Zhan Lu extended his hand to Shen Yue with a smile and greeted him, "I am Zhan Lu, and this is Mei Hua by my side. It's a pleasure to meet both of you." Shen Yue returned the smile and started walking alongside Zhan Lu, while Mei Hua walked with the petite Ming Yue.
Shen Yue continued the conversation, "I don't recognize your uniforms; you're not from Starfall Peak, are you?" Mei Hua replied before Zhan Lu, "We are from outside the Peak, actually, quite far away." With a surprised expression, Shen Yue smiled and responded, "No need to worry, many people come from distant places as well. The initiation ceremony is a great opportunity to make a living, especially during this time of armistice."
The four of them continued walking until they finally reached the grand gate, which resembled towering arches. This was the beginning of their great crossing. Shen Yue noticed the expressions on Zhan Lu and Mei Hua's faces and reassured them with a smile, "Don't worry, this bridge can only be crossed by our kind. It's almost like a test."
The issue was that Zhan Lu couldn't cross, and Mei Hua appeared to be similarly hindered. They exchanged a perplexed look, and Zhan Lu was the first to whisper, "The runes, let's use them." Mei Hua quickly nodded in agreement. With the subtlety of an artist crafting the air itself, they stepped onto runes instead of the bridge, rendering their movements imperceptible. In doing so, they successfully traversed the bridge, yet Zhan Lu was breaking into a cold sweat, having never remained suspended on runes for such an extended period. Mei Hua, aware of this, observed him closely.
Shen Yue and Ming Yue remained oblivious to their companions' subtle methods, as they too employed their own tricks to cross the bridge. This stood in stark contrast to the other newcomers who genuinely stepped onto the bridge itself.
Zhan Lu cast an unusual look at Mei Hua and whispered to her, "Wasn't this bridge meant for demons only? Isn't it strange that we can cross it?" Zhan Lu had been aware since his early years that he was not a true demon. From his horns to his energy, he was unlike his father or their patriarch. Both he and Mei Hua had to adapt everything to their own versions.
"To be completely honest, I found it strange too. Those two over there didn't step on the bridge either," Mei Hua replied, nodding towards Shen and Ming, who had employed their own methods to traverse the obstacle. However, the matter was set aside as they reached the foot of the colossal staircase.
"Seems like overkill, doesn't it? Do they want me to exhaust myself before even getting there?" Zhan Lu sighed, and Mei Hua smiled alongside Shen and Ming.
"Brother Zhan, most of this grand display is meant to impress newcomers. However, this staircase serves as a significant filter to determine who should and shouldn't ascend. Only the top 500 will be able to join," Shen Yue explained while he crouched, preparing for the steep climb.
"Huh, top 500? It's starting to sound like some kind of Mortal Combat, almost an armageddon," Zhan Lu commented, staring at the pinnacle and uttering some incomprehensible words.
"What's an armageddon, Zhan?" Mei Hua asked with a suspicious squint.
"No idea where that came from." Zhan Lu seemed to gaze beyond, his expression even more enigmatic, as if words had been placed in his mouth. He felt observed but for some reason, still suspicious. He chose to disregard it; it was not the kind of interaction he desired.
"Well, since we have to climb, can't we start already?" Zhan Lu inquired. Shen Yue replied with a sigh, "I wish we could, but we need to wait for the signal to begin our ascent. Do you already have a strategy?"
Zhan Lu smiled and crouched down near his feet, Mei Hua followed suit with a sigh, almost understanding what he was about to do.
"Are you sure about this, Zhan? You know, it could attract attention," Shen heard Mei Hua voice her concern and raised a curious eyebrow. "As our patriarch, what's the point of living if it's not to be lived?" Mei Hua relented, hearing Zhan Lu's words, and began to prepare her feet as well.
For a span of approximately 1 to 2 hours, the novices crossed the bridge, and most of those who had already done so were now engaged in meditation. However, the quartet led by Zhan Lu was an exception. They remained seated together, with Zhan Lu at the center. He wielded a piece of wood that he used to carve intricate designs into his nunchaku, an activity that piqued Shen's curiosity.
Finally, Shen couldn't resist his intrigue and inquired, "Brother Zhan, what are those designs? I don't recognize them from anywhere." Lifting his head from his meticulous work, Zhan Lu replied while continuing to carve, "These serve a particular purpose for me. This one, in particular, will aid me in the ascent, generating impact to hasten my ascent." The petite Ming listened attentively as Zhan Lu explained, her curiosity piqued. She interjected with an innocent query, "Can you draw on my chains as well?"
At the unexpected request, Zhan Lu and Mei Hua exchanged mildly astonished glances. Mei Hua, who had already finished engraving runes onto her steel fans, gently took Ming Yue's chains and agreed with a warm smile. "Of course, let me assist you with that." Mei Hua began to etch runes onto Ming Yue's chains with great care.
Meanwhile, the imposing Shen, brimming with a newfound sense of wonderment, attempted to replicate the design on the ground. Zhan Lu, his eyes reflecting admiration for Shen's interest and aptitude, offered gentle guidance, helping him refine the intricacies of the design.
With a heartfelt smile, Shen voiced his next request, "Brother Zhan, can you also incorporate one of these designs onto my staff?" Zhan Lu readily consented, embodying a spirit of camaraderie and shared knowledge that defined their group.
As resonant toll of a great bell disrupted the meditative silence, awakening most of the newcomers. The quartet was already in motion, their eyes filled with curiosity as they observed the four demons arming themselves. Their actions drew the attention of others, who, unsure of the cause, instinctively reached for their own weapons and blades in a defensive response.
Zhan Lu, sporting a gentle smile, ran a hand over his face before securing his long crimson locks into a voluminous ponytail. He also gripped his nunchaku, preparing for the ascent. Beside him, Mei Hua let out a soft sigh as she watched the quartet take the lead in the climb, thanks to Zhan Lu's initiative. She held her pair of steel fans, one in each hand, and glanced toward Shen and Ming. Shen and Ming, dressed in blue and purple mantles, respectively, with their unique weapons in hand, also smiled, readying themselves. Ming's chains gracefully slithered down her sleeves, almost an extension of her very being, while Shen held his staff erect, embodying perfect control.
A low murmur began to ripple through the crowd, with words floating through the air. "What on earth are they doing? Weapons? Is this supposed to be a challenge?" one of the newcomers inquired as he unsheathed his rapier, attempting to mimic the quartet's preparation. "Perhaps they wish to avoid some sort of conflict. It seems smart, either way," another said, clenching his brass knuckles in his hand.
From above, a commanding voice resonated with great authority, "Today, you are more than a thousand newcomers, but only half of you may reach the summit. Only the first five hundred can enter our sect." These words instilled anxiety in the majority, as they suddenly perceived one another as rivals.
As the starting signal reverberated, Zhan Lu, Mei Hua, Shen Yue, and Ming Yue pounded their weapons against the ground. As if propelled by an impact, they ascended numerous steps in the blink of an eye. Zhan Lu, grinning, intensified his rhythmic strikes against the earth, propelling himself even higher.
Other newcomers also readied themselves, with one particular female newcomer holding what seemed to be a mysterious sphere. Just behind her was a male newcomer gripping a lantern in his hands. His speed appeared incongruous with his movements, making it evident that he utilized his own unique method for ascent. A myriad of newcomers employed their own methods to begin their climb, each determined to secure a coveted spot.
Zhan Lu's face lit up with an infectious smile as he harnessed his momentum, spiraling his body in an exquisite dance. With nunchaku in hand, he struck the steps rhythmically, and the runes responded with a resounding energy that propelled his body upwards. He called this move the "Bullet Jump," a testament to his mastery of the arcane. Not far behind, Mei Hua unleashed the power of her steel fans, slicing through the wind before her, while the fan behind her pushed, shaping her body into a remarkable aerodynamic form. She, too, executed the "Bullet Jump" that Zhan Lu had pioneered.
Slightly further back, Ming Yue elegantly wielded her chains, expertly lashing them against the steps. Thanks to the runes embedded by Mei Hua, each impact carried her gracefully upward. Her brother, Shen Yue, shared the same radiant smile as Zhan Lu while using his staff to ascend the staircase. Though his approach lacked the grace of his companions, it was no less effective.
The quartet's ascent garnered the attention of other newcomers. One of them clutched what appeared to be a staff, and a knowing smile graced their face as they observed the spectacle. Inspired by the quartet's ingenious methods, they decided to imitate them. With the staff's impact on the ground, they too were lifted into the air. This mesmerizing display encouraged many others to attempt similar feats, each adding their own unique flair to the artful ascent, as the harmonious echoes of their methods resonated throughout the great crossing. The bridge, steeped in tradition and mystique, became a canvas upon which the ingenuity of the newcomers painted a vibrant tapestry of skill and creativity.
With a mighty leap, Zhan Lu reached the summit first, his movements swift and graceful as he willed the runic symbols beneath him to disperse into the air. As he touched down, the others descended alongside him, their descent seemingly unaffected by the laws of gravity. Zhan Lu, in a fluid motion, rolled on the ground to soften his landing, while Mei Hua used the very air itself to slow her fall. The two siblings, Shen Yue and Ming Yue, employed their unique techniques, each landing with a controlled elegance.
Following closely behind the quartet, a significant number of newcomers also reached the top of the immense staircase. The atmosphere was charged with a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation.
Zhan Lu, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, couldn't contain his exhilaration. "That was invigorating for me. I hope it was as impactful as our Patriarch intended," he declared, his gaze sweeping over the panorama before him.
Atop the mountain, a breathtaking vista unfolded before Zhan Lu and his companions. The Imperial Demons Sect was unlike anything they had ever seen. A grandeur befitting a demonic stronghold, the sect's headquarters were an intricate fusion of otherworldly beauty and sinister allure.
The architecture was a masterpiece of dark opulence. Towers of obsidian and onyx pierced the heavens, their sharp spires reaching for the sky like clawed fingers. Banners of deep crimson and midnight black fluttered in the wind, bearing symbols of ancient power and lineage. The entire structure seemed to emanate a pulsating energy, an embodiment of the demonic forces that dwelled within.
A vast courtyard, reminiscent of a martial arena, lay before them. The ground, formed of polished black stone, glistened with an eerie sheen. Statues of legendary demon lords, carved from ebony and ivory, watched over the courtyard like silent sentinels. Their cold, unyielding eyes seemed to penetrate the very souls of those who dared to tread upon this hallowed ground.
In the distance, a monumental temple of ebony loomed like an imposing sentinel, its form mirroring the ancient monasteries of legend. Its doors, adorned with intricate runic inscriptions, beckoned the faithful to enter and seek enlightenment. The air was thick with an aura of power, an almost palpable resonance that sent shivers down the spines of the newcomers.
The sky above, though overcast, only added to the mystique of the place. Dark clouds swirled ominously, casting long, dramatic shadows that danced across the landscape. Occasional flashes of eerie, crimson lightning illuminated the scene, infusing it with an otherworldly charm.
As Zhan Lu gazed upon this awe-inspiring spectacle, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of trepidation and anticipation. The Imperial Demons Sect was a place of both beauty and danger, and they were about to embark on a journey that would challenge their very souls.
