The journey to the Ethereal Moon Sect had been uneventful, yet informative. Wu Tian had gathered enough knowledge about the Mortal Realm to navigate its power structures. He had memorized the names of the supreme sects, the rising geniuses, and the influential figures who dictated the flow of history.
Now, he stood at the gates of the Ethereal Moon Sect, one of the many sects scattered across the Central Divine Plains.
The towering stone gates loomed ahead, their inscriptions glowing faintly with defensive formations. A long line of hopeful disciples stretched before him, all seeking a place in the sect.
Wu Tian remained calm. This was merely the first step.
The Trials BeginA sharp voice rang through the air, silencing the crowd.
"The entrance trials for the Ethereal Moon Sect shall now commence! Those who cannot withstand the trials, leave now. Only the strong will be accepted."
An elder, draped in the sect's signature silver-blue robes, stood before the crowd. His gaze was cold, his presence alone suffocating for the weaker cultivators.
Wu Tian observed quietly as the first phase was announced.
Phase One: The Path of Qi Endurance.
Phase One: The Path of Qi EnduranceThe first test was simple but effective—a long stone pathway leading up to the sect gates, lined with formation nodes that exerted increasing pressure upon those who walked it.
One by one, the candidates stepped forward. Many collapsed before reaching halfway, their bodies unable to withstand the suffocating weight of Qi suppression.
Wu Tian watched with indifference.
When his turn came, he stepped forward, his body barely reacting to the pressure.
As he walked, he analyzed the formations embedded into the stone. They were designed to suppress external Qi but had little effect on one's internal reserves.
'Flawed, but effective against lesser cultivators,' Wu Tian noted.
With steady, even steps, he ascended without difficulty, passing the first trial effortlessly.
The watching elders exchanged glances but said nothing.
Phase Two: The Combat TrialFor the second trial, the remaining applicants were led to an open arena. Here, they would face opponents selected based on their cultivation level.
"Defeat your assigned opponent, and you may proceed to the next round. Lose, and you are eliminated."
Names were called, and challengers stepped forward one after another.
When Wu Tian's turn arrived, he faced a True Qi Formation—Peak Stage cultivator, a young man with an arrogant smirk.
"You don't look like much," the opponent sneered, stepping forward. "Let's see how long you last."
Wu Tian didn't respond.
The battle began, and the opponent lunged forward, his Qi flaring as he unleashed a powerful palm strike.
Wu Tian sidestepped effortlessly.
The crowd barely saw his movement—he was simply no longer where he had been.
Before his opponent could react, Wu Tian countered with a single, precise strike to his meridians.
The arrogant cultivator froze mid-motion, his Qi completely disrupted.
Then—
Boom!
Wu Tian struck once more, sending his opponent flying out of the ring.
The crowd was stunned.
The elders, however, remained unreadable. But Wu Tian caught the flicker of interest in their gazes. They had noticed.
He calmly walked back, his expression unreadable.
Two trials passed. One remained.
Phase Three: The Inner Disciple SelectionThe final phase was where the true talents were separated from the common rabble.
It was no longer a simple endurance or strength test—it was a test of potential.
The remaining candidates stood before the elder, who gazed at them with scrutiny.
"You have endured physical suppression, and you have proven your combat ability. But strength alone is not enough. Cultivation is a path of growth, understanding, and discipline. Show us your comprehension."
The trial involved resonating with a spirit tablet, where one's Qi control and Dao affinity would be revealed.
Most stepped forward, placing their hands on the tablet. Some shone with faint light, some barely flickered.
Then, it was Wu Tian's turn.
As he placed his hand on the tablet, a sudden wave of light erupted.
Golden and silver radiance surged outward, flickering with a deep, mysterious force. The elders' expressions finally changed.
"Such an unusual affinity…"
Wu Tian quickly withdrew his hand, hiding the full extent of his power before it could reveal more.
The leading elder paused, then announced, "Wu Tian, you are now an inner disciple of the Ethereal Moon Sect."
With that, he had secured his position.
A New Chapter BeginsAs he stepped through the sect gates, Wu Tian knew this was merely the beginning. With a foothold in the Mortal Realm, he could finally start preparing for what lay ahead.
His path was clear:
Train, cultivate, and rise in rank within the Ethereal Moon Sect.
Expand his hidden influence through alchemy.
Prepare for the upcoming inter-sect competitions.
The Mortal Realm had given birth to many geniuses.
But soon, it would remember his name.