In a bustling restaurant named Lucky Restaurant, several nobles and regular mortals came together for one large event. The Mystic Peak Sect was recruiting! The Mystic Peak Sect was one of the leading sect and anyone that joined in would be able to prosper. Many geniuses and other mortals were trying to get into the sect, but currently, the ones that were in this restaurant weren't people that had a lot of backing.
"LIANG CHEN, HURRY! HURRY WITH THE ORDERS!"
"Y-YES!"
Liang Chen rushed from one table to the next, delivering orders. "Please enjoy guests!"
Moving back and forth caused him to sweat, but to him this was nothing. He was feeling even a little bit of excitement!
Every 10 years, the Mystic Peak Sect would open it's recruitment. To immortals, 10 years were just a matter of seconds gone in a blink of an eye. Thankfully Liang Chen was young and only had to wait for 3 years when he settled down here. Because of that, he decided to work in this restaurant in order to prepare.
Liang Chen was 16 years old and if he failed this test, he might not be able to enter any sects in the future.
Suddenly a large sound boomed throughout the city as a voice rang out.
"Everyone who wants to enter Mystic Peak Sect should line up behind one of the gates."
All the participants began to collect their things in a hurry and quickly ran.
"Boss! I'm going too!"
A hearty laughter sounded, "Hahaha! Go! You better pass!"
Liang Chen smiled gently thinking of the time he had spent here as he took off his waiter uniform into his casual ware. If it weren't for the boss taking him in 5 years ago, he might have been a orphan on the streets. Thinking of the past made him feel melancholy.
Forget it, It's all in the past...Mom, Dad, Your son will try his best to live his life.
He threw a bag over his shoulder and left.
As the crowd gathered in front of the imposing gate of the Mystic Peak Sect, Liang Chen's heart pounded with anticipation. He had dreamt of this moment for years, ever since he first heard tales of the sect's legendary prowess and the heights its disciples reached. Now, finally, he stood among those hoping to prove themselves worthy.
The arrival of the female immortal atop the crane silenced the murmurs of the crowd. Her presence commanded respect, her demeanor exuding power and authority. Liang Chen couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and nervousness as he gazed up at her, his determination solidifying.
The immortal's gaze swept over the assembled crowd, her eyes seeming to pierce through each individual, assessing their worthiness with a glance. Liang Chen straightened his back, trying to project confidence despite the fluttering in his stomach.
After what felt like an eternity, the immortal finally spoke, her voice carrying a weight that seemed to echo through the air. "Welcome, seekers of the Mystic Peak Sect. Today, you stand at the threshold of greatness. But know this: only the most worthy will pass through these gates."
A murmur of anticipation rippled through the crowd as the immortal continued. "You will face trials of strength, wisdom, and character. Only those who prove themselves will have the honor of joining our ranks."
Liang Chen's determination burned brighter at her words. He had trained tirelessly, honing his skills and preparing for this moment. Now, he was ready to face whatever challenges awaited him, fueled by his dreams of reaching the pinnacle of cultivation.
As the gates of the Mystic Peak Sect began to creak open, revealing the path to their trials, Liang Chen took a deep breath, steeling himself for the journey ahead. With his heart set on the goal, he stepped forward, ready to seize his chance at greatness.
I can do it! I can do it!
With each step toward the open gates, Liang Chen felt a surge of determination coursing through him. He could hear the rhythmic thud of his heartbeat echoing in his ears, driving him forward with each beat. The path ahead seemed daunting, but he refused to let doubt cloud his mind.
Crossing the threshold into the Mystic Peak Sect, Liang Chen found himself in a sprawling courtyard surrounded by towering pagodas and lush gardens. The air hummed with energy, a tangible reminder of the profound cultivation practiced within these walls.
Ahead, a series of trials awaited, each one designed to test a different aspect of a cultivator's strength and character. Liang Chen's eyes gleamed with resolve as he surveyed the challenges that lay ahead. He knew that the road to becoming a disciple of the Mystic Peak Sect would not be easy, but he was determined to prove himself worthy.
The door opened and in front was a long, long road. No matter how long they looked, it was as if the road never ended.
The female immortal flat voice rang out shocking them awake, "What's wrong? Scared?"
They all hesitated and took one step forward, but...nothing happened? They thought that just stepping on the stone road would cause them to face some sort of restrictions. As they went on, their courage rose along with it. After some time, some even began running.
Seeing this, Liang Chen ran too. Even he didn't know why he was running, but he was picked up by the waves of emotions that the rest of the contestants were spewing out. As they ran along the seemingly infinite road, Liang Chen couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Just as he was about to investigate, a young mans voice rang out amongst the crowd.
"Stop!" he called out, his words echoing. "We must tread carefully. There may be more to this path than meets the eye."
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His fellow contestants looked to him with a mixture of confusion and concern, but Liang Chen could see the flicker of doubt in their eyes. They, too, sensed that something was wrong, and they were searching for answers.
Liang Chen looked at the young man, observing him. Due to circumstances, he had learned to start reading people, how they dressed, and how they acted. This young man was not too tall, but he had a noble air to him that was different and he spoke with determination causing Liang Chen to feel respect towards the young man.
Together, they began to investigate their surroundings, searching for any clues that might reveal the truth behind the mysterious road. With each passing moment, the sense of unease grew stronger, but so too did their determination to uncover the secrets hidden within the labyrinthine depths of the path before them.
"I wonder who this sir is?" A noble clasped his hand towards the young man.
In uncertain times, people needed a guiding light. Since he was the first to speak out, he might have a way to break through their situation. They all looked in anticipation.
Feeling the immense pressure, the young man didn't back down. "My name isn't important. What's important is how to break out of this infinite loop."
"A loop!?"
They suddenly look around and were shocked.
Although they had been running for what seemed like hours, they were actually still in the same spot. Someone in the crowd yelled out, "How could this be!? I was sure when looking at my surroundings that we were moving forward!"
The young man sighed, "This is an illusion caused by an array formation. I'm guessing that right where we stand is the center of the formation. To get out....We would need to break the array or find a gap."
The young man clasped his hand towards the immortal, "I'm guessing that the moment that the immortal explained the rules the contest had already started. "This trial will focus on strength, wisdom, and character." That is what you said, correct?"
The immortal nods.
"Then this trial may be the wisdom trial. The reason you mentioned strength first was for all of us to have a misconception that we were actually meant to run. But in reality the moment we ran, we were all trapped in within this array!"
The immortal showed no emotion. "Break through, and you will be considered as passed. Had any of you noticed at first, and not approached the array, you might have passed instantly. Too bad. You have 1 hour to break through, otherwise it will be a fail!"
Liang Chen felt a surge of determination coursing through him as he listened to the young man's words. He knew that this trial would test not only his intellect but also his ability to think outside the box. With a clear goal in mind, he focused his thoughts, searching for any clues that might lead them to victory.
Together, they began to scour the area, examining every detail with a critical eye. Liang Chen's mind raced as he analyzed the patterns of the array formation, searching for any weaknesses they could exploit. He could feel the tension mounting as the minutes ticked by, each one bringing them closer to failure.
Suddenly, a glimmer of hope caught Liang Chen's eye as he spotted a faint distortion in the air. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but he knew it was their best chance at breaking free from the illusion.
"Over there!" he called out, pointing towards the faint shimmering in the distance. "I think I've found a way out!"
His fellow contestants rallied around him, their eyes alight with newfound hope. With a renewed sense of purpose, they charged towards the distortion, determined to overcome the trial that lay before them.
As they drew closer, the distortion grew more pronounced, its edges shimmering like heat rising from a summer pavement. Liang Chen could feel the anticipation building within him as they approached, each step bringing them closer to freedom.
With a final surge of effort, they reached the edge of the distortion, their hearts pounding with excitement. Without hesitation, Liang Chen reached out and pressed his hand against the shimmering barrier, channeling all of his willpower into breaking through.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a soft shimmering sound, the barrier gave way, dissolving into nothingness before their eyes. As the illusion faded away, they found themselves standing outside of the array formation, bathed in the warm glow of success.
They look up towards the immortal to see the results. Her eyes glared at Liang Chen. "Presumptuous!"
A large amount of force pushed them down to the point of kneeling. The young man resisted and yelled out, "I-immortal, how have we offended you!?"
"Today, we were testing everyone's aptitude, but this boy actually gave it away! Now everyone will pass, and it's all because of him!"
Everyone looked at Liang Chen and even Liang Chen felt wronged.
Liang Chen yelled out under the pressure gritting his teeth. "Immortal! You didn't say that I shouldn't keep way to win to myself! This is unfair and unjust!"
Everyone felt that way, but they didn't dare speak out.
"Fairness? Here, I am the rules!"
The noble man looked up and said, "I-immortal, if you have a grudge against him, then punish him. Don't let innocent bystanders suffer!"
Liang Chen looked at the noble man and could only frown. Liang Chen knew that the noble man wasn't in the wrong for wanting to save his own skin...but this feeling was truly enraging! However Liang Chen couldn't bear to refute him since it was all meaningless either way.
"SHUT UP!" The young man glared at the noble man as if he wanted to devour him. "You only made it out of that array, because that man brought us out! And you want to sell him out!?"
The noble man felt wronged and spoke against him, "W-What is wrong about that!? What is this commoner compared to us?"
"You!" The young man was speechless how shameless he could be.
"Interesting~" The immortal looked down at them. "Fine, I'll let all of you pass....so long as you give him up to me."
She points directly at Liang Chen. "Those who agree, raise your hands!"
The tension in the air was palpable as the immortal's words hung heavy over the crowd like a heavy knife. Liang Chen could feel the weight of their stares bearing down on him, their indecision casting a shadow over his hopes of joining the Mystic Peak Sect.
He glanced around, searching for any sign of support among his fellow contestants. Some looked conflicted, torn between their desire to succeed and their sense of fairness. Others avoided his gaze altogether, unwilling to speak out against the immortal's decree.
But then, to Liang Chen's surprise, a voice rang out from the crowd, breaking the silence like a bolt of lightning. It was the young man who had spoken out against the array formation earlier, his eyes blazing with determination.
"I refuse to betray my principles for the sake of convenience," he declared, his voice ringing clear and true. "If we abandon one of our own to satisfy the whims of authority, then we are no better than puppets dancing on strings. And I refuse to be a puppet!"
His words resonated with the crowd, stirring something deep within their hearts. One by one, they began to murmur their agreement, their voices growing louder with each passing moment. "That's right! We don't agree!"
The immortal laughed, "ha ha ha". Although she laughed, there was no emotions in them. All they could feel were the ice cold glare deep in their soul.
"If you agree then you stand with me, if you disagree...Then don't even think about leaving this place alive!"
A strong killing intent exuded in the air, muffling the voices of rebellion. Those who tried to rebel against this immortal instantly started having second thoughts. Then they look back towards Liang Chen before quickly turning towards the immortal.
Then one by one, a hand raised. Then another, and another. Soon only Liang Chen and the young man were the only ones fighting against the immortal. The young man could only sigh at their resolve.
"You all agree?" the immortal asks.
"Yes!" They said in unison.
"...Fine. Now lets show the results!"
The pressure lessoned and they were finally free. Some jumped up with glee. Liang Chen awaited his failure. He couldn't even pass the first test. And he dreamed about becoming a cultivator? He could only grip his hands in anger and grief.
Even so, I don't regret it.
"Everyone that raised their hands....Has failed."