The murmurs had yet to fade when Wu Tian turned away from his fallen opponents, his heart pounding not with fear, but exhilaration. He had done it. He had stood against two Qi Refining disciples and endured.
The gathered outer disciples whispered among themselves, their gazes filled with a mix of awe and uncertainty. A janitor had just bested two cultivators. It was unheard of.
Wu Tian knew this victory would not go unnoticed. The sect elders would hear about it. Liu Heng and Zhang Wei would not take their humiliation lightly. But none of that mattered.
For the first time in his life, Wu Tian had proven himself.
He walked through the crowd with steady steps, ignoring the lingering stares. His body ached, his bones sore from the fight, but deep within, he could feel the Second Gate—Rooted Bones settling. His very foundation was changing. Strengthening.
And this was only the beginning.
An Unwanted Spotlight
Wu Tian barely had time to rest before the consequences of his actions caught up to him.
The very next morning, while tending to his janitorial duties in the outer sect courtyard, a stern voice cut through the air.
"Wu Tian, step forward."
He turned, finding himself face-to-face with Elder Rong, one of the Emerald Moon Sect's instructors for outer disciples. The elder was a tall, wiry man with sharp eyes that missed nothing.
Wu Tian could already feel the tension in the air. The other disciples had paused their training, watching the scene unfold.
Elder Rong's gaze bore into him. "I heard about yesterday's events. You, a mere janitor, dared to challenge two Qi Refining disciples?"
Wu Tian straightened, keeping his expression neutral. "I did."
"And you won."
A statement, not a question. Wu Tian simply nodded.
Elder Rong's lips thinned. "You have caused quite the disturbance. This sect has no place for those who disrupt order."
Wu Tian clenched his fists. Disrupt order? He had only defended himself. Was that a crime?
"If you are strong enough to defeat two disciples, you are strong enough to endure a proper trial." Elder Rong's eyes glinted coldly. "Three days from now, you will face an official challenge before the sect. If you wish to continue residing here, you will prove your worth."
A murmur rippled through the disciples.
A trial.
Outer sect trials were used to determine whether disciples were worthy of advancement—or expulsion.
Wu Tian met Elder Rong's gaze and, despite the pressure, he smiled. "Fine by me."
Preparation for Battle
The next three days passed in a blur. Wu Tian trained harder than ever before. He pushed his body to its limits, testing the extent of Rooted Bones.
Each strike against the wooden dummies sent shockwaves through his fists, but he did not falter. He conditioned himself, adapting to the pain. His strikes grew sharper. His footwork faster. He was no longer the weak janitor.
His mind sharpened as well. He recalled the techniques used by Liu Heng and Zhang Wei, analyzing their weaknesses. If his opponents in the trial were stronger, then he had to be smarter.
One night, as he sat by the riverbank, the book appeared in his dreams once more. The chains that bound it loosened ever so slightly. New words glowed on the pages.
"The Third Gate—Flowing Blood."
His next step had been revealed.
The Day of Reckoning
The day of the trial arrived. The outer sect arena was packed, disciples crowding the stone stands in anticipation.
Wu Tian stood at the center of the stage, his expression calm. Across from him, his opponent stepped forward.
A familiar face.
Liu Heng.
The very man he had embarrassed. Now, with the full backing of the sect, Liu Heng had a chance to redeem himself.
The elder overseeing the trial raised his hand. "This is an official outer sect challenge. The winner will be recognized by the sect. The loser… will face the consequences."
Wu Tian exhaled slowly. This was it. The moment to prove that he belonged.
The elder's hand fell. "Begin!"
Liu Heng wasted no time. He exploded forward, his fists glowing with Qi.
Wu Tian planted his feet. Rooted. Unshaken. Ready.