Morning seems to come quickly, is there are even fewer people around me to give the concoction to. Being so close to the finish line, many of the groups that stuck around had enough energy just to push on through and finish already.

Most of the people that are left, are those who are too weak and were already relying on the concoction to get this far, or like to be on the safe side, and use the concoction to guarantee that they will make it there without issue and in a larger group.

Things progress without issue and everyone moves toward the goal. Being this close to the goal, there’s much fewer people who I haven’t already seen that need a concoction boost.

By this point, I want to make sure every single person who is made it this far is going to make it over this finish line, on principle.

It would be stupid to get this far and not be able to crossover for any reason, especially with me here.

However, that’s exactly the situation I come across with someone 95% of the way there. And it’s basically by choice.

I see this guy in the distance, who is clearly struggling to move even another step up the stairs. In a way that reminds me of the young man that was part of the trio, he’s dragging himself up the stairs with bloody hands. However, this guy has no one to help him up the rest of the way.

His appearance and demeanor do him no favors, as he looks like the edgy, revenge filled, angry type.

What is surprising, though, is that based on his manner of dress, I have the suspicion a rogue cultivator of some kind has trained him. His body also looks to be in great conditioning, and a quick scan reveals that normally he could make it.

The operative word is normally.

It looks like he’s being afflicted by some kind of poison that is reduced his strength to that of a normal person, one who would normally not be able to make it up.

Luckily, it appears to be a temporary one. Unluckily, he’ll return to normal after the period of the test.

My scan quickly tells me that taking this limiting poison was not a purposeful event, but one that he was tricked into taking. From who or where, I’m not able to discern.

It could be easy to assume that this guy’s backing is just enough that whoever wanted to poison him couldn’t kill him, but could only send a message to this point. Something that could still prevent him from getting into the sect, but not to the point of angering his backing.

Many rogue cultivators in this world have a ‘if you weren’t strong enough to handle a challenge of this level, then it’s your own fault’ mindset. Especially since he could technically make it if he relied on others.

Unfortunately for this guy, the concoction wouldn’t be able to help him because of the poison and might have adverse effects. He seemed to already know this and has refused to take any concoctions.

Wait… no, he was just too stubborn to accept any help and came off arrogantly to anyone who is even of the slight inclination to help him.

And no one wants to deal with that kind of attitude

With that said, I’m still gonna help get this motherfucker up into the finish line. Because there’s no way in hell he’ll be able to make it even by the extended time limit with this method.

My scan isn’t really showing any hidden things that he can use to pull himself through this. So, I’m likely his only chance of getting through.

After watching for a bit more, thinking about how to approach him and using my scan to optimize the approach, I finally walk up to him.

Before I can even say anything, he barks out of rebuke in a rough, raspy voice.

“I don’t know who you are or what you want, but I don’t need your or anybody’s ‘help’.”

I can feel a vein pulse on my forehead, despite my increased body performance.

His voice does falter at the end, as even the strength to speak is leaving him. This eases the feeling in my heart as I reorient myself.

Someone has already poisoned him and from the little I saw with my scan, there’s not much in his life that could be considered kind. It’s no wonder he can’t trust people in this test.

Even I would have a hard time doing that, if I didn’t have the scan to back things up.

I use this train of thought to reinvigorate my empathy and try to put myself in his shoes.

“Look man, both you and I know that there’s no way you can make it up this mountain in time at this pace. There’s no one around watching and no one will care if you make it up here, except any enemies you’ve made.”

He stays silent and keeps crawling at a slow pace.

I wait, but quickly realize the waiting game won’t work with this guy. He will not move from just this.

I can’t help but give a verbal sigh.

“Having someone of your skill not being able to make it up here, when they clearly should be, is a complete travesty. I’m offering you a chance to get up this mountain for no cost.”

He pauses in place for a moment. Slowly, but purposefully, he struggles to turn his head to look at me skeptically.

His words come out low and deep.

“Why would you do this?”

Looking into his eyes and seeing with the conversation scan, he will not accept any bullshit from me.

“… Lot of people consider me weird because of it, but I kind of just like helping people. Take that however you want it.”

I pause and add something else in that I feel is true.

“I do also think it would be wrong for someone that clearly has potential to lose this close to the finish line. And that doesn’t even consider the other people who don’t have as much potential.”

After brooding for a bit longer, he raises his hand. Now I end up lifting him onto my shoulder so we can lean on me.

He says nothing the rest of the way, even as I stopped to help other people who just barely are making it.

Obviously, because of my strength, it’s not hard to carry him and also do these other things.

Even though we could see it a bit far back, as we get closer, the gate of introspection looms over us, marking the end of this exam.

Standing is a giant gate, it seems reminiscent of the Torii gateways found back on earth, but this one has giant doors with etchings of various runes shining out of it. My scan gives me the feeling that these are ancient and forged with the abilities of master smiths and array masters. Despite there not being a wall to the sides of them, I feel that if they were to close, there would be no passing them.

In addition to that, the slightest hint of something more lies under the surface. Something that I can’t place and my scan warns to not probe.

The doors are open to us, but the presence of them is weighty and physically affects me the closer we get. Looking up the stairs becomes difficult.

I notice that no one else seems to have this issue.

My scan gives me the answer why.

Sometimes the slightest knowledge of something gives it the ability to detect and affect you. It is both an assumption of strength and a warning.

It’s why I shouldn’t learn cultivation methods from the scan, even if I could survive the backlash.

Nonetheless, I’m able to pass through the gate, immediately feeling relief when I cross.

I can feel a cultivator’s eyes on me the whole time, but they don’t seem to have noticed my feeling.

There’s the slightest spiritual sense around, but not targeted on me specifically.

It’s common knowledge that this much is allowed to protect the sect. After the tests are done, the social ban goes back up.

A few steps past the gate, the young man I picked up separates himself from me. He says nothing and staggers off. I can feel a pair of eyes looking at him sharply. Another prospective sect member. They seem to move quickly somewhere else, soon after.

I move my mind away from his concerns and continue forward.

Having finally reached the sect grounds, I raise my head to inspect my new home.