The Heaven's Ring Platform fell into a hush — the kind of silence born not of peace, but of awe.
> "He parried a Grandmaster...?"
"No... That wasn't luck."
"A Master cultivator can't do that—unless—"
Somewhere near the edge of the stage, a grey-robed elder muttered, voice trembling,
> "The gap between Master and Grandmaster is like heaven and earth... The last time a Master won such a duel, he ascended to Perfect Half-Immortal. That was fifty years ago."
---
On the platform, sparks danced like spirits.
Bai Hengen roared, his aura flaring unnaturally bright. Crimson veins crawled across his skin — his Qi burning hotter than his realm allowed.
> "You forced me into this, brat!"
"Burn, and vanish!"
He raised his hands and summoned the Forbidden Technique: Flameheart Suppression Veil — an ancient art that condensed all flame Qi in a hundred-meter radius to crush the opponent's meridians directly.
Ren Wei's eyes narrowed. His Qi recoiled.
The platform itself cracked under the pressure.
> Ding!
Main Quest Triggered: Emergency Condition Met
Activating Reward Early...
A burst of light erupted from within his chest — blinding even the referees.
---
> Ding!
Hidden Physique Unlocked: "Ash-Wrought Core"
→ Flames empower instead of damage
→ Immune to low-tier fire suppression
→ Regeneration rate +20% under heat exposure
Ren Wei's body burned—but not in pain.
He stepped forward through the wall of flame, skin glowing faintly with heat, eyes like cinders.
---
He whispered:
> "You wanted to burn me... I was born in the ashes."
His saber pulsed — once, twice — then spun with violent grace.
Hollow Cinder Spiral
A spiraling slash that pulled Bai Hengen's fire Qi into its vortex, weakening the next technique and redirecting the force.
WHOOM—!
The spiral detonated outward, sending Bai Hengen sprawling back in a heap of cracked armor and scorched pride.
---
> "What... just happened?"
"His Qi is rising again—he's still not done?"
"That wasn't a normal technique... That was something else entirely."
---
Bai Hengen didn't stand. He didn't speak.
The judge didn't hesitate.
> "Victory—Ren Wei of no sect."
---
Han Crest's emissary stood, expression unreadable.
> "He has proven his worth. From now on no one on this city can dare to touch the Rei Wen"
---
As murmurs filled the ring, a familiar figure descended lightly to Ren Wei's side.
Sheng Lian. Calm as ever.
> "You didn't burn. Impressive."
"Keep this up... and Earth won't be enough for you."
Ren Wei only nodded and walked down the steps of the platform.
---
That night, the world felt smaller behind him.
He didn't check the system notifications.
> "Not here. Not yet."
"I want to read it where no one can interrupt."
The wind behind him whispered like embers dying on stone.
---
The moon hung high when Ren Wei stepped through the villa gates. His robes were torn at the edges, his breath shallow — but his steps never wavered.
Su Yao rushed to greet him. "You're injured—!"
"Just tea," he muttered, brushing past.
Mei Rou silently disappeared toward the kitchen. Su Yao stayed frozen, staring at the soot that clung to his shoulder.
Ren Wei made his way to the inner chamber — the cultivation room hidden beneath layers of talismanic sealing. There, surrounded by candlelight and faint incense smoke, he sat cross-legged and finally opened the interface that had only haunted his vision in fragments.
> Ding!
System Interface Activated.
---
Name: Ren Wei
Race: Human (Mortal)
Age: 17
Cultivation Realm: Qi Refinement Level 9 (Perfect Master)
Techniques:
• Heaven-Flaying Vein Scripture
• Iron Blood Meditation
• Ash Vein Fang – Saber Technique
↳ Form 1: Ember Slash – Converts kinetic Qi into a searing arc.
↳ Form 2: Hollow Cinder Spiral – A spiraling slash that draws in enemy Qi, weakening their next attack and amplifying the next blow.
Physique:
• Ash-Wrought Core
↳ Converts 15% incoming fire damage into Qi
↳ Boosts Qi circulation under stress
↳ Passive Flame Resistance: Tier 1 (Ash Skin)
Weapon:
• Echo Fang – High Earth Grade Saber
↳ Adaptive weapon; devours elemental Qi and evolves in battle.
---
Main Quest: "Rise Without Shadow" – Stage 3
Reach Foundation Establishment Realm
Rewards:
• Hidden Dao Fragment Access
• Special Bloodline Detection
• Passive Ability Unlock: ???
• Foundation Pulse Stone (Stabilizes early breakthrough)
---
Side Quest: "Break the Wall Before It's Built"
Defeat a Foundation Establishment Realm (Grandmaster) before reaching it yourself
Reward:
• Heaven's Dust Pill – A pill that grants a 60% success rate to breakthrough from Perfect Master to Foundation Establishment. Best consumed within 24 hours after achieving Level 9 Qi Refinement.
---
Ren Wei stared at the list in silence.
A storm brewed behind his eyes.
So that was what waited beyond this fragile peak. No time to breathe. No time to wait.
He hovered his finger over his Physique.
> Ash-Wrought Core
"Born from pain. Tempered through suffering. Devours heat to feed ambition. Evolves through pressure."
> "A failed core of the ancients. But in failure, there is fury."
He exhaled slowly.
Just then, Su Yao entered the chamber, bowing with a silver tray. A porcelain teacup trembled faintly as she placed it beside him.
> "You've bled enough for one night," she whispered.
He said nothing. Only drank.
The door creaked once more.
Sheng Lian stepped inside, arms crossed, gaze unreadable.
She looked him up and down, eyes narrowing.
"You're still human," she said. "But your Qi… it doesn't feel like Earth's anymore."
He looked up, still silent.
Sheng Lian walked a circle around him, then stood still.
"I don't think it'll take ten years for you to become a Perfect Grandmaster," she said, lips curling in the faintest smile. "Maybe not even one."
Ren Wei's smirk returned.
"I don't intend to wait either."
Sheng Lian turned and left — a breeze following her exit.
He remained alone, the teacup now empty, and the saber at his side glowing with faint embers.
He closed his eyes.
And once again, began to cultivate.