The morning mist clung to Azure Mist Mountain like a lover reluctant to depart, casting the training grounds in ethereal light. Wei Yun moved through the basic sword forms alongside fifty other outer disciples, each movement deliberately imperfect. After ten thousand years of refining his techniques to supernatural precision, the act of introducing controlled flaws into his form was a novel challenge.
"Higher stance, Wei Yun!" barked Instructor Fang, a burly man with the cultivation of late
Core Formation. "Your fourth position is sloppy!"
"Yes, Instructor," Wei Yun replied, adjusting his stance exactly as much as would be expected from a diligent student—not too quick to master the correction, but not stubbornly resistant either.
Three days had passed since the dining hall incident. Word had spread quickly throughout the sect, embellished with each retelling until some versions claimed Wei Yun had defeated Young Master Cai using only his eyebrows. The attention was precisely what Wei Yun had hoped to avoid, but he found himself oddly amused by the mortal tendency toward exaggeration.
"That's the one," a whisper reached his ears from the edge of the training ground. "Defeated Young Master Cai with two fingers."
"Impossible," came the skeptical reply. "Cai is at peak Foundation Establishment."
"Ask anyone who was there. The new disciple didn't even draw a weapon."
Wei Yun maintained his focus on the sword forms, though his divine sense—severely limited as it was in his current state—could still perceive more than most Nascent Soul cultivators. He identified the whisperers as inner disciples, presumably here to evaluate potential recruits for their various halls.
After the morning exercises concluded, Instructor Fang cleared his throat. "The monthly assessment begins tomorrow. Today is your last chance to request hall recommendations. Those without recommendations will participate in the general assessment."
Wei Yun had already decided to join the general assessment. While a recommendation might offer advantages, it would also bring additional scrutiny. Better to remain unremarkable in official channels while allowing rumors to circulate informally.
As the disciples dispersed, Wei Yun found himself approached by a diminutive female disciple with sharp eyes and hair bound in practical braids.
"You're Wei Yun," she stated rather than asked. "I'm Jin Ling, from the Alchemy Hall. Word is you understand resonance principles."
Wei Yun offered a polite nod. "I have some minor insights, yes."
"Minor insights don't shatter spirit swords," she countered, studying him intently. "The
Alchemy Hall could use someone who understands material properties at that level."
Her directness was refreshing. "I appreciate the interest, but I plan to follow the general assessment path."
Jin Ling frowned. "That's foolish. The general assessment assigns disciples randomly. You could end up in the Farming Hall growing spirit herbs for three years."
"Perhaps I would enjoy growing herbs," Wei Yun replied with a small smile.
She snorted. "Now I know you're lying. No one with the skill to defeat Cai Feng wants to spend their time watering plants." She hesitated, then lowered her voice. "There's more. The Cai family isn't known for forgiveness. Without a hall's protection, you're vulnerable."
"Your concern is appreciated," Wei Yun said sincerely. This small mortal, barely at mid-Foundation Establishment, was showing genuine worry for his safety. The feeling was foreign but not unpleasant.
Jin Ling sighed in exasperation. "At least take this." She pressed a small jade bottle into his hand. "Foundation Stabilizing Elixir. When you inevitably get assigned to some terrible hall and need to escape, take it before attempting advancement to Core Formation. It will help prevent qi deviation."
Before Wei Yun could respond, she turned and marched away, muttering about stubborn idiots.
He examined the bottle with genuine curiosity. The elixir inside was indeed of excellent quality—likely Jin Ling's own work. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to produce such an item suggested remarkable talent. Ten thousand years ago, he might have taken her as a disciple.
Wei Yun pocketed the gift and headed toward the small stream where he had taken to meditating. The babbling water reminded him of the celestial rivers that flowed through the highest realms, though these humble waters carried their own simple beauty.
"Senior Brother Wei."
Wei Yun opened his eyes to find Zhu Mei approaching hesitantly. His bookish roommate had been treating him with nervous reverence since the dining hall incident.
"Please, just Wei Yun is fine," he said, gesturing for the young man to join him.
Zhu Mei sat down awkwardly. "I wanted to thank you. Since you stood up to Young Master Cai, he's been less... aggressive toward other outer disciples."
"I didn't do it for that purpose, but I'm glad if it had positive effects."
"Why did you do it, then?" Zhu Mei asked, curiosity overcoming his nervousness.
Wei Yun considered the question. The truth—that he had acted on a whim, finding the young master's arrogance momentarily irritating—seemed insufficient. After reflection, he realized there was more to it.
"In my travels," he said slowly, "I've observed that power without restraint corrupts both the wielder and those subjected to it. Sometimes a small correction early in one's path can prevent greater harm later."
Zhu Mei's eyes widened. "That's... profound."
Wei Yun suppressed a smile. To one who had witnessed the rise and fall of entire civilizations, it was merely an obvious pattern. But to this young cultivator, it likely seemed like profound wisdom.
"The assessment tomorrow," Zhu Mei said, changing the subject. "Do you have a strategy?"
"I plan to perform adequately," Wei Yun replied honestly.
His roommate laughed, then realized Wei Yun wasn't joking. "But... don't you want to excel? To join one of the better halls?"
"Excellence draws attention. Adequacy offers freedom."
Zhu Mei looked confused but nodded respectfully. "I should return to studying. The theory portion always gives me trouble."
After the young man departed, Wei Yun resumed his meditation, though his mind wandered to the coming assessment. How strange it was to be judged by those so much weaker than himself. In the celestial courts, his mere presence had caused immortals to tremble. Here, he would be evaluated on how well he performed basic martial forms and answered elementary cultivation questions.
The absurdity of it all brought a genuine smile to his face.
---
The assessment arena buzzed with nervous energy as three hundred outer disciples gathered for evaluation. Some had been with the sect for years, repeatedly failing to advance to inner disciple status. Others, like Wei Yun, were newcomers facing their first trial.
The elders sat on a raised platform, seven stern figures in formal robes. Elder Cai was among them, his cold gaze sweeping over the assembled disciples. When his eyes met Wei Yun's, a flicker of interest crossed his features before he looked away.
"The assessment has three components," announced Head Elder Liu, an ancient figure whose cultivation had reached the legendary Tribulation realm. "Combat, cultivation theory, and practical application. Those who excel in all three may directly enter the inner disciple ranks. Those who fail in all three will be expelled. All others will be assigned to halls according to their aptitudes."
Wei Yun noted that many disciples seemed far more nervous about hall assignments than about the prospect of expulsion. Interesting how these mortals placed such importance on status within their small hierarchies.
The combat assessment came first. Disciples were paired randomly for one-on-one matches, with the winners advancing to face each other. Wei Yun was paired with a muscular youth who specialized in earth-attribute techniques.
"Begin!" called the supervising elder.
Wei Yun's opponent immediately stomped the ground, sending a ripple of earth energy toward him. It was a clever opening move, designed to unbalance an opponent before direct engagement.
With calculated precision, Wei Yun appeared to stumble slightly from the earth wave while actually using the momentum to propel himself forward. He moved just fast enough to impress but not so fast as to seem impossible for his cultivation level.
The earth-attribute disciple blinked in surprise as Wei Yun appeared before him sooner than expected. Wei Yun struck with an open palm, carefully calibrated to exhibit the strength of mid-Foundation Establishment rather than his true power.
His opponent flew back three steps, eyes widening in shock. "Your cultivation—"
Wei Yun didn't allow him to finish, pressing forward with a series of basic yet efficiently executed strikes. Within moments, his opponent yielded.
As Wei Yun progressed through the tournament brackets, he carefully adjusted his performance in each match. Sometimes he appeared to struggle before finding an opening. Other times he showcased what would seem like moments of inspiration. Always, he maintained the illusion of a talented but not extraordinary disciple.
In his final match, he faced a female disciple whose speed and precision with her dagger had defeated opponents with higher cultivation bases. Liu Chang had been eliminated by her in an earlier round.
"You're the one who humiliated Young Master Cai," she said as they squared off.
Wei Yun inclined his head slightly. "That wasn't my intention."
She twirled her dagger, the blade leaving faint traces of wind energy in its wake. "Intention or not, it was impressive. Let's see if it was luck or skill."
Her attack came with blinding speed—for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. To Wei Yun, it might as well have been in slow motion, but he allowed the blade to come within a hair's breadth of his cheek before evading
"Good speed," he acknowledged.
Her eyes narrowed. "You're faster."
What followed was an elaborate dance, Wei Yun carefully crafting the illusion of a close match. He allowed her to score a minor cut on his arm, seeming to barely avoid more serious strikes. When he finally disarmed her with a precise strike to her wrist, the watching elders nodded in approval of what appeared to be a hard-fought victory between well matched opponents.
"Well fought," Wei Yun said genuinely, impressed by her skill relative to her cultivation level.
She rubbed her wrist, studying him with intelligent eyes. "You were holding back."
"As were you," he replied quietly, having noticed her concealing at least two techniques during their bout.
A small smile touched her lips. "I'm Su Yan. Remember it when we're both inner disciples."
The cultivation theory portion proved more challenging, not because the questions were difficult but because Wei Yun needed to deliberately include minor errors in his answers. Complete perfection would raise suspicions, so he carefully selected which questions to answer flawlessly and which to answer with slight inaccuracies.
The final portion—practical application—involved refining a simple Spirit Gathering Pill under the elders' supervision. Here, Wei Yun encountered a genuine challenge. Not because pill refinement was beyond him, but because the crude methods and limited ingredients of this realm required adjustments to techniques he hadn't used in millennia.
When his pill emerged from the cauldron, it was adequate—neither exceptional nor poor. Just as he had intended.
As the assembled disciples awaited the elders' deliberations, Jin Ling appeared at his side.
"I watched your matches," she said without preamble. "And your pill refinement."
"Oh?" Wei Yun prompted when she didn't continue.
"You deliberately produced an average pill," she stated accusingly. "I saw your hand movements. You corrected the spirit grass fusion then deliberately destabilized it again."
Wei Yun regarded her with new interest. Very few should have been able to detect such subtle manipulations. "You have exceptional observational skills."
"Don't change the subject," she hissed. "You're hiding your abilities. Why?"
Before Wei Yun could respond, a commotion at the arena entrance drew everyone's attention. A group of cultivators in unfamiliar robes strode in, led by a middle-aged man whose cultivation aura radiated the power of early Tribulation realm—comparable to the Falling Leaf Sect's Head Elder.
"Who are they?" Wei Yun asked Jin Ling, genuinely curious.
Her expression darkened. "Envoys from the Celestial Sword Sect. They come every few years to recruit talented disciples." She spat on the ground. "More like to steal them. Once you join their sect, you never see your family again."
Wei Yun watched with interest as the Falling Leaf elders greeted the visitors with forced politeness. The political dynamics of these lower realms were fascinating in their similarity to the celestial courts, despite the vast difference in power scales.
"We seek promising disciples for the coming Tri-Continental Tournament," announced the Celestial Sword Sect leader. "Our Master has sensed unusual qi fluctuations from this region in recent days."
Wei Yun suppressed a smile. Those fluctuations had likely been from his arrival and subsequent minor displays of power. Even compressed as his cultivation was, some ripples were inevitable.
Head Elder Liu gestured toward the assembled disciples. "You may observe our assessment results and make offers to any disciples who interest you, as per our sect alliance agreements."
The Celestial Sword envoys spread out, their gazes scanning the disciples with predatory intensity. Wei Yun deliberately avoided eye contact, focusing instead on appearing unremarkable.
"The assessment results," announced Elder Liu. "Twenty disciples have failed and will be expelled. Seventy-three have qualified for inner disciple consideration. The remainder will be assigned to appropriate halls."
Names were called, results announced. Wei Yun listened patiently, noting with approval when both Zhu Mei and Liu Chang were assigned to halls that matched their aptitudes. "Wei Yun," called Elder Liu. "Combat: exceptional. Theory: above average. Practical application: adequate. Assigned to the Outer Affairs Hall."
Jin Ling made a disgusted noise. "The Outer Affairs Hall? They just run errands for the sect in the nearest towns. What a waste!"
Wei Yun nodded politely to the elders, secretly pleased with the assignment. The Outer Affairs Hall would give him freedom to move between the sect and nearby settlements— perfect for his purposes.
As the ceremony concluded, Wei Yun became aware of an intense gaze upon him. One of the Celestial Sword envoys—a woman with frost-white hair despite her youthful appearance—was staring at him with undisguised interest.
"You," she called, pointing directly at Wei Yun. "Come here."
The nearby disciples parted hastily, leaving Wei Yun exposed. Maintaining his composed expression, he approached and offered a respectful bow.
"This disciple greets the honored envoy," he said with appropriate deference.
The white-haired woman circled him slowly, her spiritual sense probing his cultivation. Wei Yun allowed her to sense exactly what he had shown the elders—nothing more, nothing less.
"Your qi has an unusual quality," she said finally. "Where did you train before joining this sect?"
"I am largely self-taught, honored envoy," Wei Yun replied truthfully. "I traveled widely before seeking formal instruction."
Her eyes narrowed. "Self-taught? Impossible. Your foundation is too stable, your meridians too well-structured."
Wei Yun maintained his humble demeanor. "Perhaps I had fortunate encounters during my travels."
"What's your name again?"
"Wei Yun, honored envoy."
She turned to the Falling Leaf elders. "This one. The Celestial Sword Sect claims him under the Alliance Recruitment Protocol."
Elder Cai stepped forward, his expression darkening. "Envoy Frost, this disciple has only just joined our sect. The protocol requires a minimum of three months' membership before recruitment eligibility."
"Unless," Envoy Frost countered smoothly, "the disciple possesses exceptional potential that might be squandered in a lesser sect. Section four, paragraph three of the protocol."
The tension between the two powerful cultivators was palpable. Wei Yun observed with fascination as they maneuvered through the intricate dance of sect politics, his fate apparently hanging in the balance—though of course, he could leave any time he wished.
"I believe the decision should rest with the disciple," suggested Head Elder Liu, defusing the standoff. "Wei Yun, do you wish to join the Celestial Sword Sect?"
All eyes turned to him. Wei Yun considered the question carefully. The Celestial Sword Sect would certainly offer greater resources and training opportunities. However, it would also mean far greater scrutiny from more powerful cultivators, increasing the risk of his true nature being discovered.
"This disciple is honored by Envoy Frost's interest," Wei Yun said diplomatically. "However, I have only begun to learn from the Falling Leaf Sect's wisdom. I would prefer to continue my training here for now."
Envoy Frost's expression hardened. "You refuse the Celestial Sword Sect's generosity?"
Wei Yun bowed deeply. "Not refuse, honored envoy. Merely postpone, until I have properly repaid the Falling Leaf Sect for accepting me."
"Well said!" Head Elder Liu smiled broadly, clearly pleased to have retained a promising disciple. "The Celestial Sword Sect may extend their offer again after the appropriate time has passed."
Envoy Frost's cold gaze lingered on Wei Yun. "I will remember you, Wei Yun. Your...
potential... interests me greatly."
As the envoys departed, the gathered disciples burst into excited chatter. To refuse the Celestial Sword Sect was unprecedented—they were one of the top three sects in the entire Azure Sky Continent.
"Are you insane?" Jin Ling demanded, appearing at his side again. "The Celestial Sword
Sect could have advanced your cultivation by decades!"
Wei Yun smiled softly. "I value freedom over advancement."
She threw up her hands in exasperation. "First you deliberately perform poorly in the assessment, then you refuse a golden opportunity. I've decided you're either the wisest or the most foolish person I've ever met."
"Perhaps a bit of both," Wei Yun admitted.
As the crowd dispersed, Elder Cai approached. The powerful cultivator studied Wei Yun with calculating eyes.
"An interesting choice, Disciple Wei," he said. "Most would leap at such an opportunity."
Wei Yun bowed respectfully. "This disciple felt it would be disrespectful to abandon the Falling Leaf Sect so quickly after joining."
"Indeed." Elder Cai stroked his beard thoughtfully. "The Outer Affairs Hall begins its duties tomorrow at dawn. Do not be late."
As the elder walked away, Wei Yun sensed something unsaid in the exchange. Elder Cai was suspicious—perhaps not of Wei Yun's true identity, but certainly of his motivations.
He would need to be more careful moving forward. These mortals might be limited in power, but they compensated with keen perception and complex social structures.
That night, as Wei Yun meditated in his small room, he reflected on the day's events. The assessment, the Celestial Sword Sect's interest, Elder Cai's suspicion—all of it formed a tapestry far more intricate than he had anticipated when descending to this realm.
For the first time in thousands of years, Wei Ying felt the stirrings of genuine challenge. Not in combat or cultivation, of course, but in navigation of this delicate social landscape while maintaining his cover.
As he sank deeper into meditation, a faint smile played across his lips. Perhaps this little adventure would prove worthwhile after all.