As the elder's voice faded into the still air, the great testing hall began to dim, the light from the ancient runes receding like waves returning to the sea. Only a faint luminescence lingered—residual energy from Tian Lei's perfect formation, still humming softly in defiance of time.
The elder paused once more at the base of the staircase, his expression unreadable. "Three pieces…" he murmured again, fingers brushing the edge of his sleeve as though tracing a forgotten sigil. "Then the seals have truly begun to stir."
With that, he vanished—his figure dissolving into strands of light that were carried away by the still-active formation lines.
Meanwhile, Tian Lei stood at the threshold of the Harmony Heaven Peak, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the sight before him. The spiritual density here was suffocating to ordinary mortals—each breath heavy with essence so pure it shimmered.
