The first light of dawn spilled across the vast mountain range, illuminating the towering peaks of the Azure Sky Sect. Mist coiled lazily around the temple rooftops, creating a dreamlike haze. Within a quiet chamber nestled in the outer disciple quarters, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged, his breathing steady, his mind immersed in a world beyond mortal perception.

A sudden jolt coursed through his body as he felt an inexplicable warmth seeping into his veins. His consciousness swirled, and in the depths of his soul, an ancient scripture unfurled—characters inscribed in golden light, shifting and rearranging as though alive.

"The Heavenly Script..." Lin Xuan whispered, his heart pounding. He instinctively reached out, and the script resonated with his touch, releasing a profound energy that coursed through his meridians. The aching fatigue in his limbs melted away, replaced by an invigorating surge of power.

He had spent years as an outer disciple, mocked for his stagnant cultivation, but this—this changed everything.

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

Outside, a group of disciples had gathered in the training courtyard. The sect was abuzz with anticipation as Elder Wu, the overseer of the outer disciples, had called for a selection trial to determine who would advance to the inner sect.

"Lin Xuan, get up! It's time to witness real cultivators at work!" a sneering voice called from outside his chamber. It was Zhou Bei, a fellow outer disciple who had always delighted in humiliating him.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Lin Xuan exhaled slowly. He was no longer the same as before.

As he stepped into the courtyard, he could feel the eyes of his peers boring into him. Their disdain was evident. He had never even formed his first Qi Cycle, and now he dared to participate?

Elder Wu, a tall, imposing figure with streaks of silver in his hair, stepped forward. "The selection trial begins now! Let each challenger step forth and prove their worth."

Zhou Bei smirked. "I'll take care of this trash myself."

Lin Xuan stood in the center, facing Zhou Bei. The onlookers whispered among themselves, expecting another humiliating defeat for Lin Xuan.

"Begin!" Elder Wu commanded.

Zhou Bei lunged, his palm radiating with a forceful burst of Qi. But just as his strike was about to connect, Lin Xuan moved—his body reacting with an instinctive precision he had never known. With a mere flick of his wrist, Zhou Bei's attack was deflected, sending him stumbling backward.

A stunned silence filled the courtyard.

Lin Xuan himself was surprised. His movement had been effortless, his reflexes heightened to an extraordinary degree.

"You got lucky! Try this!" Zhou Bei roared, gathering more energy into his fists.

Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes, feeling the Heavenly Script stir within him. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, his fingers tracing the air in an elegant arc. A strange force flowed through him, as if the very heavens were guiding his actions.

The next instant, Zhou Bei was sent flying across the courtyard, landing in a heap several feet away.

Gasps erupted from the spectators. "Did he just... defeat Zhou Bei?"

Elder Wu's gaze lingered on Lin Xuan, his expression unreadable. "Interesting..."

Lin Xuan clenched his fists. He had only scratched the surface of the Heavenly Script’s power, and already, he had defied expectations.

This was just the beginning.