The next morning came too soon, Jiang Tao had barely gotten a wink of sleep when the attendants came to wake them.

The newly gained knowledge of the upcoming war had shaken him a bit. Sure he liked fighting He had done some martial arts in his past life but war? That was entirely too complex and a whole new ballpark for him.

Was it possible to stay on the sidelines? He wondered, apprehension at fighting a war had gripped him.

They were given space to change into their sect robes, zhou Yixing graciously offered to put his belongings in his spatial ring.

Hammerspace. Neat. That was something he had to get his hands on, which also explained why most of the other guys carried no luggage or belongings.

“Disciples! Martial outside a sky barge will take you to the Five Lights peak,” An official called out once they had gotten ready.

Flying Vehicles? Cool! At this point, I don't think I can be surprised by anything else! Jiang Tao couldn't help but muse as they were shuffled to the waiting ship. A colossal monstrosity of an airship.

As they boarded the barge Jiang Tao marveled at the sheer size of it. Zhou Yixing seemingly unperturbed by the grandeur, nudged him with a playful grin. "Impressive, right?”

He nodded too captivated to speak. As the sky barge lifted off with a gentle thrum, Jiang Tao was drawn to the expansive view beneath them. The land stretched out like a quilt of varied landscapes—lush forests, winding rivers, and distant mountain ranges veiled in mist.

It was a panorama that both excited and daunted him, home was getting farther and farther away each day.

----------------------------------------

After what seemed to be an eternity of travel through the clouds, the sky barge began its descent towards Five Lights Peak.

Jiang Tao stood at the railing of the sky barge, his eyes wide with awe as Five Lights Peak came into view as the clouds parted to reveal a breathtaking sight: Five towering peaks rising from the ground like the fingers of giants each crowned with intricate pagodas and pavilions that caught the sunlight in a dazzling display.

It was honestly the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen and that included both lives.

"This... this is incredible," Jiang Tao murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Zhou Yixing was beside him with an equally wonderstruck expression that veered borderline reverential.

“It's one thing to read about it but even my imagination couldn’t have done it justice,” he said softly.

Jiang Tao nodded in agreement, finding it hard to look away from the unreal scene. It was hard to visualize such magnificence, he had never imagined such grandeur and scale existed outside of stories and legends.

They weren't the only ones marveling at the sights around them, most of the other disciples seemed just as awestruck, their usual airs of superiority temporarily forgotten.

The barge descended gracefully, coming to a halt at an expansive stone platform at the foot of the smallest and leftmost peak.

They were herded out off the barge along with the other disciples. The sect grounds were impressive, to say the least.

The stone platform where they landed was vast and he could see similar barges to the one he had disembarked from landing.

They were left to mill around alone for a few moments before a tall stern stern-faced man clad in dark armor approached them. All chatter ceased at once.

“Welcome disciples of the Celestial Illumination Sect,” the man announced voice resonating across the platform.

“I am Officer Wu Laichi of Verdant Lotus Peak Martial Guard, I've been tasked with leading you to your induction. Follow me."

With that, Officer Wu Laichi led the group up a grand staircase nestled towards the back of the platform.

As they ascended the stairs, Jiang Tao stole glances at the intricate architecture, pillars engraved with swirling patterns and creatures, surrounding them on each side.

Zhou Yixing, gregarious as ever, leaned closer to Jiang Tao. "Pretty imposing, huh? They don't do things by halves here."

Jiang Tao nodded in agreement, his gaze drifting to the other disciples around him. Some looked eager, others nervous, and one or two maintained a mask of aloofness that Jiang Tao suspected mirrored his own attempts to appear nonchalant.

Officer Wu Laichi led them through the towering gates of Verdant Lotus Peak, and they entered a vast courtyard lined with intricate buildings and lush gardens.

“Muster here, Your Sect elders and instructors will be here shortly to begin your induction.”

As they gathered in the courtyard, Jiang Tao's senses were overwhelmed by the grandeur and solemnity of the surroundings. The buildings were adorned with flags and colorful banners that fluttered in the gentle breeze.

A hush fell over the courtyard as a procession of elders and instructors emerged from somewhere, clad in robes of varying colors.

They walked with an air of authority that demanded respect, he could swear that an invisible pressure had settled over them cause it was suddenly a little harder to breathe.

They arrayed themselves at the front of the courtyard, each elder taking a position on the raised platform that overlooked the assembled disciples.

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He stood straighter, trying to appear more composed than he felt despite the sudden nerves that had started knotting in his stomach.

Then an elder stepped forward, his robes a deep crimson with golden embroidery that caught the sunlight. His gaze swept over the gathered disciples, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Welcome, new disciples, to Verdant Lotus Peak,” his voice rang out, resonant and powerful.

“It is on behalf of the Emperor, the radiant sovereign of the Western Sun Dominion that I welcome you as inner disciples of this grand sect,”

“I am Elder Wang Tao of the Eternal Flame sect, one of the few sects granted the incredible honor to guide you on your path to becoming the pillars of our glorious dominion,” the elder continued, his voice firm with authority.

Heh, we have the same name. He thought mirthfully.

“You are the first disciples of this illustrious sect in over ten thousand years. The emperor grants you a glorious opportunity,”

"Your journey here marks a pivotal moment in the history of our dominion," Elder Wang Tao proclaimed, his voice carrying a weight that settled over the courtyard like a palpable force.

"The resurgence of the upcoming succession War marks a new era of challenges and opportunities for each of you."

"The Celestial Illumination Sect stands as a bastion of strength and wisdom, entrusted with the sacred duty to cultivate the next generation of leaders."

Isn't that too heavy of sentiment to lay on teenagers? he thought, trying to brush off a nagging sense of impostor syndrome that had crept up.

He looked around, meeting the eyes of his fellows. Some looked determined, others apprehensive, but all seemed acutely aware of the importance of their presence here.

This was far beyond anything he had experienced in his simple life at Persimmon Peak, where days were measured by the cycle of planting and harvest, not by the weight of imperial decrees and wars.

“With that, I introduce to you the Jewels of the western sun dominion. The imperial scions of the western sun and your fellow disciples of the imperial sect,” he gestured to back where six figures clad in the same inner sect same robes as the rest of them stood.

He couldn't help but stare, they didn't look that different from the rest rich kids he’d joined over in the capital maybe a little more refined and better looking but he hadn't noticed anything different. Also were they always there?

Royalty huh? Interesting… He thought as he tried to take note of each one of them.

"They are chosen heirs of the emperor, of them only one will ascend and succeed his sacred majesty as the sovereign of the dominion, they shall begin the journey of the immortal path alongside you all" Elder Wang Tao's proclamation hung in the air, and the courtyard was filled with a tense silence.

As the silence lingered, Elder Wang Tao's gaze swept across the courtyard once more before he continued, “This is not merely a conflict of swords and strength, but a crucible for the forging of destinies. Each of you carries within you the potential to shape the future of our dominion,"

As the ceremony drew to a close, the courtyard erupted into a murmur of voices.

“That was certainly something huh,” He said to Zhou Yixing.

The other boy snorted. “That was more than something, I was practically born and raised for this but that felt grander than I expected,”

He nodded in agreement "Yeah, it's... overwhelming.”

Yixing clapped him on the shoulder with a reassuring grin. "Don't worry too much, any true fighting is years in the future,”

They lingered in the courtyard, watching as the other disciples began to disperse into groups, some deep in discussion, others exploring the edges of the expansive grounds.

"So, what's next?" Jiang Tao asked, curiosity tugging at him as he glanced around at the intricate architecture and the gardens that seemed to stretch endlessly.

Zhou Yixing shrugged. “Not entirely sure as well brother,”

As they talked, a woman in azure robes with her hair tied back in a neat bun, marched to the center of the courtyard.

"Greetings, new disciples. I am Prefect Mei Ling of Heaven's Peak Sect, I've been tasked with guiding you through the sect grounds, please follow me” she said her voice carrying easily through the courtyard.

That's honestly pretty cool. He thought appreciatively.

Tao exchanged a glance with Yixing before falling into step behind her along with the other disciples.

She led them toward one of the biggest buildings that surrounded the courtyard,

“This is the main hall of Verdant Lotus Peak,” She said gesturing to the building they were in.

“Your mandatory foundational lectures will occur here at dawn every day, Important announcements and ceremonies also be hosted here”

Tao glanced around, taking in the grandeur of the hall. The intricate carvings and gorgeous tapestries spoke of a rich history and deep-rooted traditions.

As they walked, Prefect Mei Ling continued her introduction, pointing out various buildings and their purposes. “To your left are the smaller halls, Oak, Redwood, and Lily Hall where optional supplemental lessons will be held throughout the day.”

“To your right is the Library Pavilion, an invaluable resource for your paths. It contains scrolls, manuscripts, and texts on a wide range of subjects including martial arts, cultivation techniques, history, and philosophy,” she said.

He hummed thoughtfully at the mention of the library, he had always been an avid reader in his past life, but he couldn't keep up that habit in Persimmon Peak.

He was thankful his parents had the foresight to make sure he learned his characters. Being illiterate would be super embarrassing.

Yixing seemed less impressed by the library, his gaze wandering elsewhere. They moved on, passing through various sections of the grounds.

Prefect Mei Ling showed them the herb gardens, the menagerie, training fields, where disciples could practice their martial arts and cultivation techniques, and the alchemy labs, where they could learn the art of potion-making and refining pills.

“This is the Verdant Lotus Sect’s dining hall,” she announced as they approached a large, bustling building. “Meals are served here five times a day. The frequency will drop significantly as you progress on your path”

Finally, they arrived at their dormitories. “This is where you will live during your time at the sect,” Prefect Mei Ling said. “You will find your living quarters comfortable and conducive to your training. Make sure to respect your fellow disciples' space and belongings.”

As they entered the building, they found their rooms simple yet elegant, with wooden floors, paper screens, and minimalistic furniture. Each room had a bed, a small desk, and a wardrobe with a small alcove for cultivation.

“You have now seen the key areas of Verdant Lotus Peak,” she said. “Take some time to familiarize yourselves with the grounds and get to know your fellow disciples. Your training will begin in earnest tomorrow.” With that, she dismissed them.

Tao nodded appreciatively at Prefect Mei Ling’s thorough guidance, taking mental notes of everything he saw.

As the group dispersed, he found himself standing in the courtyard, trying to absorb the enormity of his new environment. zhou Yixing was beside him, looking equally contemplative.

"Quite a place, huh?" Zhou Yixing said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Jiang Tao replied. "It's a lot to take in."

Zhou Yixing clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, let's find our rooms and settle in. We’ll need to be ready for tomorrow."