Resentments and Alliances

  Following the uproar caused by the duel, the crowd found itself divided. Some who had wagered on Mad Dog were dejected and enraged, casting furtive, hateful glances at Huang Di and the little girl celebrating beside him. Others, who had placed their bets on the ragged youth, were exultant, lauding his victory and engaging in animated discussions about the battle.

  Amid the stirrings of the crowd, the young master stepped forward and kicked the unconscious Mad Dog with force, rousing him from his stupor. The man groaned in pain and immediately dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.

  “Young Master Ye Jue, please forgive me! I was wrong please, spare me!” he cried, his voice trembling with fear.

  Ye Jue fixed him with a cold, imperious gaze, then turned toward Huang Di even as he continued to berate and strike the fallen servant.

  “Useless wretch. You can’t even accomplish a simple task. What good are you to me?”

  High above, Elder Meng Lu watched the scene unfold, pondering how best to curry favor with the young master of the illustrious Ye Clan. He knew well that the Ye family had members embedded in powerful positions within the sect positions rivaling even the imperial household of the Azure Waters Continent. Resolute in his intent, Meng Lu sent a telepathic message to Ye Jue, flattering him and promising to share valuable intelligence.

  Initially pleased, Ye Jue responded curtly:

  “If you truly wish to earn my favor, then tell me about the test to become an inner disciple.”

  Sensing opportunity, Meng Lu divulged the details of the upcoming trial, eager to secure the young master's goodwill.

  Meanwhile, Huang Di remained oblivious to the elder’s maneuverings. With a calm smile, he turned to the young girl who had stood by him during the fight. Gratefully, he slipped the spirit stones he had won into his pouch.

  The girl beamed and introduced herself with infectious energy.

  “My name is Lu Yi, and these are my elder sisters, Lu Sai and Lu Fi.”

  Though dressed modestly, the three sisters stood out with their radiant smiles, spreading warmth wherever they went. Lu Yi, just fourteen, was brimming with vitality and charm. She favored pink and violet, and though her dress was simple, it was adorned with ribbons and frills that mirrored her joyful spirit.

  Lu Sai, around eighteen, wore a green dress and possessed a mature, tranquil beauty. Lu Fi, the middle sister, was sixteen and clothed in red, her sweetness and youthful allure drawing admiring glances.

  Those around them regarded the sisters with a mixture of emotions with envy, others with admiration, and still others with scorn for their humble appearance.

  The Call of Destiny

  Following his victory over Mad Dog, Huang Di spent the early afternoon preparing to resume his training. It was two o’clock, and though he knew the road ahead would be arduous, the recent triumph had bolstered his confidence. As he strolled through the serene gardens of the Golden Heron Sect, his thoughts lingered on the duel and on the words spoken by the elder who had taught him the “light steps” technique.

  “True strength lies in the balance between body and mind,” he recalled, the wisdom of that phrase resonating deeply within him.

  Upon reaching the sect’s central plaza, Huang Di came across the three sisters, Lu Yi, Lu Sai, and Lu Fi, who had supported him during the battle. After greeting him warmly and chatting briefly, they bid him farewell with cheerful smiles and made their way to the line for outer disciple registration.

  Huang Di watched as roughly ten percent of the crowd moved toward the line for inner disciple candidates, himself among them. He tried to remain inconspicuous, but after his recent display, attracting attention was inevitable.

  Soon, he found himself at the center of hushed conversations and curious glances. Murmurs of admiration, envy, and speculation filled the air. Still, Huang Di kept his focus sharp, unwilling to be distracted.

  When his turn arrived, he gave his name and paid for the fifty mid-grade spirit stones required for registration. A wave of relief washed over him, for he had won five hundred stones from his wager enough to fund his training for at least a year and ease any immediate financial burdens.

  Three days passed.

  On the morning of the third day, all registered participants gathered in the plaza, waiting anxiously. Elder Meng Lu appeared and declared that those registered for the inner disciple test were to follow him. While the rest headed toward the outer disciple evaluation, Meng Lu led a smaller group of determined aspirants toward their own destiny.

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  After two full days of travel, they arrived in the late afternoon at a vast open field already filled with people. A large crowd had gathered, composed of inner, outer, and even core disciples, all observing the newcomers with curious or hostile expressions.

  Those who had accompanied Meng Lu looked around in stunned silence, some beginning to fear that they were nothing more than fodder for the sect’s more seasoned disciples. But Huang Di clenched his fists, his resolve only grew stronger. He scanned the area intently, then his gaze fell upon a figure so dazzling she seemed divine.

  She sat atop a six-tailed fox beast, her golden hair cascading down to her waist, and her smile, deadly in its beauty, seemed capable of stealing the breath from anyone who saw it. Her brows were tinted pink, and her lips were the color of fresh blood.

  Her legs, exposed beneath her robes, were pale and smooth like twin jades. Her allure was striking, but Huang Di quickly realized she was no angel. She’s a temptress, a demoness in human form. Around her, disciples stood entranced, their faces slack with foolish smiles and dreamy eyes.

  She laughed lightly, flaunting the insignia of a core disciple as she studied the arriving prey.

  Huang Di instantly understood that if he didn’t steel his mind, he too could fall victim to her spell. I must not let my guard down… And yet, he couldn’t help but feel intrigued by the mysterious demoness. His instincts warned him to remain vigilant, especially when she cast a piercing glance in his direction, as if measuring him.

  Before he could dwell further on the matter, another elder appeared, snapping him out of his thoughts. This one was younger and far more imposing than Meng Lu. He introduced himself as Su Taro, the Third Inner Elder, and declared that he would now take charge of the proceedings.

  Meng Lu was visibly surprised by the sudden change and tried to protest, but a crushing, invisible pressure silenced him. Humiliated, he could only step aside, seething in frustration.

  The original plan had been for a tournament to determine the top eight candidates, who would then be accepted as inner disciples. But that plan had been abruptly changed by a higher authority. This sudden shift left many participants visibly irritated, Ye Jue among them. He had made specific preparations for the original format, and though furious, he kept his composure, aware that he needed to adapt quickly.

  Meanwhile, Huang Di studied the inner disciples’ uniforms gray robes adorned with silver insignias and allowed himself to imagine donning such attire. He knew, however, that to attain it, he would need to face the new trial with unyielding determination and skill.

  Elder Su Taro began explaining the rules of the test, but Huang Di’s mind was already fixed on what lay ahead. Whatever challenges await, I will be ready.

  Small Dimensional World

  The test to become an inner disciple of the Golden Heron Sect was known for its difficulty, challenging both body and mind. But this time, the elders had prepared something truly extraordinary. Instead of the traditional tournament, the candidates were presented with a rare and unique event: the gathering of treasures within a small dimensional world.

  Elder Su Taro, his presence imposing, addressed the candidates with a voice that carried across the square.

  “This small world is a place of wonder and danger,” he began, his tone solemn. “Though smaller than our own world, the Great Blue River, it is still several times vaster than any of you can imagine. It harbors primitive cultivators, as well as resources and secrets that do not exist in our realm.”

  The disciples, clad in their respective sect robes, listened intently. Outer disciples wore white robes marked with a bronze heron insignia. Inner disciples wore gray robes adorned with silver herons. Core disciples were allowed more freedom in their attire, but while within sect grounds, they were still required to bear the golden heron insignia.

  Outer elders wore brown robes with green insignias; inner elders wore blue robes with red markings. Supreme elders, who represented the core authority of the sect, were not bound by such garments. Instead, they were distinguished by custom-crafted heron insignias made of diamond, each with gemstone eyes. The elder who had once assisted Huang Di bore emerald eyes in his heron. Another, who hovered silently in the air beside a massive teleportation gate, had ruby eyes.

  “You will enter the dimensional world and return with treasures to be assessed by the elders,” Su Taro continued. “Those whose collected items are valued at no less than one thousand high-grade spirit stones will be considered for promotion to inner disciples.”

  He paused, letting the weight of that requirement settle in before proceeding.

  “You will be transported to random locations, at least five kilometers apart. The world itself spans roughly one hundred and fifty thousand kilometers. Prepare yourselves for this trial will last one full year. Fail to return within that time... and you will remain trapped there for a century.”

  Each disciple was handed a return talisman, an enchanted item required to exit the small world.

  “Break the talisman when you are ready to return,” Su Taro instructed. “Be warned anyone within a ten-meter radius will be brought back with you.”

  As the talismans were distributed, the Ruby-Eyed Supreme Elder began preparing the portal. With graceful, deliberate movements and an immense outpouring of energy, he tore open a glowing rift in space, an entrance shimmering like a wound itself.

  “Those who wish to participate, step into the portal,” the Ruby Elder declared, his voice deep and resonant.

  Without hesitation, one of the core disciples stepped forward, vanishing into the light. Others followed in quick succession, some with resolute eyes, others with hesitant steps.

  Huang Di watched the blonde demoness, still seated atop her six-tailed mount, her lips curled in an enigmatic smile. She seemed amused by the entire affair, as if privy to secrets the others were not. Before he could ponder further, she too vanished into the portal, dissolving in an instant.

  Taking one final look at the world he knew, Huang Di inhaled deeply and leapt through the portal. Light engulfed him, and within moments, everything changed.

  The landscape before him was breathtaking. He stood in the heart of a vast forest, where trees soared hundreds of meters into the sky. Their canopies were so thick they blocked most of the sunlight. The energy in the air was pure, vibrant unlike anything he had ever felt. He stood motionless for a moment, overwhelmed by the beauty and immensity of the place.

  But he knew danger lurked in every shadow. This world, for all its splendor, was untamed and fraught with peril. He recalled the elder’s warning about primitive cultivators and the threats they posed. He would need to remain vigilant, his senses sharp, and his skills at the ready.

  With renewed resolve, Huang Di stepped forward and began his journey, ready to face whatever the Small Dimensional World had in store.