The first light of dawn stretched across the sky, painting the Azure Sky Sect in hues of gold and crimson.
A new day.
A day that would decide who among the outer disciples would rise—and who would remain forgotten.
Qin Chen stepped out of his residence, his golden hair catching the sunlight, his golden eyes sharp with focus.
He could feel it.
The power surging through his veins, the newly stabilized foundation within him—it was like he had stepped into a new world overnight.
Today, he would test exactly how far he had come.
Today… was the Outer Sect Trial.
The Outer Sect Trial was held once every year, an event where outer disciples competed for a chance to enter the inner sect.
But this wasn't just about entry.
This was a battle for prestige, resources, and status.
The top 100 disciples would be rewarded with rare cultivation resources.
The top 50 would gain the right to personalized instruction from sect elders.
The top 10 would be granted access to the sect's Inner Library, a priceless opportunity for any disciple.
And the top 3?
They would skip years of slow progress, receiving the direct attention of the sect's higher-ups.
For many, this was the only opportunity they would ever have to break out of mediocrity.
For Qin Chen?
It was just another stepping stone.
The sect's Grand Martial Arena was already filled with hundreds of disciples when Qin Chen arrived.
A massive circular platform lay at the center, surrounded by multiple combat rings.
The air buzzed with anticipation, disciples whispering among themselves as they prepared for battle.
Qin Chen could hear their conversations as he walked past.
"Did you hear? Senior Brother Xu Ming is participating this year! He's already at Peak Qi Refinement!"
"No one can stop him from taking first place!"
"What about Senior Sister Lin Xue? She's been undefeated in her last thirty sparring matches!"
Qin Chen raised an eyebrow.
So there are some notable competitors after all.
Just then—
BOOM!
A powerful aura surged, drawing the attention of the entire arena.
A tall, broad-shouldered disciple stepped forward, his white robes billowing as he approached the central stage.
His aura was calm, yet overwhelming.
His cultivation?
Peak Qi Refinement.
A hush fell over the crowd.
Someone whispered:
"Xu Ming…"
Xu Ming smirked, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd with confidence.
"To all those participating," he said, his voice carrying across the arena.
"I hope you're ready. Because anyone who steps onto this stage had better be prepared to lose."
At this moment, Xu Ming's eyes fell directly on to Qin Chen.
He smirked and glanced away.
Qin Chen observed him calmly.
A typical arrogant genius.
But the power behind Xu Ming's words wasn't just empty bravado—his Qi presence was genuine, stable, and refined.
A true Peak Qi Refinement genius.
However, let alone the current Qin Chen, even a couple days ago, he could still have destroyed Xu Ming.
Then, another figure stepped forward.
A young woman, dressed in light blue robes, her black hair tied in a high ponytail.
Her movements were graceful, yet carried a sharp edge, like a sheathed blade waiting to strike.
"Xu Ming, don't be too arrogant."
Her voice was cool and steady.
"If you think you can take first place so easily, then you're underestimating me."
Xu Ming's smirk widened. "Lin Xue, I expected you to say that."
Qin Chen nodded slightly.
Lin Xue.
The other major contender for first place.
Her cultivation wasn't at Peak Qi Refinement, but she had a reputation for dominating opponents far stronger than herself.
Her talent lay in her speed and precision, her ability to strike before an opponent could even react.
Between her and Xu Ming, it was clear who the favorites were.
But neither of them knew—
That they were fighting for second place.
Before the tension could escalate further—
A powerful presence descended upon the arena.
Four sect elders, dressed in azure robes, took their places on a high pavilion overseeing the trial.
One of them, an elder with a long silver beard, stepped forward.
His aura was calm yet vast, carrying the weight of someone who had long surpassed Qi Refinement.
"Welcome, outer disciples," he announced.
"As you all know, today's trial will determine who among you is worthy to ascend into the inner sect."
The arena fell silent, every disciple listening intently.
"The rules are simple," the elder continued.
The silver-bearded elder stood at the forefront of the high pavilion, his calm yet authoritative voice resonating across the Grand Martial Arena.
"All outer disciples participating in this trial, listen well!"
The murmur in the crowd faded as every disciple focused on his next words.
"The Outer Sect Trial will be divided into three stages, each designed to test different aspects of a cultivator's strength, endurance, and combat ability. Only those who pass each stage will advance."
He raised a hand, and three floating jade plaques appeared before him, each glowing with a faint inscription.
"The First Stage—Elimination Rounds."
"The disciples will be placed into multiple battle groups, each containing ten participants. The battle will be a free-for-all, and only the last two standing in each group will advance to the next round."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
A ten-person battle royale?
That meant a disciple wouldn't just need to be strong—they needed strategy and endurance.
"The Second Stage—The Endurance Path."
"The remaining disciples will proceed to the Azure Sky Sect's Spirit Array, where they must withstand a series of escalating spiritual and physical trials. This test will not be about fighting alone—it will be about stamina, mental fortitude, and resilience."
Some disciples frowned.
This trial wasn't just a competition of raw power—it was also a battle of endurance and willpower.
"The Final Stage—The Challenge Platform."
The elder's gaze swept over the arena.
"This is where the true rankings will be determined."
"The remaining disciples will enter a one-on-one combat bracket, where they will fight for a spot in the Top 10. The battles will continue until a single winner remains—the champion of this year's Outer Sect Trial."
Gasps echoed through the crowd.
The Final Stage would be where the true monsters of the outer sect revealed themselves.
The elder's eyes glowed with a faint light.
"The higher you place, the better the rewards."
"Only the Top 100 disciples will receive recognition. Only the Top 50 will gain access to high-level sect resources."
"And only the Top 10 will be given access to the Azure Sky Sect's Inner Library."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in.
"However…"
His gaze sharpened.
"Only the Top 3 will receive special rewards from the sect elders themselves. And the First Place Champion… will receive a personalized cultivation opportunity from the sect master."
Boom!
The arena erupted with excitement.
This was no ordinary trial.
This was a chance to change fate.
Qin Chen smirked, stepping toward the stage.
Prepared?
They had no idea.
Ding!
System Notification: New Event Mission Unlocked!
Objective: Place in the Top 10 of the Outer Sect Trial.
Reward: 1,000 SP + 1x Advanced Lottery Spin
Objective: Win First Place in the Outer Sect Trial.
Reward: 5,000 SP + 1x Elite Lottery Spin + ???
Qin Chen's eyes glowed with interest.
Another lottery spin? And a massive SP reward?
This just confirmed what he already knew.
First place was his.
The elder's voice pulled his attention back to the stage.
"The first round will begin now!" he declared.
"All participants—prepare yourselves."
Qin Chen cracked his knuckles, his Qi pulsing like molten gold beneath his skin.
The trial had begun.
And he was ready.