Perfect World: Only I Am Eternal

The plaza stretched vast, dominated by the towering crystalline stele, its surface shimmering with specks of light. Countless beings gathered, each radiating valor and grace.

Prodigies from various clans stood eager, brimming with spirit, itching to make the stele blaze with the brightest glow, to prove their talent surpassed ancient sages and etch their names in history.

"I'll go first!"

A shy girl stepped forward, her voice soft and sticky, her delicate demeanor stirring protective instincts.

But as she ascended the platform, a transformation swept over her. Runes flared across her body, glowing brilliantly. Her face turned resolute, like a goddess of war.

She aimed to test her aptitude, hoping to join the Heaven Mending Sect. Pouring everything into her strike, she unleashed her full potential, charging the stele.

Divine energy radiated like falling rain. With a boom, her strongest blow struck, shaking the hundreds-of-zhang-tall stele, the sound reverberating.

"Let it glow red…" she whispered, retreating, eyes shut, praying inwardly.

Buzz!

The ancient stele flickered, emitting a green glow laced with faint red threads, bathing the plaza in vibrant light, as if life itself surged, all things vying to thrive.

"Pity. It's tinged with red—another step, and she'd have joined directly," a Heaven Mending Sect elder, stationed nearby, sighed.

Hearing this, the girl opened her misty eyes, her excitement fading to disappointment, a trace of reluctance lingering.

So close. If only I'd worked harder.

"Don't lose heart, young lady. You did well. Come back next year for recruitment—you'll surely pass!" the elder comforted.

"Indeed. Those who meet this stele's entry threshold are geniuses in our sect, rare and exceptional. Don't feel burdened," another white-haired elder said calmly.

The crowd exhaled in relief. If every Heaven Mending Sect disciple met this stele's minimum, it'd be suffocating, making them feel utterly inadequate.

"Thank you, seniors!" The girl descended the platform slowly.

Another stepped up—a golden-haired youth of fifteen or sixteen, not human, clad in golden feather robes, even his shoes matching, exuding nobility and beauty. Wings sprouted from his back, his confidence palpable.

He strode onto the platform, his steps glowing, each one powerful, like a tiger or dragon. Without hesitation, he unleashed his strongest strike, clean and decisive.

Boom!

A surge of majestic aura swept over, forcing many to stagger back. The crowd gasped, stunned by this formidable young prodigy, outshining most present.

"Look, it's red!" someone shouted.

The rustic stele blazed with blood-red light, dazzling and vivid, painting the area as if a crimson moon had descended.

"Wait, there's purple in the red! Is it ascending to another level?" someone gasped, eyes wide.

When the stele's glow shifted to a higher color, it signaled greater talent and immense future potential, destined to become a renowned powerhouse.

Even the Heaven Mending Sect elders turned, eyes widening. They knew what this stele's test signified.

Red light promised divinity; purple hinted at sect-master-level potential; gold was higher, its limits unfathomable.

Yet, the purple stopped short, not fully overtaking the red, the two colors flickering in tandem.

"Just shy. If it were pure purple, he'd be a true disciple," one elder remarked.

Still, it was remarkable. This golden youth was all but guaranteed divinity, and with further opportunities and transformations, he could go even farther.

The stele's test was a prediction, not an absolute. Some bloomed late, surging past those once deemed more gifted.

"Will you join the Heaven Mending Sect?" the elder asked.

A fine seedling, not quite a true disciple, but worthy of focused training and access to sect-defining techniques.

"Absolutely!" the youth replied without hesitation.

The Heaven Mending Sect, renowned across the Three Thousand Provinces, boasted countless powerhouses and awe-inspiring abilities—a coveted destination.

An elder handed him a token, instructing him to wait for an escort to the sect's core.

The crowd buzzed with amazement. Gaining entry so swiftly, bypassing tedious trials, sparked envy for his talent.

"I want to test my aptitude and join too!" a man in his twenties declared, inspired by the success.

But, disappointingly, despite nearing the Venerable Realm, he couldn't make the stele glow fully red, falling short of direct entry.

"The stele considers age, realm, and potential, blending them to produce the glow," an elder explained. "Its runes enter the body, probing bloodline, bones, and comprehension. Higher strength alone isn't enough—age and other factors matter.

Even at the Blood Transformation Realm, if one's young enough and surpasses past sages in that stage, the stele could shine red, purple, or gold."

More tested, only to face crushing defeat. Tribal or clan geniuses dimmed here, realizing the vastness of the world and the rarity of joining a great sect without exceptional talent.

"Don't be discouraged. This tests those aiming to join as top prodigies. Falling short doesn't mean you're lacking. Come back for next year's recruitment—green glows are usually enough to join," the elder said.

The crowd felt some relief. As elites in their clans, this soothed their battered confidence.

"Anyone else want to try?"

Hundreds had gathered, most having tested, but only a few passed, all from great clans with deep foundations, nurtured from youth.

"Little brother, here to test too?" Someone noticed Lin Fan, barely waist-high.

"No, big brother, just watching!" Lin Fan grinned innocently, shaking his head. With so many eyes, he didn't want to draw attention.

He was confident he could make the stele glow red or higher—a prime genius's rightful belief. Joining the Heaven Mending Sect wouldn't be hard.

The crowd chuckled, dismissing him as just a five- or six-year-old, no longer paying heed.

Hours later, the crowd dispersed, leaving the plaza quiet. Only Lin Fan and a white-haired elder remained, the other, younger elder having escorted the golden youth to the sect.

Lin Fan's short legs scurried up the platform. Compared to the hundreds-of-zhang stele, he was an ant.

"Little one, testing?" The elder peered, intrigued. This was the youngest he'd seen attempt, a year younger than their saintess.

"Yes, grandpa!" Lin Fan said politely.

"Go ahead, but be careful not to hurt yourself," the elder said casually, closing his eyes, unconcerned. The stele had no barriers—anyone could try.

Lin Fan circled the stele, studying it. Its metallic texture baffled him—what material was it?

Standing before it, he braced his legs, gathering strength. His body glowed, vital energy surging, a blood dragon coiling above his head, roaring like thunder.

"This vital energy…" The elder's eyes snapped open, disbelief etched on his face.

"Ha!"

Lin Fan roared, his voice deafening. He unleashed all his power, arm swinging, striking the stele with a boom that shook it.

Runes from the stele entered him, resonating.

In that moment, golden divine light erupted skyward, radiant and dazzling, like a blazing sun flooding the heavens, too bright to behold.

Golden light, blazing and supreme!

Golden lotuses descended from the void, accompanied by vibrant immortal rays, engulfing the plaza.

"What's happening?"

The city trembled, golden light blanketing the region, visible to all, leaving them stunned. The heavenly omens were unforgettable.

"Who is that?"

"Defying the heavens! A peerless prodigy has emerged?"

"Let's go see!"

"It's the highest gold light… even grander than the saintess's, with omens shaking the world!"