Every year, the Qingye Empire always holds an acceptance exam for members from all over the plains of the Empire, they prepare to prove themselves worthy of entering one of the Nine Great Sects. Its location is at the height of a mountain that can penetrate the clouds in the sky.

Today the prospective exam participants are riding a blade on their feet, flying towards the place where the exam will take place, the Main Pavilion. Witnessed directly by the leaders of the Nine Great Sects as well as by the most renowned Cultivation Emperor.

Hei Xing, an eighteen-year-old young man, is instead climbing thousands of stairs. Above his head, hovers a sharp metal ridden by his female friend, Feng Yun.

They are orphans who have grown up together since they were little, they don't even know who their parents are. Since birth, they only know that they were taken care of by the same person, their Cultivation Master in a motherly village.

"Master said, this is an exercise in restraining one's limits," complained Hei Xing with a lazy breath. "But this is very exhausting."

The sun is increasingly burning Hei Xing's pale white skin, the journey to the peak is still very far. He glanced at the magnificent pavilion obscured by thick fog from a distance, he felt as if he was stepping on stairs that were leading him to heaven at the top of that mountain.

"Hey, fool! Stop complaining!" retorted Feng Yun who passed over Hei Xing's head. "I've been shading you, haven't I?"

Hei Xing then raised his head, his breath becoming more labored with every stride, his temples weakening from annoyance, his long white hair was already drenched in sweat.

"Who are you calling a fool?!" he retorted. He raised his middle finger to Feng Yun with a flat face, but his voice screamed very loudly. "Just wait at the exam later, who will be called the fool in the end! You big fool!"

While he was standing on that step, his body was circled nine times by Feng Yun, the woman's sky-blue hair swaying from the wind that hit with every swoosh.

"Of course you're the fool," she answered cynically. She squatted on her blade while looking at Hei Xing with an annoying smirk, then showed off a white book with a nine-star pattern on its cover.

"We already proved it at the book retrieval with Master, didn't we?" she continued. She stood up and turned her back to Hei Xing without any care at all. "This Nine-Star Book is proof that I am not only smart, but proof that I am loved by Heaven and Earth."

Hei Xing just remained silent, his sturdy chest trembling. He wanted so badly to hit his arrogant friend, his hands were even already clenched until the veins bulged on the back of his hands. But every time he felt disturbed, he always remembered Master's message, "Never use power just because of anger alone."

He felt as if, if Feng Yun only wanted to make him annoyed, his friend also surely remembered their Master's words.

"Hahh... look... even I who have no Qi can be chosen by the Book!" Hei Xing also took out his book from under his shabby black robe. "Just watch later! I will become a Cultivation Emperor loved by many women!"

While stepping, he puffed out his chest with a wide smile while closing his eyes, his inner self saying that Hei Xing was boasting about his book: a tattered One-Star Book, but the star symbol on the cover was not even clearly visible.

"Loved by many women? Hmph!" Feng Yun turned her face away. "Even that Book isn't worthy of being called a Book, Hei Xing..." She tried to belittle her friend's self-esteem.

"I'll go first, don't be late," she continued. Without further ado, she left that white-haired man alone.

"Damn it! Give me a ride!" cursed Hei Xing jumping up and down because of envy. "Just you watch, damn it!"

Hei Xing took a stance, he lowered his body then stretched his legs alternately.

"Damn! I won't lose!" he shouted thunderously. Without another word, he ran very fast until dust billowed behind his body every time his feet stepped on the stairs.

"WAIT FOR ME, FENG YUN!"

Hei Xing ran like someone who was fleeing from death. For him, today could not be missed even if he had to go stark naked.

Hundreds from all corners of the Qingye plains will determine their fate today. Including him who dreams of becoming a Cultivation Emperor respected by all circles.

Despite him having no talent and often receiving insults from every person he met, Hei Xing wanted to become a Cultivator recognized throughout Qingye.

"I will prove to the world... who deserves to stand above."

Arriving at the top, he pounded through the last hundred stairs without a sound. His legs moved on their own, automatically, as if they had separated from his body that screamed for rest, one step finally planted on the mountain peak.

Hei Xing's calves were trembling, as if numb, exhausted from running without stopping at all, the cold air stabbed to the bone and entered his throat without permission every time he breathed, steamy and irregular.

"F-finally arrived." He wiped the sweat on his forehead that was streaming. "Fyuhh..."

At that height, his eyes instantly widened in awe at the scenery around him, a palace-like pavilion stood solidly before him, hundreds of people milled about gripping their sword hilts with various expressions: enthusiastic, nervous, even blank.

"Hmm... it's quite crowded too—"

Brak!

Just as he had taken one step forward and hadn't yet managed to land his foot on the floor made of stone, someone crashed into him from the side very hard until the impact sent them bouncing then falling together.

"Ouch!" his voice was muffled because something soft was pressing on his face. "Move!"

His eyes couldn't see anything, his hands then roughly pushed something soft on his face.

"Kyaa~"

A woman's moan was heard from above Hei Xing's body, making him fall silent. But his hands, continuously kneaded that lump.

"Stop it!"

Her tone sounded like a snap.

When that something lifted, Hei Xing's cheeks immediately turned red, his eyes widened because he was stunned by the beauty of a woman who seemed to be his age sitting on his stomach.

Her pink hair almost covered her face, her soft and thin lips turned downward in a pout, her eyes narrowed cynically but both her hands were propped on Hei Xing's chest.

If the mountain peak was heaven, then that girl was its angel. At least, that was what crossed Hei Xing's mind, time seemed to slow down when he focused on gazing at that lovely face.

"Y-You perverted bastard!"

Crott!!

That girl jabbed her two fingers into Hei Xing's eyeballs quickly.

"Ouchh!!!" whimpered Hei Xing immediately touching his irises, instantly the weight pressing on his stomach disappeared slowly, that girl had already gotten up leaving him who was grimacing in pain near the stairs.

"Isn't that girl... Yan Zhi?"

"What a damn pervert man!"

Hei Xing quickly sat up with his eyes still closed, his ears busy listening to the people around him. He felt he was being talked about over an incident that wasn't his fault.

His inner self cursed a few harsh words without anyone knowing, that he was annoyed right now for several reasons: because he was left by his friend, also because of the stranger who crashed into him.

The girl who bumped into him should have apologized to him. But... what happened was just a misunderstanding that should have never happened.

He opened his eyes, then stood up. People were already entering that magnificent building, he too stepped forward wanting to enter.

Hei Xing tried to avoid the exam participants who flew above his head without ever making sure if there were people below the metal that could slash someone's neck.

The atmosphere became more crowded and packed.

Not only crowded, but a long queue.

He tried to pass by several people to register himself as a participant, at this moment he was wondering. Had Feng Yun registered herself yet? Maybe she had, because she arrived first, but Hei Xing hadn't seen his annoying friend yet upon arriving at the mountain peak.

Several men were sitting at the registration table, they were the ones handling the participants who registered.

Hei Xing kept stepping even though squeezed by sweaty bodies, trying so he could move from the hundreds of people pressing tightly.

"A little more—"

Boing! Boing!

Again, he experienced a soft sensation.

Hei Xing smelled a soothing flower fragrance.

His face was again muffled by something.

"Damn it! Again—"

When he stepped backward...

"Hoi... kid!"

That tone was spoken by an adult woman standing upright before him, her clothing only an open dark bra, covered by her black hair.

He looked up but that woman looked at Hei Xing like a black panther ready to pounce on its prey.

"A-Ahh I thought you were that girl—"

"Who do you think I am?!"

That woman's aura was very different, as if he was face to face with the final king.

"Lady Mo Jianxiu... we better continue—"

"Shut up, Xuanzhi Yuze! You should have used that space-shifting technique so we would arrive quickly!"

Behind her, a sweet beautiful woman with long wavy jade-like hair accompanied her. Hei Xing glanced briefly at her, her expression seemed... pressured.

"W-Wasn't it, uh... Lady who asked me to accompany you to look around—"

"Shut up, Yuze!"

Without turning her head, she gripped the head of the young man in front of her. Then, her tired-looking droopy eyelids... returned to Hei Xing's face.

"Adadadah!"

Her grip was strong, even her fist seemed like it would be crushed if she let Mo Jianxiu keep pressing on his head.

"This kid... I don't feel Qi from him," continued Mo Jianxiu. "What is this crippled human coming here for?"

Hearing that, Hei Xing suddenly narrowed his eyes at that rude woman. Both his hands immediately gripped Mo Jianxiu's hand tightly.

He was born hated by Qi, yet his Meridian absorbed the Qi he touched towards his Dantian. But unfortunately, that spiritual energy only affected his muscles, becoming mere physical density that spread from his navel to all body functions.

The One-Star Book under Hei Xing's robe responded, the book also stored the Qi absorbed by its owner.

Briefly Hei Xing saw that woman's eyebrow rise as if amazed by him. In an instant, Mo Jianxiu curved a smile.

BASH!!!

"ARGH!"

Hei Xing was hurled.

He was thrown towards the crowd, crashing into the queue of prospective participants.

"Whatever!" shouted Mo Jianxiu. "Come on, Yuze!"

"A-Alright, Lady."

Xuanzhi Yuze took out her Book, a brightly lit portal appeared when she murmured something. Mo Jianxiu entered that oval light followed by her who entered the veil last.

"Forgive us, handsome young man," said Xuanzhi Yuze kissing her lips coquettishly.

Without much time.

When they had completely vanished.

That portal shrank then disappeared.

"What the heck?" said Hei Xing getting up from the people he fell on top of who were in pain. "Huhh."

Tap. Tap. Tap.

He looked down, cleaning his clothes from dust.

"Hey..." that voice sounded soft, a woman again. "M-May I be with you?"

When Hei Xing turned around, sure enough, a large mound of fatty meat right in front of his face bounced up and down.

"Ahh..." He quickly stood up and exchanged glances with that girl. "Sure, but let's leave here first."

While stepping, Hei Xing was puzzled. His mind kept dwelling on the brown-haired girl who suddenly approached him. Out of all the people in that place, why him?

He glanced briefly at the girl walking beside him. Hei Xing's gaze was full of suspicion as well as confusion.

"What is she following me for?" his inner self asked.

That girl looked down, she said, "My name... is Xiao Rou." Without glancing at Hei Xing at all.

"Ahh... nice to meet you... I'm Hei Xing," he replied scratching his hair.

"I-I'm confused..." Xiao Rou continued to speak. "I-I saw you were having trouble, and I thought we had the same condition..." Her eyes now focused on Hei Xing. "Would you accompany me to carry out the exam together?"

That girl's words made Hei Xing smile faintly. Of all the ridiculous events today, only Xiao Rou acted normally.

Of course he would say, "Yes." while showing his two canine teeth at the side of his clean and white lips. "Why not? I'm also alone... my friend is who knows where, hehe..."

"A-A friend?"

"Right, a friend."

"Is it okay if you're with me?"

"Of course."

Both of them agreed to be together during the exam. They immediately headed to the registration place when the queue began to quiet down, then wrote their names as student candidates who would vie for the chance to enter one of the Nine Great Sects of the Qingye Empire.

Hei Xing walked casually while tucking both his hands into the sleeves of his shabby black robe. His steps seemed light, as if all the insults and condescending gazes from the people around him never truly bothered him.

With a tattered One-Star Book, and talent considered completely nonexistent, Hei Xing kept stepping without hesitation.

He wanted to prove to the world, that someone like him also deserved to stand under the same sky, without exception.

"I thought this place would be as luxurious as I imagined, but it turns out to be more like a martial arts stage."

Hei Xing slipped his hands into the armholes of his shabby robe, his eyes busy glancing at the rows of empty seats surrounding hundreds of people waiting for the exam that would take place soon.

"Y-You're right... this place is hot."

While Xiao Rou's hand shaded her forehead from the dazzling sunlight, her sweat flowed from her chin and fell onto the teak floor.

Unfortunately, this place had no roof like pavilions in general, as if this building was deliberately designed like a giant wooden tub that could hold hundreds of people inside.

When his irises reached the row of nine chairs on the altar between the spectator stands, and one magnificent throne located above them.

At that moment his feelings improved again.

For him...

Someday...

Today he would tread the path to the Throne of 'Cultivation Emperor' he had dreamed of for so long.

Among the hundreds of people waiting, several members from the nine sects watched over the Main Hall.

"L-Look, they're coming!" shouted one of the participants.

Hei Xing turned toward the voice, someone's index finger pointing at the chairs where the leaders of the Nine Great Sects were.

Up there, silhouettes appeared from the hallway, then slowly revealed themselves.

"That's... that's Yan Bai... she's the eldest sister of the Yan clan as well as the leader of the Spring Flower Sect," said another, looking enthusiastic.

All pairs of eyes immediately widened at the middle-aged woman with pink hair who walked gracefully and sat in the first chair. She was accompanied by two girls who looked almost similar to her.

Her face... her hair... and the name of the 'Yan' clan... made Hei Xing blink his irises several times.

"She looks very much like the one who bumped into me earlier," his inner self said. "Is she the sister of that girl named 'Yan Zhi'?"

Not long after Yan Bai, another figure emerged from the same hallway. A man with flaming red hair like blazing fire.

He sat next to Yan Bai, accompanied by a teenage figure standing beside him.

"Ahh!!! Handsome Master Zhu Longwei! I-I hope you choose me!" shouted a girl with eyes filled with passion. "I want to be your slave in the Wisdom Fire Sect!"

Hei Xing who saw that... could feel the calmness from the flat expression without a smile from the aura emitted by that man.

"His face and appearance are contradictory," his heart said. He let out an honest smile with a glimmer of light in his eyes.

"U-Um..." called Xiao Rou pinching Hei Xing's robe slightly. The white-haired man turned to her.

"Is it true that you have no Qi?" she continued asking.

Hei Xing put on a surprised face. Before this, he had told Xiao Rou about the problems he experienced throughout his life.

"Yes," he answered calmly. "I won't give up just because I'm different."

Without a definite reason, he became even more puzzled seeing Xiao Rou's smile after Hei Xing said that amid the noise of hundreds of people in the Main Hall.

"Thank goodness, somehow I feel calm when I'm with you," Xiao Rou said softly. "Last year I failed this exam... and I feel unconfident."

"Hahaha... don't worry about it, Xiao Rou."

"Hmm... if only I could be like what you said."

Then, both of them shifted their gaze back to the altar.

"Hei Xing." Xiao Rou pointed at a man with light blue hair who appeared cold emerging from the hallway. "That is Lanhua Xue, he's the leader of the Blue Rose Sect."

"Hoo... you've memorized them all..." responded Hei Xing stroking his chin.

"Of course," she replied, shifting her index finger to a mysterious man with a cloth covering his eyes. "And the one walking without looking is from the Dream World Deity Sect, Mengluo Xian."

"Hmm... hmm... luckily I met you, Xiao Rou." Hei Xing crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Please continue."

"Just a little." Xiao Rou followed Hei Xing's style of crossing her chest. "Now that one..." she continued again as a thin man with a terrifying face came from the hallway with two swords in his hands. "He is Zhandao Kuang, leader of the Praying Mantis Sect."

"Hmm! Hmm!" Hei Xing nodded repeatedly. "His face is more like a true criminal than a sect leader who protects the people of the Qingye Empire."

"Pfffttt." Xiao Rou held back her laughter. "You really are straightforward..." Her hands rested on her waist.

Hei Xing just stayed silent, he was a bit embarrassed to hear that from that gentle girl.

"Then that one..." the girl continued quietly. "Zixuan Feng, the fat one from the Purple Whale Sect."

"His body is truly fertile..."

Then, a very young boy stepped out from the dark hallway nervously.

Hei Xing's eyes widened.

"Why is there a child there?" he asked in surprise. "Is the sect leader unable to attend?"

"Hahaha, you must be surprised," replied Xiao Rou while chuckling. "He's the youngest sect leader, you know... he's only fifteen years old, Hualing Zi from the Water Deer Sect."

"EHHH?! SERIOUSLY?!"

"Yep! I'm serious!"

Not long after...

From up there...

Not from the dark hallway...

A bright oval portal appeared, making Hei Xing's pupils widen without blinking at all. His mind immediately recalled the woman who had previously insulted him as crippled.

"Ahh... you must know this..." Xiao Rou said curtly. "I wanted to tell you earlier... but... I was expecting your surprised expression."

"I-I know this..."

From that portal, the figure of a black-haired woman like a black panther emerged together with a woman with jade-green hair.

"Yes, that is Mo Jianxiu and she's with one of her sect members, Xuanzhi Yuze. They're from the Black Star Sect, the worst sect of the worst," said that girl lowering her head.

"O-Oh no! I've offended one of the leaders of the Nine Great Sects." Hei Xing held his head in panic.

"Hahahaha... it's lucky you didn't die."

All the people in the Main Hall cheered, even though only eight leaders had appeared at the altar. They were waiting for one name, the leader of the strongest and most respected sect in the entire Qingye dynasty.

"I can't wait for Lady Huangjin Chen!"

"You're right, I want to be chosen by him to the Golden Dawn Sect!"

"They say the Cultivation Emperor is coming?"

"I heard that too... Emperor Shikong Tianzun will witness this year's exam!"

The voices of hundreds of prospective sect members made Hei Xing freeze. The enthusiasm from those who might have big dreams like himself, and today... he was one of the many dream chasers...

"Feng Yun... I know you're among them, let's fight," his inner self said.

From where he stood, far from the altar, Hei Xing stared at the faces of the leaders of the Nine Great Sects one by one.

He was very focused when his irises reached the body of a slender woman sitting leaning back in her chair, her two sisters pressed close, hugging her right and left arms tightly, burying her between their full breasts.

That face was very gentle...

Every time he saw their thin, enchanting lips...

His mind immediately brought him to the face of Yan Zhi who had been sitting on his stomach earlier. Only, the cheeks of all three looked sharper compared to the beautiful girl who had pinned him down a while ago.

Hundreds of candidates began to show off their abilities, each of them displaying the Book they owned, gripped in hand, even floating near the book owner's body.

On average, they were gripping a Three-Star Book.

None below that.

None like Hei Xing.

"Hoo..."

Hei Xing watched closely as the glow of Qi began to decorate the daytime sky, even though their spiritual energy did not reach the height of the altar up there.

The five elements blended together in various forms. One of the participants formed a flowing river in the sky, several flew themselves with wind enveloping their bodies, among them creating small golems from earth Qi that roamed through the crowd.

"They're amazing at using Qi."

Hei Xing enjoyed the show unfolding at this moment. One of the men among them created an ancient dragon from bright flames, not a real dragon, only resembling one, twisting and winding through the brilliance of other Qi.

He glanced at Xiao Rou who was just holding her book without doing anything.

"Aren't you going to show off like them?" he asked calmly.

"No... I did that last year, and I was embarrassed because I wasn't chosen by any of the great sects," Xiao Rou replied with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Is that so?" Hei Xing slipped his hands into his robe's pockets.

The girl lowered her head, then nodded.

After a few minutes... the candidates who had been silent began to show their fangs. Without much time, the atmosphere that had been building broke loose in the Main Hall.

The two people they were waiting for still hadn't arrived.

Huangjin Chen, leader of the Golden Dawn Sect.

Shikong Tianzun, the most renowned Cultivation Emperor.

It seemed Hei Xing couldn't wait to become part of a sect of the Qingye Empire. He was truly looking forward to seeing the Emperor's face for real with his own eyes. However, before those two great names appeared, the attention of the entire hall had already been seized by someone else.

"L-Look!" someone shouted from a position opposite Hei Xing. He pointed to the air. "How can she use all the elements at the same time?!"

A blue-haired girl flew gracefully without stepping on the back of her sharp metal, but on wings flapping from Qi flames with a sky hue radiating heat on her smooth back.

"Ahh, that's my friend, Xiao Rou!" Hei Xing said happily. His eyes sparkled. "Oi Feng Yun! I'm here!"

That girl put on a cold face with no raised corner of her lips, like snow that never melts even when exposed to the blazing sun. But when she saw Hei Xing...

"Ahh..."

Feng Yun, in a fleeting breath... gave a beautiful smile like dawn breaking on the eastern horizon.

The winds that blew from the flapping of those magnificent wings... felt like a melody of Qi that soothed the body.

She formed a small dragon from earth Qi, then circled her body... her long breath felt like a heavy metal aura being exhaled.

Not only that, her Qi was truly displayed from all five elements: Water, Fire, Earth, Air, Metal. Creating an elemental mutation beyond the logic of Cultivators throughout history: a lightning flash in her right hand, her left hand freezing into a sharp ice spear.

In an instant, Feng Yun shot through the sea of people towards where Hei Xing stood. The Qi wings on her back flapped softly, leaving a trail of golden-blue light in the air. However, before truly arriving in front of Hei Xing...

Her brows slowly furrowed, her cold gaze fell upon a girl standing so close beside Hei Xing. Xiao Rou.

The wind around Feng Yun's body suddenly turned heavy. She halted her advance in the air, hovering a few meters above the crowd. The tips of her blue hair fluttered in the current of Qi she created herself, while her clear eyes narrowed slightly, gazing at the two of them alternately.

"H-Hei Xing, that bastard! He's with another girl besides me!" she thought.

Hei Xing, who had just become aware of her presence, immediately raised his hand high. "Feng Yun!" His tone sounded sincere, even a little enthusiastic. Instantly, thousands of pairs of eyes also turned towards them.

After all, that girl hovering in the air was the center of attention of the Main Hall right now. A monstrous genius capable of using all five elements at once, something even considered impossible in the history of cultivation.

"Wait! They know each other?! How lucky that shabby young man...!"

Whispers began to spread.

"Who is that white-haired man?"

"He called that five-element genius by name?" "They know each other?"

Several envious gazes fell on Hei Xing, while others stared with burning curiosity.

Xiao Rou felt a sudden cold air envelop her. She looked up, and that pair of sharp blue eyes pierced directly at her. The girl reflexively lowered her head, her fingers gripping the Book on her chest tighter.

"Who is she? Why is she staring at me like that?" Xiao Rou said in her heart.

BOOM!!!

A shockwave shook the wooden floor of the Main Hall. Dust and small debris scattered from above. Hei Xing reflexively raised his arm to protect his face, while Xiao Rou staggered sideways, nearly losing her balance.

The explosion came from above the building; everyone in the Main Hall widened their eyes towards the source of the sound.

"Yo... sorry to keep you waiting!" said a man wearing a black robe emerging from behind the explosion's smoke. Beside him, a woman with her eyes covered by a mask smiled gently in a golden dress with a sunset pattern.

"T-The Cultivation Emperor!"

"Lady Huangjin Chen!"

"They've arrived!"

Cheers from all the exam participants echoed; the sect leaders rose from their seats.

Even Mo Jianxiu, who usually leaned back lazily, was now upright in her chair, her drowsy eyes now wide open. On the other end, only Zhu Longwei remained seated with a flat expression.

"Hei Xing, get ready!" said Xiao Rou, pressing her book to her chest.

"Ehh!"

Up there, the Emperor raised his hand high. "Prepare!" Then he dropped his arm swiftly. "The exam begins!"