Chapter 3: The path forward
After weeks of relentless effort, Su Dao's dedication had finally borne fruit. Among the countless disciples striving for recognition, his sharp mind and unwavering discipline caught the eye of Elder Gu Zhang, one of the more respected figures of the outer sect. Though Su Dao's physical power was unremarkable, his exceptional ability to absorb and understand knowledge made him stand out.
Elder Gu Zhang, a stoic man with piercing eyes that seemed to see through lies, summoned Su Dao to the outer hall. "Your cultivation is weak," he said bluntly, his voice like steel against stone. "But knowledge... knowledge is a weapon sharper than any blade. Use it well, and even the heavens will bow."
Su Dao bowed deeply, his heart surging with determination. Knowledge is power. And power... is survival.
---
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the sect, Su Dai, another new recruit, was breaking under the weight of his struggles. Despite his strong physique and natural talent, the sheer difficulty of cultivation and the endless failures were taking their toll.
Late one evening, Su Dao stumbled upon Su Dai, collapsed by the edge of a small creek. His fists were clenched, his face wet with tears. The moonlight reflected his despair.
"I can't... I just can't do it anymore," Su Dai choked, his voice trembling. "No matter how hard I try, it feels like the heavens are against me."
Su Dao sat down beside him, gazing at the water's surface. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his tone calm but firm:
"The heavens don't care. They are indifferent to your pain, your struggles, and your cries. If you seek mercy, you won't find it above—only within yourself. Rise, Su Dai. Crying solves nothing, but persistence can carve rivers through mountains."
Su Dai looked at him, his eyes a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "You say that, but you're weak. How can someone like you talk about persistence?"
Su Dao's lips curled into a faint smile. "You're right. I'm weak now. But strength is earned, not given. The question is, how far are you willing to go to earn it?"
Su Dai said, "But we are workers here, not even outer disciples. How can we earn anything? We have to work or die; this is our end."
Su Dao sat down beside Su Dai, who was still trembling with frustration and despair. The faint ripples in the creek reflected the moonlight, creating a serene yet somber atmosphere.
For a moment, Su Dao said nothing. Then, he looked at the water and spoke, his voice steady and filled with conviction:
"Do you know what makes the mountains rise and the rivers flow? It is not the heavens, nor the earth, but the will of time itself. The heavens may crush us, but as long as we rise again, we carve our own fate. Listen well, Su Dai:
'When the winds howl, I will stand.
When the storms rage, I will rise.
Even if the world breaks me a thousand times,
I will break the world with my thousand tries.'
Su Dai's sobs quieted as he stared at Su Dao, the weight of the words sinking deep into his heart. For the first time in days, a flicker of hope returned to his eyes.
Su Dao stood and extended a hand to him. "We may fall a thousand times, Su Dai. But the only thing that matters is that we stand a thousand and one."
Slowly, Su Dai grabbed his hand and rose to his feet, the embers of determination reigniting in his soul.
Later that night, Su Dai lay on his thin mattress in the dimly lit dormitory, staring at the cracked wooden ceiling above him. The words Su Dao had spoken earlier echoed in his mind, each one striking a chord deep within him.
"Even if the world breaks me a thousand times, I will break the world with my thousand tries."
The phrase gnawed at him, not because it was unfamiliar, but because it felt strangely familiar—like a distant echo from a life he couldn't quite recall. His fists clenched, and a bitter laugh escaped his lips. "Break the world... Who would have thought I'd hear something like that again?"
Memories stirred in the recesses of his mind, vague and fleeting, like smoke slipping through his fingers. He closed his eyes and saw flashes—a gleaming city of towering glass buildings, the hum of machines, and glowing screens displaying numbers and graphs. The scene shifted to a shadowy room, papers scattered across a desk, and a figure—his figure—hunched over, the soft click of a keyboard filling the silence.
His eyes shot open, a cold sweat beading on his brow. What was that? he thought, his heart racing. The images felt so real, yet impossibly distant. Here he was, in a world of cultivation, surrounded by sect halls and ancient techniques, yet those memories—dreams? hallucinations?—seemed so vivid.
"Is that... who I was?" he muttered, his voice barely audible in the quiet dormitory. His chest tightened as a strange ache filled him. "No, it doesn't matter anymore. That life is gone... isn't it?"
But deep down, a part of him resisted, unwilling to let go of those fragments. Su Dao's words had stirred something within him—not just a desire to rise, but a stubborn spark of defiance against the heavens themselves.
As he drifted off into a restless sleep, a final thought lingered in his mind, like an ember refusing to fade: If I could survive that world, I can survive this one too. And if I can rise here... I'll find the answers I'm looking for.
Next day
The elder stood on the stone platform, his piercing gaze sweeping across the gathered aspirants. His voice boomed, carrying authority and power.
"Your first test will be one of strength and endurance. You are to face a low-grade, first-level wolf beast. Victory is not optional—only those who succeed will move to the next trial."
A tense murmur rippled through the crowd as cages were brought forth, each containing a snarling wolf beast.
---
The Test Begins
Su Dai was the first to step forward. The air grew heavy with anticipation as he faced his wolf. His strong physique radiated confidence, and his grip on the wooden training sword tightened.
The elder gave the signal. The cage door swung open, and the wolf leapt out, baring its fangs.
Su Dai's battle spirit ignited. With a ferocious yell, he charged at the wolf, evading its lunges with quick, calculated movements. His strikes were precise, and within moments, he saw an opening.
With one decisive blow, his sword cleaved through the wolf's neck, its head rolling to the side. The crowd erupted in cheers as Su Dai stood victorious, his chest heaving with exertion.
"Impressive," the elder noted with a nod.
---
Next was Hau Lou, a towering figure among the workers. His reputation for strength preceded him, and he approached the wolf with calm confidence.
The fight was swift. Hau Lou crushed the wolf
The Test Begins:
The elder stood on the stone platform, his piercing gaze sweeping across the gathered aspirants. His voice boomed, carrying authority and power.
"Your first test will be one of strength and endurance. You are to face a low-grade, first-level wolf beast. Victory is not optional—only those who succeed will move to the next trial."
A tense murmur rippled through the crowd as cages were brought forth, each containing a snarling wolf beast.
---
Su Dai's Victory
First Contestant: Su Dai, exuding strength and confidence, faces the wolf.
Battle: With impressive skill, Su Dai swiftly defeats the wolf with one clean blow to its neck.
Result: He earns the elder's approval and the crowd's cheers.
---
Hau Lou's Triumph
Second Contestant: Hau Lou, a towering figure, crushes his wolf with brute strength, showcasing his dominance.
Result: His victory is swift and applauded.
---
Su Fang's Inner Struggle
Su Fang's Turn: Nervous and hesitant, Su Fang faces his wolf with lingering doubts from his past. However, when the battle begins, something triggers within him—the inner wolf he unknowingly possesses. In one swift strike, he kills the wolf, stunning everyone around him, including the elders.
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Su Dao's Moment
Su Dao's Turn: The crowd doubts Su Dao, expecting him to fail due to his apparent weakness. Su Dai defends him, insisting Su Dao will pass.
Battle: Su Dao faces the wolf, dodging its attacks with impressive speed and precision. However, a claw strike lands on his chest, drawing blood.
Despite the injury, Su Dao refuses to give up. He channels all his knowledge, having studied wolves in the past, and strikes the wolf with a fatal blow.
The crowd is shocked. A seemingly weak disciple, who had been mocked, defeats the beast with his intelligence and persistence.
And the elder announced 10 disciples were qualified to go outer sect including 4 rookies
As the trials came to an end, the elder stood before the gathered aspirants, his expression inscrutable. The tension in the air was palpable, and the remaining candidates awaited his judgment.
"The tests have concluded," the elder's voice rang out, cutting through the silence. "Out of all of you, only ten have shown the strength and endurance required to move forward. Among them, four rookies have made it through."
He paused, scanning the crowd. Su Dai, Hau Lou, Su Fang, and Su Dao stood among the chosen. The others who had failed their trials were dismissed, their hopes dashed for now.
"You will now be promoted to the outer sect. There, you will face even greater challenges, but you have proven yourselves worthy of the next step. Do not squander this opportunity," the elder continued, his voice firm and authoritative.
Su Dai felt a surge of pride at his name being called, his heart swelling with determination. Hau Lou's broad chest puffed with pride, but it was Su Fang who looked the most stunned. His past doubts and fears seemed to melt away, replaced with a new resolve. Even Su Dao, once the subject of mockery, stood tall, his heart racing but his mind clear.
The elder dismissed the crowd, signaling the end of the ceremony. The newly qualified disciples began to gather their things, preparing for the journey ahead to the outer sect.