In front of Hui and all the other trial attendees stood a huge pair of red wooden gates. A gigantic steel chain wound around the gates, holding them shut. From the chains hung a complex-looking eight-sided lock, from which a barrier emanated, sealing off the land beyond the gates from anyone’s mental energy or divine sense. Hui closed his eyes and reached toward it, but his mental energy deflected off the barrier, unable to pierce through.

He opened his eyes. The gates blocked off his view, leaving the trial shrouded in mystery. Despite himself, a bit of excitement welled up in him.

Oh boy, a trials! It’s been a while since my last one, and this time, it shouldn’t be too deadly, since it’s simply sect admittance. I wonder if I’ll see any of the classic trials this time? Maybe an aptitude-based trial, or a sect exam? Pill-making, maybe? Or just a classic gauge of one’s spiritual power?

Far overhead, an old man with long hair and a flowing beard descended from the clouds. An old woman stood beside him, bent over with her hands clasped behind her. The two looked down at the gathered cultivators, skimming their eyes over the group.

Hui looked up, his eyes sparkling. Go on. Explain the trials!

The old man cleared his throat. His voice boomed out, loud enough to silence the crowd. Despite his appearance, he had a deep and robust manly voice, energetic and powerful. “Welcome to All-Heavens Sect’s admittance trials. If you hold a token in your hand, you are at least fourth realm cultivators, and have the qualifications to take the first steps toward becoming proud members of All-Heavens Sect.”

The old lady stepped forward. She frowned down at them, her eyes half-shut. “If you wish to become powerful righteous cultivators and protect the peace of the Southern Sect Alliance, you’ve come to the right place! Those of you who hold secret reservations in your heart or evil plans, turn back now, and escape with your lives.”

Ah, well, this is a load of bullshit. Hey, has everyone else gotten tokens? Hui asked, tuning out the two elders’ speeches.

Got one! I just asked a friendly All-Heavens manager. I’m above-board, all the way, Rogue replied.

Mmm, Bai Xue bought two when I mentioned it, Peak Lord mentioned shyly, half-embarrassed, half-proud.

…I stole mine. I thought we’d all have to steal them! Sectgoer said. He paused. Li Xiang… I asked her, but she said she isn’t suited for this kind of task, and I agree. Ultimately, if they ask if we have no reservations in our hearts… Li Xiang couldn’t lie.

Ah. That’s reasonable, Elder Brother, Hui said, nodding.

I did bring Jin Xian, but she’s, uh… hungry.

Hui licked his lips. Try to point her away from us…?

I’ll try, Sectgoer replied.

After a second, Hui startled. I still need to get a token for Zhubi!

He looked around, quickly scanning the crowd around him. Most of the cultivators earnestly listened to the elders’ speech, wanting to put on a good face for their new bosses, not unlike back in my world, Hui thought to himself. Several yawned or fiddled around with their gear and scriptures, not interested in what the elders had to say. Those he disregarded, turning back to the ones watching and listening carefully.

An older man stood near Hui, stroking his beard as he watched the speech. Hui watched him for a moment, but after a few seconds, the man glanced down at Hui.

Not him. He’s a wily old fox, and not paying as much attention to the speech as he’s pretending to be. Hui swept his eyes through the crowd.

A young man nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling and fists clenched. He drank in the elders’ every word, edging closer to the front of the crowd. Despite Hui’s eyes resting on him, he didn’t turn.

Fourth stage. He won’t notice a thing. Hui nodded to himself.

Casually, Hui leaned toward the kid, blocking his way ahead. The kid bumped into his back and stumbled away.

Immediately, Hui turned. He bowed, helping the kid up as he continued to bow. “Ah! My deepest apologies, Fellow Daoist. I didn’t see you there. Please, what can I do to make it up to you?”

“No, no, it’s this cultivator’s fault. I shouldn’t have been so eager,” the kid replied.

Hui adjusted the kid’s robes, putting them back into place. “No, no. Please. Take this.” He pressed a mysterious feather fan he’d only just received from his healing work into the kid’s hands.

The kid looked down at the fan, then up at Hui. He hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll… accept Fellow Daoist’s apology.”

Hui beamed. “Wonderful.” Nodding, he turned back around. Slowly and casually, he let the natural shift of the crowd carry him away from the kid.

Lifting his robes, he glanced at the new token and put a hand on it, quickly transferring it into the node with the other token. Luckily, that kid’s spatial treasure wasn’t locked to his spiritual signature. Ah, to be fair, those locking bags are more expensive. Either way, his token is now mine!

I have no idea what that fan can do, but it’s at the fourth realm. It should be enough to pay for the token. After all, that child is young. If I fail at toppling the sect, he has plenty of time to try to join All-Heavens Sect in the future.

And if I succeed, my conscience will hurt less for not having to slaughter a relatively harmless youth.

Zhubi hissed in Hui’s ear, cocking his head curiously.

“Yes, yes, Zhubi. You’ve got a pass now! You’ll have to take on human form for a while… but it’s for a great cause. The one we’ve been working toward for all this time,” Hui replied, stroking Zhubi’s head.

Zhubi hesitated, then ducked his head, agreeing.

“Good boy. That’s a good snake,” Hui said happily.

Hui looked back up at the elders high above, determination shining in his eyes. Alright. Now we all need to pass the trials. Me, Zhubi, Ying Lin, Sectgoer, Rogue, Peak Lord, Bai Xue, Bai Jingwen, Jin Xian… that’s nine slots right there! If we were getting recruited to be Inner Peak Lords, we’d take all the slots available, and then some!

The elders gestured together. The lock clicked open, the chains unwound, and the gates began to swing open. Hui looked up, paying attention again.

“From this point onward, no one without a token will be able to proceed. Your tokens will record your progress, as well as your rank and skill in each stage. Although we have ten slots open, we may not necessarily accept ten cultivators… you will have to overcome the trials at a suitable level to enter the sect!” the man declared, flicking his beard.

The old lady straightened up and looked down on them. “If you wish to concede, simply lift your token, and we will retrieve you from the trials.”

Zhubi needs his token, now! Hui realized. He glanced around, then looked down at Zhubi. “Are you ready?”

Zhubi nodded.

Hui lifted the snake off his neck. He bent over, momentarily creating a hollow space with his robes for Zhubi to transform in. With a quick flash of white light, Zhubi took on human form. He reached his pudgy hands up toward Hui, and Hui passed one of the tokens to Zhubi, keeping the other for himself.

One of the other cultivators glanced over and startled at the sight of the long-haired child in white robes. “Who brought their son here? This is a place for trials, not for babysitting.”

Zhubi bared his teeth at the man.

The man flinched back. “A demon? How rare.”

“Mmm, that’s right. My friend Zhubi is a demon snake,” Hui explained to the man, smiling gently. Ah… that isn’t true, but it’s better than the man thinking he’s a spirit beast to capture and make his own… or worse, suspecting… well, that Zhubi is yet more than a demon. “As you should well know, senior, one’s chosen appearance has little to do with their power.”

The man gave Zhubi an uncertain look, then harrumphed and turned away.

Hui offered his hand to Zhubi. “Should we go together?”

Zhubi nodded and took Hui’s hand.

Seeing that, the man narrowed his eyes. How is that demon snake not a child? He’s a child in all ways! Can’t even speak… How is that supposed to complete the trials?

The cultivators all rushed toward the opening gates. Hui glanced over his shoulder at Ying Lin, who nodded back. Together, he, Zhubi, and Ying Lin headed toward the gates.

On the far side of the gates, stairs climbed up the mountain, vanishing into the mists high above. Hui grinned. He looked at Ying Lin. “As we climb these stairs, expect to feel increasingly heavy pressure. You’re judged by how many steps you can climb. You’ll have to fight it off with all your strength and climb as high as you can if you want to succeed.”

Ying Lin’s brows furrowed. She licked her lips, glancing at Hui from the corner of her eyes.

“What is it?” Hui asked.

Abruptly, she jolted ahead of Hui. “Ah! I can’t wait to try the stairs. I’ll see you at the top, Master!”

“Right! Don’t go too fast, Ying Lin!” Hui called after her, but she’d already vanished.

Hui looked at Zhubi, who shrugged back at him. Hui shook his head. “Kids these days.”

Oh well, it’s good for her to be enthusiastic! I’ll cheer her on from behind as I take it nice and slow.

Zhubi hissed back at Hui, swishing his hair behind him.

A few of the cultivators bounced off the barrier at the gate, including the young man Hui had robbed. The young man looked around, completely lost, then reached into his storage, searching for his pass.

Hui felt a twinge of remorse, but quickly suppressed it. I’m sorry, but it’s all for the good of the world! He turned away, hurrying up the stairs while leading Zhubi by the hand.