The air was thick with silence.
The trial grounds still carried the heavy echo of the Soul Phase Dragon Spirit's roar, though the great beast had long vanished into the ether. The surviving heirs stood trembling — some with pride, some with exhaustion, some with eyes clouded by fear.
The trial was over.
The last test had been canceled after the earlier attack from the Nine Shadows Sect, but for those who had withstood the weight of the Soul Phase Dragon Spirit's pressure, the gates of the Imperial Heaven Sect were open.
Golden light swirled in the sky, condensing into a bridge of ancient runes. At its far end, the Imperial Sect stretched tall and endless — a palace of jade towers, golden pavilions, and colossal dragon statues whose scales shimmered with living qi. The very air there carried a divine sharpness, like a blade honed for millennia.
The heirs moved forward.
Some staggered. Some raised their heads in stubborn defiance. But one thing was clear: they were no longer just heirs of their clans. From this moment onward, they were disciples of the Imperial Heaven Sect.
---
The Elders' Presence
As the heirs stepped onto the rune bridge, a dozen figures descended from the heavens. Their robes were long, embroidered with threads of starlight, and each carried an aura so heavy it pressed against the soul.
Sect Elders.
At their center was an old man whose hair was snow-white, yet whose eyes blazed like molten suns. His qi alone sent cracks racing across the air beneath him.
Elder Dam — the Law Keeper of the Imperial Heaven Sect.
"You have endured the trial," Dam's voice boomed, carrying across the skies, "and though the Nine Shadows dared to stain its sanctity, fate has spared you. From this day forth, you are not merely heirs of your clans, but seedlings of the Imperial Heaven Sect. The road ahead will not favor bloodlines, nor titles, nor pride. Only strength and will."
The heirs bowed, some sincerely, others reluctantly.
Jace, hidden beneath his hood, lowered his head. His pulse was steady, though his mind was alive. The System's cold hum still lingered within him, coiled like a silent serpent. None of the others knew — not the elders, not even Veyra — that he had devoured an Elite Dragon Spirit and broken through to Peak Foundation Establishment.
And he intended to keep it that way.
---
The First Sparks of Rivalry
As the elders dismissed their qi pressure, the heirs glanced around at one another. It was subtle, but unmistakable a battlefield of eyes.
Kaelen Azurecrest of the Blue Dragon Clan stood tall, calm as always, though his gaze swept the crowd with calculation. His sister Lyra flicked her hair, eyes narrowing on Veyra Nightveil, the Vampire princess, who stood with an aloof grace that seemed untouchable.
Rauthen Ignisflare of the Red Dragons cracked his knuckles, flame qi flickering at his fists, while beside him, the towering Tharos Bloodfang of the Werewolves grinned like a beast eager for prey.
Drexar Umbrafang of the Black Dragons lingered at the rear, his expression unreadable, eyes glinting with cold amusement.
Tension simmered. Allies and enemies had already been chosen in silence.
---
The Elders' Warning
Another elder....a woman with silver hair and an aura like a thousand swords.... spoke next.
"You will be divided into factions," she said. "Not by your clans, but by fate itself. The sect does not nurture heirs — it forges weapons. Remember this: only those who prove themselves useful will be remembered. The rest… will wither into dust."
The heirs shifted uneasily.
Jace's lips curved faintly beneath his hood. Weapons, she had said. Yes, that was all they were to the sect. Pawns for the greater game. But pawns could become kings — if they knew how to move.
---
The Factions began to take Shape
Over the following days, the heirs were given quarters within the sect's outer disciple palace — grand halls built atop cliffs that overlooked seas of rolling clouds. The quarters were intentionally close, forcing interaction, forcing friction.
It didn't take long for factions to form.
Faction of Strength – Rauthen and Tharos, always training loudly in the courtyards, their sparring sessions like earthquakes.
Faction of Shadows – Drexar and Lyra, seen whispering in corners, exchanging glances heavy with unspoken pacts.
Faction of Balance – Kaelen, Veyra, and Seliora of the Phoenix Clan, who often gathered to discuss cultivation methods and exchange insights.
And then there was Jace.
He moved between them all, never lingering too long. To some, he was a shadow. To others, a potential ally. No one knew where he stood and that made them uneasy.
---
One evening, as the moonlight bled silver across the sect, Veyra confronted Jace in the training fields.
"You saved me during the Nine Shadows attack," she said coldly, her crimson eyes studying him. "Why?"
Jace didn't answer immediately. He let the silence stretch, let the weight of the question hang.
Finally, he said, "Because it wasn't your time to be taken."
Veyra frowned, unsure whether it was arrogance, kindness, or something else entirely. Yet in that moment, a strange flicker of respect passed between them.
---
The Elders' Suspicion
Meanwhile, in the inner sanctum of the sect, the elders gathered.
"The Nine Shadows Sect's infiltration cannot be overlooked," Elder Tianhong said. "The barrier should have held. For assassins to pierce it means one thing — there is treachery, either within the sect or among the clans."
"Should we involve the heirs in this matter?" asked another elder.
"No," Tianhong's eyes narrowed. "Let them believe they are here only for trials and cultivation. But we will watch closely. Especially… that hooded boy."
---
While the sect slept, Jace sat cross-legged in his chamber. His qi pulsed, refined by the Elite Dragon Spirit he had devoured. The System whispered inside him, guiding his meridians, tempering his bones, sharpening his soul.
[System Notice: Cultivation stabilized.]
[Realm: Peak Foundation Establishment.]
A thin smile touched his lips.
He has consolidated his recent breakthrough.
He would keep climbing. Not for the sect. Not for the clans. But for himself — and for the path only he could walk.
And somewhere deep within the Imperial Heaven Sect, the next trial waited.
----
TO BE CONTINUED...