[On the third day of the assessment, the Sword Testing Stele was unveiled. It towered on the platform, ancient and solemn, with nine intricate sword patterns engraved upon its surface.]
[One by one, names were called. Participants stepped forward nervously, placing their hands on the stele. Some left in disappointment, others in relief, their hopes either shattered or affirmed.]
["Lin Chen." The steward's voice rang out.]
[You walked forward calmly, every step steady and composed. As soon as your foot touched the first stair of the platform, a surge of sword force erupted from within you—drawn instinctively toward the stele. To everyone's shock, one of the sword patterns flickered to life before you even touched it.]
[A wave of astonishment swept through the crowd. Even the steward was frozen in disbelief. Never before had someone triggered the stele's resonance without direct contact.]
[As you drew closer, the invisible sword pressure radiating from your body clashed with the stele's ancient sword intent. A second pattern lit up.]
[You finally placed your hand on the cold surface. The third pattern awakened instantly—then the fourth, the fifth… and with the fifth came the toll of a great bell that echoed throughout the sect, alarming elders and disciples alike.]
[Sixth… seventh… eighth! With every new awakening, another bell resounded. One by one, the Sword Sect's high-ranking experts were summoned by the phenomenon shaking their very foundations.]
[At last, the ninth sword pattern blazed to life. The entire stele trembled, and sword light surged skyward like a dragon breaking free of its chains.]
[The sect fell into chaos. Even Sect Master Li Shenhua, an Integration-stage cultivator, appeared personally. He himself had once awakened seven sword patterns in his youth, an achievement that made him peerless in his generation. Yet before him now stood a youth who had awakened all nine.]
[Without hesitation, he announced that you would become his personal disciple—his sole heir, and the direct successor of the Sword Sect. You naturally accepted.]
---
[Life in the sect began. Soon after, a friendly competition was held among the Qi Refining disciples. On a whim, you joined. Without even drawing your sword, you dominated the arena with your foundation, combat experience, and mastery of countless techniques. You claimed first place effortlessly.]
[Your master was dumbfounded. He had assumed your strength lay solely in swordsmanship, but you displayed overwhelming power without unsheathing a blade. His praise for you grew without end.]
[He also discovered the terrifying resilience of your body—your physique was akin to that of an ancient beast. Against cultivators of the same level, piercing your defense was nearly impossible. This erased the greatest weakness of most sword cultivators—their fragile bodies.]
---
[During this time, you advanced to the Foundation Establishment realm. Atop Sword Peak, with clouds swirling beneath your feet, you refined the Azure Lotus Green Flame using the Great Burning Heaven Technique. The process was smooth, and you even comprehended the first stage of Flame Intent.]
[Standing high above the world, gazing at the endless clouds below, your heart trembled—not with fear, but with yearning. This was the life you had once dreamed of. If you ever truly became immortal, you would wish to live on such a peak, far from the chaos below.]
[Ten days later, the refinement was complete. A strange burning sensation lingered within you, fading slowly. You suspected a fire-type spiritual root had awakened, but chose not to confirm it. Such a change, if exposed, might attract unwanted danger.]
[Later, you retrieved a small orb-like monster core from your storage space—the prize from slaying that early fourth-level beast months ago. Rather than refining it into pills, you directly absorbed its power for cultivation.]
---
[One year passed. You reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment.]
[By the third year, your swordsmanship broke through to Five-Turn, and your sword intent reached the fifth level—though your master mistakenly believed you had only reached the second.]
(System: I must say, your concealment skills are impressive.)
[By the fifth year, you entered late-stage Foundation Establishment.]
[By the ninth year, you stood at its peak. Your sword intent had climbed to the sixth level, and you even merged Flame Intent with Sword Intent, birthing a new path—Flame Sword Intent.]
---
[It was in this ninth year that your master summoned you. He reminded you of an upcoming event—the Trial of Hundred Nations, held once every fifty years. It was a grand competition, jointly hosted by first, second, and third-rate powers of the Eastern Wilderness. Its purpose: to select a peerless genius who would become the future leader of the Hundred Nations Alliance.]
[Your blood stirred at the thought. To battle geniuses from every corner of the realm, to test your sword against theirs—your fighting spirit ignited brighter than ever.]
[With firm determination, you began preparing for the Trial.]