The Evening Clouds was a subsidiary of the Seven Clouds, at the base of the mountains. Serving as the military force of Cloud City, it held almost all the outer disciples of the Seven Clouds Sect.
The first stepping stone in Shuren's way.
Beautiful pagodas of varying sizes scattered around, each with swirls and formations of clouds.. Each pagoda had a distinct atmosphere. Bordering between the entrance of the sect and the mortal realm stood a congregation of young people.
Shuren stood still amongst a crowd of entrants, spanning over a thousand. He came a few hours early and was already in the first row, yet even if he came late, they would've allowed him to come forth. For he was the winner.
Although the crowd was massive, everyone stood organised, with the chattering decreasing as the time grew nearer. Many were not only from Cloud City, but from around the province and even a few travellers from around the continent. Shuren had even noticed Aerestia, a Silvent among them, and she had an open clearing around them.
Growing tired of the gazes and attempts at conversations by other elites around him, he thought about moving.
I read the information on her. Someone in the top 5 dominating the battlefield with her ice abilities. The environment also must've helped her a lot. It's not a bad idea to talk to her.
In the beginning, before you reached Rank 2, transmuting Qi to other forms would be much easier if you were in a similar environment. Otherwise, it wouldn't make much sense for someone to make flames if they themselves never went near fire themselves.
A wave of dirt and dust embedded itself on Shuren's robes as a young man with a comically large backpack smacked into him.
Shuren raised his brows and glared at him. "Oh, it's you."
Tez was sweating and panting, and even his messy midnight azure hair was oily and greased up. Shuren waited in silence for Tez to regain his composure, clearly incapable of even talking.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean to-" Tez wanted to apologise, but cut himself short when recognising Shuren.
"…"
Shuren didn't bother saying any words, only looking at the dust that fell on his robes.
Tez didn't give him the expression of one who was in the wrong. Not a single hint of remorse remained. Even if he, a nobody runt from beyond the region, rammed into a Liu Clan member and dirtied his robes. Let alone the one who came first in the sect examinations.
He glanced at his surroundings, noticing the group of bystanders scrutinizing Tez for running into them. He didn't consider the amount of dust and dirt on his massive backpack rubbing off everyone. While everyone at the front rows had arrived early to wait, he barged in from the back, pushing everyone away.
Shuren had a reputation to maintain.
"You won't apologise?"
Shuren stood almost a head higher than Tez, staring him down. While Tez clenched his jaws as he returned the stare, even when slumped from his backpack.
"What, having some peasant walk into you is such a big deal? You also ask for ants to apologise after you step on them for dirtying your shoes?"
Shuren's stoic expression now held a slight frown. Fool. Can't even see that everyone else you barged into is irritated at you. Even if you barely managed top ten, no one will take you serious because of your stage.
"Peasant? Even peasants have common sense." Shuren put more pressure as he enunciated his next three words. "Look around you."
Even Tez had realised when he craned his neck around to see the crowd forming around them. Most of them he'd barged through had far more irritated expressions.
"No one is saying anything to you because the Elders are about to appear soon. That still doesn't excuse your tardiness and ignorance, pushing everyone to come to the front when you came last." Shuren reprimanded Tez, lowering his tone even more to convey the message.
Tez scrunched his eyebrows, struggling to even take the next step. He could apologise to anyone but this guy. This son of a bitch always puts me in this situation. Why shou-
Tez coughed out spit, gasping for air as he felt Shuren's fist dig deep into his liver.
Shuren's cold eyes sharpened. "Don't make me ask twice."
There was no use of Qi, let alone a surge of Qi Aura, but everyone could tell with that gaze. If Tez didn't listen, the situation would escalate.
Tez bit his lower lip to control himself. I can't do shit. If I say anything, he'll actually try to kill me! I shouldn't mess with this guy!
He lowered his head, closing his eyes. "S-sorry."
Shuren grabbed the ridge of his nose, letting out a sigh. This idiot still doesn't understand.
"Why are you facing me? Look around and say it to everyone," with a cold and stern voice he commanded.
With a pale face, Tez reluctantly faced the crowd. With unfocused eyes, he stuttered, "I'm sorry, everyone."
Shuren, acting as their arbitrator, influenced the group of people who had stared daggers at the boy to let it move on, shifting their attention to the swarm of mystical clouds forming up above.
***
In the sky on a golden cloud, a middle-aged man stood, donned with an ashy white robe laced in purple, hands behind his back. He manifested a flowery illustration of Qi, and a dance of energy rippled around to increase the range of his voice. "I am the Grand Elder of Evening Clouds, Wanshang. You have all entered the Seven Clouds Sect as Outer Disciples, but this only marks the beginning of your path. If you wish to embark on the path of a cultivator, work hard and become the best. Every year, you will have the chance to ascend to the Seven Clouds Inner Sect." Elder Wanshang materialised a flying sword and grabbed it, pointing it high to the sky.
"On my name, you will be rewarded for your righteousness, your valour, your ideals and beliefs. We demand not only expertise in raw martial power, but any other skill set you have, for the Grand Paths provides to all. Excel in your specialties and as we will nurture you, I only hope you will nurture us in return." A floating golden scroll emerged, unravelling on its own in front of Elder Wanshang with a wave of his palm. "Of course, we reward those who excel the most. The best performances of the examinations will be granted direct entry to the Seven Clouds Inner Sect."
Patting his robes in haste, Shuren Liu observed the golden scroll with furrowed brows.
"Yuang Chen, step forward."
A young man with unkempt auburn hair walked into a step of clouds toward Elder Wanshang. The one who fought like a mad wolf across the battlefield.
"Zhou Yan."
A young woman with a sophisticated white robe came forth. A slight murmuring buzzed out from the crowd, especially from the boys.
Zhou Clan? She's the glaive user that poisoned the lake to stack up points at the end.
"Aerestia."
A young local Silvent girl with sterling silver hair with flowing branches walked out in trepidation. She resembled a startled rabbit. The crowd's reaction was abuzz, but with the opposite intentions, unlike with Zhou Yan. "A Silvent made it as an Inner Disciple…" Shuren heard someone nearby say.
"Huang Shi Junyu."
The iron fan wielder Shuren had faced off, but didn't battle against, appeared.
A prodigy from the Huang Clan. He had some sense, so I doubt we'll have any troubles.
"Wu Ming."
And the crazed swordsman that almost killed Shuren in the end. The only man he'd acknowledge as a worthy fighter, even compared to the ones he dealt with back in the Granxian Continent.
The Wu Clan is blessed if they produced this guy. I'd bet he'd make it to Nascent Soul one day.
Elder Wanshang had pinched the bottom of the scroll, bringing it closer. For the first time, his facial expressions had changed, as he raised his chin, pondering. His eyes moved, and they crossed vision.
Liu Shuren felt it. The gaze of an Elder. A wave of Qi ran through every nook and cranny of his body, like someone had ripped open his heart and head to peer inside his thoughts.
It felt nauseating.
Shuren tempered his muscles with Qi, the bulk of it on his legs. He refused to budge or fall to embarrass himself, his eyes reddening. Elder Wanshang deconstructed the charade of obstinance on Shuren's face as he refused to falter.
"Finally, Liu Shuren." The elder had a cheeky smile on his face, rubbing his short beard.
As Shuren walked forward, he heard Tez mutter something under his breath that left him perplexed. "I can't observe any of their levels!"
***
Elder Wanshang waved his sword, and golden waves converge, assimilating into clouds. "May clouds forever envelop, protecting your Paths."
With the group in tow on his clouds, they flew towards the mountain range. Liu Shuren's feet dipped into the cloud, and he felt a sense of vertigo. The other head teachers began to announce and organise the divisions for the Evening Clouds. Elder Wanshang faced to the newly administered Inner Sect disciples.
"Unlike most of the entrants, you've all gained not only strong battle sense but also a good understanding of the Qidense realm, the first rank of cultivation. It doesn't matter that all of you are of varying levels, the Seven Clouds sect will perfect your foundation." He raised his finger, manifesting a playful small cloud. It flew around, brushing past each person. "Only then will it be established."
"Once you've reached Stage 12, standing at the gates of Rank 2, you will have opportunities to become a Core Disciple and gain personal teachings from our best cultivators." They approached the peak of the alps. As per the name Seven Clouds Sect, seven mountains had various structures and inhabitants, zooming around on their flying nimbuses.
Though something about the base seemed unnatural.
Shuren heard that the seven mountains didn't always exist here. Grand Elder Wanshang reached the apex of the fourth mountain, right in the middle. In front of them was a grand marble palace, spanning with multiple infrastructures in its surrounding.
As if the skies above were welcoming the young newcomers, a tranquil, sweet tune danced along with the clouds. Elder Wanshang stopped just before him.
"Salutations, Honoured Elder Wanshang, our hero from eve." A cultivator bowed with a wooden reed in hand, a man with flowing viridian hair.
"I'll take care of babysitting these children. You may rest at ease," He said in a playful tone.
"Hahaha, you always love to make a show, Haze. You came a bit late from your travels," Grand Elder Wanshang heartily bellowed as he grasped his beard.
"Show them around." With a wave of his palm, the entourage on his cloud lowered. He walked back past the inner sect newcomers, slowing down by Shuren.
Shuren's face scrunches as he felt an immense pressure land on his shoulder. Elder Wanshang had simply patted his shoulder. An intense headache pierced Shuren's mind as Elder Wanshang forced thoughts into it. You were only supposed to enter as a delegate for one year, with a few elders even denying you entry. But I have the final say, so I felt it would be interesting to have you enter.
Elder Wanshang vanished before anyone realised, implying he didn't need to fly down clouds to return. As the residues of his headache subsided, another had popped up as Shuren stared up at Heaven's Eye, swallowing his own spit.
I've antagonised someone from the sect already? There's something going on!