[A False Identity]
Early morning, outside the Martial Arena of Qingshi City, hundreds of youths stood anxiously in line.
Among them, Lin Ye blended in, dressed in coarse linen robes with a worn-out satchel strapped to his back. A layer of dust was smeared across his face, making him appear no more than a fallen noble’s son, struggling to rise again. He had suppressed his demonic energy, even masked his very presence, wary of drawing any unnecessary attention.
Snippets of conversation floated past his ears:
“I heard the acceptance rate this time is less than ten percent.”
“If I can just get into the Tianyuan Sect, even as an outer disciple, my whole family will be honored!”
Lin Ye lowered his gaze, unmoved.
He knew—this was no gate to glory, but the first step into the enemy’s lair.
[Talent Assessment]
In the center of the square stood a crystal-clear “Spirit Appraisal Stone,” surrounded by several Tianyuan Sect stewards who were guiding candidates one by one to the test.
“Place your hand on the stone and circulate your spiritual power.”
“There’s no need to overthink—it will automatically detect your innate bone structure and spiritual root potential.”
The boy in front of Lin Ye touched the stone, and a circle of blue light rippled outward. The steward gave a slight nod and signaled for him to pass. Then came a frail-looking girl—when she laid her hand on the stone, it erupted in brilliant golden light, drawing gasps from the crowd.
“A gold spiritual root! That’s a one-in-a-thousand talent!”
A steward wearing a black-trimmed robe immediately pulled her aside—it was clear she would receive special cultivation treatment.
When Lin Ye’s turn came, he carefully controlled his demonic power, releasing only the faintest trace of spiritual fluctuation.
Buzz—
The stone flickered faintly, emitting only a dim gray-white glow, so weak it was barely visible. The crowd looked on with disdain, and even the steward merely glanced at him dismissively.
“Low-tier talent. Barely worth recording. Next.”
Lin Ye let out a quiet sigh of relief and stepped back into the crowd—
He didn’t need brilliance. He just needed to exist quietly.
[Initial Observations]
The following rounds tested the basics: understanding of foundational techniques, control over spiritual energy, and more. Lin Ye concealed his true skill with careful precision—never outstanding, never falling behind.
To those around him, he was just another face in the crowd.
But all the while, Lin Ye’s focus was sharp, observing the exchanges between Tianyuan Sect stewards and disciples, monitoring the movements of martial cultivators throughout the city, and noting clues about the sect’s security layout.
Gradually, he uncovered something:
The Tianyuan Sect valued not just talent—but connections and background.
Some candidates with mediocre spiritual roots passed with ease, seemingly due to ties between their families and the sect.
Lin Ye etched these details into memory.
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