Chapter 13: Su Lan
As the swirling vortex of the teleportation portal gradually dimmed, Meng Hao stepped forth, his figure emerging into the open clearing of the sect’s trial ground. The portal behind him shimmered one last time before dissipating, leaving behind the remaining outer sect disciples who had also participated in the brutal trial. Dust swirled in the air, and the soft hum of spiritual energy still lingered faintly from where the gateway once stood.
The sky above the Heaven Gathering Sect was awash in the golden hue of twilight, as though the heavens themselves were bearing witness to this moment of selection. A light breeze rustled through the ceremonial banners lining the stone-paved platform ahead, and a sense of finality settled over the gathering.
The trial had come to an end.
All those who had managed to amass a thousand points—regardless of method, means, or morality—had been summoned to this sacred ground at the heart of the sect. The rest, those who had failed to reach the threshold, were already being quietly returned to the outer sect regions, their dreams of advancement deferred, perhaps indefinitely.
Upon the raised stage at the front of the vast arena stood the same elegant woman who had initially explained the rules of the trial. Dressed in flowing blue robes that shimmered like the surface of a moonlit lake, her expression remained calm, her gaze sweeping across the selected disciples with detached interest.
After a pause, she raised her hand, and her voice echoed across the grounds, imbued with spiritual energy so that none could miss her words.
"You have all done well in this test," she said, her tone formal yet not without warmth. "From this moment forth, those of you who stand here shall cast aside your outer sect identity. You are now disciples of the Inner Sect of the Heaven Gathering Sect."
A quiet murmur swept through the crowd at her words—relief, excitement, even disbelief visible on many faces. The blue-robed woman continued, "The Seven Peaks are open to you. Each of you may choose the peak that suits you best. Cultivation is a solitary path, but choosing the right path is often the difference between ascension and stagnation."
As her voice faded into the twilight, she raised her slender hand and made a graceful gesture. Instantly, seven glowing doors appeared in front of the disciples—each one unique in design, radiating a distinct aura. Some blazed with fire, others shimmered like flowing water, while one pulsed with a deep, serene rhythm like the heartbeat of the earth itself.
The disciples whispered among themselves, gazes filled with longing, hesitation, and ambition as they examined the doors. This was the final choice in the trial—a choice that would shape their cultivation path.