The morning sun bled across the peaks of the Azure Sky Sect, dyeing the mountains in shades of fire. Lu Tian climbed the stone steps toward the grand hall, his steps steady, his heart oddly calm.
The sect master's summons was no honor. It was a trial.
At the gates, armored disciples sneered as they swung the doors open. Whispers followed him."That trash actually dares to show his face here?""I heard he stole Xu Han's technique. Maybe he's possessed.""He won't live past today."
Lu Tian ignored them. Words were air. He would devour them in time.
The grand hall stretched before him—pillars of jade rising like titans, banners embroidered with the sect's sigil fluttering in the breeze of hidden arrays. Elders sat in solemn rows, their gazes sharp and unyielding.
At the head of the chamber, on a golden dais, sat Sect Master Xu Daoheng. Tall, imposing, his long beard gleaming silver, his presence pressed down like a mountain. And to his right, wrapped in bandages, sat Xu Han, eyes burning with venomous hatred.
Lu Tian bowed. "Disciple Lu Tian greets the Sect Master."
Xu Daoheng's gaze was cold. "Lu Tian. Yesterday, before the eyes of the sect, you defeated Xu Han with a flame technique you should not possess. Explain yourself."
The hall fell silent. Dozens of eyes stabbed into him like spears.
Lu Tian straightened, meeting the sect master's gaze without flinching. "I cultivated. I improved. That is all."
"Cultivated?" Elder Wu slammed his cane against the floor. "You expect us to believe a cripple at Qi Condensation First Stage defeated our brightest genius? Absurd! He must have stumbled upon a demonic art!"
Murmurs erupted. Demonic art. The words carried weight, heavy with suspicion.
Xu Han seized the moment, his voice hoarse with fury. "Sect Master, I felt it myself! My Azure Flame was stolen—devoured! Such a power is not of righteous cultivation!"
All eyes returned to Lu Tian. The hall's pressure grew suffocating.
Inside, the Heaven-Devouring Meridian pulsed, whispering hunger. He felt its instinct—devour the fear, devour their doubt, make their scorn his strength.
But he suppressed it, forcing a calm smile. "If strength that wins is demonic, then perhaps righteousness is too fragile. Did the sect summon me to punish victory?"
The words struck the hall like thunder. Several elders stiffened, others scowled, but a few… a few looked thoughtful.
Sect Master Xu Daoheng's eyes narrowed. For a long moment, silence reigned. Finally, he spoke:"Lu Tian. Whether your ability is a gift or a curse, it has placed you on a dangerous path. You will prove yourself in the Inner Sect Tournament. If you succeed, the sect will recognize you. If you fail—do not bother returning."
The decree was final. No room for negotiation.
Lu Tian bowed once more, his lips curling faintly. "Understood."
As he turned to leave, Xu Han's voice rang behind him, dripping with venom."In the tournament, I'll tear you apart before all. No trick will save you then."
Lu Tian didn't even glance back. "Then prepare yourself. Because next time, I won't just devour your flame."
The doors slammed shut behind him, leaving the hall buzzing with whispers.