Nine suns hung high in the sky.
A young man with an appearance of a twelve year old sat on top of a three meter White stripped Tiger looking at the vast plains in the distance.
"Young master! This is the venue for this year's Spirit Stream Sect disciple selections." A middle-aged man, with a sturdy robust build stood at the side respectfully as he spoke.
"Oh! Just this vast plains? It seems that the number one sect on the continent is indeed stingy." The young man being addressed looked at the endless plains commenting casually.
"Youngmaster! Since you think this place isn't good why don't we head back? You are already a top level expert in the mortal world, with deep connections reaching every corner of the continent." The middle-aged man spoke up.
Hearing his words, Wang Li rolled his eyes.
"Old Xu! Do you think this young master is stupid? Entering the sect is the only way to get better resources and techniques to cultivate."
"Go back and help me search for the information I had asked for. If done well, I'll reward you handsomely. Tell the others to behave, this youngmaster will surely be visiting after officially entering the sect." Wang Li waved his hand signalling old Xu to leave.
Watching Old Xu disappear from his sight,
"Little Zi! Lets go!" Wang Li then turned his gaze towards Zi Xuan standing on the side.
"Brother Wang! Your can't call me little Zi anymore." A chabby young girl appearing about ten years old that had been standing beside Old Xu suddenly spoke up in protest.
"Hehe! Little Zi! This youngmaster practically raised you. Not even grown yet and starting to rebel against your father!" Wang Li replied to her protests with half smile.
"Get up or we are going to be late!" He stopped teasing her and ordered her to get on the back of the tiger.
The tiger moved across the plain grasslands until structures suddenly emerging in the distance.
"Little Zi! We should there!" Wang Li exhaled slightly.
"Im not blind!" A voice full of protest replied.
What came into Wang Li's view was an entrance with a wooden structure.
A long queue was present and most were parents and their kids.
Their appearance attracted a lot of attention, and this was due to the tiger they were seated on.
The children's eyes were shining while some adults had fearful looks in their eyes.
"Mountain tiger! Whooa! Its a massive Mountain tiger!"
"Mom! I also want to ride a mountain tiger."
Waves of discussions erupted. Each of the children brought to sign up for the selection had different reactions. Some appeared scared, while others seemed eager to also ride a tiger.
Looking closely at the side, Wang Li realized the requirements for registration.
Spirit Stream Sect Disciple Selection Criteria:
Age at 9-16
50 teals of Silver
This place was clearly just the screening stage, but the moment Wang Li and Zi Xuan appeared, an old man sleeping on the grass beside the wooden tent opened his eyes.
A strange glint flasjed through them.
"Ninth level of body refinement! Seventh level of body refinement! Interesting! Really interesting."
He stood up and two tokens appeared on his hand before shooting towards Wang Li and Zi Xuan.
Catching the tokens, Wang Li turned towards the old man whose presence he had failed to notice before.
His voice suddenly made everyone detect his presence.
"You two can go right inside and provide your names. No need for the 50 taels of silver."
Wang Li and Zi Xuan were both startled, but quickly reacted.
"Thank you senior!" They replied with sincere smiles.
But before they could move further, someone that couldn't bear it.
"This is unfair!" The voice wasnt loud, but it resonated with most ot those queuing.
---
On the arena, battles were already underway
Fists collided. Weapons rang. Dust rose with every clash.
Then, a voice echoed clearly across the field.
"Number Seven, Wang Li… versus Number Three, Mu Waner."
---
A boy sitting at the edge of the crowd slowly raised his head.
His eyes, which had been dull moments before, sharpened instantly.
Wang Li stood up.
His clothes were simple and worn, but clean. His figure was thin, yet steady. There was no hesitation in his steps as he walked toward the arena.
*Three years…*
*I finally reached this point.*
No excitement showed on his face. Only calm.
Three years ago, he had awakened in this world.
A world where strength ruled above all else.
There were no laws for the weak.
Only survival.
The cultivation path here was clear and unforgiving:
Body Refinement… Qi Gathering… Foundation Establishment…
Beyond that, the realms stretched into the unknown.
In these three years, Wang Li had come to understand one truth—
Without strength, even breathing was a luxury.
---
His gaze flickered inward.
Deep within his consciousness, a fragment of a broken mirror floated in silence.
It had no form in the real world, yet it existed.
When his mind touched it, his consciousness would be drawn into a separate space—
A place where time flowed differently.
Outside, a few hours.
Inside… years.
That was how he survived.
That was how he cultivated.
From nothing to the **ninth level of Body Refinement**.
Not through talent—
But through time.
---
However, time alone was no longer enough.
His cultivation technique, *Mountain and Seas Art*, consumed vast resources. Without support, his progress had already begun to slow.
The Spirit Stream Sect…
Was his only path forward.
---
Wang Li stepped onto the arena.
Across from him stood a young girl.
Mu Waner.
Her posture was straight, her grip on her sword firm. Her clothing was refined—clearly not from a poor background.
Her eyes were steady.
---
"Fight."
---
The moment the word fell—
Wang Li moved.
No probing. No hesitation.
He closed the distance in two steps and struck.
A low sweeping kick, fast and precise.
Mu Waner reacted instantly. Her sword dropped to intercept.
*Bang!*
The impact echoed.
She was forced back several steps, her arms trembling slightly.
Her expression changed.
"Strong…"
---
Wang Li didn't stop.
He stepped forward again and threw a punch.
The air around his fist compressed faintly.
A basic technique—
Yet driven to its limit.
---
A ripple passed through the spectators.
"That's… Great Completion?"
"At Body Refinement?"
---
Mu Waner's eyes sharpened.
Her sword let out a clear hum.
*Zheng—*
The blade flickered, leaving behind afterimages as it thrust forward.
Clean.
Direct.
Precise.
---
"Perfected sword technique…"
Shock spread through the crowd.
---
The sword arrived in an instant.
Wang Li's pupils contracted slightly—
Then, he adjusted.
His body twisted at an unnatural angle, and his fist shifted just enough—
To meet it.
---
For a brief moment—
Everything stilled.
---
*Crack.*
---
The sound was clear.
Too clear.
The sword shattered.
Fragments scattered across the arena.
---
Before Mu Waner could react—
Wang Li's fist had already reached her.
*Bang!*
She was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.
---
Silence fell.
---
No one spoke.
No one moved.
---
Wang Li stood where he was, his breathing steady.
To him, this was expected.
Mu Waner… was strong.
But not strong enough.
---
At the edge of the arena, the elder overseeing the trial paused briefly before speaking.
"Number Seven… Wang Li wins."
There was a trace of surprise in his voice.
---
The crowd slowly erupted.
"Ninth level… he's at the ninth level!"
"He broke a perfected technique with his bare hands…"
"Who is he?"
---
Wang Li stepped down from the arena without a word.
To him, this changed nothing.
One victory did not guarantee survival.
---
The selection continued.
One match after another.
But for Wang Li—
None posed any threat.
---
By the end of the day, the trial elder's stern voice resounded:
"From the initial selection, only four hundred of you remain—out of the thousands who once stood here, vying for a place within the Outer Sect. Tomorrow, the second trial will commence. From this group, a mere one hundred will be chosen to step through the sect's gates."
A brief pause followed, the weight of those words settling over the crowd.
"The top ten among you will be granted contribution points—resources that may shape your future within the sect. Those who succeed in entering the Outer Sect shall also earn the privilege of selecting three Yellow-grade techniques, free of cost."
The voice grew colder, sharper.
"Alright! You should rest well for the coming two days and prepare for the secret realm trial two days from now on. Elders from the sect will be observing. Should you prove exceptional enough to draw their attention… your fate may be rewritten."
Wang Li's eyes narrowed slightly at the words of the elder.
He managed to grasp a few important information from his words, but he was more into the contribution points.
He needed to get his hands on it, after all he lacked new techniques and cultivation resources.
At his current level, what gold and silver could get him was no longer able to keep up with his needs. Rare resources were needed and he had no ways of getting them. Only a sect could give him this access.
Watching as the crowd dispersed, a figure caught his attention. It was a fat young looking girl in luxurious robes stood off to the side, looking relaxed, almost like in her backyard.
Wang Li glanced at her briefly, and she seemed to notice his gaze.
She hurriedly walked over, calling out to him.
"Wang Li! Brother Wang! Where have you been hiding? I didn't notice you all this time."
"Hehe! Zi Xuan! When did you learn to be so pretentious? With how everyone was cursing me on the stage, you couldn't notice me? Just say you where hidding from me! But then again, you haven't been elimated yet?" Wang Li looked at her as though he was seeing a unique creature for the first time.
"What are you doing? Stop moving around me. What is with that look you are giving me?" Zi Xuan looked at Wang Li wearily.
"Im just wondering how come I never noticed you are so thick-skinned!" Wang Li replied calmly.
The young lady blinked, then looked at Wang Li as though at a loss. She couldn't win in a verbal war.
Helplessly, she stood beside him and the two of them started to watch as the Young men and women around them formed groups.
While watching them, Wang Li asked, "Do you know anything about the secret realm mentioned by the elder?"