So, this was xianxia.

Kalstein smirked to himself, piecing together the clues.

‘Xianxia, huh...’

His eyes gleamed with curiosity.

It made sense—given the sheer scale and grandeur of these massive continents, it was no surprise their fantasies revolved around boundless, celestial power. While he wasn’t entirely familiar with the genre, he knew enough to grasp the basics.

If sci-fi embodied the pinnacle of collective might and technology, then xianxia stood as the ultimate tribute to individual transcendence and supremacy.

“Alright, let’s see what this world has to offer.”

“By the way, your clothes are… unusual.”

“Hm?”

Kalstein glanced down at himself.

His sleek black bodysuit, faintly shimmering with a barely visible pattern of blue circuits, stood out like a sore thumb.

Ah.

He had chosen his lightest gear for this dive, assuming he wouldn’t be doing much physical work. As a result, the only equipment he brought was this basic suit.

The suit could transform into something more fitting, of course. But doing so would draw even more attention than it already did.

Noticing Kalstein’s pause, the bald middle-aged man beside him chuckled.

“I get it. That outfit must be part of your effort to catch the Sages’ attention, huh? You’re not the first to try something bold!”

What a forgiving man, Kalstein mused.

‘I’ll change into something appropriate when I get the chance.’

Walking alongside the bald man, Kalstein eventually arrived at a vast clearing.

“Line up! Stay in line!”
“What are you doing there? Get in formation!”
“Stand straight!”
“Do you want to be kicked out?”
“Hurry up!”

Dozens of martial artists, clad in blue uniforms marked with intricate patterns, were organizing the throng.

“Are those the Sages?” Kalstein asked casually.

The bald man nearly choked, holding a finger to his lips in panic.

“Shh! Don’t say things like that out loud. You’ll get struck by lightning!”

“Those are the ones sent by the Great Azure Sage. They’re here to keep things in order. I guess they expected a massive turnout.”

Kalstein raised an eyebrow. “That’s not the only reason, is it?”

Sure enough, those who arrived by luxurious carriages were treated far differently. They were escorted courteously by the Azure Sage’s martial artists. Meanwhile, the common people who dared step out of line were beaten mercilessly with clubs.

“Not standing properly?”

Thwack. Thwack.

“Urgh! Gah!”

Kalstein kept a low profile, blending into the crowd.

Eventually, a man who appeared to be the overseer stepped onto a raised platform.

“I am the overseer for today’s selection process. Follow instructions carefully.”

The man, a towering figure with a long beard, exuded arrogance as he stroked his whiskers. His flowing robes and lofty demeanor gave him an aura that might remind one of a Sage.

“Oh, is that a Sage?”

“No!” The bald man quickly corrected him. “That’s just the person in charge of the first trial. Did you think meeting a real Sage would be this easy?”

The first trial was soon announced.

“Do you see that peak?” the overseer bellowed, pointing to a distant, towering mountain. “You must reach it. It won’t be as easy as it seems.”

Though the peak appeared within reach, it became clear why this trial was no simple feat once they began the climb.

“Wait! Slow down! How are you so fast?”

The bald man wheezed, zigzagging clumsily up the trail, while Kalstein strolled leisurely with his hands behind his back.

“It’s a wonder he’s even moving forward at all.”

Most of the participants were in similar predicaments, stumbling and veering off course like blind men groping in the dark.

‘A formation? An illusion, perhaps?’

Kalstein suspected the entire mountain path was cloaked in a disorienting array. However, it seemed to have no effect on him.

“Just hurry up already,” he called to the bald man, who groaned in protest.

Occasionally, Kalstein had to physically pull the man along to keep him moving.

By the time Kalstein reached the peak, the trial overseer was visibly surprised.

“You’ve already made it?”
“Congratulations. You’ve passed the first trial. Wait over there.”

Kalstein noticed that, even among the throng of struggling climbers, a few individuals managed to walk relatively straight paths. Then there were the wealthy-looking boys and girls from the carriages, who bypassed the trial entirely by taking specific, marked routes.

“Ha! If it weren’t for the Great Azure Sage’s intervention, those fools would still be wandering in circles.”
“Well, I wouldn’t have had trouble with this anyway.”
“Then why don’t you prove it?”
“…No need to waste my time.”

‘So, even xianxia has its share of corruption.’

Kalstein shrugged. It wasn’t his problem.

Those who passed began to take interest in Kalstein.

“Is it true you were the top performer in the first trial?”
“What’s your secret?”
“What do your parents do?”

Kalstein, disinterested in idle chatter, waved them off, earning some scorn in return.

“Arrogant bastard.”
“Stay out of my sight. If we meet again under the Wugong Mountain, don’t expect to walk away unscathed!”
“Hmph!”
“A commoner with no backer? Know your place!”

Despite these annoyances, Kalstein passed both the second and third trials with similar ease.

By the end of the third trial, only a few hundred participants remained.

While Kalstein found the process laughably easy, he had to admit the trials succeeded in filtering out the unworthy. Those who remained exuded a certain level of physical and mental resilience.

“Follow me,” a martial artist barked. “We must prepare you to meet the Sage.”

Kalstein and the others were escorted to a camp, where they were bathed, dressed in ceremonial robes, and drilled in etiquette until they were deemed ready.

At last, they stood on a wide plateau at the mountain’s peak, where an altar had been erected.

A priestess began to dance around the altar, chanting softly. She opened a jar and scattered black powder onto the altar, causing blue flames to flare up.

Fwoosh.

Everyone, as instructed, stood at attention, heads bowed, eyes on the ground.

The flames grew taller as thick mist enveloped the area. Through the fog, faint beams of light shimmered, creating an almost divine atmosphere.

‘What a flashy entrance.’

Kalstein yawned.

‘Shouldn’t Sages embody simplicity? This feels over the top.’

The priestess’s chanting grew louder, echoing across the plateau. The flames flared higher, and the mist parted dramatically.

From within the blazing blue fire, an elderly figure emerged—a man with the aura of a hermit, yet exuding immense presence.

Kalstein’s eyes narrowed.

‘Finally, a real Sage.’

His gaze scanned the figure.

Ether?

***

What is this?

While the crowd stared at the elder with awe and reverence, Kalstein’s expression was one of calm curiosity, his gaze sharper and more focused than the others.

The elder, catching Kalstein’s peculiar look, felt a slight sting to his pride.

How dare he? After all the effort I’ve put into this ceremony, that’s the look I get?

Still, the elder suppressed his irritation. It wouldn’t be in line with the purpose of this event to lash out at someone simply for having a defiant gaze. The goal was to find talented individuals, not crush them underfoot.

“Well then, welcome to all of you,” the elder’s deep voice echoed, reaching every ear in the clearing.

“Step forward one by one and extend your arm.”

The elder raised a hand, his movements slow but brimming with authority, as a faint wave of energy swept forward.

The first in line, a young boy, was abruptly pulled forward against his will.

“Huh?! Wait—!”

The boy stumbled, his arm thrust outward by the invisible force.

The elder extended a finger, sending a thread of energy snaking toward the boy’s arm. The energy coursed through his body before converging on a small stone in the elder’s hand.

The result?

Nothing.

The stone remained utterly inert.

The elder waved his arm dismissively, and the boy was pushed aside, replaced by a trembling girl.

The same process repeated.

The girl, too, was scanned by the elder’s energy. The result was the same. The stone didn’t react, and she was moved aside.

Both children, realizing they hadn’t even qualified as candidates, felt a cold despair. Yet they couldn’t voice their frustration or move freely, bound by the elder’s power.

One after another, hundreds of people were tested.

Thud.
Thud.

Rejections piled up as the elder’s face grew more indifferent.

“Ah, what a shame.”
“Next.”
“Disappointing.”

Finally, a breakthrough came.

“Hmm... this one.”

The elder’s tone changed as the stone in his hand began to glow faintly.

“Hah…!”

The boy who had been tested looked at the elder in disbelief, his face lighting up with joy.

“It’ll take time,” the elder said, stroking his beard, “but if fortune smiles on you, you might achieve greatness.”

The boy was freed from the binding energy and allowed to move. The elder pointed to a spot nearby.

“Wait over there.”

“Yes! Yes, sir! Thank you!”

The boy nearly tripped over himself in excitement as he ran to the designated area, clenching his fists tightly.

Finally, I’m going to become a Sage! Mom, Dad, you’ll be so proud!

The atmosphere among the remaining participants grew electric. The sight of someone succeeding reignited hope in their hearts.

Kalstein, however, was intrigued for a different reason.

“Interesting. It’s not exactly the same, but it’s definitely ether. Its density is low, but the structure is remarkably organized. Such precise ether flow… fascinating.”

His eyes sparkled as he studied the elder’s technique.

As the testing continued, more candidates emerged.

The second to pass was a calm young girl who had arrived by carriage.

“Ah, what a gift from the heavens,” the elder declared. “Such talent is destined for greatness.”

The girl’s cheeks flushed momentarily, but she quickly composed herself, stepping to the side with quiet grace.

By the time Kalstein’s turn came, three more candidates had been selected, including one particularly surprising case.

“It’ll take a stroke of fortune,” the elder said, “but it’s not impossible.”

“Really? Truly?!”

The elder didn’t answer, merely gesturing with his chin toward the waiting area.

The recipient of his rare approval? The bald middle-aged man Kalstein had accompanied earlier.

The sight left Kalstein baffled.

Seriously? He would’ve failed the first trial if I hadn’t helped him! So those earlier trials really were just for show.

Finally, it was Kalstein’s turn.

A peculiar thread of ether shot out from the elder, snaking toward Kalstein’s body.

The moment it made contact, the elder’s eyes widened.

What?!

Kalstein felt a ripple in the air as the elder’s energy probed him, but his expression remained calm.

The elder’s brows furrowed deeply, his hand trembling ever so slightly as he tried to comprehend what he was sensing.

Impossible…!

Kalstein raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Now what could have shocked him so much?