"This concludes the Treading Immortal Gate selection," the elder declared with a wave of his sleeve. "Those who were not chosen may remain in the valley for half a month. After that, someone will escort you back to your homes."
With that, he turned and left, the selected four—including Ji Yuewu—following him out of the valley under the envious gazes of the unselected youths.
"Ji Yuewu is truly gifted, a natural-born spiritual root. Judging by Elder Hu's reaction, her aptitude must be exceptional. She's destined to become an immortal," someone whispered in awe.
"Exactly. And who would've thought that quiet boy from the Sun family would possess a spiritual root? Their branch will surely prosper now, perhaps even become the main family in time."
"And don't forget Xiao Lin from the Xiao family. He was just like us, unqualified for cultivation. But luck was on his side—he brought a treasure that impressed Elder Hu!"
The murmurs continued, filled with envy and resentment, but were abruptly silenced by a sharp voice.
"This is a sacred place of the sect. No noise is permitted, or you'll be expelled immediately!" barked one of the Falling Cloud Valley disciples. His scolding reduced the crowd to terrified silence, and the disciple smirked with satisfaction before addressing them again. "Form a line. I'll take you to the Mortal Immortal Courtyard, where you'll stay for the next fifteen days. Even if you lack spiritual roots, the dense spiritual energy here will still benefit your bodies."
Xiao Chen barely registered the words, his mind consumed by the storm of his own thoughts. When he finally came to, it was already late at night.
Lying on the narrow stone bed, Xiao Chen stared at the ceiling, his exhaustion preventing sleep. His thoughts swung wildly, alternating between two extremes: a nightmare vision of returning to the Xiao family in disgrace, and a dream where he soared across the heavens, an invincible immortal wielding a flying sword.
The next morning, just as the sun began to rise, a commotion outside jolted Xiao Chen awake. Hastily washing his face with cold water, he stepped out to find the open space in front of the stone huts crowded with youths who had failed the previous day's test. At the forefront stood Elder Hu, the same elder who had overseen the spiritual root assessment.
Xiao Chen's heart raced. Had something changed?
"Elder Hu, all the youths from yesterday are here. Please instruct us," said a middle-aged man in plain robes, his tone ingratiating.
Elder Hu nodded faintly, his half-lidded eyes scanning the group before he spoke. "You've been gathered here because the sect currently requires some outer disciples. If you're interested, you may take another test. Those who pass will be permitted to stay."
Murmurs of excitement rippled through the crowd.
"Outer disciples may not compare to true disciples, but they are still part of Falling Cloud Valley. You will receive basic cultivation techniques and, as long as you complete your assigned tasks, you'll have opportunities to cultivate. With diligence and fortune, the path to immortality may still open to you."
The announcement ignited hope. Even if they could never become immortals, merely becoming an outer disciple would bring glory to their families and command respect.
Xiao Chen's trembling hands betrayed his excitement. This was his last chance. He couldn't afford to miss it.
"Follow me," Elder Hu commanded, turning toward the valley's exit.
The group arrived at their destination shortly after—a steep incline that led to a narrow, man-made water channel embedded in the slope. The channel, several feet wide and waist-deep, coursed with icy water flowing from an unseen source above. The biting chill in the air made the youths shiver involuntarily.
"This is the Path of Perseverance," Elder Hu announced, his voice devoid of emotion. "It was constructed by our sect's founder, the mighty Falling Cloud Immortal, during his Nascent Soul stage. Though our sect has since declined, this symbolic structure remains intact."
He gestured toward the incline. "The test is simple: within two hours, climb to the top of this channel. Those who succeed will be accepted as outer disciples."
The youths stared at the slope, noting its steepness and the rushing water's growing intensity as it descended. Though daunting, it didn't seem impossible. Buoyed by their optimism, they eagerly stepped forward at Elder Hu's command to begin.
Xiao Chen's weak physique put him at a disadvantage immediately. As the others surged ahead, he struggled to even enter the icy stream.
At first, the water wasn't too fast, and its chill was bearable. Several boys with strong bodies and martial arts training managed to ascend fifty meters in mere moments. But as they climbed higher, the current abruptly intensified, doubling in speed. The temperature plunged below freezing, and sharp shards of ice began to cut through the water like tiny blades, leaving painful, bleeding scratches on their exposed skin.
What had seemed like a manageable task turned into a grueling challenge.
Xiao Chen's breathing grew labored as his lungs burned with every gasp. His sweat mixed with the icy water, stinging his eyes before being washed away. He slowed from crawling step by step to inching forward painstakingly.
His knees and elbows scraped against jagged rocks, tearing through his clothes and leaving his skin raw and bloody. The relentless current and the ice shards tore at his flesh, but he forced himself onward, gritting his teeth against the searing pain.
The incline turned into a blood-streaked battlefield, with the crimson-tinted water carrying the suffering of each struggling youth downstream. From a distance, the Path of Perseverance resembled a river of anguish, its participants swimming against the current like desperate fish.
"Half an hour remaining!" a Falling Cloud Valley disciple bellowed from below, his voice amplified by spiritual energy to carry across the slope.
By now, the strongest candidates were nearing the summit, but the water was even more violent there. The current roared, littered with chunks of ice the size of fists, and the temperature had dropped to a bone-chilling low.
A boy near the front gripped a rock tightly, his face determined despite the numerous cuts on his hands.
Thud!
A large piece of ice slammed into his forehead, sending him reeling. Blood streamed down his face as the current swept him away.
One of the Falling Cloud Valley disciples darted forward, retrieving the boy from the water and carrying him back to the base of the slope.
Elder Hu cast a dispassionate glance at the boy. "Tend to his injuries and send him home when we're finished," he ordered.
The injured boy, barely conscious, cried out weakly. "Please, Immortal! Give me one more chance! I was so close!"
Elder Hu's gaze hardened. "The path to immortality requires not only talent but also fortune. That ice was a sign—you lack the fortune needed to walk this path. Do not force what isn't meant to be. Take him away."
The disciple obeyed, disappearing into the distance with the boy in tow.
The grim reality of failure spread through the remaining candidates.
"We'll never make it!"
"I've only reached halfway, and there's no time left. It's hopeless!"
"I'm done! I can't move another inch!"
Despair overtook the crowd. Many stopped climbing, anchoring themselves to rocks as they accepted defeat.
But Xiao Chen remained oblivious to the wails of despair around him. His body moved on instinct, driven by sheer determination. Blood oozed from his hands, elbows, and knees, his tattered clothing offering no protection against the biting ice and jagged rocks.
Pain blurred his senses, but a single thought burned in his mind: Keep moving. Forward. Always forward.
Failure was not an option. He would succeed. For his father, for his mother, and for the pride they had sacrificed.
Xiao Chen clenched his teeth, his battered body pushing through the torrent.
I must succeed!