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

He dispersed the formation and reformed it again—this time faster, smoother. "And one last time," he said, breaking it apart and recreating it once more. The glowing lines moved in perfect synchronization with his breathing.

After the third demonstration, he looked around at the gathered disciples. "You now have one day to understand and replicate what you have seen. When I return, I will test each of your arrays personally."

He stepped back and gave a faint smile. "Begin."

Around the hall, murmurs rose as the disciples spread out to begin forming their arrays. Some were hesitant, others confident—but all focused intently.

Tian Lei, however, watched quietly for a moment before closing his eyes. His breathing steadied, his qi calmed. Then, with a single motion, he began to weave the formation. His movements were calm and precise—each rune appearing exactly where it needed to be.

Within moments, the array stabilized—flawless on the first attempt.

A nearby disciple blinked in disbelief. "He… he formed it in one go," he whispered.

The disciple gulped and quickly turned back to his own attempt. He tried to form the array in one motion like Tian Lei—but the structure collapsed halfway through, scattering into harmless motes of light.

"Life is unfair," he muttered under his breath, but didn't stop. His hands trembled slightly, yet his eyes held determination. Even if I can't obtain the legacy, he thought, just grasping some of the ancient formation knowledge would be enough.

With that resolve, he continued working, his focus sharper than before.

Meanwhile, Tian Lei simply sat cross-legged, eyes closed, cultivating quietly as the hall filled with the hum of runes and shifting qi.

Time flowed swiftly, and soon, the day came to an end.

When dawn broke again, the elder returned—his steps steady, his presence commanding. The air stilled the moment he appeared on the stage.

"Time is up," he announced. "Now, let us see what you have learned."

One by one, the disciples stepped forward to display their formations. Some arrays flickered weakly before collapsing. Others held stable for a few moments before losing coherence. A few managed to complete the structure—but lacked balance, the flow uneven and fragile.

The elder inspected each one patiently, nodding at their efforts but saying little. Then, at last, his gaze turned to Tian Lei.

"Now then," he said, tone neutral but expectant. "Let us see yours."

Tian Lei stood slowly. Without any visible movement, his qi stirred. The air around him rippled faintly—and in the next instant, the Tier One Formation appeared before him, perfect in symmetry and flow. Every rune pulsed with precise rhythm, resonating in harmony with the elder's own formation from the day before.

Gasps filled the hall.

The elder's brows lifted slightly, a flicker of approval crossing his calm expression. He waved a hand, and the formation dispersed into mist.

"Impeccable," he said. "The structure is not only stable—it carries intent. You didn't just copy what I showed. You understood why it worked."

Tian Lei bowed slightly. "Thank you, Elder."

The elder continued testing the remaining disciples, his gaze sharp yet calm.

A few formations managed to hold steady under his inspection, their creators trembling with nervous pride. But most crumbled the moment he touched them with his spiritual sense, collapsing like sand castles beneath a rising tide.

After an hour, the hall grew quiet again. Only a handful of disciples still stood before intact arrays. The rest bowed their heads, faces pale and disappointed.

The elder surveyed them all, his voice clear and measured."Those whose formations remained stable until the end—you have passed. From this point onward, you are qualified to step into the Formation Peak of the Myriad Heaven Sect."

A collective murmur swept through the hall. The chosen few looked stunned, almost unable to believe it. The others lowered their heads, accepting the result in silence.

"You have earned the right to study under the sect's senior formation masters," the elder continued. "There, you will learn the foundation of every great array that protects our sect's legacy."

He paused, his gaze flickering toward Tian Lei. "And for those who did not pass—remember this trial not as failure, but as direction. The art of formations is not about speed or imitation. It is about understanding."

As the words settled, several glowing paths appeared across the floor—lines of light that stretched toward the mountain's upper peaks.

"Those chosen," the elder said, gesturing toward them, "step forward. The Formation Peak awaits you."

Tian Lei moved quietly among them. His presence drew silent respect; even those who hadn't passed made way for him, bowing lightly as he passed.

The moment he crossed the glowing threshold, the world around him shifted.

The air thickened with ancient spiritual power. Towers of jade and obsidian floated in the distance, each surrounded by rotating arrays that pulsed like living hearts. Streams of golden symbols drifted through the sky, whispering fragments of formation logic older than time itself.

At the far end stood a monumental staircase that led higher still—toward a shrine of radiant white stone. Above it, a plaque glowed faintly with four words:

Harmony Heaven Peak.

The elder watched as the chosen disciples vanished into the luminous pathways, their silhouettes dissolving into brilliance. Once the last of them had gone, he turned to face those who remained—the ones whose formations had failed or faltered.

His expression softened, the authority in his gaze tempered by something gentler.

"You have done well to come this far," he said. "Even if your formations collapsed, you have touched upon the essence. Remember—failure is not an end, but a compass."

He clasped his hands behind his back, his robes rippling faintly with spiritual energy.

"From this day onward, you will return to your respective sect branches. Continue your studies under your local mentors. Refine your understanding, not merely your control. When your hearts align with your arrays, you may yet ascend these paths again."

A few disciples bowed deeply, their disappointment mixed with gratitude. The elder nodded once more before raising his hand. A surge of formation energy swept through the hall—soft, yet absolute. One by one, the outer sect disciples were enveloped in motes of light and gently teleported away, returning to their mountain bases and lower pavilions.

Silence returned to the grand testing hall.

Only the elder remained. His eyes lingered on the fading glow of the portals, thoughtful and faintly wistful. Then his gaze shifted—to where Tian Lei had once stood.

For a long moment, he said nothing. The flickering light from the residual formation reflected in his eyes, and a faint, knowing smile curved his lips.

"…That child," he murmured under his breath, "he already have three pieces, is he the inheritor that was prophesied?"

But instead of pursuing or calling out, the elder merely turned away. His steps echoed softly as he began to descend from the stage.

"Let fate temper him," he whispered. "If he is meant to reach the summit, no guidance of mine will be needed."

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