The colorless flame flickered once—acknowledging, not celebrating.

Tian Lei regarded the pill for a long time, his gaze steady and unreadable. In its quiet perfection, he saw not triumph, but reflection—fifty-six years of solitude, countless failures, and the gradual unmaking of everything he once was.

He reached out and caught it. The pill felt warm—alive, almost breathing in his palm. It pulsed once, faintly, as though the heavens themselves recognized its birth.

Then he smiled. A small, tired smile that held no arrogance, no pride—only peace."It's done," he murmured. "But I… am not."

He closed his hand, the pill vanishing into a small jade case sealed with a touch of his qi."This is not the end of the road," he whispered, "only the moment before the next ascent."

He looked up. The morning sun broke through the clouds, washing the mountain in gold. For the first time in decades, Tian Lei stood. His joints creaked faintly, not from weakness—but from time itself remembering him again.

The Heaven-Purifying Fire hovered beside him—silent, colorless, eternal. It no longer waited for command. It simply was—an extension of his intent, his spirit, his will.

He turned toward the Inner Flame Pavilion's entrance. The barrier runes shimmered and parted, recognizing their master.

Outside, the mountain was unrecognizable. New disciples walked where once there had been stone. New halls stood where ruins once lay. The Sect had changed, evolved, perhaps even forgotten the man who had secluded himself for nearly six decades.

And yet—when Tian Lei stepped forward, the air itself bowed.

Disciples along the path froze. Some gasped, others whispered, uncertain whether the being before them was man or legend. His presence was not oppressive—it was inevitable, like gravity, like dawn.

At the gates of the Hall of Elders, the guards stepped aside without a word.

Inside, the Chief Elder—older now, his hair white as snow—was in the middle of quiet discourse when the doors opened.

Every voice fell silent.

The old man turned—and for the first time in half a century, his eyes widened. "...Tian Lei."

Tian Lei bowed, slow and deliberate. "Chief Elder."

The elder's gaze swept over him, then the faint case in his hand. His voice trembled, not from frailty, but awe."Tell me… did you reach it?"

Tian Lei stepped forward, setting the jade case upon the dais."I have refined the Tier Nine Pill," he said simply.

A silence followed—deep, reverent.

The Chief Elder opened the case.A single sphere of quiet light floated within, unbound by gravity, pulsing with the rhythm of life itself. The hall dimmed as if the heavens themselves bowed before it.

One elder whispered, voice breaking, "He did it… he truly did it…"

The Chief Elder's hand trembled as he closed the case, then exhaled slowly.

"Finally… someone who can inherit the legacy has appeared," he said, his voice low but filled with relief.

As he spoke, the surroundings dissolved into a pure white expanse—endless and weightless. Only Tian Lei and the Elder remained. Behind the Elder floated a piece of broken jade and an ancient scroll radiating soft golden light.

"Go on," the Elder said gently. "It's yours now."

Tian Lei stepped forward. He first reached for the broken piece of jade, storing it carefully. Then his gaze shifted to the scroll. The letters on it shimmered faintly as he whispered its name:

"Secret Realm: Nourishing Heaven Garden."

The Elder nodded slowly. "It's a secret realm created by the founders of our sect. Inside it lies every herb ever known—and countless others that no longer exist in this world. After all these years, I'm certain the garden has grown far beyond imagination. You'll find herbs there millions of years old. It's yours to inherit."

As the Elder finished speaking, the white expanse faded. The next moment, Tian Lei found himself back in the great hall.

Another door had closed. Another trial complete.

Elder Lin and Elder Haiyun were waiting nearby, both smiling. "He's done it again," Lin said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Ranked first in every test he's ever taken."

Haiyun chuckled. "Then let him rest. He's earned it. Tomorrow, he can begin preparing for what's next."

Tian Lei nodded silently. He sat down cross-legged, letting his breathing steady. His eyes slowly closed as he began to meditate, clearing his mind and calming his spirit.

For the first time in many years, he allowed himself a moment of quiet peace.

The next day came quietly.

When Tian Lei opened his eyes, the world felt lighter—as if it, too, was waiting for what would happen next.

He rose without a word. The air seemed to move around him as he approached the next door. Strange runes shifted across its surface like flowing water.

"Trial of Formation," he said softly.

The door glowed once in response and opened with a slow, deep sound—like the heavens taking a breath.

Light surrounded him. When it faded, Tian Lei stood inside a vast hall. Jade pillars rose toward the sky, each carved with glowing lines that pulsed like veins of living energy. Around him, other candidates looked about—some in awe, others confused by the grandeur of the place.

"It looks similar to the Trial of Spears," Tian Lei murmured.

Just as he expected, an elder appeared, walking calmly up to the stage at the center.

"Welcome, candidates, to this year's Formation Trial of Independent Comprehension," the elder announced, his voice echoing across the hall. "This trial focuses not on strength, but on understanding and precision."

He clasped his hands behind his back and continued, "Now, I will create a simple Tier One Formation before you all. Watch carefully as I form it—observe how I gather the qi, connect the runes, and stabilize the flow. After that, you will each attempt to recreate the same formation on your own."

He raised a hand, and threads of qi began to swirl around him, forming intricate symbols in the air. Slowly, methodically, he combined them one by one, explaining each step as he worked. The runes glowed faintly, merging into a small, stable array that floated before him.

When it was complete, the elder gave a nod. "That was the first demonstration. Now, the second."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.