The next morning, Sel Yun arrived at the Eagle Mountain Clan's grand courtyard. Rows of aspiring disciples stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes gleaming with both excitement and fear. The banners of the clan fluttered high above, the golden eagle insignia shimmering in the dawn light. Yun's expression was calm, almost detached, though beneath that serenity pulsed a faint curiosity. Today marked the beginning of his journey—a step into a world that had existed long before him, and perhaps, long after.
At the front of the gathering stood Elder Fan, a dignified man with a sharp gaze and a long white beard that swayed lightly in the wind. His presence alone commanded silence. "Welcome, young aspirants," he began, his voice deep and measured. "Today, you will face your first trial—the Test of Elemental Affinity. This will reveal your alignment with the forces that shape the universe itself. From this foundation, your cultivation path shall be determined." His hands moved gracefully, drawing seven glowing symbols into the air—each radiating a distinct aura.
"These," Elder Fan continued, his tone steady, "are the seven fundamental affinities—Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Light, Darkness, and Gold. Air is the element of new beginnings, youth, and creativity. Water governs emotion, intuition, healing, and change. Earth represents stability, resilience, and stubbornness. Fire embodies transformation, purification, and passion. Light is growth, life, and joy, yet also carries the weight of adaptability. Darkness…"—he paused briefly, the crowd shifting uneasily—"…is not properly understood and rarely manifests in humans. It is ancient, older even than Light—everywhere, yet nowhere. It symbolizes the endless and is perilous to master, for many lose themselves to Qi deviation. Finally, Gold—Constancy and Immutability. It aligns with the very laws of nature, a commanding force that the world itself often supports. It is rarer than Darkness, seen only in myths and in a few divine beasts. Those born with Gold affinity are leaders by the will of Heaven itself."
The seven glowing symbols Elder Fan had conjured drifted closer together, their lights weaving into a radiant spiral before locking into place as a circular array in the center of the courtyard. The formation pulsed softly, each element's light flickering in harmony—blue for Water, green for Earth, gold for Light, silver for Air, crimson for Fire, violet for Darkness, and a brilliant white-gold shimmer for Gold. The crowd of aspirants murmured in awe as Elder Fan raised a hand to still them.
"This array will reveal your affinity," he explained, his tone both proud and solemn. "Step inside, focus on your breath, and let your spirit flow naturally. Do not resist what you feel. If fortune smiles upon you, you may possess two, or perhaps even three affinities. But remember—more does not always mean greater strength. What matters is harmony." With that, Elder Fan stepped into the array himself. The formation brightened instantly, the Earth symbol flaring a deep emerald hue while the Fire symbol flickered faintly beside it. "As you see," he said, his voice calm despite the light dancing around him, "my primary affinity is Earth, and my secondary is Fire. Stability with tempered transformation—a foundation that has served me well."
The disciples whispered excitedly as the first volunteers stepped forward. A young woman in blue robes entered the array; moments later, the Water and Air symbols shimmered softly above her head, the energies swirling together like mist. Next came a burly youth whose Fire symbol erupted with such force that the nearby air trembled, earning him approving nods from the crowd. One after another, affinities were revealed—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water most commonly. Occasionally, a faint glimmer of Light appeared, rare enough to draw murmurs. When the Darkness symbol flickered weakly for a pale boy with deep eyes, the spectators fell silent. Even among cultivators, that affinity inspired both reverence and fear.
When it was finally Sel Yun's turn, the murmurs quieted. He stepped forward with steady composure, his expression calm as his feet touched the glowing edge of the formation. The air shifted immediately. The symbols trembled as if awakening to something ancient and vast, though no one understood why. Even Yun himself only felt a faint hum in his core—a resonance that wasn't entirely his own. The array's light began to twist violently, its usual rhythm disrupted. For a fleeting instant, Elder Fan's eyes widened; it was as though the heavens themselves had taken notice.
Then, the light surged upward. The symbols for Darkness and Light ignited at the same time, both blazing with a brilliance that washed over the courtyard. Their radiance was perfectly balanced—two forces that should have repelled one another instead intertwined in silent unity. Beneath them, the Fire symbol flickered to life, glowing only half as bright, as though bowing in reverence to the other two. The onlookers gasped; even Elder Fan stood speechless. Never before had two opposing elements manifested together, let alone with such intensity. Sel Yun, unaware of the magnitude of what had just occurred, simply bowed respectfully and stepped out of the array, feeling only the faint warmth of its lingering power against his skin.
From the far end of the courtyard, the air rippled as a new figure appeared. The pressure he carried made even Elder Fan bow slightly. Clad in deep violet robes embroidered with silver threads, the man's sharp eyes swept across the gathered disciples. "Now that you are aware of your affinities," he said, his voice resonant and calm, "it is time for your second trial." He inclined his head slightly, a faint smile crossing his face. "I am Elder Elijah, Master of the Second Trial." With a casual wave of his hand, the space before him split open, revealing a shimmering violet portal that hummed with soul energy. "Step through," he instructed, "and face the measure of your spirit."
The moment Sel Yun and the others passed through, they found themselves standing in a vast chamber that seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. The ground glowed faintly beneath their feet, reflecting shifting shades of lilac and indigo. No walls, no ceiling—only the illusion of infinity. Elder Elijah's voice echoed across the void. "Here, you will test your soul power. This will determine your initial ranking on the Lilac List. The higher your position, the greater your access to the clan's resources and training opportunities." His eyes glimmered with authority. "The Lilac List governs your first two years within the clan. After that, your standing will be decided by the Eagle List—though the details of that are not mine to explain."
He paced slowly, his tone deepening as his gaze swept across the young cultivators. "In truth, soul power is limitless, for the human spirit knows no end. Our potential stretches as far as our will dares to reach. Yet, not everyone walks the same path. Many will never progress beyond the Golden Core Stage. Remember—though we do not cultivate for immortality, we do cultivate for power. Power determines respect, wealth, and legacy." His eyes hardened. "Those whose soul power measures below fifty will likely never rise beyond Golden Core, unless they find an opportunity to increase their strength within three hundred years thereafter. So… let your hearts be steady. The test begins now."
As Elder Elijah raised his hand, the chamber responded. One hundred and fifty-seven small formations materialized in perfect alignment, one beneath each recruit's feet. The air shimmered as ethereal energy gathered above them, coalescing into a large scroll suspended in the void—its surface glowing softly, and each name engraved in flowing golden script. "This," Elijah announced, "is the Lilac List. It will record your soul power and rank in real time." A collective breath of awe rippled through the recruits as the scroll pulsed once, signaling the start of the test. The formations beneath them came alive, releasing faint beams of violet light that began to climb upward, feeding the scroll above.
One by one, the formations flared brighter as each young cultivator's essence was measured. Numbers appeared beside their names, rising swiftly. Elder Elijah's brows lifted higher with every test result. Sixty. Sixty-two. Sixty-eight. Seventy-three. The readings did not stop rising. Not a single one fell below sixty—a feat unheard of even among the greatest clans. His usually calm expression shifted to visible astonishment. "Impossible…" he murmured under his breath. "Even the Heaven's Crest and Radiant Star Clans have never produced such uniform potential." As the glow of the scroll intensified, Elijah's heart swelled with pride. Perhaps this is it, he thought, the generation that will raise the Eagle Mountain Clan above all others.
As the final light dimmed from the testing formations, the great Lilac Scroll shimmered with stable brilliance. One hundred and fifty-seven names were etched across its surface, shifting occasionally as the results finalized. Out of all of them, twenty-one recruits had secured positions within the top fifty—a remarkable ratio that drew murmurs of awe and envy. Elder Fan, who had joined Elder Elijah in observing, stepped forward with a faint but proud smile. "For those who share equal scores," he announced, his voice carrying easily through the vast chamber, "you will be permitted to challenge your counterpart—or anyone of a higher rank—three months from now. Let your ambition burn brightly, but temper it with wisdom. Do what is within your ability."
As he spoke, faint light flickered across the air before each recruit, forming their identity tokens. Beneath each name, two glowing letters—LL—appeared, signifying their induction onto the Lilac List. A number followed, representing their current rank. Elder Fan's tone turned firm, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "All challenges regarding Lilac List rankings must be submitted through the Lilac Tower. No private duels are permitted in the outer court. Any contest must take place in the designated arenas and be overseen by an Elder, a Teacher, or a Core Disciple above the Sixth Rank. Violators will be punished according to Clan Law." With that, he made a sweeping motion with his sleeve. A new portal bloomed before the group, radiating soft white light. "Go now," Elder Fan said, his voice echoing with solemn promise. "May fortune favor you on your journey through the Eagle Mountain Clan."