The sect's entrance exam was a grueling test of both strength and intellect. It was divided into three stages: a physical trial, a mental challenge, and a final combat assessment. Each stage was designed to weed out the weak, leaving only the best to proceed.
Shenlong watched as the first wave of candidates took on the physical trial. They were tasked with running up the side of a mountain, battling the elements and their own exhaustion as they raced to the top. Many fell by the wayside, collapsing from fatigue or slipping on the treacherous paths.
When it was Shenlong's turn, he took a deep breath and focused his mind. The pendant's power hummed within him, a steady, reassuring presence. With each step, he felt lighter, faster. While others struggled with the climb, Shenlong moved with surprising ease, his newly unlocked abilities allowing him to conserve energy and maintain his speed.
By the time he reached the top, he was among the first to finish. The instructors, who had barely spared him a glance when he arrived, now looked at him with newfound interest.
"He's faster than he looks," one of them muttered.
"Not bad for a no-name," another said, scribbling something down on a parchment.
Shenlong didn't care for their comments. This was only the beginning. The real challenge was yet to come.