Quantum Immortal

After Wuji's performance in the strength test, he stepped off the platform, his heart still beating fast from the exertion. He quietly observed the other candidates as they took their turns, each trying their best to impress the sect elders. The noise of conversation and cheering from the crowd filled the air, but it all faded into the background when a slight murmur spread through the audience.

Wuji looked up, curious about what had caused the sudden hush. His eyes fell on the boy now standing on the platform, his posture confident and his gaze focused. Wuji recognized him immediately.

Zhao Shan.

The heir to the Zhao family, one of the four great noble families in Silverbrook City. There was a certain air of authority around him, a natural calmness that seemed to demand attention without effort. As he stepped up to the boulder, the audience fell completely silent, waiting to see what the young heir was capable of.

“Zhao Shan,” Wuji whispered to himself, eyes narrowing in focus.

Zhao Shan's expression was neutral, almost bored, as if this was a routine task for him. Without a word or even a display of effort, he bent down, gripped the boulder, and lifted it with ease, as though it were nothing more than a small stone. The runes on the boulder began to glow immediately, brighter and brighter as the weight increased. Yet, Zhao Shan showed no sign of struggle, no twitch of effort on his face.

The boulder’s weight kept increasing, but Zhao Shan continued to hold it effortlessly. The crowd was in awe. Five minutes passed, and still, the heir of the Zhao family stood there, the boulder suspended in the air as if he could have held it all day. Finally, with a slight smile on his lips, Zhao Shan placed the boulder back down, his movements graceful and controlled. Not a single bead of sweat had formed on his brow.

As he walked off the platform, the crowd began to whisper again.

Wuji watched Zhao Shan closely as the boy smiled faintly and strolled back toward a group of other candidates, his gaze lingering for a moment on a young girl standing at the edge of the arena.

It was Qin Yulan, the heir of the Qin family—another one of the four great noble families. Qin Yulan was elegant, and poised, her long black hair flowing in the breeze as she stepped onto the platform after Zhao Shan.

Her appearance alone was enough to draw attention. There was an aura about her that set her apart from the others—a confidence that came not from arrogance, but from a deep, quiet strength. She didn’t waste any time. Like Zhao Shan, she walked to the boulder and lifted it with minimal effort.

The runes on the boulder glowed brighter and brighter as the weight increased. Six minutes passed, then seven, and still, she held it with ease. By the time she finally set the boulder down, nearly eight minutes had gone by, and not a single drop of sweat appeared on her face.

A few of the elders nodded approvingly, while others smiled, clearly impressed by her calm display of strength. However, there were some elders whose expressions remained cold, sneering at the obvious display of noble talent.

Wuji stood there, stunned. "They lifted it for so long," he thought. "And they didn’t even break a sweat."

Wuji had managed to lift the boulder for only two minutes, yet here were Zhao Shan and Qin Yulan, easily surpassing him without showing any signs of fatigue. The realization hit him hard—these two were on a completely different level. They had clearly started cultivating already, and Wuji couldn’t help but feel the gap between them.

"But why would they want to join a sect?" Wuji wondered, his mind racing. "They’re already cultivating. Noble families don’t need to join sects for cultivation techniques—they have their own techniques, and switching techniques midway is dangerous for their foundation."

The thought gnawed at Wuji, sparking a new level of curiosity. "What is it that the sects offer that the four great noble families don’t? Why are Zhao Shan and Qin Yulan here?"

After the incredible displays by Zhao Shan and Qin Yulan, the following candidates seemed lackluster in comparison. Their performances, though commendable, paled in comparison to the heirs of the Zhao and Qin families. There was, however, one candidate who stood out—a burly boy named Wei Jun. He managed to lift the boulder for nearly four minutes, drawing the attention of several sect elders who nodded in approval.

Once the strength test was completed, the results were announced. Wuji felt a knot in his stomach as he looked up at the black stele, where the names and scores were being updated.

Wuji’s score appeared first: 77 points. He sighed in relief. While it wasn’t exceptional, it was a solid score, and it pushed his rank up from 7007 to 4070. His token still showed the same number—7007—but it was clear that this number was for taking the tests, not his overall rank.

He scanned the stele for the top performers. Qin Yulan had earned a perfect score of 100 points, securing the first rank. Zhao Shan followed close behind with 91 points, placing him second. Wei Jun, the burly boy, took third with 87 points.

Wuji clenched his fists, feeling a mixture of determination and frustration. "I can’t fall behind," he thought. "I’ve worked too hard to get here."

But even as he resolved to push himself further, Wuji couldn’t shake the thought of Zhao Shan and Qin Yulan. Their strength, their calmness, their presence—it was clear that they were here for something more than just the sects' techniques. He would need to keep a close eye on them.

As the strength test concluded, the crowd murmured with excitement about the next trial—the agility test. Sect disciples moved swiftly, removing the boulders from the arena and placing new artifacts at the far end of the grounds. One particular disciple, wearing the robes of the Silent Moon Sect, caught Wuji’s eye as he carried the massive boulder off the platform without much effort.

A large artifact was placed at the end of the arena, a complicated device inscribed with runes that Wuji couldn’t decipher from his distance. The elder overseeing the test raised his hand, and with a subtle gesture, a formation lit up on the ground.

In an instant, obstacles appeared, forming a twisting path across the arena floor. The agility test had begun.

“For the agility test,” the elder announced, “candidates will need to cross the arena, navigating the obstacles while avoiding orbs that will be shot from the artifact at the far end. The speed of the orbs will increase the closer you get to the finish line. You will be graded on how swiftly and skillfully you complete the course. Groups of ten candidates will take the test at the same time.”

Wuji felt his pulse quicken as he surveyed the obstacle course. The path ahead was filled with pitfalls, narrow walkways, and sharp turns. The orbs would add another layer of danger, making the test as much about reflexes and adaptability as speed.

"This will be tough," Wuji thought, his mind already calculating the best strategies to dodge the orbs and move swiftly through the course.

As the first group of candidates stepped forward, Wuji’s focus sharpened. He knew this test would be crucial—he couldn’t afford to fall too far behind in the rankings. His heart raced, but his mind was calm. He would give it everything he had.