Rayan stood in front of the grand gates of the capital of the Tianlong Kingdom, gazing at the majestic scene before him. The towering walls stretched into the sky, covered with ancient carvings that told tales of past glories. Behind them, massive buildings and wide streets teemed with farmers, traders, and travelers from all directions.
"So, this is the heart of the mortal world..." Riyan muttered, as the hidden aura of the Heavenly Dragon followed him.
He moved through the city with a small group of his followers, his goal clear: to attend the sect recruitment event and acquire the strongest disciples.
But things were not that simple.
---
Upon reaching the central plaza, Riyan was met with a shocking sight. The major sects had set up their lavish platforms, each showcasing their strength in their own way:
The White Tiger Sect organized exhibition matches, where their disciples shattered stone training dummies with a single punch.
The Cleaving Sword Sect presented a display of their legendary sword, said to be able to split a mountain with one strike.
The Wandering Cloud Sect employed spiritual techniques, making some disciples float effortlessly in the air.
As for Riyan? He didn't have a fancy platform or a stunning display... not yet.
A young man in a light cloak stood beside him, looking at him with disdain.
"Brother, did you come just to watch the displays? It seems you don't belong to any major sect."
Riyan smiled but said nothing. He knew the time had not yet come.
---
Before he could plan his next move, a sudden notification from the system appeared.
[Warning: Other sects are planning to monopolize rare talents. You must act quickly!]
Riyan stared at the notification, then turned to the Heavenly Dragon, who laughed and said, "It seems the time has come to show them what the Heavenly Sect truly means."
In that instant, the Heavenly Dragon let out a massive roar and descended from the sky. His body stretched until it returned to its true size, covering the sky with his enormous wings. A golden celestial aura surrounded his body, making him appear like a king from ancient times, awakened once more.
As his roar echoed, everyone in the city felt a tremendous pressure, as if a colossal mountain had fallen upon them. Some buildings collapsed, and many people fell to their knees, unable to stand.
A new message appeared from the system:
[Heavenly Sect Skill Activated: Fate Summon!]
Among the crowd, several talented disciples felt a strange pull towards Riyan, as if an invisible force was calling them.
One whispered, "What is this feeling...? It's like I was born to be in this sect..."
But not everyone was pleased.
When the elder of the Cleaving Sword Sect heard the roar, his body froze, and his eyes widened in terrifying shock.
"It can't be... that sound...!"
Memories of world-shaking events rushed back to him: the Great Roar that shook the continent ten times, the roar that came from the celestial realm just weeks ago.
He stepped back, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He turned to the other elders and spoke in a low voice, though filled with real fear:
"Fools... this creature is not ordinary! It's the same one behind the Great Roar! If it's part of this sect, then we're facing something we've never encountered before!"
But the other elders didn't believe him, and one of them, the elder of the White Tiger Sect, laughed and said mockingly: "Just a strong roar, no need for all this worry, Cleaving Sword Elder!"
The Cleaving Sword Sect elder clenched his fists tightly. "It's not just a roar... You'll regret this soon."
---
From within the crowd, the elder of the White Tiger Sect stepped forward, looking at Riyan with disdain, and said loudly:
"Little one, do you think you can recruit disciples with these tricks? True recruitment is done through combat!"
He raised his hand and pointed to one of his strong disciples.
"If you want to recruit these disciples, you'll need to prove your strength!" He glanced around and added with a mocking smile, "But I doubt you stand a chance."
As for Riyan? He didn't back down. His eyes gleamed with confidence.
"If it's combat you want... then let's take on the challenge."
In his heart, he felt a surge of excitement. This wasn't just a fight; it was the beginning of proving that the Heavenly Sect was no ordinary sect.
Thus, the first real test for the Heavenly Sect began in the heart of the capital...
---
End of the chapter.