The morning sun glared down on me like it was personally offended that I existed. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and tried not to collapse in front of everyone. My clothes were torn, my arms were scraped, and I probably looked like someone who'd been thrown out of a tavern fight.
Dozens of other candidates stood nearby, dressed in clean azure robes that actually matched. They looked calm, confident, and powerful — like proper cultivators. Meanwhile, I stood there looking like a lost beggar who accidentally stumbled into a martial arts drama.
"Why did I think this was a good idea?" I muttered under my breath.
I was surrounded by people who could manipulate Qi — the energy of heaven and earth. Some radiated so much of it that I swore the air hummed around them. Me? I could barely feel a flicker inside my body, like a stubborn spark refusing to light.
Still, I was here — Li Tianlan, reincarnated from modern Japan into a world where people literally punched mountains and called it morning exercise. Back on Earth, I'd trained my body like a madman, dreaming of becoming strong like those fictional heroes who screamed at the sky and broke their limits. I never thought I'd actually end up in a world where strength could truly defy the heavens.
The irony was almost poetic.
"Candidates, gather," a clear voice cut through the crowd.
A young woman in flowing silver robes stood atop a stone platform. Her long hair shimmered under the sunlight, and her presence silenced everyone instantly. She was Senior Sister Yue — the same person who had found me wandering half-dead in the forest yesterday. Her Qi was steady and calm, yet heavy enough to make my knees tense just from proximity.
"Today begins the Outer Gate Trials," she announced. "Those who pass will be accepted as outer disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect. You will earn the right to study cultivation techniques, to learn the path of Qi, and to take your first step toward the heavens. Those who fail… will leave."
Her gaze swept across the courtyard before settling on me for a moment. "Li Tianlan. You survived the Beastwood without guidance or protection. That shows instinct — but instinct alone is not enough. Today, we will see if you have discipline."
My mouth went dry.
"Yes, Senior Sister Yue," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
We were divided into groups of five and led into a large, open field surrounded by tall walls engraved with glowing runes. The air buzzed faintly with energy — like static before a storm.
"The first test," Yue continued, "is Qi synchronization. Each of you must channel your Qi into a resonance talisman. If you can lift it using your Qi alone, you pass. You have three attempts."
The talisman was a stone cube covered in strange symbols. I could feel energy swirling within it, waiting for someone to match its rhythm. The candidates before me began their attempts. Some easily lifted the stone, others struggled, and a few fainted after their third failure.
When my turn came, I placed my hands on the talisman and took a deep breath.
"Alright," I muttered. "If this were a game, I'd just need to align my energy bar with the glowing circle… right?"
I closed my eyes and focused inward. The faint pulse of Qi within me stirred like a sleeping animal. Slowly, I guided it toward my hands. The first push did nothing. The second caused a faint hum.
"Come on… work with me," I whispered.
A soft vibration spread through the talisman. It trembled — just slightly. I could feel the connection forming, like tuning an instrument to the right note. I adjusted my breathing, let the energy flow naturally, and suddenly — it lifted.
The cube hovered in the air, faintly glowing with silver light. My heart pounded in disbelief. I did it.
Around me, a few candidates looked surprised. Others seemed annoyed. I smiled awkwardly, pretending I knew exactly what I was doing.
"Not bad," Yue said. "Rough control, but natural flow. Proceed to the next stage."
I stepped back, exhaling in relief.
The second test was a physical and spiritual trial — a maze filled with traps, illusions, and minor spirit beasts. We had to navigate through it using Qi control, reflexes, and a bit of luck.
When I saw the entrance, I had flashbacks to every bad idea I'd ever had.
A twisting forest of mist and stone, with glowing runes scattered across the ground — each one likely waiting to explode or scream at me.
The other candidates charged in with confidence. I took a slower approach. Back on Earth, I had no magical energy, but I was good at reading patterns — games, mazes, puzzles, you name it. My instincts weren't built for combat, but for problem-solving.
As I walked, I noticed how the Qi in the air pulsed in a pattern — almost like a heartbeat. The traps were tuned to react when that rhythm was disturbed.
I smirked. "So that's how it works."
Instead of forcing my Qi outward, I matched its pulse to the surrounding energy. My steps grew lighter. The first trap didn't trigger. The second released a flash of light, but I ducked in time. The third activated a sudden gust of spiritual wind that sent dust flying — but I rolled through it, coughing but alive.
I stumbled into the maze's center covered in dirt, scratched up, but intact. I wasn't graceful, but I made it.
Senior Sister Yue was waiting there, arms crossed.
"Li Tianlan," she said, studying me with a faint smile. "Your control is still wild, but your adaptability is commendable. You don't fight like a cultivator… yet you survive like one."
I laughed weakly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Her eyes softened. "Three days of rest and basic training. The next trial will test your combat ability. Survive that, and you'll be accepted as an outer disciple."
My body screamed for rest, but my spirit buzzed with excitement. This was the beginning — my first true step into the cultivation world.
As I gazed up at the towering mountain where the sect's inner sanctum lay, a strange determination welled up inside me. On Earth, I used to chase fictional strength — characters who transcended limits, challenged fate, and punched through destiny itself.
Now, I was in a world where that wasn't fiction anymore.
"Heaven, fate, destiny…" I murmured, clenching my fists. "You'd better get ready, because I'm not here to play by your rules."
The sun dipped behind the peaks, painting the sky in shades of gold and crimson. And somewhere deep inside, the faint flicker of Qi in my body pulsed stronger — almost as if it was laughing with me.
My journey as a cultivator had just begun.