a moment, I thought he was going to let this play out. But then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he reached up and pulled back his hood.
The reaction was instant.
As Kael's face was revealed, his crimson-red eyes caught the fading light of the setting sun, glowing like embers against the backdrop of the darkening sky. The nearby crowd gasped audibly, the whispers dying down in an instant. There was something almost unnatural about the way his eyes stood out against the cold, sharp angles of his face. And then, it hit them—the overwhelming pressure of his Qi, though still suppressed, was impossible to ignore at this close range.
The disciples in front of us froze, their eyes widening as they took in Kael's appearance. For a brief moment, they seemed too stunned to speak.
"A…a Golden Core cultivator…" one of them stammered, his hand dropping from the hilt of his sword.
The second disciple, now visibly pale, took a step back. "Wait, This cultivation and crimson eyes, Y-Y-your h-highness k-Kael, we didn't… we didn't know it was you!"
"You—you're a core disciple!" the second disciple cried, his voice trembling. "We would never—if we had known—"
Kael didn't say anything. He didn't need to. His mere presence was enough to send waves of panic through the two guards. I glanced at the crowd, watching as their faces shifted from arrogant amusement to disbelief. I stifled a laugh, leaning closer to Kael.
"Well, that escalated quickly," I muttered.
Still, no response from him. But I could tell from the tension in his stance that he was more than ready to be done with this farce.
"Open the gates," Kael said finally, his voice calm but with enough authority to send the disciples scrambling.
The iron gate creaked as they hurried to push it open, their faces still flushed with embarrassment and fear. As it swung wide, revealing the inner grounds of the Heaven Crushing Sect, I felt the weight of what was coming settle over me, just kidding, I had the system, I'll be fine.
Behind us, the murmurs of the crowd hadn't stopped. Even now, people were pointing, whispering among themselves.
"Crimson eyes… a Golden Core cultivator? He's here for the trials?"
As I was listening to the crowd's murmurs, the system notification came up..
Cooldown over, wish is available.