The plaza surrounding the Rift Gate had already been transformed into a massive arena.
Tiered spectator stands circled the entire area, rising high above the stone grounds below. Large sections had been reserved for elders and instructors, while a single elevated seat stood apart from the rest near the center platform.
The Grand Elder's seat.
Even standing empty, it carried a quiet pressure that made people instinctively lower their voices whenever their eyes drifted toward it.
Stephen and Elsa chose a quieter corner near the edge of the plaza and sat down to cultivate while waiting for the examination to begin the following day.
At the center of the plaza stood the Rift Gate itself.
Two towering stone pillars covered in intricate runic markings stretched toward the sky, connected by a circular altar-like platform. Wide steps curved around it from all sides, forming a ring beneath the structure.
Even inactive, the gate radiated danger.
The space around it felt strangely unstable, as though something ancient and violent slept behind the sealed entrance.
Normally, the gate remained closed for safety reasons.
As the hours passed, more and more disciples arrived.
What had started as a relatively empty plaza slowly became crowded with people discussing the upcoming examination in excited voices. Some sat together preparing supplies, others meditated quietly, while a few wandered around trying to gather information from senior disciples.
By the time night fell, the entire area had become lively.
The examination would officially begin tomorrow.
After cultivating for a while, Stephen and Elsa decided to grab something to eat from the inner sect cafeteria.
Compared to the probationary disciple peaks, the atmosphere here felt completely different.
Alive.
The inner sect resembled a city that never truly slept.
Disciples dressed in dark robes moved constantly through the streets. Restaurants and teahouses remained open late into the night, while weapon shops still glowed with furnace light as blacksmiths hammered away behind their counters.
Most inner sect disciples rarely stayed within the sect for long.
The monthly resources provided by the sect simply weren't enough for people at their level. To continue growing stronger, they constantly ventured outside, taking missions, entering rifts, hunting beasts, and exploring dangerous regions of the wilderness.
The world itself had changed too much after the appearance of the rifts.
Entire countries had vanished during the early years.
When the cracks first appeared across the skies and earth, countless monsters poured into the world without warning. Humanity suffered devastating losses, and for a time, extinction had seemed inevitable.
Then came the awakening of Aspect Souls.
Powerful abilities that allowed humanity to fight back.
The first generation of awakened humans rose against the monsters, leading mankind into a long and bloody struggle that later came to be known as the First Rift War.
It was an era drenched in blood.
Countless lives were lost.
But humanity endured.
After years of warfare, they managed to reclaim enough land to rebuild civilization. The surviving nations eventually united under a single alliance, dividing control of the continents among the strongest powers.
The Southern Continent later fell under the rule of five demi-god experts, veterans of the First Rift War themselves.
Together, they established the Imperial Capital as the political center of the continent before retreating into seclusion to recover from the injuries they had sustained during the war.
That had happened nearly a thousand years ago.
Since then, the world had continued advancing rapidly.
Technology had evolved far beyond what it once had been, yet cold weapons remained the most effective tools against beasts. Swords, spears, blades, and specialized artifacts became the foundation of modern combat.
Defensive barriers, runic formations, and advanced cultivation methods were also developed over the centuries.
Still, vast portions of the world remained overrun by monsters.
Danger zones existed everywhere.
Rifts could appear without warning, swallowing entire regions whole.
Only places where space remained relatively stable became safe enough for humanity to settle permanently.
And through it all, Aspect Souls remained at the center of everything.
Over the centuries, countless cultivation techniques have been developed for them. Some belonged exclusively to ancient clans and sects, while others were publicly available.
The truly powerful techniques, however—
Remained tightly guarded secrets.
As Stephen and Elsa walked through the lively streets, an arrogant voice suddenly drifted toward them.
"Well, if it isn't the lovebirds."
The sarcasm dripping from the words made Stephen recognize the speaker immediately.
"Careful while walking around here," the voice continued lazily. "If you break something, you probably won't even be able to afford the damages."
Laughter erupted behind him.
Stephen and Elsa turned.
Wilson Thorn stood a short distance away, dressed in expensive robes, and several disciples gathered around him.
Unlike Wilson, however, the people accompanying him carried themselves differently.
Their auras were sharp.
Heavy.
Murderous.
These were clearly people who had seen real combat.
Stephen guessed they belonged to another instructor's faction.
Even he could feel the faint pressure radiating from them.
Wilson smirked when he saw their expressions.
"A pauper and the princess of a declining family," he mocked. "Honestly, if I were you, I'd spend less time wandering around and more time worrying about that old man of yours dying soon."
The group behind him burst into laughter again.
Elsa's expression instantly turned cold.
"You should watch your mouth."
A sword appeared in her hand with a sharp metallic ring.
The temperature around them seemed to drop slightly.
But just as she was about to move—
Stephen gently grabbed her wrist and shook his head.
"He's baiting you," he said quietly. "He wants you disqualified before the exam even starts."
Hearing that, Elsa forced herself to stop.
Around them, nearby disciples had already turned toward the commotion, eager to watch a fight unfold.
Wilson's group also drew their weapons one after another, hostile gazes locking onto the pair.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Then—
A lazy voice suddenly cut through the silence.
"Did I just hear a bunch of dogs barking?"
Heads turned immediately.
A tall young man with a sturdy build slowly approached them with a massive greatsword strapped across his back.
Jason Cromwell.
He glanced toward Wilson's group with obvious annoyance.
"The night's peaceful for once," he said casually. "And you idiots are out here ruining the mood."
He jerked a thumb lazily toward the side.
"So piss off while I'm still in a good mood."
Wilson's expression darkened immediately.
One of the disciples beside him stepped forward angrily.
"Jason, just because the Ancient Cromwell Family backs you doesn't mean you can insult us however you want!"
Jason yawned.
"Then stop acting like clowns."
He looked at them lazily before grinning faintly.
"If you want a fight, I'm free anytime."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"One-on-one or all together. Your choice."
The grin on his face widened.
"But if we're doing this, we bet our lives."
A heavy pressure spread from his body.
"And before you start whining later, my family won't interfere over something this small. If I can't even handle trash at your level, my grandfather would skin me alive himself."
Wilson and the others looked furious.
Being treated like insignificant nobodies in public made their expressions twist with rage.
Yet despite how angry he looked, Wilson surprisingly took a step back.
"Watch yourself, too, Jason," he said coldly before turning away.
The others followed behind him shortly afterward.
Jason simply snorted.
He pointed lazily toward the nearby restaurant built along the cliffside.
Beyond it, a sea of clouds rolled beneath the mountain, glowing silver beneath the moonlight.
The view was breathtaking.
"And stop ruining my appetite while you're at it."
The tension finally faded after Wilson's group disappeared.
Jason clicked his tongue before casually walking toward the cliffside restaurant.
A few moments later, Stephen spotted him sitting near the edge of the terrace with a sandwich in one hand, calmly watching the sea of clouds as though nothing had happened at all.