Chapter 4: The Call of the Trials
Ye Min awoke suddenly in the dead of night, careful not to disturb his father and sister. He slipped out into the nearby forest, finding a secluded spot to settle into a lotus position. Closing his eyes, he prepared to use his Qi gathering technique.
"Whirr… Hummm… Swoosh!" The technique activated, drastically increasing his absorption rate.
Ye Min focused intently, feeling the familiar cracking sound reverberate through him. Crack! Snap! The exhilarating sensation of a breakthrough washed over him.
"Boom!" He felt the surge of energy as he reached the third level of Qi gathering.
Hours passed in a trance-like state.
"Shatter!" He achieved the fourth level of Qi gathering.
"Ka-boom!" At last, he broke through to the first level of the Elementary realm.
Yet, despite his progress, frustration gnawed at him. "Why can't I break through?" he muttered, sensing a barrier he couldn’t cross despite the ample spiritual Qi around him. "Is this technique only effective at the Qi gathering realm?" he cursed softly.
As dawn's light filtered through the trees, he realized how late it had become.
"Huh. It’s already morning!" he said, composing himself before dashing home.
Swish, swish...
As he ran, Ye Min noticed his speed had dramatically increased. "Wow! I’m actually running at least 200 kilometers per hour!" he exclaimed, exhilarated. "If I fought the Emberbear again, I could defeat it without breaking a sweat."
Seconds later, he arrived home.
"Knock... knock..."
"Father, is Lin'er asleep?" he asked quietly.
"No, Lin'er went to pick up her brother, Ye Tian," his father, Ye Jun, replied calmly.
"What?" Ye Min frowned slightly, a wave of concern washing over him.
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"Don’t worry about Lin'er. Just help me prepare dinner," Ye Jun instructed, and Ye Min nodded, turning to assist his father.
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Meanwhile, at the mountain’s entrance...
"Brother Tian, welcome back!" Ye Lin greeted her brother with a warm smile.
"Thanks, little Lin. I’m back," Ye Tian replied, his tone low and relaxed.
"How are things at the Fenghou Sect?" she asked eagerly, her excitement palpable.
"It’s good. I’m progressing well; the resources are abundant, and the techniques are plentiful. You won’t find a better place than the Fenghou Sect," Ye Tian explained.
"Wow! What realm are you in now?" Ye Lin’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"I’m at the fifth level of Qi gathering."
"That’s amazing! Just a month in, and you’re already so strong! Can you teach me some techniques?" Ye Lin grinned.
"I can’t share any of the techniques from the Fenghou Sect; they’re only for disciples," Ye Tian replied, a hint of regret in his voice.
"That’s too bad. Why are you back so suddenly? Did something happen?" she asked, tilting her head.
"No, I just wanted to come home and relax," he said, his tone shifting slightly.
"Is that really the only reason?" Ye Lin probed, sensing something more.
"Not entirely. My master is attending a gathering with the four strongest sects," he added, hoping to change the subject.
"Wow! That’s impressive! Your master is one of the strongest people in the world!" Ye Lin exclaimed.
Just then, a strange phenomenon erupted in the sky.
DONG! DONG! DONG! DONG!
The thunderous chimes resonated deep within the earth, sending ripples of confusion through the crowd.
"Argh! What is happening?" people shouted, bewildered.
"Elder, what is this?" a disciple from the Fenghuo Sect asked, anxiety etched on his face.
"I have no idea," the elder replied, brows furrowed.
Suddenly, golden letters appeared in the sky, announcing the event.
| Ascension Trial Begin |
DONG! DONG!
"What is this?" the crowd murmured in astonishment.
| Searching Potential Begin |
Names began to scroll across the sky:
| 100: Dou Do, Age: 29 | Background: Doulin Sect. Potential: 6 Star. |
| 99: Te Li, Age: 26 | Background: None. Potential: 6 Star. |
"Who are these geniuses?" people whispered in awe.
"Yeah! They must be incredible!" another added.
| 52: Ni Wen, Age: 25 | Background: None. Potential: 6 Star. |
"All of them have better potential than me!" Ye Min said, feeling disheartened.
"It’s only natural; the world is vast, and such extraordinary talent is expected," his father, Ye Jun, commented calmly.
On Ye Tian's side...
"What is this?" he asked, bewildered by the spectacle.
"Hahaha! Brother, did you see their ages? This is based on potential and youth!" Ye Lin exclaimed, her eyes shining.
"You might be right," Ye Tian mused, lost in thought. Suddenly, he recalled something, laughter bubbling up unexpectedly.
"What’s so funny, brother?" Ye Lin asked, puzzled.
"Nothing, just remembering something good," he replied, still chuckling.
| 48: Yi Zhou, Age: 21 | Background: Zhou Family. Potential: 6 Star. |
"Tch! That bastard’s name is on there? Yi Zhou, you’ve finally gotten your wish!" Kang Zhou growled, his anger palpable.
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At the gathering of the five strongest sects...
In the Sanctum of Serenity, excitement buzzed as representatives from the Lingyun Sect, Huoshen Sect, Shuiyuan Sect, Dishi Sect, and Fenghuo Sect gathered to discuss their most promising disciples.
“Have you seen Yu Yen’s latest breakthroughs?” a member from the Lingyun Sect remarked, pride gleaming in his eyes. “Her mastery of wind techniques has reached new heights. he might just claim the top spot in the upcoming rankings.”
A Huoshen Sect elder leaned in, a flame flickering in his palm. “But what about Tian Zhi? His control over fire is unmatched, and his combat skills are sharp. I wouldn’t underestimate him.”
The Shuiyuan Sect disciple interjected calmly, “Sou Yan has been training tirelessly. Her water manipulation is exquisite, and she has a keen intuition in battle. She could surprise us all.”
From the back, a member of the Dishi Sect added, voice steady, “Ying Yin possesses a connection to the earth that few can match. His ability to sense shifts in energy makes him a formidable opponent.”
Finally, a representative from the Fenghuo Sect grinned. “Let’s not forget about Ye Tian. His dual mastery is rare, and if he effectively combines both fire and wind, he could eclipse everyone. Imagine the spectacle!”
As they debated, the air thickened with tension and anticipation. Whispers of potential alliances and rivalries swirled, each sect eager to see which disciple would emerge victorious in the upcoming trials.
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