Ruyin and Xuanyan finally reached Heaven's Summit.
It stood high above the clouds—built into the very peak of the mountain, as if trying to pierce the sky itself. Massive towers of jade and gold glimmered in the sunlight, surrounded by floating islands and spiritual mist.
Ruyin looked up, eyes wide with wonder.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
But Xuanyan said nothing.
He didn't come for the view.
He didn't come to chase glory or ascension.
He was here for one thing—the Ancient Rock Written in Blood, and the truth hidden within it.
He remembered the words of the old man on the path:
"Go east. Find the ancient black stone. It is written in blood—I, the one who ruled immortals."
He was close now. He could feel it.
When they reached the entrance of Heaven's Summit, they weren't alone.
Hundreds—no, thousands—of cultivators had gathered, all hoping to join the legendary sect. The gates were enormous, carved from celestial stone, glowing with spiritual runes. But between the hopefuls and the sect… stood a long, steep staircase—a thousand meters high.
One step at a time, they climbed.
By the time they reached the summit, the weaker cultivators were already gasping for breath. Xuanyan, though, remained steady. Silent.
At the top of the steps, a high-ranking cultivator stood beside a massive stone archway filled with swirling energy—a teleportation gate.
His presence was overwhelming. His voice calm, yet absolute.
"To join Heaven's Summit, you must survive for one minute."
He didn't explain what lay beyond the gate.
He didn't need to.
Xuanyan kept his demonic aura buried deep within. He had no intention of drawing attention—not yet.
One by one, cultivators stepped into the gate. Some were thrown out instantly, unconscious or injured. Others returned after a minute, barely breathing, their spirits broken.
Then—it was Xuanyan's turn.
He stepped through the gate.
Inside was a vast hall, empty but for a towering statue of a celestial god, sword raised in judgment.
Then—the statue moved.
Its eyes glowed with divine fury. It raised its blade and slammed it down toward Xuanyan.
The blade, the light, the oppressive presence—
It all reminded him of that day.
Of Lian's death.
Of the gods who stood by and watched.
Something broke inside him.
His hatred surged.
Demonic essence burst from his body.
Dark threads of energy wrapped around his arms as his fist clenched.
The statue struck.
Xuanyan punched back.
But his punch was no ordinary blow.
From his hand, a thousand blood-forged needles exploded outward like a storm—each one laced with rage and sorrow.
They clashed against the divine sword mid-air.
BOOM.
The entire hall trembled.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the statue's chest.
With a sound like thunder splitting the sky, the statue shattered into dust.
The test was over.
Xuanyan opened his eyes—
He was standing back outside the gate.
But the high cultivator who stood watch… frowned.
He had felt the dark power pulsing behind that success.
He had seen the unnatural force.
Xauyan stood silently, eyes locked on the towering figure before him. His breath was steady, but his thoughts raced.
Did I pass?
The crowd of cultivators who had come to test for entry into the Heaven Summit Academy murmured, waiting for the verdict.
Senior Tiansheng — the high cultivator overseeing the trials — watched Xauyan with narrowed eyes. He sensed something off... something dark pulsing behind the boy's calm exterior.
Then, with a voice as sharp as steel, he spoke:
"You didn't pass."
A silence fell. Xauyan's eyes met Tiansheng's. His gaze didn't waver — and that made the cultivator's frown deepen.
Tiansheng stepped forward, his tone now dripping with accusation.
"You cheated. I saw traces of forbidden energy in your final strike."
Xauyan's brow furrowed, his voice harsh but controlled.
"Then it was your test that was weak."
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
"Did he just—?"
"He insulted Senior Tiansheng!"
Tiansheng's eyes blazed.
"Watch your tongue, boy. This is Heaven Summit — not a place where arrogance earns you favor."
Xauyan didn't flinch.
"Then judge me by my strength, not your pride."
Without warning, Tiansheng raised his hand. A blast of unseen force shot forward — it struck Xauyan in the chest, staggering him.
Still, he stood his ground.
"Do that again," Xauyan warned, his voice now lower, edged with something primal, "and I won't step back."
The challenge in his tone ignited Tiansheng's fury. The wind around him howled as spiritual energy surged.
"You dare threaten a senior of Heaven Summit?!"
He threw another strike — this one shaped like blades of wind. They shrieked through the air toward Xauyan.
But Xauyan moved.
He dodged, fluid as a shadow, and before anyone could blink, he was in front of Tiansheng, fist flying.
Tiansheng twisted just in time to avoid the punch and launched a blistering counter-kick.
It was fast. Too fast.
Xauyan blocked with his elbow, but the sheer force sent him skidding across the stone platform.
Before the dust even settled, Xauyan rushed back, this time faster. His fist arced with demonic energy.
Tiansheng dodged again — but then another punch came from the opposite side — and this one landed.
Tiansheng staggered back.
The spectators gasped in shock.
"He hit him!"
"No way… That's Senior Tiansheng!"
"He's strong, but so disrespectful…"
"Put him in his place, Senior!"
Shame colored Tiansheng's face. In front of his juniors — he had been struck.
"You insolent brat…" he snarled.
He rose into the air, wind swirling violently around him. He extended his palm, and an orb of burning energy — blazing like a miniature sun — formed in his hand.
"Let this be your lesson in humility!"
He hurled it down.
BOOM.
The blast shook the mountain. Dust exploded upward in a massive cloud.
Some cultivators screamed. Others shielded their eyes.
"He's gone…"
"No one could survive that…"
"Xauyan!" Ruyin cried from the crowd, her voice tight with fear.
As the dust slowly settled… a silhouette remained.
Xauyan was still standing.
Bloodied. Bruised. But upright.
Even Tiansheng's eyes widened.
Impossible…
Without a word, he raised both hands. The air twisted and howled as a new, even greater storm gathered. Blades of wind, charged with his full power, formed in a spiraling arc.
Below, Xauyan's demonic essence stirred again — red and violent.
He let out a growl, eyes burning with fury. He launched forward — his fists now glowing with crimson light. From each strike came a thousand piercing blades, shaped from condensed blood and rage.
Their powers collided.
Heaven Summit trembled.
Lightning cracked. Stones split. The earth itself seemed ready to break.
"Stop! You'll destroy the school!"
But before devastation could claim the mountain — a flash of light separated them.
An elder stood between them.
One hand blocked Xauyan's punch. The other neutralized Tiansheng's storm.
Silence.
Every cultivator dropped to one knee.
"Elder Yun…" someone whispered.
Tiansheng bowed deeply.
Only Xauyan remained standing.
He glared at Tiansheng, fists clenched, as if still ready to fight.
Tiansheng, visibly shaken, spoke to the elder quickly:
"He doesn't belong here. He used forbidden energy. He cheated—!"
Elder Yun turned, his gaze focused only on Xauyan.
He didn't see a threat — he saw pain.
He's lost everything…
"What is your name, boy?"
"Xauyan."
Elder Yun nodded solemnly. Then turned toward Tiansheng.
"What exactly happened here?"
Tiansheng's face twitched with annoyance — he felt the shift in power. The elder wasn't on his side.
"He cheated," Tiansheng said. "He used forbidden weapons during the test."
Before he could say more, Ruyin shouted from the crowd.
"He didn't have anything! He passed with his own strength!"
All eyes turned to her.
Xauyan stood silent, still burning with fury — not just at Tiansheng, but at the entire system.
Elder Yun looked between them, his expression unreadable. But something had clearly changed.
Elder Yun didn't say much — he simply turned and called for Xauyan
to follow him.
The surrounding disciples erupted into whispers.
"Did Elder Yun accept him as a direct disciple?"
"Impossible… after what just happened?"
But Xauyan said nothing.
He followed Elder Yun without a word, his expression calm, unreadable.