Standing before the group, Elder Yue's voice boomed:

“Listen carefully! The path through the bamboo forest leads to the Bone-Refining Cliff of Seven Mysteries Sect. The first section is the bamboo grove, followed by the rockface, and finally the cliff itself. Only those who reach the top will be admitted into the sect. If you fail to make it by noon, you will not qualify as formal disciples. However, if your performance is notable, you might still be accepted as outer disciples.”

Han Li didn't understand what an "outer disciple" was, but the task seemed straightforward—just climbing. Looking ahead, he saw a moderately steep hill covered with thick bamboo. It didn't seem too challenging.

He glanced at the others. Determined not to fall behind, he steeled himself. Around him, the atmosphere among the children had grown tense.

Elder Yue observed the rising sun and declared, “The time is right. Begin! Don't worry—your senior brothers will ensure your safety.”

Turning back, Han Li saw the young men referred to as senior brothers. They were likely disciples admitted in previous years. He couldn't help but imagine himself wearing the same dignified attire if he made it into the sect.

Lost in thought, Han Li suddenly noticed the other children rushing into the bamboo grove. Startled, he hurried to follow.

The bamboo forest was vast. Once inside, the thirty-odd children dispersed quickly. A tall and lanky senior brother shadowed Han Li, his face impassive and his silence unnerving. Too scared to speak, Han Li focused on climbing, keeping his body low as he ascended the slope.

At first, the climb wasn't difficult. But as time passed, Han Li felt increasingly fatigued. His legs grew heavy, and he began relying on the bamboo stalks for support to save his dwindling strength.

After a while, completely exhausted, Han Li found a small mound of dirt and collapsed onto it, gasping for breath.

He stole a glance behind him. Despite the steep incline, the tall senior brother stood perfectly still, as though rooted to the ground. His clean, dust-free clothes and upright posture made him look as steady as the bamboo surrounding them.

Seeing the senior brother's cold gaze, Han Li felt a flicker of fear. Hastily, he turned away and, hearing the labored breaths of other children resting ahead, pushed himself to continue.

As the slope steepened, Han Li found it increasingly difficult to stand upright. He had to crawl on all fours, his sturdy clothes protecting him from the rough ground. Without them, his knees and elbows would have been shredded by the jagged rocks.

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Eventually, the dense bamboo began to thin, giving way to rocky terrain. Without the bamboo stalks for support, Han Li was forced to inch forward, exhausted.

Emerging from the bamboo grove, Han Li saw an enormous rockface before him. A few children were already climbing it, with senior brothers closely following behind. Without hesitation, he rushed toward the giant stone wall.

The rockface consisted of layers of weathered, crumbling stones. Some parts disintegrated at a touch, while others were sharp and jagged. Within a single meal's time, Han Li's hands were riddled with cuts. His elbows and knees were scraped, his clothing torn, and his exposed skin sliced open. Although the wounds were small, the embedded rock fragments added a stinging pain.

Ahead of him, the lead climbers were steadily pulling away. Han Li remembered his family's advice: enduring hardship was essential to joining Seven Mysteries Sect. He clenched his teeth, determined to keep climbing, not for the sect but for his pride. He refused to give up.

Looking up, Han Li saw Wu Yan at the forefront. Being older, stronger, and trained in martial arts, it was no surprise that Wu Yan led the pack.

Han Li glanced back and noticed several figures still moving below. Taking a deep breath, he resolved to push on.

Despite exerting every ounce of strength, Han Li couldn't close the gap with the leaders. His body grew heavier with each step. By the time the sun climbed toward its zenith, Wu Yan had already reached the rockface's summit.

The final challenge was a sheer cliff, over thirty meters high. Thick ropes dangled from the top, each knotted at intervals for easier climbing. Wu Yan grabbed one and began scaling it, his movements slow but steady.

Watching Wu Yan, Han Li felt a pang of despair. He knew he couldn't catch up in time.

The thought of failure brought a wave of pain from his scraped elbows and knees. His limbs trembled, and his grip faltered. Suddenly, his body slipped, and he began to fall.

Heart pounding, Han Li pressed himself against the rockface, terrified to move. After a moment, he steadied himself by gripping a sturdy protrusion.

Looking down, he saw the tall senior brother crouched with his arms open, ready to catch him. Seeing that Han Li had stabilized, the senior brother stood back up, his expression unchanged.

Grateful, Han Li felt a renewed determination. Resting briefly, he resumed his climb, inching toward the hanging ropes.

Finally reaching an unoccupied rope, Han Li saw the sun nearly at its zenith. Less than half an hour remained until noon. Above him, Wu Yan reached the top and turned to sneer. He raised his pinky finger in mockery before laughing and disappearing over the edge.

Seething with anger, Han Li gripped the rope and began to climb.

But his body had reached its limit. His hands barely held the knots, and every movement was a monumental effort.

After reaching the lowest knot, Han Li sat atop it, utterly drained. His body felt like lead, and he could no longer move a finger. Glancing down, he saw other children resting on the rockface, just as exhausted.

With a bitter smile, Han Li realized he had underestimated the challenge. Still, he was relieved not to be last. Looking up at the senior brother, who stood silently below, Han Li hesitated before deciding to push himself further.

Though he knew he wouldn't make it to the top in time, Han Li refused to stop entirely. He clenched his teeth, stretched his stiff hands, and summoned the last vestiges of his strength to climb again.

But his hands, no longer responsive, slipped from the rope. Despite his resolve, Han Li found himself stuck, unable to ascend any further.