Morning came slowly, the pale light creeping through the gaps in the wooden walls. He had barely slept. When his body finally succumbed to exhaustion, his dreams were restless, visions of clawed hands reaching through tangled undergrowth, of blood soaking into the earth.

  A sharp knock at his door snapped him from his haze.

  “Tao!” Jian’s voice was firm but carried a hint of exasperation. “Wake up. The lotus. We need to turn it in.”

  Tao sat up with a quiet groan, rubbing his temples.

  The knocking turned into a series of heavy kicks. “Tao, come on! Elder Jianyu’s going to kill us if we take too long.”

  Before Tao could fully get to his feet, a new voice cut through the morning air. “That won’t be necessary.”

  Jian’s kicking stopped immediately. Tao swung the door open to find Elder Jianyu standing just beyond the threshold, arms folded, his sharp gaze sweeping over them both. Jian stiffened, clearly caught off guard.

  “You two decided to sleep after returning instead of cultivating?” The elder’s tone carried clear disapproval. “You should be spending every scrap of spare time refining your energy. Wasting potential is the same as discarding it.”

  Jian scratched the back of his head. “Uh, we were…”

  “Enough.” Jianyu waved a hand. “Pack your things. You won’t be staying here much longer.”

  Tao and Jian exchanged a look but did not question him outright. Instead, they quickly gathered their belongings while the elder waited, his expression unreadable. Jian threw his things together with haste, while Tao made sure to secure the storage ring in his sleeve before slinging his satchel over his shoulder, it was now full of all his worldly possessions.

  Without another word, Jianyu turned on his heel and led them through the sect grounds. They passed several disciples engaging in morning sparring drills, the sharp clang of metal ringing in the air. Tao expected Jianyu to stop and inspect them, but the elder strode past without so much as a glance, making his way toward the far end of the Combat Hall.

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  As they stepped inside, the hall's energy surrounded them, disciples sparring in rings, wooden dummies lined along the sides, and the scent of sweat and oiled weapons lingering in the air. Grand carvings of warriors adorned the stone walls, frozen in eternal battle.

  Jianyu did not pause. Instead, he led them toward the rear of the hall, where a set of heavy doors stood. He pushed them open, revealing a private chamber beyond.

  Inside, the space was simple but refined. Scrolls detailing martial techniques lined the walls, and a single, well worn meditation mat lay at the centre of the room. A modest desk sat near the back, where Jianyu took his seat before motioning for them to sit as well.

  “Did you find the lotus?” he asked without preamble.

  Tao reached into his satchel, carefully retrieving the flower. The moment he placed it on the elder’s desk, Jianyu pulled out a jade box and gently set the lotus inside, sealing it with a flick of his fingers.

  “Well done.” His gaze flickered between them, noting their auras. “I see you have both reached the fifth layer. That, too, is commendable.”

  Jian grinned. “Not bad, huh?”

  Jianyu ignored the remark. “Tell me of your experiences in the Wilds.”

  Tao hesitated before exchanging a glance with Jian. They recounted their encounters, the treacherous terrain and the beasts that had tested their resolve and combat skills. But they carefully avoided any mention of the secret realm.

  Jianyu listened intently before leaning forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Did you come across any ashen robed cultivators?”

  Both Tao and Jian froze for the briefest moment. They had not expected Jianyu to know about the ashen robed cultivators. They quickly exchanged glances before shaking their heads in unison.

  “No, Elder,” Tao said, his voice even. “We did not encounter anyone like that.”

  “Not at all,” Jian added swiftly. Perhaps too swiftly.

  Jianyu’s gaze lingered on them, sharp with scrutiny. His eyes flickered between the two before narrowing in suspicion. But after a long pause, he chose not to press the matter.

  Instead, he leaned back slightly and asked, “Did you encounter anything unusual?”

  “Nothing beyond what we’ve already described,” Jian answered smoothly.

  Tao nodded. “The Wilds were dangerous, but nothing beyond what we expected.”

  Jianyu exhaled through his nose, considering them carefully before finally nodding. He reached into his desk, pulling out two small tokens marked with intricate engravings. He slid one to each of them.

  “Congratulations,” he said. “You are now core members of the sect.”

  Tao stared at the token in his palm, the intricate carvings catching the light. Jian let out a quiet breath of disbelief before breaking into a grin.

  Jianyu’s expression softened ever so slightly. “Train hard. You will need it.”