The white jade plaza was silent.
Ninety-three candidates stood in orderly rows before the towering Spirit Vein Monument.
Its surface shimmered like flowing water, ancient runes glowing faintly beneath the stone.
Elder Mo stepped forward.
"The Trial of the Spirit Vein is simple."
"You will place your hand upon the monument."
"It will measure the quality of your spirit veins."
"It does not judge your current cultivation."
"It reveals your potential."
He paused, allowing his words to settle.
"Remember this."
"Talent opens the door."
"But only perseverance allows one to walk through it."
Several candidates nodded nervously.
The test was simple but was somehow the most hardest of them all, because techniques can be mastered, perseverance could be built over time till it harders into ones bones becoming a part of one self .
But talent was different, very much different because once one was born with it ,it could not be changed,you could only live with it
And the sect was known for its strict selection of disciples only the most talented among them would be chosen .
So while Others wore confident smiles.
Some were very nervous, only hoping for a miracle to happen.
"The first candidate."
A young woman stepped forward.
She placed her palm on the monument.
The runes lit up one after another.
A pale green light spread across the stone.
A moment later, a clear voice echoed from within the monument.
"Fourth-Grade Wood Spirit Vein."
A disciple standing nearby announced, "passed outer court disciple."
The young woman bowed deeply, her face brighten immediately with joy ,she turned and looked at the other candidates with her head held high while moving to stand at the other side
Applause rippled through the crowd, some looked at her with praise,some with envy knowing fully that from now she would never be a commoner again.
One candidate after another stepped forward.
"Third-Grade Earth Spirit Vein."
"Second-Grade Metal Spirit Vein."
Those with third grade spirit veins barely passed , while those with second grade veins or lower were immediately disqualified and sent out
While those with fifth grade spirit veins were regarded as seeded candidates
Those with poor aptitude lowered their heads in disappointment, some crying while begging to test again, some who didn't expect much from the beginning could only shake their heads while moving out
Those with exceptional talent attracted envious gazes.
Soon, the arrogant young noble who had barely passed the Stairway of Resolve stepped forward.
His confidence had returned.
He pressed his hand against the monument.
A brilliant crimson light erupted.
The monument vibrated.
"Seventh-Grade Fire Spirit Vein."
Gasps spread across the plaza.
"A Seventh Grade!"
"No wonder he was so arrogant."
"He's definitely becoming an inner disciple."
The young noble smiled proudly, forgetting the humiliation he had suffered earlier.
Even Elder Mo gave a small nod.
"A respectable talent."
Lin Yuan quietly watched.
As each candidate was tested, the First Chain inside his dantian grew increasingly restless.
It was as though it disliked the monument.
Or perhaps...
It recognized it.
Lin Yuan frowned.
Stay calm...
Don't react.
Far above the plaza...
Hidden within drifting clouds...
Three figures dressed in crimson robes observed the examination.
Their auras were completely concealed.
One of them was the masked assassin who had attacked Lin Yuan.
"He survived."
Another figure spoke calmly.
"Of course."
"The Ghost Physician would never allow him to die so easily."
The third figure, whose face remained hidden beneath a crimson veil, focused her gaze on Lin Yuan.
"The Chain..."
"It will reveal itself."
"Next."
It was Lin Yuan's turn.
The entire plaza seemed to fall silent.
He walked steadily toward the monument.
His heartbeat quickened.
The First Chain pulsed once.
Twice.
Then fell still.
Lin Yuan slowly raised his hand.
The moment his palm touched the stone—
A deep humming sound echoed through the plaza.
The monument glowed.
White.
Blue.
Gold.
The colors shifted so rapidly that no one could understand what they were seeing.
Cracks began to spread across the monument's surface.
Elder Mo's expression changed.
"What?"
The elders immediately stood.
"This has never happened..."
The monument suddenly released an overwhelming burst of light.
Almost blinding every one present,those with lower cultivation could only cover their eyes or lower their heads unable to look directly again at the source of light.
Gasps were heard all around the place.
" What level of talent is this"
" I have seen countless talent test before but none has ever made the monument react like this"
"He must be one in million level of disciple"
For a heartbeat, the entire summit was bathed in dazzling radiance.
Then
Everything stopped.
The light disappeared.
The cracks vanished.
The monument returned to normal.
As though nothing had happened.
Silence.
One elder cautiously approached the monument.
He checked its runes several times before announcing the result.
His voice carried obvious confusion.
"Third-Grade... Spirit Vein?"
The crowd blinked.
"Third Grade?"
"But what was that light?"
"Was the monument malfunctioning?"
"Trash a nearby candidate snarled "
"I should have known he couldn't be a genius I mean look at his appearance "
"It must have malfunctioned another close to him answered "
"There's no way a commoner can be that powerful "
The arrogant noble was finally relaxed,for a minute there he was scared that one had offended a genius,but thankfully it was only the monument that was malfunctioning
Even Elder Mo frowned.
In all his years, he had never witnessed such a phenomenon.
Yet the monument itself insisted on its answer.
Third Grade.
Perfectly ordinary.
Lin Yuan inwardly released a sigh of relief.
"Thankfully the monument had hidden it's self .
For others he was just a third grade spirit veins .
Whatever had happened...
Its existence remained a secret.
High above the clouds, however...
The veiled woman slowly smiled.
"No..."
"The monument didn't fail."
"It was suppressed."
The masked assassin looked shocked.
"Lady Yue..."
"Do you mean—"
"The inheritance has chosen its master."
Her eyes narrowed.
"And that boy..."
"...must never be allowed to grow."
Back on the plaza, Elder Mo dismissed the strange incident.
"The examination continues."
Yet his gaze lingered on Lin Yuan for a moment longer.
There was something unusual about this young man.
He simply couldn't prove it.
As the final candidates completed their tests, the results were announced.
Only sixty-four of the original ninety-three had passed both trials.
The remaining candidates were escorted down the mountain.
Elder Mo looked at those who remained.
"You have earned the right..."
"...to enter the final examination."
He raised a jade token.
"The last trial will begin tomorrow."
"It is called..."
"...the Trial of the Spirit Beast Forest."
"The forest contains real demonic beasts."
"You will fight."
"You will survive."
"And some of you..."
"...will not return."
A heavy silence settled over the newly accepted candidates.
Far away, hidden beyond Azure Cloud Mountain, crimson figures began moving through the forest.
The Blood Moon Sect had no intention of waiting for the examination to end.
For them...
The hunt had already begun.