The trial arena was a colossal stone coliseum carved into the side of Azure Dragon Peak. Tens of thousands gathered to witness the event that only happened once every three years—the Inner Disciple Examination.
Outer disciples filled the mountain steps, watching with a mixture of awe and envy. Core disciples lounged above in hovering jade pavilions, uninterested in the scuffle of ants—until one ant refused to crawl.
Li Xuan.
Clad in black.
When he stepped onto the stone platform, murmurs erupted across the crowd.
"Isn't that the one who returned from the special realm… alive?"
"He's wearing black? Does he think he's Long Chen?"
"He should be executed for that kind of arrogance."
The examiner, an elder with a long beard and colder gaze, frowned.
"Li Xuan, violating sect dress code, you'll receive a mark of arrogance. Three strikes, and your trial is forfeit."
Li Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Then I guess I'll have to make every strike count."
A voice echoed in his mind.
[Long Chen System Notification]
"Arrogance Level: Satisfactory. +10 Long Chen Points."
Trial One: Battle Round (Elimination Phase)
Three hundred outer disciples entered a massive arena. The rules were simple: survive the free-for-all. Only the last 30 would advance.
The bell tolled.
Combat erupted.
Some disciples formed temporary alliances. Others hid, waiting to pick off the exhausted. But Li Xuan didn't wait.
He leapt forward, saber flashing like lightning.
His strikes weren't showy—they were efficient, brutal, surgical. Each swing disarmed, disabled, or forced surrender. Within minutes, he had already eliminated six outer disciples, most of them stronger than the average contender.
Suddenly, two familiar figures approached—elite outer disciples of the Three Flame Pavilion, both stronger than Li Xuan in terms of cultivation.
"You won't pass today," one sneered. "You've embarrassed the sect long enough."
Li Xuan sighed.
"Didn't your mothers ever tell you not to talk so much?"
He activated [Face-Slapping Divine Art: You Talk Too Much].
—CRACK!—
One slap. The enemy tumbled headfirst into the arena wall.
The second hesitated. Too late.
[Predator's Pressure] activated.
The man froze, his limbs unwilling to move under the killing intent of someone who had waded through demon corpses for three days straight.
Li Xuan knocked him out cold.
[System Notification]
Opponents defeated: 8
Long Chen Points: +24
He walked through the chaos like a storm wrapped in flesh. His legion members fought too—harder than anyone else. Though none were at his level, their synergy made them punch above their weight.
Thirty remained.
Trial One—cleared.
Trial Two: Pressure of the Dragon
Only thirty stood before a new stone path—one that wound upward toward the Azure Summit. A dragon statue loomed above, and each step increased the pressure a hundredfold.
Those with weak foundations would collapse before the fifth step.
One disciple tried to rush forward, only to have his knees shatter on the seventh step. Screams echoed as he was dragged off.
Li Xuan walked calmly.
Step by step.
By the tenth step, sweat beaded on many foreheads.
By the fifteenth, most couldn't even stand.
But Li Xuan… grinned.
The pressure was familiar.
It was like Long Chen's soul trial. Like the crushing weight of watching brothers die in the special realm.
It was nothing.
He reached the twentieth step and sat down cross-legged.
Everyone stared.
[System Notification]
Meditating under pressure detected.
Willpower and soul refined.
+45 Long Chen Points.
When time ended, only 9 had reached the tenth step. Only one had passed the twentieth.
Li Xuan.
Aftermath
As the elders deliberated, the Sect Master's voice rang out:
"Li Xuan, for strength, will, and violation of every rule we hold dear—welcome to the ranks of the Inner Disciples."
Some gasped. Others fumed.
But it was done.
[System Notification]
Mission Complete: "Cause a Scene"
Bonus Unlocked: Random Technique – [Soul-Piercing Saber] (Rare Tier)
Current LCP: 367
Long Chen's voice returned.
"Not bad, brat. You even slapped someone mid-trial. Style points. But don't relax yet. Inner disciple life is way more cutthroat."
Li Xuan stood before the sect as an inner disciple now—black-robed, battle-hardened, and sharpening his blade for the war ahead.
System Status:
Cultivation: Foundation Establishment (Mid-stage)
Long Chen Points: 367 / 1000
New Technique: Soul-Piercing Saber (Rare)
Status: Inner Disciple
Legion: 8 Reforged Outer Disciples (Potential for elevation)
Current Mission: "Hold Your Ground – Defend Inner Ranking" (Locked)
System Controller: Long Chen
Simulation Realm: Unlocked
Mission Hub: Active