The illusionary forest had dissolved, leaving the trial arena exposed once more. The gentle breeze swept across the field, carrying with it the remnants of tension and exhaustion that still lingered among the participants. The members of Li Wei's team stood in silence, their bodies bruised and their minds tired, but a wave of relief washed over them. They had survived the test.
High-ranking elders and important figures of the Li clan, including the patriarch himself, observed from their elevated platform. Murmurs rippled through the crowd of elders, clearly astonished by the events that had transpired inside the illusion. Many of them had participated in selecting the formation, confident it would push the young disciples to their limits. None had expected it to be unraveled—especially not by one of the contestants.
The patriarch of the Li clan, a man whose very presence exuded authority, stood tall at the center of the platform. His robes, embroidered with the symbol of the Li clan, shimmered in the light. His sharp gaze was locked on Li Wei, a thoughtful expression on his face. Li Wei's performance had exceeded all expectations. To hijack the formation in front of some of the most skilled elders in the clan was an act that commanded respect, no matter what one's opinion of the boy had been before.
Beside the patriarch, Elder Xuan, the formation master who had designed the trial, remained visibly shaken. The man, who appeared in his early forties but was known to be over 150 years old, had been a personal invite from the patriarch, tasked with creating a test difficult enough to challenge even the most talented disciples. Yet here he was, humbled by a mere youth. Elder Xuan's pride was tempered by genuine admiration. He had asked to become Li Wei's disciple, a fact that had spread among the observing elders like wildfire.
Li Wei stood quietly amidst his team, seemingly unaffected by the attention. His blue eyes shone with a calm confidence, his short white hair catching the light. He was the picture of control, even as his teammates were still catching their breath.
Zhou Wei, massaging his bruised arm, looked at Li Wei with newfound awe. "Brother Li Wei, how did you do that? The constructs—they just stopped."
Mei Chen wiped sweat from her brow, her own fatigue evident. "Yeah, we were sure we were done for. You saved us."
Jin Rui, usually the most brash among them, was silent, his gaze fixed on Li Wei with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Ever since joining the team, Jin Rui had been trying to gauge Li Wei's true strength. Now, he understood that this boy wasn't just powerful—he was on an entirely different level.
Li Wei glanced at his teammates and shrugged casually. "It was nothing special. Just a matter of understanding the formation's structure. Once you see the flaws, it's easy enough to exploit them."
Jin Rui frowned, frustration building in his chest. He had fought tooth and nail, and yet Li Wei made it seem effortless. "Nothing special?" he muttered under his breath. "You hijacked the elder's formation. How is that 'nothing'?"
Before anyone could question him further, the deep voice of the patriarch boomed across the arena. "Li Wei."
The entire arena fell silent as all eyes turned toward the patriarch. The elders who had been murmuring amongst themselves quieted immediately, their attention now focused on the boy who had defied their expectations.
Li Wei stepped forward and offered a respectful bow. "Patriarch."
"You performed beyond what any of us could have imagined," the patriarch began, his voice calm yet filled with authority. "What you accomplished in that formation is no small feat. To see through the illusion and take control of it—it's clear you possess skills far beyond your years."
Li Wei bowed his head slightly, his expression composed. "I thank you for the kind words, Patriarch."
The patriarch's gaze sharpened. "Tell me, where did you learn such intricate formation techniques? Even Elder Xuan, one of the most esteemed formation masters in Qianyuan, was caught off guard by your abilities."
Li Wei paused for a brief moment, considering his response. Revealing too much would bring unnecessary attention, but saying too little might raise suspicion. Finally, he spoke with practiced ease. "I studied formations in secret, Patriarch. Over time, I learned how to manipulate Qi patterns and control the flow within formations. It was merely a matter of practice and observation."
His answer was vague, but it was enough to satisfy most of the elders. They knew talent like his sometimes surfaced in the unlikeliest of places. Yet, there was still a glint of something deeper in the patriarch's eyes, as if he wasn't entirely convinced. But he let it slide, for now.
Elder Xuan stepped forward then, his expression softening. "Li Wei," he called, "I still stand by what I said earlier. Your understanding of formations is truly remarkable. It would be an honor for me to pass on what I know. I understand you walk your own path, but consider my offer carefully."
Li Wei offered the elder a respectful nod. "I will think on it, Elder Xuan. Your offer is generous, and I appreciate your guidance during the test."
As the conversation shifted, the rest of Li Wei's team stood awkwardly, unsure of how to process the magnitude of what had just happened. Zhou Wei exchanged glances with Mei Chen, who was still trying to steady her breathing.
Li Jun, on the other hand, was deep in thought. His suspicions about Li Wei had grown stronger. Before the trials, Li Wei had been known as a lazy, unambitious youth within the clan, often dismissed by others. But now, after this series of events, Li Jun couldn't shake the feeling that Li Wei had been pretending all along—hiding his true potential for reasons unknown. The sudden rise in Li Wei's abilities was far too drastic to be natural. He had to have been planning this for a long time.
Still, Li Jun was uncertain. What could possibly be the reason for Li Wei to have hidden his strength for so many years?
The patriarch's voice broke through Li Jun's thoughts. "This trial was designed not only to test your strength but your teamwork and ability to adapt under pressure. You, Li Wei, have demonstrated leadership and intellect, traits that are vital for our clan's representatives."
He glanced toward the other elders, who nodded in agreement.
"As of this moment, I declare your team victorious in this test. You will represent the Li clan in the upcoming Rite of Ascendancy. Prepare yourselves well, for the challenges ahead will be far more difficult than what you faced today."
Li Wei's team let out a collective breath of relief. Zhou Wei couldn't help but grin, and even Mei Chen's stoic expression softened with a hint of satisfaction. Jin Rui remained silent, though his fists were clenched at his sides.
With that, the trial was officially over. The other teams, having already been dismissed, had witnessed the outcome with a mixture of awe and frustration. Some had underestimated Li Wei and his group, but now it was clear that underestimating him had been a grave mistake.
As the elders began to disperse, the patriarch's gaze lingered on Li Wei for a moment longer before he turned and walked away, leaving the young disciples to contemplate what had just transpired.
Li Wei remained still, his mind already turning toward the future. He had passed the trial, but the Rite of Ascendancy would be an entirely different challenge. The stakes were much higher, and the enemies far more dangerous. His ambition to reach the peak of cultivation was clear, but to achieve it, he would need to tread carefully.
For now, though, the path forward was set. The Li clan had chosen its representatives. The real journey was about to begin.