The snowstorm over Frostveil Peak had finally waned, but the ground still shimmered with fresh snow. The shattered clouds thinned into silver mist curling around the mountain's jagged cliffs.
Tiān Lán stood at the center of the outer sect trial grounds, his breath steady and calm despite the eyes boring into him.
The blue glow in his irises had faded, but something about him had changed.
More than one elder seated above on the jade pavilion furrowed their brows.
> "That lightning… was it a tribulation strike?"
"Impossible. No outer disciple could endure a heavenly bolt without protective talismans…"
They whispered among themselves, but none could deny what they had seen—Tiān Lán had absorbed lightning like it belonged to him.
But now, it was time for the combat portion of the trial.
The platform buzzed as the inner disciples took their positions to evaluate the outer disciples' strength.
From the lineup of challengers, a tall young man stepped forward. He wore crimson robes embroidered with phoenix flame, and his hair was tied high with a golden clasp. His gaze burned with contempt.
> "Kaì Zhěn," someone whispered.
"Isn't he one of the top three inner disciples under Elder Feilong?"
"Why would he step in against an outer trial student?"
Kaì Zhěn smirked as he cracked his knuckles. "What? You scared?" he called out mockingly toward Tiān Lán. "Come on, noble boy. Let's see if your family name means anything on the battlefield."
Tiān Lán's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
He stepped into the dueling ring as the formation around the arena activated. Snow swirled upward, forming a dome of icy mist to contain their clash.
> "Begin!" shouted one of the observing elders.
Kaì Zhěn moved first.
His palm ignited with roaring orange flame as he shot forward like a meteor. "Crimson Phoenix Palm!"
The heat from his strike vaporized snow mid-air, and the very ground beneath his step cracked under pressure. But just before the palm reached him—
Tiān Lán sidestepped.
Clean, precise, like drifting mist.
Then—his fingers flicked upward.
> ❄️ "Frost Step Echo."
An afterimage of his body remained as he moved, confusing Kaì Zhěn. His strike hit air, and the flame burst behind Tiān Lán.
The audience gasped.
But Kaì Zhěn wasn't finished. He roared, forming multiple sigils in the air. "Blazing Wing Slash!"
Flaming arcs shot forward in the shape of phoenix wings, sweeping toward Tiān Lán from both sides.
> "He's going to be crushed!" someone shouted.
But Tiān Lán's eyes glowed again—just for a second.
> ⚡ "Skyfrost Vein Severing Art — First Pulse."
A crackle of frost lightning erupted from his palm. It wasn't large, but it moved like sentient ice—coiling around the fire arcs and devouring them whole.
> "That's not just frost qi—what is that?"
"Lightning... but colder than death..."
Kaì Zhěn stumbled backward, his expression twisted in disbelief. "You… you were holding back!"
Tiān Lán didn't answer.
His silence only made Kaì Zhěn angrier.
> "Don't look down on me!!" Kaì Zhěn shouted. His dantian pulsed as his inner qi surged. Fire wings burst from his back as he lifted into the air.
He was done playing fair.
> "I'll show you what real power looks like! Phoenix Tyrant Flame: Burning Sky Lotus!"
A swirling lotus of blazing fire formed above the ring, growing bigger with every beat. Its petals shimmered with molten heat, each capable of turning stone to ash.
Even the elders leaned forward.
> "That's a near-core technique. He's going to cripple the boy if this lands…"
But Tiān Lán simply lifted his hand—and summoned the Frostheart Cauldron from his storage ring. The ancient vessel floated above his palm, glowing faintly with snowflake patterns.
> Wuuuuuuhhhhmmmm…
As the burning lotus descended, Tiān Lán poured qi into the cauldron. A chilling gale exploded from within.
> ❄️⚡ "Skyfrost Vein Severing Art — Second Pulse: Silent Bloom."
Blue lightning burst from the cauldron like vines of frost, spiraling into the air before striking the lotus dead center.
For a moment, fire and frost clashed violently. The light was blinding—red and blue battling for dominance.
Then—
Boom.
The lotus cracked.
And shattered into embers.
Kaì Zhěn was blasted back across the arena, crashing into the far wall and coughing blood. The flames on his body sputtered out.
Silence.
The only sound was the wind brushing snow across the platform.
> "Victory: Tiān Lán."
Gasps broke out in the watching crowd.
> "He beat Kaì Zhěn…"
"A mere outer disciple...?"
"No—no, this one's hiding something."
Tiān Lán bowed politely, then turned to leave. But as he did, he noticed something.
One of the elders—Elder Yao—was staring at the Frostheart Cauldron. Not with confusion, but recognition.
And a whisper escaped his lips:
> "...That cauldron belonged to Yè Tíanshuāng..."
Tiān Lán froze mid-step.
Only for a moment.
So… the elders did remember his past life.
As he exited the ring, he felt a cold gaze land on him. Kaì Zhěn, now seated with a healer at his side, glared at him with venom in his eyes.
> "You humiliated me," Kaì Zhěn muttered. "I'll find out who you really are."
Tiān Lán didn't respond. But deep inside, something stirred.
> Another secret was awakening.
Far above the crowd, near the roof of the pavilion, a figure stood hidden in the eaves.
It was the same girl from the forest.
Silver glinted at her sleeves.
She watched the entire battle silently, her parasol resting beside her.
Then she whispered, "Yè Tíanshuāng… so it is you."
As she turned to leave, a faint breeze carried her scent down to the arena below—jasmine and rain.
Tiān Lán turned toward it.
His past, it seemed, was coming for him.