Michael eyes fluttered open, greeted by the soft glow of early morning light filtering through a cracked wooden window. The scent of aged wood and faint incense hung in the air. He blinked a few times, disoriented. His body felt unfamiliar, his limbs weaker, smaller, as though he had shrunk.
"Where...?" Michael murmured, his voice scratchy and youthful.
Memories surged into his mind like an unrelenting tide, not his own but belonging to someone else—a boy named Yu Xuan.
Yu Xuan, a young boy from Azure Haven City in the Silver Horizon Kingdom, was burdened with a Low-Grade martial talent, the lowest classification.
In a kingdom where the vast majority of citizens lacked martial talent entirely, even Low-Grade talent was technically a step above the rest. But it was far from enough to rise above mediocrity.
In Silver Horizon Kingdom, those with Mid-Grade or High-Grade martial talent could dream of a future on the martial path. For Yu Xuan, however, this dream was a distant star—beautiful but unreachable.
The Azure Cloud Combat Sect represented the pinnacle of martial prowess in the kingdom, boasting centuries of martial skills and resources.
Entry into the sect was a gateway to strength, status, and prosperity. Those who reached the Marrow Refinement Stage, the turning point in the martial path, gained increased lifespans and noble titles, ensuring comfort for themselves and blessings for their descendants.
Yu Xuan's heart burned for the martial way despite his limitations. He dedicated himself with a fervor unmatched by his peers, training relentlessly to reach the Flesh Forging Stage of Body Tempering. His parents, managing a small restaurant under the Yu Family's ownership, supported him with what little they had, sacrificing their savings for his dream.
Michael sat up slowly, the memories settling in his mind like dust after a storm. He gazed down at his calloused hands, smaller than he was used to. The body was wiry, hardened by labor and relentless training, yet it lacked the strength Michael had grown accustomed to in his own form.
"So, this is Yu Xuan," Michael muttered, the boy's feelings and ambitions intertwining with his own. He could feel the desperation, the yearning to rise above his station. A surge of respect welled within him for the boy's unyielding determination despite the odds stacked against him.
Michael swung his legs off the narrow bed, his feet landing on the cool wooden floor. A faint ache pulsed through his limbs—a sign of the countless hours Yu Xuan had spent pushing his body to its limits.
He crossed the room and stood before a cracked mirror. The reflection staring back at him was that of a fifteen-year-old boy with sharp features, tanned skin, and piercing black eyes filled with grit and resolve. Strands of unkempt black hair framed his face, giving him a slightly disheveled appearance.
"I'll take it from here, Yu Xuan," Michael whispered, a wry smile forming on his lips.
Michael took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts. Yu Xuan's memories painted a bleak picture. The boy's family depended on the Yu Family's favor to survive, and their livelihood hung by a thread.
The upcoming entrance test for the Azure Cloud Combat Sect was Yu Xuan's only hope to escape mediocrity. Yet with Low-Grade talent and no resources for auxiliary herbs or advanced martial skills, his chances were slim to none.
But Michael was not Yu Xuan. He had decades of experience from his first journey, where he had climbed from nothing to the peak of the martial path of that world.
"Talent is important, but it's not everything," Michael muttered, his eyes narrowing.
....
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
In the Black Fang Mountain, a lone figure moved within a serene glade. The wind howled, carrying the scent of pine and earth, but it was the rhythmic sound of fists cutting through the air that dominated the environment.
"Bang!"
Yu Xuan's fist collided with a sturdy tree trunk, the impact echoing sharply through the forest. Though the tree had weathered decades of storms, it splintered with a single punch, breaking in half. Before the debris could settle, Yu Xuan's leg descended like a whip, splitting the fallen trunk cleanly in two.
His chest rose and fell with exertion as he steadied his stance. "Although I haven't reached the Heavenly Ascension Stage, I've advanced to the peak of the Stone Core Stage. That should be comparable to this world's Marrow Refinement Stage."
Yu Xuan wiped the sweat from his brow. Over the past two weeks, he had trained relentlessly, pushing his limits in this secluded mountain range. The memories he had inherited from the original Yu Xuan painted a clear picture of this world's martial path.
The Body Tempering Stage marked the foundation for martial artists, divided into six grueling stages: Power Conditioning, Flesh Forging, Vital Essence, Muscle Transformation, Bone Strengthening, and finally, Marrow Refinement.
However, Yu Xuan's progress was hindered because he lacked resources. Without herbs, pills, or elixirs to aid his cultivation, he relied on the spiritual energy of the mountains. "If I continue like this, it'll take at least another month to break into the Heavenly Ascension Stage," he muttered. "But I don't have that kind of time. The Azure Cloud Combat Sect's entrance exam is tomorrow."
"I've done everything I can. Passing the exam shouldn't be a problem."
He picked up his worn clothes from a nearby rock and made his way to the river. The water was crisp and cool, washing away the grime of his training. As the sunlight danced on the surface, it illuminated his body.
His muscles, though lean, exuded a coiled power, and his youthful skin gleamed with vitality. It was hard to believe that this was the frame of a fifteen-year-old boy.
After dressing, Yu Xuan prepared to leave the mountains. He launched himself forward, his movements fluid and precise, like a falcon diving for prey. His figure blurred as he dashed through the forest, until he vanished into the endless expanse of trees.
The Azure Cloud Combat Sect's entrance exam was a beacon of hope for countless young martial artists in the Silver Horizon Kingdom. Held twice a year, at the turn of spring and fall, it was the ultimate dream for those seeking to carve a future in the martial world.
For the youths, the sect represented an unparalleled opportunity. Resources were valuable, but what truly made the Azure Cloud Combat Sect legendary were its martial manuals. These manuals, crafted through generations of accumulated wisdom, were priceless treasures.
Without such guidance, cultivating the martial path was akin to groping in the dark. The manuals condensed centuries of trial, error, and success, and they formed the backbone of the sect's dominance.
However, these manuals were not freely given. Each was heavily guarded, and the sects imposed draconian punishments for leaking their contents.
The lightest penalty for betrayal was the destruction of one's cultivation base; the worst was execution without trial. This ironclad enforcement ensured the manuals' secrecy, making them all the more coveted.
It was no wonder the Azure Cloud Combat Sect inspired such fervent ambition. Yet the path to entering the sect was treacherous. Every year, countless hopefuls flocked to the exams, but only a select few ever succeeded.
Yu Xuan follows his own martial arts path, so the Azure Cloud Combat Sect's inheritance held no allure for him. His purpose for entering the sect lay elsewhere. He sought to uncover any insights or techniques that might help him comprehend the stage beyond Heavenly Ascension.
On the first day of fall, the Azure Cloud Combat Sect's square was already teeming with people. The crowd was so dense that it seemed like the entire city had gathered. Due to the overwhelming number of candidates applying to join the sect, the entrance examination always began at sunrise and continued until dusk.
Yu Xuan hadn't entered the square yet. Instead, he stood on the main road just outside, where the throngs were slightly thinner. Even so, the air was alive with chatter, the noise buzzing in his ears.
"I heard some top-tier talents are participating this time," a young man's voice carried over the din. "Including Liang Shen, the number one talent of Jadefall City. Fourteen years old, High-Grade talent, and already at the Third Layer of Vital Essence Stage. Truly extraordinary."
"Why didn't he join the Azure Cloud Combat Sect earlier?" someone else asked. "Why wait until now? He could've participated in the previous exams."
"I think he waited just to claim the first-place prize for this round. A calculated move," another speculated.
As they spoke, Yu Xuan's gaze turned toward the center of the square. Three massive stone pillars loomed over the area. These pillars were vital for the Foundation Strength Trial, the first of three rounds in the entrance exam.
Each candidate would approach one of the pillars, where their strength would be measured by the intensity of a beam of light. Success or failure was determined in an instant, and for many, this moment could seal their fate.
Soon, a old man in his seventies stepped onto a raised platform at the front of the square. His presence immediately silenced the crowd. Dressed in elegant white robes that hinted at hir status as one of the exam supervisors, he surveyed the gathering with a calm, authoritative gaze.
"Welcome," he began, his voice steady and clear. "I am one of the supervisors for the Foundation Strength Trial. The Azure Cloud Combat Sect's entrance examination consists of three parts. Those who qualify will be evaluated based on their age, talent, and performance. The top ten participants will receive special rewards, with the first-place candidate earning the Azure Phoenix Essence Pill."
The crowd erupted in whispers.
"An Azure Phoenix Essence Pill?" someone gasped. The news left their jaws hanging and hearts pounding.
The weaker candidates visibly deflated, their expressions tinged with regret and resignation. They knew they had no chance of claiming the top spot. Meanwhile, eyes of those with greater confidence were gleaming with determination.
Yu Xuan, listening quietly, recalled what he knew about the Azure Phoenix Essence Pill. This rare pill was crafted by combining the Blazing Sunflower Seeds, Draconic Amber Sap, Azure Lotus Petals and many more precious herbs. The resulting concoction could strengthen the body, enhance cultivation, and even help overcome bottlenecks.
The supervisor continued, his expression as composed as ever. "The second and third candidates will receive the Moonshadow Energy Pill, while fourth to tenth place will earn five Stone Blossom Strength Pill."
The crowd stirred again.The Moonshadow Energy Pill was a mystical elixir crafted to enhance the cultivation of Yin energy and sharpen one's spiritual perception under the influence of moonlight. It was refined from Starlight Dewdrops, Nightshade Crystal Powder, Lunar Silverleaf and Moonshadow Lotus.
Though it paled in comparison to the Azure Phoenix Essence Pill, it was not bad. As for the Stone Blossom Strength Pill, though useful, they were relatively common and paled beside the rewards for higher ranks.