After settling into their cave abode—one reserved for female cultivators—Reika and Isla finally had a moment to breathe. Meanwhile, Zephyr and Sylas also found themselves in their designated quarters. After a long journey full of bizarre adventures, they had finally arrived in Springwood City. But the upcoming entrance ceremony quickly snapped everyone back into focus. After all, this event was going to be hosted by none other than the city lord, Alarion Ravenshadow, and the deputy lord, Therony Vileheart. The excitement among the new students was palpable; it was all anyone could talk about.
"Just thinking about it makes my heart race!" Reika exclaimed, her eyes wide as she walked along the cobblestone streets of the city square. The bustling scene around her was overwhelming—disciples from various sects were showing off their skills, and the square was packed with cultivators and new students, creating a lively, chaotic atmosphere.
"I heard City Lord Alarion himself is going to host the ceremony. That's a once-in-a-century kind of honor," one student whispered nearby, their voice full of awe.
"Alarion Ravenshadow?" Reika furrowed her brow, mumbling, "That name sounds like an old man."
Before she could finish her thought, a cold voice chimed in from behind. "Only a country bumpkin would think like that. City Lord Alarion is a man in his prime—far beyond what a commoner like you could comprehend."
Reika turned to see a girl in an extravagant purple gown, flanked by two handsome attendants. The girl's smug expression and haughty demeanor screamed noble family.
"And you are?" Reika asked, her tone filled with sarcasm.
"I'm Zara Brightforge, the heiress of the Brightforge family," the girl replied, tilting her chin up. "Not that someone like you would know."
Reika felt a flicker of annoyance, but before she could snap back, Zephyr stepped in, his smile as calm as ever. "Let's not get too heated. We're just here to observe, no need for hostility."
Zara's expression softened the moment she laid eyes on Zephyr. Her tone, too, turned syrupy sweet. "Well, aren't you a charming one? I'm surprised you're hanging around with… this." She flicked her gaze toward Reika like she was examining dirt.
This woman is trying to steal my man right in front of me? Reika seethed inwardly.
But Zephyr simply chuckled, maintaining a polite distance. "Thank you, Miss Brightforge, but I'm quite happy with my friends."
Zara's smile froze, her eyes narrowing as she glanced between Zephyr and Reika. The idea that this bumpkin could get along so well with someone like Zephyr was clearly driving her mad.
"Such a waste," Zara sneered, turning sharply on her heel and walking away, though her jealousy was practically radiating off her like heat waves.
Reika fumed as she watched Zara leave. "Ugh! What a—what a—ugh!" she huffed, her fists clenched.
Zephyr patted her shoulder gently. "Don't let it get to you. She's just trying to provoke you."
Soon, the ceremony began. As expected, Alarion Ravenshadow—who, despite his name, looked no older than a youthful teenager—appeared, waving to the crowd with a bright smile. Next to him stood the ever-stern Therony Vileheart, his sharp eyes scanning the students as if daring them to make a mistake.
"The ceremony is underway. Students, you are free to showcase your best skills," Therony announced, his voice cutting through the chatter.
The crowd buzzed with excitement—some students were eagerly preparing to show off, while others frantically flipped through their manuals for last-minute revisions.
"Show off any skill? Seriously?" Reika muttered, feeling a bit nervous. "But what if I mess up in front of everyone?"
"Don't worry," Zephyr encouraged her with a smile. "No one's as creative as you."
Zara was the first to step onto the stage. The moment she drew her sword, the entire crowd went silent. Her moves were fluid, like a dance, the sword flashing like blooming flowers as she gracefully demonstrated her family's signature technique.
"That's the Brightforge family's 'Blossom Sword Dance!'" someone exclaimed from the crowd.
Zara finished her performance with a smug smile, casting a disdainful glance at Reika and Zephyr. "Let's see any of these country bumpkins top that."
Reika was about to retort, but Zephyr held her back with a calm smile. "She's not worth it," he whispered.
Then came Reika's turn. She marched up to the stage with a determined look, her small cauldron in hand. She was going to prove herself with her alchemy! Everything was going smoothly at first—she carefully added the ingredients and controlled the flow of her spiritual energy with precision.
"Looks like you've got this!" Zephyr cheered from below.
Reika beamed with confidence. "Of course! I've got it all under—"
Before she could finish, her cauldron began to shake violently. The mixture inside was becoming unstable, smoke billowing out in thick clouds. Reika's smile froze.
"Please don't explode, please don't explode..." she muttered under her breath, but it was too late. With a deafening boom, the cauldron exploded, sending a shower of powder everywhere.
The powder didn't just cover the spectators—it drifted over into the nearby spirit beast pens.
Suddenly, the crowd gasped as one of the spirit lions began... laying an egg.
"A spirit lion... laying eggs?!" Sylas shouted in disbelief, flipping through his alchemy book. "This isn't in any manual!"
The square was silent for a brief moment, then erupted into laughter. Reika's face flushed bright red as she tried to apologize, but in her panic, she slipped, landing flat on her back—still clutching the spirit lion's egg.
"What kind of performance is this?" Zephyr burst into laughter. "A new species? Spirit egg-laying lions?"
Even Isla couldn't help but giggle behind her hand. The students were laughing, and City Lord Alarion himself was wiping tears from his eyes, barely able to contain his amusement. "Now that's what I call creativity! Alchemy with a twist—no one saw that coming!"
Reika, mortified, wanted to melt into the ground. Sure, it was funny, but this wasn't the kind of attention she had hoped for! Still, as the laughter echoed around her, she couldn't help but laugh a little, too. Maybe not everything had gone according to plan, but at least she'd made an impression—though not quite the one she intended.
＊＊＊
As Reika's performance ended, the laughter from the audience roared on. The scene of a lion laying an egg had everyone doubled over, even Alarion Ravenshadow, the esteemed city lord, was laughing so hard he could barely sit straight. And as for Therony Vileheart, the stern vice lord? Even he couldn't suppress the small grin tugging at his lips, though he did his best to maintain that stoic facade.
Reika, while still feeling slightly embarrassed, couldn't help but join in on the laughter. If there was one thing she wasn't afraid of, it was making a fool of herself—especially when her blunders brought so much joy to everyone else. "I'm basically the stand-up comic of the immortal world!" she thought, proud of her unintentional comedy act.
Next up, it was Zephyr's turn. He shot Reika a playful smirk, dusted off his sleeves, and strolled onto the stage with the kind of confidence that screamed, "Yeah, I got this." The laughter slowly died down as all eyes turned to him. After all, Zephyr Nightbane wasn't just anyone—his family's swordsmanship was legendary, especially among sword cultivators. Even Zara Brightforge, usually composed and collected, was now laser-focused on him, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Standing center stage, Zephyr was as calm as a breeze. He raised a hand, and with a flick of his fingers, the sword case at his waist opened. Four gleaming swords shot out, hovering in midair. These swords didn't just float; they danced around him, as if they had minds of their own. The blades glinted, casting cold flashes of light—dangerous and mesmerizing.
"Whoa! Four swords at once?" one of the new students gasped, their eyes wide with awe.
"That takes some serious spiritual power!" others whispered, clearly impressed.
With a sly smile, Zephyr gave a subtle flick of his wrist. In an instant, the swords transformed into streaks of light, zooming through the air in perfect harmony, spinning around him like a cosmic whirlpool of steel. The audience was utterly captivated—some held their breath, afraid they might miss a single moment of the stunning performance.
"It's like…a sword ballet," Reika muttered, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
The swords moved like fluid energy, one moment swift as lightning, the next smooth as silk. The display was nothing short of a sword symphony, and the audience was entranced, watching the blades weave a hypnotic tapestry in the air. With a final gesture, the swords snapped back into their sheaths with a satisfying swish—the performance over, but the impact lingering.
For a moment, there was silence. And then, the crowd exploded with applause.
"Wow! That's the famous Nightbane swordsmanship!"
"To control four swords at once... That's true mastery!"
Even Zara, who was known for her cool demeanor, couldn't help but feel her heart race. "Zephyr Nightbane... Truly one of a kind," she murmured, her admiration for him impossible to hide.
Zephyr gave a humble bow and returned to where Reika and Sylas stood. Reika immediately gave him a thumbs-up. "No wonder you're the hero! That was epic!"
Zephyr chuckled, "I'm pretty sure your egg-laying lion stole the show though."
Reika rolled her eyes. "Laugh it up, Nightbane. Keep it up and I'll make you lay the next egg."
Next on stage was Sylas. He shuffled forward, head slightly down, muttering under his breath as if running last-minute calculations. As soon as he reached the platform, he whipped out a tiny cauldron, ready to show off his alchemy skills.
"Wait, he's doing alchemy?" Reika whispered, leaning toward Zephyr.
"Every time he does this, something weird happens," Zephyr whispered back, amused.
Sylas deftly tossed herbs and ingredients into the cauldron with practiced precision, and soon, the furnace began to glow faintly with spiritual energy. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, until—midway through—Sylas began to nod off. Yes, the man was falling asleep while performing alchemy.
"Is he seriously…sleeping?" Reika's jaw nearly hit the floor.
As the flames flickered steadily, Sylas's head bobbed up and down before finally settling into a full-blown nap beside the cauldron. The audience burst out laughing—could this guy really sleep through an alchemy process?
"I guess this is what they call auto-pilot mode?" someone in the crowd chuckled.
But here's the kicker: even as Sylas snored, the cauldron continued to work perfectly, and moments later, a glowing, flawless second-grade pill floated gently out of the furnace.
"You've got to be kidding me," Reika gasped.
When Sylas finally woke up to the sound of applause, he blinked at the pill, completely bewildered. "Did I…fall asleep? And still make the pill?"
Zephyr laughed, "Only you could manage that. The sleeping alchemist—what a legend."
Then it was Isla's turn. She wasn't one for flashy performances, but when she brought out her flute, the air shifted. The melody she played was hauntingly beautiful, like a river of sound washing over the crowd. Everyone relaxed, their eyes closing as the music carried them to another world.
"Well, that's peaceful," someone sighed.
But then things got…weird. Out of nowhere, students in the crowd started dancing. It wasn't graceful or elegant—it was the kind of awkward, uncontrollable dancing that happens at weddings after too much to drink. Soon, the entire audience was flailing their arms and legs in a chaotic dance-off.
"What the hell is happening?!" one student screamed, trying and failing to control their limbs.
"I can't stop! Why am I doing the cha-cha?!" another yelled.
The once-serene concert had turned into the most hilarious impromptu dance party, with students twirling, jumping, and flailing around like marionettes. The scene was pure chaos, and yet, impossible to look away from. Only the teachers and the city lords remained unaffected, watching the madness unfold with varying degrees of amusement.
"An impressive illusion technique," Vice Lord Therony said, clearly impressed.
When Isla finally ended her performance and put the flute down, the dancing stopped, and the students collapsed onto the ground, panting and dazed. Some still looked like they didn't fully believe what just happened.
Reika, tears of laughter streaming down her face, clapped Isla on the back. "That was amazing! You literally turned the whole place into a dance party."
Isla smiled shyly, clearly satisfied with her performance.
As the final act wrapped up, City Lord Alarion stood up, clapping his hands together with a grin. "Well, this was certainly one for the books. You new students have given me a lot to look forward to!"
The crowd erupted in applause, their faces still red from laughing, as they left with memories of an entrance exam they wouldn't soon forget.