The political fallout from Zhou Ling's defeat hit within twenty-four hours.

Phoenix Faction splintered. Three of their prominent members, all Stage 6 or 7, publicly withdrew, citing "philosophical differences with current leadership." Blue Moon Association received a flood of membership inquiries. Azure Dragon Alliance extended a formal dinner invitation to "discuss mutual interests."

And I became the most talked-about disciple in the sect.

[REPUTATION: PEAK]

[FAME LEVEL: PROBLEMATIC]

[EVERYONE WANTS SOMETHING FROM YOU]

[PRIVACY: NONEXISTENT]

"Stop hiding in your cultivation chamber," Su Mei said, physically dragging me to the Blue Moon common area on my third day of recovery. "You won. Own it. Be visible."

"I don't want to be visible. I want to cultivate in peace."

"Too late for peace. You're a political figure now whether you like it or not." She pushed me through the door. "Besides, Jiang Mei wants to talk strategy."

[FACTION POLITICS: UNAVOIDABLE]

[YOU'RE A BLUE MOON ASSET NOW]

[RESPONSIBILITY: INCREASING]

The common area was packed with Blue Moon members celebrating their faction's sudden prestige boost. Jiang Mei sat at the center table, reviewing what looked like membership applications and resource allocation charts.

"Lin Tian!" She gestured me over. "Perfect timing. We need to discuss opportunities."

"What kind of opportunities?" I asked warily.

"The good kind. Your victory over Zhou Ling opened doors." She spread out several documents. "First: three inner sect disciples want to join Blue Moon specifically because of you. That's unprecedented growth for us."

[FACTION EXPANSION]

[YOUR INFLUENCE: TANGIBLE]

"Second: Azure Dragon Alliance proposed a formal alliance. They want to counter Phoenix Faction's traditional dominance. With you as our 'rising star', their words, they think a partnership benefits everyone."

"What do they want in return?"

"Support in sect votes, shared resources during expeditions, mutual defense agreements. Standard alliance terms." Jiang Mei looked at me seriously. "It's a good deal, Lin Tian. Blue Moon has always been small and neutral. This could elevate us significantly."

[STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY]

[BLUE MOON + AZURE DRAGON VS PHOENIX]

[BALANCE OF POWER: SHIFTING]

"What's the downside?"

"We lose some independence. Alliance means obligations." She shrugged. "But we were never strong enough to be truly independent anyway. This is pragmatic."

Su Mei leaned close. "Jiang Mei's right. Small factions either align or get absorbed. Better to choose our partners."

[POLITICAL REALITY]

[NEUTRALITY = WEAKNESS IN CULTIVATION WORLD]

I thought about it. Azure Dragon Alliance had Yang Chen, honorable, strong, reasonable. They represented traditional values and proper conduct. Not a bad alliance.

"I support it," I said. "But I'm not deciding for the whole faction."

"We vote collectively, remember?" Jiang Mei smiled. "But your opinion carries weight now. If you support the alliance, others will follow."

[LEADERSHIP: INFORMAL BUT REAL]

[YOU'RE BECOMING A FACTION LEADER]

[WITHOUT ACTUALLY TRYING]

The real surprise came that afternoon.

Elder Hu summoned me to the administrative building, formal summons, not a casual meeting. When I arrived, I found not just Elder Hu but three other elders, including Elder Qin from the Disciplinary Hall.

[FORMAL MEETING: HIGH-LEVEL]

[THIS IS IMPORTANT]

"Lin Tian," Elder Hu began without preamble. "Your performance has attracted attention from the sect leadership. Specifically, your advancement speed and combat capability."

"I work hard, Elder."

"You do more than work hard. You achieve results that shouldn't be possible." Elder Qin's sharp eyes studied me. "Stage 1 to Stage 7 in three months. Multiple victories against higher-stage opponents. Mastery of legendary techniques in days instead of years."

[SCRUTINY: MAXIMUM]

[THEY'RE SUSPICIOUS]

[BUT ALSO IMPRESSED]

"The sect has decided to accelerate your development," Elder Hu continued. "Rather than wait six months for the standard core disciple challenge, you're being offered immediate examination."

I blinked. "Immediate?"

"Next week. Five trials designed to test combat ability, strategic thinking, sect loyalty, Qi control, and character under pressure." He pulled out a jade slip. "This contains the examination details. Success means core disciple status, access to peak resources, personal elder mentorship, and eligibility for sect representative positions."

[CORE DISCIPLE EXAM: ACCELERATED]

[ONE WEEK TO PREPARE]

[THIS IS HUGE]

"What if I fail?"

"You remain inner sect with option to retry in six months," Elder Qin said. "But failure would... damage your reputation. Many are watching to see if your rapid rise is sustainable or just luck."

[PRESSURE: HIGH]

[EXPECTATIONS: CRUSHING]

[HATERS: WAITING FOR YOU TO FAIL]

"The examination is volunteer-only," Elder Hu added. "You can decline without penalty."

I thought about it. Core disciple meant more resources, faster advancement, better opportunities. But it also meant more scrutiny, higher expectations, and becoming even more of a political figure.

'System, thoughts?'

[CORE DISCIPLE STATUS: SIGNIFICANT BOOST]

[RESOURCES WOULD ACCELERATE YOUR CULTIVATION]

[STAGE 8 WITHIN WEEKS, STAGE 9 WITHIN MONTHS]

[POLITICALLY: DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD]

[BUT YOU'RE ALREADY POLITICAL WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT]

[MIGHT AS WELL GET THE BENEFITS]

"I accept," I said. "When do I start?"

Elder Hu almost smiled. "Ambitious. Good. Report to the examination grounds next week, dawn. Bring nothing but your cultivation and determination."

News of my core disciple examination spread immediately, because of course it did.

[SECT GOSSIP: MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE]

[EVERYONE HAS OPINIONS]

[BETTING POOLS: REACTIVATED]

Yun Xia found me in my cultivation chamber that evening. "Core disciple exam. Already."

"Apparently I'm too talented to wait." I tried for humor, but it fell flat.

"You're worried."

"I'm terrified. Three months ago I was outer sect cannon fodder. Now I'm being fast-tracked to core disciple? It's insane."

She sat beside me. "You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think you're exactly where you're supposed to be." She took my hand. "You've earned everything you have, the cultivation, the status, the recognition. Stop doubting yourself."

[EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: MAXIMUM]

[GIRLFRIEND WISDOM: APPRECIATED]

[SHE BELIEVES IN YOU]

"What if I fail?"

"Then you fail. And you try again in six months. And I'll be here either way." She kissed me softly. "But you won't fail. You're too stubborn."

[RELATIONSHIP STRENGTH: UNSHAKEABLE]

[MOTIVATION: RENEWED]

[THIS IS WHY HAVING A SUPPORT SYSTEM MATTERS]

The next week was preparation hell.

Morning: Combat training with Team 7. They didn't hold back, every weakness exploited, every technique tested to its limits.

[COMBAT PROFICIENCY: INCREASING]

[TEAM TRAINING: BRUTAL BUT EFFECTIVE]

Afternoon: Strategy sessions with Chen Rou, who'd agreed to help despite being busy with her own advancement. She taught me tactical thinking, how to assess situations quickly, how to prioritize objectives.

[STRATEGIC MIND: DEVELOPING]

[CHEN ROU'S LESSONS: INVALUABLE]

Evening: Cultivation and technique refinement. Void Step was up to 14% proficiency, enough to use reliably in combat. Heaven's Judgment Palm reached 11%, still barely functional but improving.

[VOID STEP: 14% PROFICIENCY]

[HEAVEN'S JUDGMENT PALM: 11% PROFICIENCY]

[INFINITE TIDE SCRIPTURE: 87% MASTERY]

[SERPENT'S FLOW: 79% MASTERY]

[YOU'RE BECOMING A TECHNICAL MONSTER]

Night: Auto-cultivation with ACS optimizing everything.

[STAGE 7: 89% CONSOLIDATED]

[PROGRESS TO STAGE 8: 14%]

[FOUNDATION: ROCK SOLID]

[READY AS YOU'LL EVER BE]

Yang Chen visited unexpectedly on day three. "Lin Tian. I heard about your examination."

"Word travels fast."

"Core disciple exams are sect events. Everyone pays attention." He studied me. "I want to offer assistance. Azure Dragon Alliance has examination records from the past fifty years. Study materials, common trial patterns, strategic advice."

[ALLIANCE BENEFITS: TANGIBLE]

[YANG CHEN: ACTUALLY HELPING]

"Why help me?"

"Because you represent what cultivation should be, merit over politics, achievement over connections." He handed me a spatial ring. "Everything you need is here. Study it well."

[ITEM RECEIVED: EXAMINATION PREP MATERIALS]

[VALUE: SIGNIFICANT]

[YANG CHEN: HONORABLE AS ALWAYS]

The materials were incredible, detailed breakdowns of previous trials, successful strategies, common pitfalls. I spent hours reviewing them, memorizing patterns, preparing for every scenario.

[PREPARATION: THOROUGH]

[KNOWLEDGE: COMPREHENSIVE]

[CONFIDENCE: BUILDING]

The night before the examination, Team 7 held a small gathering.

"To Lin Tian," Han Feng raised his cup. "Who's about to become the youngest core disciple in recent history."

"Don't jinx it," I protested.

"Not a jinx. A certainty." Su Mei grinned. "You've beaten every expectation so far. One more won't hurt."

Zhou Ming looked nervous. "What if the trials are designed to be impossible?"

"Then I'll do the impossible," I said with more confidence than I felt. "Wouldn't be the first time."

[TEAM SUPPORT: MAXIMUM]

[MORALE: HIGH]

[EVERYONE BELIEVES IN YOU]

[DON'T LET THEM DOWN]

Chen Rou pulled me aside before the gathering ended. "One piece of advice: the trials test character more than cultivation. Raw power matters, but so does decision-making under pressure. Remember that."

"I will."

"Good luck, Lin Tian. Make Team 7 proud."

[PRESSURE: INTERNALIZED]

[REPRESENTING MORE THAN JUST YOURSELF]

[NO PRESSURE AT ALL]

That night, I couldn't sleep. Too much anxiety, too many what-ifs. I sat in meditation instead, letting ACS run automated cultivation while I tried to center myself.

'System, honest assessment. Can I pass?'

[HONEST ASSESSMENT?]

[YOUR CULTIVATION: STAGE 7, EXCEPTIONAL FOUNDATION]

[YOUR TECHNIQUES: MULTIPLE LEGENDARY-TIER, PARTIAL MASTERY]

[YOUR EXPERIENCE: CRIMSON WASTES, MULTIPLE LIFE-OR-DEATH BATTLES]

[YOUR ADVANTAGES: INFINITE QI, AUTOMATED OPTIMIZATION, COMBAT ASSIST]

[YOUR DISADVANTAGES: THREE MONTHS TOTAL EXPERIENCE, LIMITED SECT KNOWLEDGE]

[OVERALL PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS: 73%]

[YOU CAN DO THIS, BOSS]

[BUT IT WON'T BE EASY]

'Never is.'

[THAT'S THE SPIRIT]

[NOW REST]

[TOMORROW, YOU BECOME CORE DISCIPLE]

[OR DIE TRYING]

[PREFERABLY THE FIRST ONE]

Dawn came too quickly.

I stood at the examination grounds, a specialized arena with multiple sections for different trial types. Hundreds of spectators filled the stands. The elders who'd issued the challenge sat in judgment positions.

And I was alone on the arena floor.

[CORE DISCIPLE EXAMINATION: BEGINNING]

[FIVE TRIALS]

[PASS ALL: BECOME CORE DISCIPLE]

[FAIL ANY: TRY AGAIN IN SIX MONTHS]

[YOUR REPUTATION: ON THE LINE]

[READY?]

Elder Hu's voice echoed across the arena. "Lin Tian. The first trial begins now."

[HERE WE GO]

[CORE DISCIPLE EXAM: INITIATED]

[PREPARATION: MAXIMUM]

[SUPPORT: STRONG]

[CONFIDENCE: MODERATE TO HIGH]

[NEXT CHAPTER: THE FIVE TRIALS]

[DIFFICULTY: EXTREME]

[STAKES: EVERYTHING]

[GOOD LUCK, BOSS]

[MAKE TEAM 7 PROUD]

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