In the heart of the grand hall of the sect, where the soft glow of candles gently flowed through the majestic corners, Long Tian, the Sacred Son, sat quietly on the stone throne adorned with the Dark Sky Wing's emblems.
His eyes were closed, his face expressionless, yet in his silence, he was diving deep within himself, sorting through two intertwined memories: his present consciousness and the memories of the previous occupant of this body, the master of the soul and flesh that inhabited this vessel.
The air was heavy with tense silence. The elders of the sect and disciples gathered around him, watching with anticipation. This silence was not empty of echoes; it was the calm before the storm.
At that moment, the disciple of the Sacred Elder stepped forward — a young man chosen to be Long Tian's greatest challenger. His face brimmed with confidence, perhaps even arrogance, as he raised his voice amid the breathless crowd:
"Long Tian, you have broken into the Foundation Establishment Realm at the age of seventeen — an unprecedented achievement in the history of the sect! This position rightfully belongs to me. I, too, am a disciple of the Sacred Elders and have proven my worth in the field. I deserve to be the future voice of the Dark Sky Wing."
Long Tian remained silent, unmoving, his eyes still closed as if weighing the words within, sifting through the memories of his ancestors and the previous master of his body, choosing the right moment to reveal himself.
After a few seconds, he slowly and calmly opened his eyes, releasing a wave of quiet yet undeniable power:
"As you wish."
In a moment that could only be described as awe-inspiring, the pressure of energy around him surged. Spectral threads of power from the Foundation Establishment Realm began to intertwine and spread like a dark fog, enveloping the hall, extending from his body to every corner.
It was a tremendous pressure for a cultivator at that stage, yet here it appeared with such rare intensity — one that no sect member had ever reached before.
The silence broke into awe and respect among the disciples and elders alike. None could believe what they were witnessing: a seventeen-year-old who had breached the Foundation Establishment Realm — a miracle unseen in the sect's history.
The disciples and the chief elder advanced to congratulate him, their voices filled with praise, yet Long Tian smiled softly and said:
"I was just lucky."
With that, the celebration quietly ended. Long Tian retreated to his private cultivation chamber beneath the ground, where a small dragon enhanced his cultivation and concentrated the energy around him. This place was among the closest to the energy source, facilitating absorption and accelerating cultivation speed.
There, he sat sorting through the memories of the previous owner of his body, staring thoughtfully at the seal on his left hand:
"That's all. The Drakan clan in the Western Region... very well. I will personally repay the grudge of the original body."
He calmed himself, and suddenly the sect leader, Zhang Ling Ji, appeared before him — a stern man wearing a heavy cloak adorned with the sect's symbols, his eyes carrying a hint of surprise uncommon for his imposing presence.
With a harsh laugh, he said:
"Haha, Tian Er, your senses have sharpened. You can now detect my presence — very good. Choosing you as my successor was the right decision."
Long Tian was momentarily confused by the sudden appearance, but he did not explain anything. Their eyes met, and he responded:
"Your wisdom is unquestionable, Master. It is an honor to carry this legacy."
"Hmm, good disciple. Now show me your cultivation level."
Upon saying this, Long Tian unleashed his cultivation at the beginner level of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Zhang Ling Ji laughed heartily, filling the sect's hall:
"Hahaha! The heavens support the rise of my sect, hahaha!"
After congratulating Long Tian and rewarding him with foundation stabilizing pills, the sect leader turned his gaze to the seal on his disciple's left hand and said:
"Important, Tian Er — about the seal on your left hand, there is an explanation I owe you."