Lin Feng stumbled out of the Peak of Trials, his body bruised and battered, his breath ragged. His clothes were tattered, his face smeared with dirt and blood. Yet his grip on the Flame Lotus Sword was unrelenting. Its faint, eerie glow pulsed against the growing night.
The senior disciples stationed at the mountain's base regarded him with a mix of curiosity and disdain. Few recruits survived the trials intact, and even fewer walked out wielding a weapon like that sword.
Elder Mu, a man with hawk-like eyes and an aura of authority, stepped forward. His presence immediately silenced the whispers around Lin Feng. The elder studied the young man for a moment, his gaze lingering on the blade.
"You survived," Elder Mu said flatly, though there was a hint of approval in his tone. "A rarity for one of your background."
Lin Feng raised his head, exhaustion dulling the sharpness of his usual glare. "I did what was required," he replied.
"Barely," Elder Mu said, his eyes narrowing. "Your performance in the trials was... desperate, but effective. If nothing else, you've proven you don't lack the will to fight." His gaze flickered to the Flame Lotus Sword. "That sword is a strange one, Where did you get it".
Lin Feng's brow furrowed, but he said nothing. The sword was his now—whatever it meant, he would find out soon enough.
"Report to the Hall of Discipline tomorrow morning," Elder Mu continued. "Your ranking will be determined, and your path within the sect will begin. Survive or fail—it's entirely up to you."
Lin Feng nodded, forcing his battered body into a stiff bow. Without another word, he limped toward the recruit dormitories, the weight of the sword dragging at his side like an anchor.
---
The dormitory was quiet, save for the occasional cough or groan of other recruits nursing their wounds. Lin Feng sank onto his cot, his body screaming in protest. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, his head falling back against the rough wooden frame.
But then it began.
A low hum filled the air, faint at first but growing louder, more insistent. Lin Feng's eyes snapped open, and he turned toward the Flame Lotus Sword, which lay propped against the wall. Its dull red glow had intensified, the blade almost alive with flickering embers.
"Not now," he muttered, dragging himself upright.
The hum turned into a whisper, indistinct words slithering into his ears like cold wind. Lin Feng's pulse quickened. He had heard the whispers before—faint echoes in the back of his mind during the trials—but now they were clearer, sharper.
"Weak... unworthy... clinging to fleeting strength..."
The words were harsh, accusatory, and struck at the core of Lin Feng's insecurities. He reached for the sword, intending to silence it, but the moment his fingers brushed the hilt, his vision blurred.
The world around him melted into darkness.
---
Lin Feng found himself standing in a void, the air heavy and cold. Before him loomed a massive figure, its form obscured by shadow. Twin pinpricks of crimson light burned where its eyes should have been, and the voice that had whispered to him now boomed like thunder.
"Do you think you are worthy of wielding me?"
Lin Feng straightened, his hand gripping the sword tightly. "I don't care if I'm worthy," he said through gritted teeth. "You're mine now. If you have a problem with that, then stop me."
The shadow chuckled, low and menacing. "Arrogance... but arrogance alone will not save you. I am Flame Lotus, a blade forged to consume the weak and unworthy. You are no master of mine. You are nothing but a vessel."
Lin Feng's jaw tightened. "If I'm nothing, then why haven't you consumed me already?"
The crimson eyes narrowed. "Because I am curious. You are fragile, yet you persist. Broken, yet you stand. Such defiance amuses me... for now."
The shadows surged forward, wrapping around Lin Feng like chains. He struggled, but the force was overwhelming, crushing the air from his lungs. The blade in his hand began to burn, its heat searing his skin.
"Prove yourself, Lin Feng," the voice hissed. "Or be consumed."
The void collapsed, and Lin Feng awoke with a start. He was back in the dormitory, his chest heaving and sweat dripping from his face. The Flame Lotus Sword lay beside him, quiet now, its glow subdued.
Lin Feng stared at it, his hand trembling. He had suspected the sword was more than just a weapon, but now he knew for certain—it was a predator, waiting for the moment to devour him.
---
The next morning, Lin Feng arrived at the Hall of Discipline, his body still aching from the trials and the encounter with the sword. The grand chamber was filled with recruits, all awaiting their rankings. Elder Mu stood at the front, flanked by senior disciples and the imposing Soul Mirror, a relic used to measure spiritual energy.
One by one, the recruits stepped forward, their rankings announced after brief assessments. Lin Feng watched in silence, his mind still preoccupied with the sword.
When his name was finally called, he approached the Soul Mirror with deliberate steps. Placing his hand on the orb, he felt a surge of energy as it flared to life. The light grew brighter and brighter, filling the hall with an intense glow that made the other recruits shield their eyes.
Gasps echoed through the chamber. Elder Mu raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.
"Inner disciple," he announced. "Ranked twenty-third."
Lin Feng's eyes widened. Inner disciple? He hadn't expected to place so high, especially not with the elite core disciples standing in the shadows, their gazes cold and calculating.
Elder Mu's sharp voice broke through his thoughts. "Do not let it go to your head," he said. "You may have survived the trials, but the road ahead is far more grueling. This is only the beginning."