He felt the weight of everyone’s stare as they watched him. He imagined how many participants had gone mad and also had to be dispatched in such a rough manner by the people here. Although the procedure was likely to be similar to what he did with Shelu’s soul, he slightly hoped that he would fail so all their lives weren’t lost for no reason.
Elder Yue was about to kill the girl, so it didn’t seem like there was any way to save them normally. For the first time, Dalian got the idea that his life spirit root was rare among spirit roots.
As he got closer, the cage of blue light began constricting into ropes which tightly bound the girl. Bartholdt stood a few metres away, still in shock, but his fear of the girl showed.
Dalian got onto his knees so he could reach the girl, who was now completely still, though he could tell it was unwilling.
In the same way that he had done previously, he probed his spirit root. Like instinct, the energy within began to flare up, though he could feel that it hadn’t recovered yet from Shelu’s soul.
He activated it again, and his skin began to glow, but it was just a mild aura. He needed something that could enter the girls pores.
Finally, he pushed his root even further and energy began to leak out of him at an intense rate. Knowing he could only sustain this for a couple of seconds, he put his hands on her arms.
Like a dam of water being released, his energy spread through her. Her body began to glow as it reached every part. Then just as fast as it had come, it disappeared. The ropes of blue light faded and he could sense that the madness that had plagued her was gone.
“Excellent work disciple. Your talents will be of great value to the sect.” Elder Alano said, now with a pleasing smile.
“Thank you, I was just lucky is all.” Dalian replied, trying not to draw the jealousy of the others.
“I will make sure the points are transferred to your name. Now, there is not much longer to wait. The final disciples should be coming through shortly.”
As he said, over the next ten minutes , more and more participants filed into the area. Their faces were blue and they heaved as they collapsed onto the ground.
Elder Alano stepped forward as one last girl stumbled into the pavilion.
“Well done everyone. As of today, you are all members of the Azure Light Sect. You have proven that you have the talent, intelligence, and willpower to step onto the path of immortality.”
Smiles grew on the youth’s faces. No matter how exhausted they were, they could all find solace and happiness in the knowledge that they had succeeded.
Dalian looked around and saw that there were only about fifty people remaining. Whilst he was excited, that figure served as a grim reminder that the journey would be very dangerous indeed. How many others had taken these steps before him? And how many were still standing?
“Among yourselves, there are those that have already been able to distinguish themselves. These people have attracted the attention of the elders, who have decided to take disciples.” Continued Alano.
Through the blank sheet of darkness, several figures flew down. Their blue robes shone as the rays of light refracted off the finely crafted threads.
The youngsters sat up, their attention now sharply controlled.
A large, burly man stepped forward. He had a hairy body and seemed to lack entirely the grace of an immortal. Some may have mistaken him for a mountain.
“Elder Fellier, the foremost expert on the metal element in the sect. Known as the Iron Behemoth to our enemies, he strikes fear across the lands.” Elder Alano introduced.
“Bartholdt Keluk. Come.” Fellier spoke with a booming voice that inspired an instinctual suppression.
Bartholdt shakily walked over. Despite his evident fear, he still found the opportunity to shoot a smug smirk at Dalian.
Once he made it over, the height difference between the two became apparent.
Fellier laughed. “You’ve got the smell of a weakling about you. I’ll beat that out of you soon enough. Metal element cultivators should be strong and tough!”
Bartholdt shivered under his gaze. Together they moved back, as a woman stepped forward.
She had long green vines for hair, and a kind smile.
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Elder Alano announced, “Elder Potts. Unparalleled in nature, she is known as the Constriction Fairy.”
“Miss Selina Teira. You may join me.” She said with a graceful smile.
A girl with long black hair, one of the participants who could still stand after the bridge, walked over. Dalian recognised her as having had a high grade spirit root.
“I hope you may live up to my expectations.” Potts said, before putting a hand on Selina’s back and walking over to the other elders.
Elder Alano cleared his throat. “I will now pick my disciple. From the beginning of this test, I’ve seen his resolve. With a determination to match an immortal. Disciple Dalian, come.”
Alarms began ringing in Dalian’s head immediately. Perhaps at the start of the test, he would be more than happy to go under Alano. But now that he had seen the memories of Shelu, he felt that he had to get out of it no matter what.
“Please, honoured elder. I am not qualified to be your disciple. Choose someone else in my stead.”
Alano only smiled in response. “You are more than capable. Now come. This matter has already been decided by the elders jointly.”
Dalian knew he couldn’t press further, and walked over with a bright smile. If he had to go under Alano, he would do his best to appear the obedient disciple. At least until he could strike out on his own.
Now by his side, they didn’t walk back to the other elders, instead Elder Alano continued speaking to the disciples as a final woman stepped forward.
With a regal manner, she commanded the respect of the youths.
“Grand Elder Hazel. Second in command to the sect, behind only the sect leader. She is a pillar of our continued success. Songs and poems have been written about her heroism and power. You should all be thankful for the opportunity to be in her presence.”
She smiled, and scanned the audience, until her gaze fell upon a boy in finely crafted robes.
“Mersault Inisher.” she said.
The two exchanged a look that seemed to exchange details more than what others could perceive and Mersault walked over in silence. As he arrived by her side, he didn’t slow and she turned with him to walk back to the elders.
Alano cleared his throat
“The elders have chosen their disciples. The rest of you will be taken to the outer sect by Elder Kailin. Work hard and you can achieve a spot in the inner sect, or even attract the attention of an Elder.
Once again, I commend you all for making it this far. Just know, the real challenge begins now.”
Dalian suddenly lost his footing as he began to float into the air, as Alano placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw the other elders floating with their disciples as the others in his cohort stared at them flying away.
—-
Despite his expectations that he would immediately be bombarded with endless tomes of information to parse through about the details of reaching immortality, Dalian received none of that. Instead, as soon as he had landed upon Elder Alano’s personal mountain, he had instead been directed to his new living quarters by a servant and instructed to rest.
Despite his jubilation from taking the first step, when he laid down on the bed, he quickly fell asleep. Exhaustion had wracked his body, and he had used certain vital energies that needed proper rest to replenish.
So, like a newborn baby, he slept. For fourteen hours, he slept.
When he finally woke, his body felt sore like never before. Strangely though, he felt quite invigorated.
After taking an hour to wash and get ready, whilst thinking about what had happened during the trials, he exited his space into the larger compound.
The mountain was awash with people, many dressed in plain black robes, whilst a select few wore navy blue robes. Those in the black robes held their head low as they rushed in different directions, whereas any wearing blue held their head high as they strutted around confidently.
Dalian was just looking at his own white robes, wondering how he fit into the hierarchy, when he was greeted by two bulky men on either side of him.
“Good evening Master Dalian.”
Surprised at the appellation, he quietly replied with a ‘hello’.
“Elder Alano awaits you within his personal residence.”
Dalian thought for a moment and felt that his title had to have been due to his status as Alano’s disciple.
“Please, show me the way.” He said.
“Of course.” They replied in unison as they set off together, clearing a way through the crowd for him.
As they walked, Dalian heard people muttering.
“Is that the new disciple of Elder Alano?”
“He doesn’t look very strong.”
“Don’t say something like that. If he was chosen, then has more potential than any of us.”
Feeling a small sense of pride blossoming within him, Dalian began to hold his chest out more openly.
Soon, they had made their way to the centre of the mountain, where a decorated wall surrounded a pavilion that rose high above. The two men guiding him stopped in front of a marble arch.
“We are not permitted to enter the Elder’s residence.” One of them said,
Dalian nodded, “Thank you for taking me this far.”
The two nodded and he stepped forward through the arch. Suddenly, he felt the air become extremely dense. After stumbling, he was almost forced to his knees before he could regain his footing. Still, he had to push hard, just to stay standing.
With great effort, he took one step after another, eventually making his way to the softly glowing door of blue metal.
He lifted his arm like he was holding a heavy stone and knocked on the door.
There was no response, then with a sudden movement, the doors slowly opened, revealing the elder sitting cross legged in front of a table, with a tea set that steamed like a winding snake.