As the sun began to lower in the sky, its golden light reflected off the polished tiles of the arena. A silence swept through the crowd as one final shimmer of light rose above Gao Tian's cauldron.
A perfectly round pill floated gently upward, glowing with soft silver-blue radiance. It spun once in the air before landing in Gao Tian's hand. Light rippled across its surface in faint rings — nine in total.
"A Second-Tier Perfect Heaven Ascension Pill," he muttered.
Low-grade, but more than enough for this World. He thought, Looking at pillar in his hand
With a flick of his sleeve, he dropped the pill into the tray held by the Pill Tower attendant in front of him. She paused for a moment, looking up at him with a complicated expression.
How can someone at Foundation Establishment refine a pill like this? she thought, before turning away and walking toward the judges' platform with the tray in hand.
All across the arena, other candidates began completing their pills — some with pride, some with regret. Flames were extinguished, cauldrons cooled. It was over.
Tong Lin's voice rang out through the arena.
"Time's up! Everyone, place your completed pills into the tray before you, held by the Pill Tower assistant."
The rustle of robes filled the arena as dozens of candidates stepped forward to place their pills. The air buzzed with tension.
Gao Tian folded his arms and watched quietly.
Refining pills still feels annoying… but manageable.
High above the crowd, Sen Zhuo and Tong Men floated down onto the stage like two celestial envoys. Their robes fluttered, their expressions unreadable. They moved from tray to tray, carefully examining each pill. Occasionally they nodded, sometimes they frowned. Whispered discussions passed between them.
Sen Zhuo leaned over and muttered something into Tong Men's ear. Tong Men gave a light nod, then whispered again, this time to Tong Lin.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation. Everyone knew who the winner would be, but curiosity burned in their eyes.
Tong Lin raised the microphone again.
"The judges have come to a decision. I will now announce the top three of this first round!"
A beat of silence.
"First place… Gao Tian!"
The arena erupted into thunderous cheers. Cries of surprise and awe echoed from every corner.
"Who is he?!"
"I've never heard of Gao Tian before!"
"Isn't there a Gao Clan somewhere? Could he be from there?"
"No idea. But that wasn't just talent — that was monstrous!"
Tong Lin raised his hand again.
"Second place… Shu Yu!"
Another wave of applause rang out. Heads turned toward the girl with the calm, distant expression. Her golden-brown flames had left a deep impression on all who saw them.
"And third… Ao Kan!"
The crowd gasped.
"Ao Kan? The cultivator from the Ao Clan?"
"I thought he was a Spirit Weapon refiner, not a pill master!"
"Looks like the Ao Clan came prepared this year."
In the arena, Shu Yu clenched her fists. Her eyes remained forward, but a faint red traced her cheeks. She'd refined a high-grade pill with her clan's ancestral flame — and still placed second.
Before her temper could spark, Gao Tian appeared beside her, grinning sheepishly.
"Hey… second place isn't bad, right?" he said in a light tone.
Shu Yu turned slightly to glance at him.
"You just got lucky."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
She rolled her eyes but didn't say more.
The cheers from the crowd grew louder as the top three stood under the fading sunlight.
Wai City – Gao Residence – Evening
In a quiet guest room of the Gao Residence, Gu Ye — the second body of Gao Tian — sat cross-legged in the lotus position, his aura calm and steady. A faint pulse of energy radiated from his body as he cultivated in silence. The spirit energy of the surroundings flowed slowly into him like gentle rivers.
Suddenly, a sharp noise echoed from outside.
Gu Ye's eyes snapped open.
Something's wrong.
He rose swiftly, his movements fluid and precise, and stepped out of the guest room. The sky above Wai City had darkened, but it wasn't just the fading sun — a chilling pressure filled the air.
The courtyard was already abuzz with activity. Shouts, bursts of energy, and the unmistakable hum of spiritual weapons filled the atmosphere.
Gu Ye took to the air instantly, and his seven guardians followed behind him without hesitation. The night sky glowed faintly from the light of their techniques.
Above the residence, seven figures in black robes hovered silently. Their faces were hidden behind bone-white masks, each etched with the number 8 in bold crimson on the forehead. Their robes fluttered in the wind, and their presence radiated cold killing intent.
The seven assassins stood without a leader. Each was their own master, and each one held a cultivation at the Nascent Soul Realm – Third Layer.
Facing them were Gu Ye and the Seven Guardians. Though the guardians' cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul Realm – Second Layer, their formation was solid and sharp. And above all — Gu Ye stood at their center, a stabilizing force.
Though Gu Ye himself was only at the Body Tempering Realm – Ninth Layer, his aura did not lose to any of them. His presence was calm, but beneath that stillness was something else — a deeper force waiting to be awakened.
He narrowed his eyes at the masked attackers.
"So they've come again," he murmured, voice low. "But this time… I'm ready."
—
Somewhere in the Dragon Continent — Shadowy Grand Hall
The atmosphere was oppressive. Dark pillars loomed around the hall like ancient guardians, and blood-red torches lined the walls, their flames flickering without warmth.
At the center, Tianlei Fei sat on a black throne carved from obsidian and dragon bones. His face was unreadable, but his eyes burned with fury.
Before him, two masked cultivators knelt with their heads bowed low. Their faces were hidden, their robes soaked in sweat. The only visible markings were crimson 3 symbols etched on the foreheads of their white masks.
Tianlei Fei's voice echoed like thunder.
"So… did you catch Tianlei Yu?"
The first masked cultivator trembled.
"N-no… Lord Tianlei Fei… we tried. But someone intervened. Someone… defended the Gao Clan of Wai City."
The second added quickly, "This time we sent powerful envoys. But even they were held off."
A long silence followed.
Tianlei Fei leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping against the armrest.
"Send more envoys," he said coldly. "If the Gao Clan thinks they can defy me… then burn them to ash."
The masked men bowed lower.
"Yes, Lord Tianlei Fei."
—
Wai City – Night Sky
Lightning cracked in the distance as spiritual energy clashed above the Gao Residence. The seven masked assassins faced the guardians in tense stillness.
Gu Ye took a step forward in midair, his hands at his side, calm yet unshakable.
"Your numbers don't scare me," he said quietly. "You've come to destroy my clan — I'll make sure you regret that decision."
The masked figures didn't reply. Their killing intent answered for them as the air around them began to distort.
A sudden silence gripped the sky.
Then — a blast of spiritual pressure exploded outward.
The seven masked assassins darted forward, their black robes fluttering like shadows in the night. They moved without a word, their speed beyond ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators. Each one drew out a unique spiritual weapon — hooked sabers, jagged spears, curved blades — all radiating deadly intent.
"Guardians!" Gu Ye shouted.
The Seven Guardians instantly responded, spreading out into a battle formation. Their weapons unsheathed in a synchronized flash — a spear, twin sabers, a longbow, an axe, a chain whip, and a jade sword — each glimmered under the moonlight.
Boom!
The first clash rang like thunder. One assassin slashed down with a flaming spear, aiming at the guardian wielding the longbow. But the guardian leapt back midair and unleashed a volley of spirit arrows that curved in the air, piercing through the flame.
Another assassin clashed with the chain whip wielder, the sharp edges of the whip wrapping around the assassin's wrist. But with a twist of spirit energy, the assassin shattered the whip's end and counterattacked with a spiritual palm that exploded with crimson fire.
Above them, Gu Ye didn't move yet. He stood calmly, his hands behind his back, observing.
The masked assassin closest to him stopped mid-battle and turned.
"Why isn't he fighting?"
"Is he underestimating us?" another muttered.
Gu Ye's eyes opened slightly, and his aura surged. He flicked his fingers, and a thin ripple of energy shot outward.
Boom!
One of the assassins was knocked backward mid-flight, crashing into a tree and spitting out blood. Shock spread across the other six.
"He's… only at Body Tempering Realm. How?"
Gu Ye's voice was cold.
"You think only Nascent Soul can fight Nascent Soul?"
One of the assassins roared, charging at him with a crimson saber wreathed in dark lightning. He slashed in a cross-arc aimed directly for Gu Ye's neck.