The mountains of the Azure Light Sect were towering. The peaks existed far above any mortal settlement, past the point of the clouds. Any peasant and king alike who looked up would only be able to see a blanket of white, or perhaps orange when the sun passed the horizon. However, if one ventured past the veil, a beauty befitting only an immortal would reveal itself. Brilliant crystals of all shades of blue adorned the rocks beneath. Light refracted through the structure, exiting in a vivid array of blue.
Across the tops of the mountains, pavilions were bombarded with harsh, discordant but beautiful rays of aquamarine, violet, navy and more. Under one such roof on a peak lower than most was a group of young teenagers about sixteen, or maybe fifteen. They stood in a large frothing mass, in front of two men wearing billowing sea robes that blew about mesmerizingly. One seemed to be in his middle age, whilst the other looked like he would be in a grave in a few years. The older pair were atop a stone stage about a metre higher than the ground, perhaps to garner attention or respect from the youths.
Only the sound of chimes could be heard, swaying into each other gently and producing a smooth tintinnabulation. The peaceful atmosphere was pierced by a loud booming voice.
“Greetings, future disciples of the Azure Light Sect! It is my pleasure to welcome you as an elder of the outer court. You may refer to me as Elder Alano. You are here today because we see promise in you. Our disciples have decided that you are likely to possess the ability needed to cultivate. And so you are standing here, to take the annual entrance examination. I won’t meander further, you will need your energy over the coming period. Arrange yourself into a line, so that we may test you for your ability to cultivate.”
Immediately, the youths set about organising themselves into a line, with those who had a confident or arrogant manner pushing to be the first in line. Those in the middle were the ones who were in no rush to make a fool of themselves, or make enemies. So they took a position as it appeared. Finally at the end were those unsure of themselves, the ones who didn’t know if they truly had what it took to become an immortal.
Near the end, but nearly in towards the middle was a brown haired boy. He had a tanned complexion, and his clothes were nothing special, just what would be worn by any other farmer. However, unlike the other farmhands that were present in the group, he did not shake nervously. Nor did he fiddle with his fingers, or bite his nails. Rather, he possessed a startling balance. When one looked into his eyes of pure green, they would immediately see that he was different from his peers. Like a roaring flame, his eyes burned with passion and ambition. In his mind, he had only one thought.
He must pass the exam, and enter the Azure Light Sect!
Quickly, the first testee was beckoned to step forward. A girl with long black hair.
“State your name.” Elder Alano spoke.
“Aleandra Jenain.” She replied.
The elder nodded, “Step forward and place your hands on the crystal.” He stepped aside to reveal a large, nearly transparent mineral which jutted out from the ground.
The girl walked towards it and confidently put her hands atop. The moment stretched on, and nothing happened. Hesitantly, she removed her hands and put them back. Still nothing.
“No spiritual root, unable to cultivate.” The elder remarked, like a spectre of death. “Please stand with Elder Kailin.”
The girl was frozen in place, only her jaw was open. Then she shook and snapped back to life. “What? No spiritual root? How can that be? My father, and his father before him were both cultivators! I have the blood of immortals flowing through me!” She put her hand back on the crystal, pushing them down harder than before.
“This is your only warning, step aside.” Elder Alano commanded.
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She smacked her hands against the crystal again and again, but each time there was no response. “No! I’m destined to be an immort-.” Her words were cut short, as a blast of blue travelled out of the elder’s finger, hitting her directly in the head. She collapsed to the floor with a thud, her skull knocking against the hard stone. Without any words, the elder gestured with his hands, and she floated up and over to Elder Kailin, finally dropping to the surface.
As if nothing had happened, Elder Alano told the next person in line to give his name. It was a boy, with very long black hair that went halfway down his back. He had skin as smooth as porcelain, and he had luxurious robes, on par with those worn by royalty.
He spoke in a regal manner. “Mersault Inisher.”
In response, the elder raised an eyebrow. “Would you be the younger brother of Francies Inisher?”
The boy nodded, “Yes, he is my elder brother.”
Elder Alano smiled. “Then I have no doubt that you will be successful.” He said, despite the boy having not been tested.
Mersault stepped forward and placed his hands on the crystal. For a very brief moment, there was no response. Then, all at once, a brilliant light shone out in all directions. The crowd of teenagers had to shield their eyes or look away, as it was far too bright to view directly. Perhaps aware of this, Mersault removed his hands, and the light died down. It was silent, and only the chimes could be heard.
Then, Elder Alano shouted. “Top grade spiritual root! Top grade!” His smile grew even larger than it had been. “Come next to me, my boy!” He waved Mersault over, who graciously obliged. Once, he had made it close enough he put his hands on the boy’s shoulders. “Now, if anyone makes any problems for you in the sect, come to me right away and I’ll sort them out for you.”
“I understand, Elder.” The boy lowered his head deferentially. The elder laughed. “Good!” Quietly, he continued. “But raise your head, you do not need to bow to me.” He lifted his head up and after an assurance that he would take care of the boy, the elder returned to the group.
The rest of the youths passed by in relative uneventfulness. There were none that elicited such a response in the elder as Mersault had. About half were sent to Elder Kailin, having been found to have no ability to cultivate. Unlike the first girl, none attempted to fight back against their failure, and reluctantly gave up on their dreams. The others mostly had low grade or medium grade roots, and only two had high grade roots.
Finally, it was the turn for the distinct farmhand boy.
“State your name, please.” Elder Alano said with a smile, the happiness caused by Mersualt not having worn off.
“Dalian, I have no surname, Elder.” His voice was clear, and had no stutter.
“Then you may choose one if you enter the sect. Now, place your hands on the crystal.”
Dalian walked up in a steady manner. Without any hesitation, he laid his hands to rest upon the cold surface. He waited, but nothing happened. There was no light. Not even a tiny flicker like there had been in the least of the low grade roots. His heart tremored, the fatal string of fate plucked. But he kept a concentrated face, and accepted his reality.
“No spiritual root, unable to cultivate. Next.”
Dalian turned around. “Please wait, honoured elder.” The elder turned around, and his wizened eyes gazed upon him imperiously. Dalian continued. “I may have no spiritual root, but I must enter this sect if it is the last thing I do. I will even become your slave if that is the only option.” He got down onto his knees and placed his head on the floor. “Please, honoured elder, I must join this sect.”
The elder let out a ‘hmm’ sound, but Dalian didn’t dare to raise his head. “Why should I bother with you? As an immortal, I can naturally do the work of a thousand mortals. There is no need for me to take you in.”
His words sounded bleak, but Dalian sensed a chance. “I will do the work of ten men, without complaint. I will perform your commands to the letter. If I do anything else, you may strike me down immediately. Please, honoured elder! I must join this sect!”
Elder Alano sighed. “What decisiveness. It is a pity you have no spiritual root, or you would have made a fine immortal.” He rubbed his chin hair and thought. The clinking of the chimes blew through. “Very well, if you can pass the examination then I shall accept you as a slave. Any action out of line, and I will erase you from existence.”
“Thank you, honoured elder!” Dalian shouted. Upon being told to stand, he got up and went over to the group by the elder. His eyes remained determined, despite having just signed up to a life of servitude, despite the others his age looking at him with contemptuous glares, and despite his lack of a spiritual root. He was one step closer to his ambition.
Immortality.