The flames that consumed the weak flickered away, leaving behind only the scorched remains of those who had failed the trial. The air still crackled with residual lightning, an eerie reminder of the overwhelming power Shao Xian now wielded.
The survivors knelt before him, their bodies battered and bruised, yet their eyes shone with renewed determination. They had withstood the Trial of the Storm, and though their bodies ached from the torment, their spirits had been reforged.
Shao Xian remained seated upon the throne, his gaze sweeping over the disciples like a king inspecting his newly forged army. The weak had been culled, and what remained were warriors tempered by the very heavens.
Zhao Feng stepped forward, his expression filled with reverence. "My lord, those who remain have proven their worth."
Shao Xian nodded. "Indeed. But surviving is not enough."
He rose from his seat, and with a flick of his sleeve, a surge of golden lightning erupted from his body. It spiraled into the sky, illuminating the grand hall with an otherworldly glow. The ground trembled beneath its sheer force.
The disciples clenched their fists, bracing against the pressure of Shao Xian's aura. Even after enduring the Trial of the Storm, his mere presence was still suffocating.
Shao Xian extended his hand, and in his palm, an orb of pure thunder formed—a condensed fragment of divine lightning.
"This," he said, his voice calm yet absolute, "is the Thunder Emperor's Baptism."
The disciples exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of awe and terror.
Shao Xian continued, "The storm has acknowledged your will, but to wield its true might, you must embrace it fully. This baptism will bind you to the power of thunder itself."
He waved his hand, and the orb split into dozens of streaks of lightning, each one slamming into the chests of the kneeling disciples.
A collective scream echoed throughout the hall.
Their bodies convulsed violently as the divine lightning coursed through their veins, scorching their meridians, breaking apart their limits.
Some coughed up blood, their bones creaking under the immense strain. Others collapsed, their consciousness teetering on the edge.
Yet none dared to beg for mercy.
Shao Xian watched, his expression unreadable. This was the true test. The trial had only determined their eligibility, but the baptism… the baptism would determine whether they were truly worthy to stand by his side.
Seconds stretched into minutes. One by one, the disciples either fell unconscious or gritted their teeth through the unbearable agony.
Then, something incredible happened.
A faint glow began to emanate from the strongest among them. Their bodies, once wracked with pain, started absorbing the lightning instead of resisting it.
Their breathing steadied. Their skin, initially scorched, now shimmered with a faint golden hue. Their auras pulsed, stronger than before.
Zhao Feng's eyes widened. "They are… evolving."
Shao Xian smirked. "Of course. Those who survive will not merely remain as they were."
The last of the lightning faded, leaving behind only the baptized.
Those who had endured the full force of the Thunder Emperor's Baptism now knelt before Shao Xian, their bodies trembling—not from weakness, but from newfound strength.
He looked down at them. "Rise."
Slowly, they stood. No longer mere disciples of the fallen sect, but warriors forged in the tempest of Shao Xian's rule.
He raised a hand, and the golden lightning once more crackled to life around him. "From this day forth, you are no longer remnants of a ruined sect. You are the Stormbreakers—the vanguard of my will."
A unified roar erupted from the disciples, their voices filled with unshakable devotion.