The night sky above Xu Tian seemed endless, the stars twinkling as though mocking his insignificant existence. His feet carried him steadily toward the towering gates of the Immortal Sect, the very place where cultivators from all over the realm sought to increase their power and connect with the Heavenly Dao. It had always been a place of awe for him, a place he had dreamed of entering as a child, though he never thought he could.
But now, the situation was different.
Now, he wasn't the powerless boy who could barely hold his own in a fight. Now, he was a force to be reckoned with—his power, his mind, and his resolve forged in the fires of struggle. Yet, there was something different about this moment. It was not simply about proving his worth to others; it was about proving to himself that he could defy the expectations placed upon him by birth.
Xu Tian's eyes darkened, his hand instinctively clenching around the Forbidden Scripture hidden in his robes. It was more than just a book—it was the key to his transformation, the symbol of his rebellion against the Heavenly Dao, and the source of his growing strength. But it also carried a weight. Every new ability he unlocked, every ounce of power he gained, made him feel a growing responsibility to master it. With it came the realization that he was no longer a mere pawn in the world's grand game; he was becoming a player. And that meant his actions would have consequences.
As he approached the gates, two figures emerged from the shadows—tall, imposing cultivators garbed in the sect's traditional robes. Their expressions were unreadable, but their eyes, sharp and calculating, flickered with curiosity as they sized him up.
"State your business," one of them commanded.
Xu Tian stood tall, his voice steady despite the unfamiliar pressure. "I seek to enter the Immortal Sect. I wish to challenge the traditions that bind this world, to seek power through my own means."
His words, filled with purpose, echoed in the still night air. He could feel a fire burning within him—determination, yes, but also something deeper, something that made his chest tighten and his heart beat faster. It was the will to finally take control of his destiny.
The guards exchanged a glance. One of them raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. The other, however, scoffed.
"Do you not know your place, mortal? You dare challenge the very foundation of our world? Those born without spiritual roots have no place here."
Xu Tian didn't flinch. He was no longer the boy who had to hide his emotions in the shadows, forced to submit to every insult and humiliation. His life had taught him that the world would never be kind to him unless he took what he deserved. It was this fire, this defiance, that had driven him to this point.
"I am not here to follow your traditions," he said, his tone unwavering. "I am here to carve my own path."
For a fleeting moment, Xu Tian felt a weight upon his heart—was he truly ready for this? For all the anger and defiance that had pushed him forward, there was still fear lurking in the back of his mind. What if this was all a mistake? What if, in seeking power, he became something worse than the world that had forsaken him? He had no answers, only his resolve to move forward.
The first guard, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward. "You have spirit," he said, his voice deep and measured. "But spirit alone cannot open the gates. You will need to prove yourself."
He raised his hand, and the gates of the Immortal Sect rumbled open, revealing a vast courtyard beyond. Xu Tian stepped forward, undaunted.
The path ahead was uncertain, and the eyes of every cultivator who stood in the courtyard were fixed on him. The air was thick with power, each cultivator radiating the overwhelming energy of years of cultivation. Yet Xu Tian stood among them with nothing but his will and the Forbidden Scripture in his heart.
As he walked, Xu Tian's thoughts shifted. The awe he once felt for the Immortal Sect, for all those powerful cultivators, was replaced by a quiet conviction. He wasn't here to be in awe; he was here to take his place among them. For years, he had lived in the shadow of his weakness, but no more. The trial ahead wasn't just about proving himself to the Sect—it was about proving that he could reshape his destiny, that the Heavenly Dao had no power over him.
"I have no roots," Xu Tian murmured to himself, feeling the weight of the old limitations that had once haunted him. "But that will not stop me."
The challenge was set.
Before him stood an ancient test—a trial that had been passed down through the ages, one that all who sought to join the Immortal Sect had to face. It was not just a test of strength, but of will, of mind, of perseverance. Many had failed. Some had died in the process.
As Xu Tian took his first step toward the trial grounds, the guards fell silent. The courtyard held its breath.
"I will not fail," he whispered to himself, the words more a promise than a statement.
The ground beneath his feet began to vibrate, and an unseen force pressed against him, testing his resolve. But Xu Tian was no longer the boy who trembled in the face of adversity. The Forbidden Scripture surged within him, its energy mixing with the slowly awakening qi in his dantian.
He felt the stirring of power inside him, the burning desire to prove himself to the world that had once rejected him. The flame of qi ignited within him, and he embraced it fully.
His hands trembled not from weakness, but from the intensity of the energy he was beginning to harness. He had only scratched the surface, but it was enough to start.
"Let the trial begin," the guard intoned.
And just like that, Xu Tian's journey at the Immortal Sect began.
The trial would not be easy. But Xu Tian was determined to face it head-on, no longer content to be a mere spectator in his own life. The weight of the world could bear down on him, but he would fight back. With every step, with every challenge, he would grow stronger. He would carve his own destiny, one that no Heavenly Dao could shackle.
And so, the first of many trials awaited him.