The smell inside the carriage was obviously not pleasant, which was no surprise given that a cabin originally meant for only about fifteen people had now been crowded with nearly thirty children. Although children are generally much smaller in stature than adults, they still made the interior feel extremely congested. Han Li, being quick-witted, tucked his slender frame into a corner of the carriage and quietly observed the other children inside. The children attending the entrance examination clearly fell into three distinct groups based on their attire and backgrounds. The first group consisted of young men dressed in richly embroidered garments sitting at the center of the carriage, surrounded by most of the other children. This boy was named Wu Yan, aged thirteen—he was the oldest among all the children in the carriage. Although his age had surpassed the prescribed limit, he enjoyed a familial advantage: his elder sister was married into one of the powerful families within the Seven Perfection Sect. As a result, the issue of his age became irrelevant. The Wu family operated a martial arts academy and was quite affluent; from an early age, Wu Yan had trained in some basic martial skills, though not particularly proficient. Still, he easily managed to handle children like Han Li—someone with only ordinary physical strength and no formal training at all. Clearly, figures such as Wu Yan—who came from well-off families with influence and who possessed a few martial arts skills—had naturally become de facto "big brothers" to the majority of the other children in the carriage. The second group consisted of those children gathered around Wu Yan. These children hailed from diverse backgrounds—some ran small shops, others worked as laborers, and some earned their living through craftsmanship—and shared one common trait: they had grown up in towns, where they naturally picked up skills such as reading people’s expressions and acting with a keen sense of self-interest. As a result, these children frequently addressed Wu Yan as either "Wu Young Lord" or "Wu Brother," a title that had become increasingly familiar to him and clearly brought him great comfort. The third group was precisely Han Li's own category—children from remote, impoverished villages who relied on the natural resources of their surrounding mountains and rivers for livelihood. These children were among the fewest in number, only about five or six in total; they often appeared hesitant, afraid to speak loudly, merely watching others laugh and chatter freely, forming a sharp contrast with the more boisterous group of younger children. The carriage departed from Qingniu Town and journeyed westward, stopping at several towns along the way and picking up additional children. Eventually, after five days of travel, it arrived in Ci Xia Mountain—the headquarters of the Seven Perfection Sect—at dusk. As soon as everyone disembarked, they were deeply enchanted by the breathtaking view of the colorful sunset on Ci Xia Mountain. It wasn't until Wang Huafu gently urged them that they began to regroup and continue their journey. Ci Xia Mountain was originally known as Lu Feng Mountain. According to legend, a five-colored phoenix once landed here and transformed into this mountain. Later, visitors noticed how exceptionally beautiful the mountain appeared during sunset—like being draped in a cascade of colorful clouds—and thus it came to be renamed Ci Xia Mountain. Of course, since the Seven Perfection Sect had established control over the mountain, outsiders could no longer freely enjoy such scenic vistas. Ci Xia Mountain is the second-largest mountain in Jingzhou Province after Bai Mang Mountain. It spans an extensive area, with its mountain ranges extending for several miles across a wide region. The mountain boasts numerous peaks—dozens of them—all of which are particularly rugged and strategically significant. These have been fully occupied by various branches of the Seven Perfection Sect. Even more impressive is Lu Ri Peak—the main summit—whose terrain is exceptionally steep and lofty, accessible only through a single winding path from base to peak. Since the Seven Perfection Sect established its central hall here, it has set up thirteen outposts—at varying levels of visibility—strategically positioned at key points along this narrow route—to ensure absolute security and unwavering vigilance. While walking alongside the group, Han Li observed the people ahead of him as they moved forward. Suddenly, the procession halted, and a hearty voice rang out from the front. "Brother Wang," said the person leading the group, "how late you've come! It's been two days beyond our scheduled time." "Master Yue," responded Wang Huafu, standing respectfully before an elderly man with a red face, who had previously seemed impatient and formal on the journey. Now, he bowed gracefully, smiling warmly. "What is this batch of disciples—the seventeenth one?" "Yes, it’s the seventeenth batch," replied Wang Huafu. "Good!" said Master Yue, surveying Han Li and his companions with a composed air. "Send them to Qing Ke Courtyard so they can rest overnight. Begin the selection process tomorrow morning. Those who fail should be dismissed promptly to avoid any breach of protocol on the mountain." "Understood, Master Yue." As the group ascended the stone steps leading up to the mountain, all the children were filled with excitement, yet none dared speak loudly—though they were still young, everyone understood that this place would determine their future. Wang Huafu led the way with a warm smile, greeting people along the path. It was evident he had many connections within the sect and an excellent reputation among its members. Most of those encountered wore garments made of green silk, some carrying swords or shields while others simply held weapons in their hands—many of them carried bundles or scrolls tucked securely at their waists. Their graceful movements and confident stances clearly indicated that they possessed solid martial skills. Han Li’s group was eventually brought to a smaller mountain peak where several modest cottages were located on the summit. There, Han Li and his companions stayed overnight. During the night, Han Li dreamed vividly: he was dressed in fine robes, holding a golden sword, wielding an extraordinary martial skill that enabled him to defeat not only a village blacksmith’s son—someone he had always struggled to outperform—but did so with great dignity and triumph. He remained deeply impressed even upon waking up the next morning. In the morning, Wang Huafu didn’t serve breakfast; instead, he led everyone directly to a sweeping slope covered in bamboo groves at the foot of the mountain. There, Master Yue and several other young people who had already been introduced yesterday were waiting for them.