The Celestial Harmony Tournament gathered realms like stars converging—cloud palaces floating above endless arenas, divine envoys from every heaven. Northern academies entered humbly: farmers' kids, blacksmith apprentices, and refugee talents clutching Vulcan-forged spears. Celestial sects sneered: "Mortals? Against star gods?"
I watched from the sovereign balcony, Yue Zhilan beside me, and Mo Han grinning with flames. "Our kids fight?" Lin Dao asked.
"They shock," I replied.
First rounds were crushed easily—academy grads weaving qi nets mortals never dreamed. Lian, the fire-haired captain, parried saint strikes with farmer grit, qi exploding true. A baker's son shattered celestial arrays with blacksmith hammers, runes cracking like eggs.
Celestials gaped. "How? No bloodlines!"
The quarter-finals peaked. The Northern team faced Star Palace elites—arrogant youths with comet blood. Lian led the charge: "For homes, not heavens!"
Mortals unified—qi chains linking hands, mortal ingenuity fusing academy arrays. Vulcan steel laughed at divine blades. Star youths knelt defeated, eyes wide.
Heavens roared in shock. Envoys bowed: "Mortals command gods? Teach us!"
North claimed the championship. The golden age is sealed eternally.
The system exploded triumphantly.
"Ding! Heavenly Tournament Victory! Rewards unlocked:"
"Experience Points: 500,000 (Mortal Ingenuity Multiplier x10). Host Cultivation Surge: Mortal Body Peak → Nascent Soul Early! Followers Boost: All gain +2 Major Realms!"
Yue Zhilan's eyes flashed—Half-step Divine Lord → Peak Divine Lord. Mo Han roared, Saint Transformation → Dao Refining Peak. Vulcan hammered wild, Divine Lord Peak → Half-step Celestial Sovereign. Meiyin smiled faintly. God Transformation → Celestial Early. Lin Dao's mind sharpened. Core Formation → Nascent Soul Peak. Even Silver Drake thundered more strongly.
"Monthly Summon Card Activated! New Follower Summoned."
Mid-arena, golden light burst. The crowd gasped. A woman emerged—slender, emerald robes flowing like living vines, hair woven with glowing flowers. Eyes deep forest green, aura blooming life itself. She knelt gracefully before me.
"Summon Complete: Nature Sovereign Elowen. Cultivation: Peak Celestial Sovereign Realm. Loyalty: 92%. Innate Talent: Eternal Bloom (heals armies instantly, grows spirit forests from barren rock). Techniques: Verdant Dominion, Lifeweaver Arrays."
Elowen rose, voice soft as spring rain. "Lord Ling Chen, I remember you."
"You know me?" I asked amid stunned heavens.
She smiled warmly. "Aeons past, in the Verdant Eternal Plane, jealous gods scorched my forests to ash. I wandered, barren, dying slowly. You—a soul wandering realms—shared your qi spark and planted one seed. It grew my first grove again. Said, 'Life reclaims what death steals.' I vowed if fate called, my blooms would shelter you eternally."
Heavens murmured awe. Celestials bowed deeper: "Nature Sovereign allies with the upstart?"
Elowen touched the arena sands. Vines exploded—spirit trees rising instantly, healing the wounded, fruits glowing with qi-rich. Northern kids cheered. Foreign kings knelt, and tribute doubled.
Lin Dao whispered, "Our academies teach her now?"
I nodded. "Mortals shock. Gods join."
The tournament ended golden. North's banners flew highest. Celestials begged alliances: "Your ingenuity humbles stars!"
Trade boomed heavenly—Elowen's forests birthing spirit herbs endlessly. Academies swelled with divine pupils learning mortal grit.
Mo Han clasped Lian's hand: "You lead demons now."
Yue Zhilan smiled rarely: "Power surges true."
Vulcan bellowed, "My steel plus her vines? Unbreakable!"
The system chimed finally.
"Ding! Celestial Recognition Achieved. New Era Unlocked. Monthly Rewards Compounded. Follower Network: Perfect."
Heavens watched mortals claim glory. Elowen walked beside me, vines trailing softly. Northern kids sparred under her blooming trees; qi sparks brighter.
The golden age peaked not by blood, but by ingenuity mortals forged.
Stars bowed to farmer blades.