In the days following the exam, Shenlong's name spread quickly among the disciples of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. Some were impressed by his swift rise, while others, particularly those from noble families, felt threatened by his sudden success. Whispers of jealousy and resentment began to circulate.
"He's just a nobody from some backwater clan," one disciple sneered. "He got lucky in the trials. Let's see how he fares in real combat."
But not all attention was hostile. Shenlong soon found himself approached by other promising disciples who saw his strength and wanted to ally with him.
One such disciple was Zhang Wei, a tall and muscular youth with an easy-going demeanor. He approached Shenlong one afternoon while they were training in the sect's open courtyard.
"You handled Lei Xing pretty well back there," Zhang Wei said with a grin. "That guy's got a reputation for being a bully, so it was nice to see someone put him in his place."
Shenlong, who was focused on his training, paused for a moment before nodding. "He underestimated me."
Zhang Wei chuckled. "Yeah, I noticed. Name's Zhang Wei, by the way. I'm not from a big family like some of the others around here, but I'm looking to form alliances with people who are serious about their cultivation. You seem like someone who knows what he's doing."
Shenlong considered his words carefully. In a sect as competitive as the Heavenly Dragon, alliances were crucial. One couldn't survive on talent alone. He offered Zhang Wei a small smile. "I'm Shenlong. Let's see where this path takes us."
From that moment, the two began to train together, pushing each other to new heights. Zhang Wei's strength and battle techniques complemented Shenlong's speed and precision. It wasn't long before the two of them became an inseparable duo, gaining the attention of the other disciples.
But with fame came new enemies. Lei Xing, the noble youth Shenlong had defeated in the combat exam, hadn't forgotten his humiliation. Though his wounds had healed, his pride had not. He and his followers watched Shenlong's rise with growing bitterness, plotting ways to take him down.
"Just wait," Lei Xing muttered to his group of loyalists. "When the next inner sect competition comes, I'll show everyone that Shenlong is nothing more than an upstart who got lucky."