Morning arrived with an unexpected complication. Axel woke to find his spiritual pressure had increased again overnight—not dramatically like during the Core Awakening, but noticeably enough that Liu Feng commented on it the moment he stirred.
"Your foundation is still evolving," his roommate observed from where he'd been practicing meditation forms. "That's the third time your cultivation level has shifted since you broke through to Foundation Establishment. Most disciples stabilize within days, not weeks."
"Is that bad?" Axel asked, though he suspected he knew the answer.
"Depends. Either your foundation is exceptionally unstable, which would be dangerous, or it's exceptionally adaptive, which would be unprecedented." Liu Feng paused his practice. "Given that you just defeated a seventh-ranked disciple without apparent strain, I'm guessing it's the latter. But it's going to make people nervous—cultivators don't like unpredictability in their rivals."
The system interface flickered into view as Axel sat up:
[FOUNDATION STABILIZATION: 87%]
[PRIMORDIAL PILLARS OPTIMIZATION CONTINUING]
[CURRENT STAGE: FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT MID (PEAK)]
[BREAKTHROUGH TO LATE IMMINENT]
[ESTIMATED TIME: 36-48 HOURS]
[WARNING: RAPID ADVANCEMENT DRAWING ATTENTION]
[RECOMMENDATION: CONCEAL BREAKTHROUGH TIMING]
[SUGGESTION: BREAKTHROUGH IN SECURE LOCATION]
Foundation Establishment Late within two days? That would mean he'd advanced from Early to Late in less than a week—a progression speed that should be impossible without consuming massive quantities of spirit pills or experiencing some kind of fortuitous encounter.
The Mythical-grade foundation was accelerating his cultivation beyond normal parameters. The Primordial Pillars were optimizing themselves continuously, refining his Qi faster than standard techniques could achieve, creating conditions for breakthrough at rates that would seem suspicious to anyone who noticed.
"I need to be more careful about displaying my cultivation level," Axel said, thinking through implications. "If people realize I'm advancing this quickly, they'll assume I either have incredible resources or some kind of special physique. Either way draws dangerous attention."
"Too late for that," Liu Feng said bluntly. "Everyone saw your duel yesterday. Multiple inner disciples and elders were analyzing your techniques and spiritual pressure. If you suddenly breakthrough to Late stage within a week of reaching Mid, people will definitely notice and start investigating."
"Then I need to ensure the breakthrough happens privately," Axel decided. "Somewhere I can control who observes and what conclusions they draw."
"Elder Shen's workshop might work," Liu Feng suggested. "If you're about to become his student anyway, requesting private cultivation space would be reasonable. Plus, formation masters are known for having spatial isolation chambers that prevent spiritual pressure from leaking out."
That was actually an excellent idea. Axel needed to meet with Elder Shen this morning anyway to discuss the student arrangement. He could negotiate access to private training facilities as part of the terms.
After a quick meal at the dining hall—during which at least a dozen disciples approached to congratulate him on yesterday's victory—Axel made his way up the mountain toward the Formation Research Pavilion. The ambient Qi grew noticeably denser as he climbed, and he could see more advanced formations protecting the middle tier buildings.
Elder Shen was waiting in his workshop, apparently having anticipated Axel's arrival. The old master sat at his primary workbench, casually manipulating a floating formation array that shifted colors and geometry as he made minute adjustments.
"Punctual again," Elder Shen observed without looking up from his work. "And considerably stronger than when I last saw you three days ago. Foundation Establishment Mid Peak, if I'm reading your spiritual pressure correctly. Remarkably fast progression."
"My foundation has been... adaptive," Axel said carefully. "It continues optimizing itself in ways I don't fully control."
"Mythical-grade foundations often do that," Elder Shen replied, finally setting aside his work to focus on Axel. "They're not static structures but living systems that evolve with their cultivator. The Primordial Pillars you've formed are particularly sophisticated—I've been studying formation theory for six hundred years, and I've never seen anything quite like them."
He gestured for Axel to sit. "Which brings us to the purpose of today's meeting. Have you decided whether to accept my offer of studentship?"
"I have," Axel confirmed. "I would be honored to study formation mastery under your guidance, Elder Shen. However, I'd like to discuss terms that allow me to maintain combat training and ranking challenges alongside formation studies."
"Reasonable request." Elder Shen pulled out a jade slip and began inscribing terms. "I require fifteen hours weekly minimum—three hours per day, five days per week. That leaves you adequate time for combat practice and other cultivation activities. In exchange, you receive access to my workshop, my personal formation library, instruction in advanced spatial and temporal techniques, and political protection from most sect complications."
"Most complications?" Axel asked.
"I can't protect you from everything. If you antagonize a Golden Core elder or kill another disciple outside sanctioned duels, even my influence has limits. But for normal sect politics—faction disputes, resource allocation conflicts, challenges from disciples whose families want you eliminated—I can provide substantial protection."
The terms were generous, more so than Axel had expected. "What do you receive in return, beyond my assistance with research?"
"Honestly? The satisfaction of teaching someone with genuine talent," Elder Shen said. "Formation masters are rare because the discipline requires both analytical thinking and spatial intuition—most cultivators have one or the other, not both. You have both, plus whatever advantages that Hongmeng Bloodline of yours provides."
Axel's heart skipped. "You know about the bloodline?"
"Of course. I'm not blind to spiritual signatures, especially not in my own workshop where formations amplify my perception." Elder Shen smiled slightly at Axel's alarm. "Don't worry—I haven't told anyone and won't. Bloodline secrets are yours to reveal or conceal as you choose. But I'd be a fool not to recognize the signs. That spatial affinity you demonstrated isn't normal talent—it's bloodline manifestation."
He leaned forward. "The Hongmeng Bloodline, if my historical knowledge is accurate, hasn't appeared in the cultivation world for at least ten thousand years. Most people think it's myth. But I've studied enough ancient texts to recognize the signature. You're either incredibly fortunate or incredibly cursed to carry it."
"Which is it?" Axel asked, genuinely uncertain himself.
"Both, probably. Bloodlines that powerful always bring both opportunity and danger." Elder Shen returned to inscribing the studentship contract. "But that's a problem for future you to solve. Present you needs formation training and a secure location to breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Late without the entire sect analyzing your spiritual pressure."
"You knew about the imminent breakthrough too?"
"Your foundation is broadcasting its optimization cycles to anyone with decent spiritual perception. Most disciples won't understand what they're sensing, but experienced cultivators will recognize breakthrough precursors." Elder Shen finished the contract and handed it over. "Read carefully, ask questions, then sign if you accept."
Axel reviewed the jade slip thoroughly. The terms were as Elder Shen had described—fifteen hours weekly training, access to resources, instruction in advanced techniques, political protection within reasonable limits. In exchange, Axel would assist with research, maintain student decorum, and represent Elder Shen's lineage with honor.
Nothing seemed exploitative or concerning. The contract was surprisingly straightforward compared to the complex political arrangements that seemed to govern most sect relationships.
"I accept," Axel said, channeling Qi into the slip to affix his spiritual signature.
Elder Shen added his own signature, and the contract glowed briefly as formations embedded in the jade activated to record and enforce the terms. "Excellent. You are now officially my student, with all rights and responsibilities that entails."
He stood and gestured toward a door at the back of the workshop. "That leads to private cultivation chambers I maintain for secure research. You're welcome to use one for your breakthrough. The formations will contain your spiritual pressure completely—even I won't be able to sense what's happening inside unless you specifically allow it."
"When should I breakthrough?" Axel asked.
"Sooner is better than later. Suppressing breakthrough for extended periods damages foundations." Elder Shen pulled out several jade bottles filled with pills. "These are Foundation Establishment quality spirit pills—they'll help stabilize your breakthrough and reduce tribulation risk. Not that you need tribulation reduction given that your foundation apparently makes heaven itself uncertain whether to test you."
Axel accepted the pills gratefully. Resources that would have cost dozens of spirit stones on the market, provided freely as student support.
"I have other students arriving this afternoon for group instruction," Elder Shen continued. "Use cultivation chamber three—it has the best spatial isolation formations and comfortable Qi density for Foundation Establishment breakthroughs. Take as long as you need. When you emerge at Late stage, we'll begin proper formation training."
Axel bowed formally. "Thank you, Teacher. Your generosity exceeds my expectations."
"Thank me by not dying during breakthrough and by eventually mastering formations well enough to make my instruction worthwhile." Elder Shen waved him toward the door. "Now go. The sooner you breakthrough, the sooner we can begin actual lessons."
The cultivation chamber was remarkable—a circular room perhaps twenty feet in diameter, with walls inscribed with so many overlapping formations that they created patterns visible even to normal sight. The ambient Qi was rich and pure, filtered through arrays that removed any impurities or chaotic elements.
Most importantly, Axel could feel the isolation formations working. His spiritual pressure, which had been steadily broadcasting his cultivation level to anyone nearby, was completely contained within the chamber. To external observers, this room might as well not exist.
Perfect conditions for a breakthrough that he didn't want observed.
Axel settled into the center of the chamber, arranging Elder Shen's spirit pills within easy reach, and began the meditation sequence that would allow his foundation to complete its evolution to Late stage.
The Primordial Pillars responded immediately, their optimization cycles accelerating as they recognized breakthrough conditions were optimal. Qi began flooding into Axel's dantian at unprecedented rates, drawn from both ambient energy and the spirit pills he consumed one after another.
The system interface appeared, displaying detailed analysis:
[BREAKTHROUGH SEQUENCE INITIATED]
[FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT MID (PEAK) → LATE (EARLY)]
[PRIMORDIAL PILLARS RECONFIGURATION IN PROGRESS]
[DANTIAN EXPANSION: +35%]
[MERIDIAN ENHANCEMENT: +28%]
[QI PURITY INCREASE: +42%]
[ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME: 4 HOURS]
[TRIBULATION PROBABILITY: LOW (MYTHICAL FOUNDATION)]
[HONGMENG BLOODLINE RESONANCE ACTIVE]
[BREAKTHROUGH ASSISTANCE ENABLED]
The process was simultaneously familiar and entirely new. His breakthrough to Foundation Establishment had involved forming the nine Primordial Pillars from scratch, creating new structures within his dantian. This breakthrough was different—the pillars weren't changing in number or basic configuration, but they were evolving, growing more complex and capable.
Axel could perceive the changes in his inner vision. The nine pillars were developing internal structures, like buildings gaining additional floors and rooms. What had been solid columns of condensed Qi were becoming intricate frameworks, with layers and chambers and pathways that created exponentially more complex energy circulation patterns.
It was beautiful in an abstract way—geometry that shouldn't exist in three-dimensional space, patterns that folded through dimensions most cultivators couldn't perceive, structures that seemed to resonate with fundamental forces of the universe itself.
The Hongmeng Bloodline was definitely involved. Axel could feel it now, that three percent awakening providing guidance that went beyond the system's analytical assistance. The bloodline knew how these pillars should evolve, what patterns would optimize their function, which dimensional pathways to establish for maximum efficiency.
Hours passed in what felt like minutes. The Qi flow through Axel's system increased dramatically as new meridian pathways opened, as his dantian expanded to accommodate more refined energy, as every aspect of his cultivation infrastructure upgraded itself.
Finally, after approximately four hours of intensive transformation, the breakthrough completed.
The Primordial Pillars pulsed once in perfect synchronization, their new configuration stabilizing, and Axel felt power flood through him in waves that made his previous capabilities seem almost quaint by comparison.
Foundation Establishment Late. The system confirmed it:
[BREAKTHROUGH COMPLETE]
[FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT LATE (EARLY)]
[CULTIVATION EFFICIENCY: +156% FROM PREVIOUS STAGE]
[SPIRITUAL SENSE RANGE: +89%]
[QI CAPACITY: +127%]
[TECHNIQUE POWER OUTPUT: +94%]
[COMBAT CAPABILITY: ESTIMATED PEAK FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT EQUIVALENT]
[NEW CAPABILITIES UNLOCKED:]
[MULTI-LAYER QI REINFORCEMENT]
[ENHANCED SPATIAL PERCEPTION]
[AUTOMATIC THREAT DETECTION]
[PILLAR RESONANCE AMPLIFICATION]
[HONGMENG BLOODLINE AWAKENING: 3% → 4%]
[NEXT MAJOR AWAKENING THRESHOLD: 5%]
Four percent bloodline awakening. Still barely scratching the surface of whatever the Hongmeng Bloodline's full capabilities were, but already providing advantages that let Axel punch well above his apparent cultivation level.
Combat capability equivalent to Peak Foundation Establishment meant he could potentially challenge for rankings as high as third or fourth place among outer disciples. The top two positions were held by disciples so exceptional they were essentially guaranteed inner disciple promotion—challenging them might be premature.
But ranks three through six were theoretically within reach now.
Axel emerged from the cultivation chamber to find evening had arrived. Six hours had passed, though his internal perception had compressed it to maybe three. Elder Shen looked up from his workbench as Axel entered the main workshop.
"Successful breakthrough, obviously," the Formation Master observed. "Foundation Establishment Late, clean progression, no complications. Your foundation continues to impress—most disciples experience at least minor turbulence during stage advancement. Yours was apparently seamless."
"The isolation chamber helped significantly," Axel said. "Without external interference, the breakthrough proceeded smoothly."
"That's the purpose of good formations—creating optimal conditions for cultivation." Elder Shen set aside his current project. "Now then, since you're my official student, we should begin your education properly. But not tonight—you need to stabilize your new cultivation level, and I have research that requires attention. Return tomorrow morning, prepared to spend three hours learning basic spatial manipulation techniques."
Axel bowed. "Yes, Teacher. Thank you again for the resources and privacy."
"You're welcome. One more thing—your ranked duel yesterday attracted significant attention. Multiple disciples have already submitted formal challenges for your seventh-rank position. You'll need to either defend it or decline and drop in ranking. I suggest defending—showing weakness now would invite more challenges, not fewer."
"How many challenges?" Axel asked with a sinking feeling.
"Four so far. Two from eighth through tenth ranks hoping to climb by defeating you, and two from fourth and fifth ranks hoping to eliminate a rising threat before you challenge them." Elder Shen smiled slightly. "Welcome to ranked disciple politics. The higher you climb, the more people want to knock you down."
Axel returned to the outer disciple areas as night fully settled over the sect. His spiritual pressure was now carefully suppressed to appear as Foundation Establishment Mid—the concealment formation the system had provided working overtime to hide his actual Late stage cultivation.
To casual observers, he would seem unchanged from yesterday. Only someone with exceptional perception would notice the increased power underlying his apparent level.
Liu Feng was waiting in their quarters with news. "Six more challenge requests arrived while you were gone. You're now the most challenged disciple in recent history—ten formal duels requested within twenty-four hours of achieving your ranking."
"Elder Shen mentioned four challenges," Axel said.
"Those were the official ones submitted through proper channels. The other six are from disciples who technically don't have standing to challenge you but are trying anyway." Liu Feng handed over jade slips containing the challenge details. "The Ranking Committee will sort out which challenges are valid. You'll probably end up facing four or five over the next two weeks."
"That's going to consume significant time and energy."
"That's the point. Your rivals want you constantly fighting, unable to cultivate or advance further, burning resources on duels instead of training." Liu Feng's expression was grim. "It's a common tactic against rising disciples—challenge them repeatedly until they exhaust themselves or make a mistake that costs them their ranking."
Axel reviewed the challenges. Most were straightforward—disciples at eighth, ninth, or tenth rank wanting to climb by defeating him. But two challenges stood out as particularly concerning.
Chen Hua, ranked fourth, Foundation Establishment Peak. Affiliated with the Modernist faction.
Zhao Lin, ranked fifth, Foundation Establishment Peak. Affiliated with the Traditionalist faction.
Both were Peak cultivators with years of sect training, access to advanced techniques, and faction backing that provided resources beyond what typical disciples could access. They were also both significantly stronger than Zhou Ming had been.
"Why would fourth and fifth rank challenge me?" Axel asked. "They don't gain much by defeating a seventh-ranked disciple."
"They gain by preventing you from climbing further," Liu Feng explained. "Both factions have decided you're a potential threat—talented, independent, under Elder Shen's protection, and advancing too quickly to control. Defeating you publicly would simultaneously eliminate the threat and demonstrate their faction's strength."
More politics. Everything in sect life seemed to circle back to faction maneuvering and power plays.
"When are these challenges scheduled?" Axel asked.
"That's your decision. You have up to two weeks to accept or decline each challenge. Most disciples space them out to allow recovery time between duels. But if you decline too many or delay too long, you forfeit ranking and look weak."
Axel thought through options. With his new Foundation Establishment Late cultivation, he could probably defeat eighth through tenth ranked disciples without excessive difficulty. Fourth and fifth rank would be more challenging—both were Peak stage, which nominally put them a full stage above him.
But his Mythical-grade foundation meant his effective combat capability exceeded his nominal cultivation level. The system had estimated he was equivalent to Peak in actual combat power.
"I'll accept the challenges from eighth, ninth, and tenth rank," Axel decided. "Schedule them across the next week—one every two or three days to allow stabilization time between duels. For fourth and fifth rank challenges, I'll delay those until after the monthly evaluation. That gives me time to prepare specifically for Peak cultivators."
"Conservative approach," Liu Feng approved. "Delaying the hardest fights while you gain more experience and possibly advance further. Smart."
Axel spent the rest of the evening in meditation, stabilizing his new Late stage cultivation and integrating the enhanced capabilities his breakthrough had provided. The difference between Mid and Late was substantial—his Qi capacity had more than doubled, his spiritual senses extended for miles instead of hundreds of yards, and his techniques could output significantly more power with the same energy expenditure.
Most remarkably, his spatial perception had sharpened dramatically. He could now sense the dimensional structure of formations in the sect buildings, perceive slight distortions in space where powerful cultivators had passed recently, and even detect spatial storage treasures hidden on other disciples.
The Hongmeng Bloodline's spatial affinity was manifesting more strongly at four percent awakening. What would it provide at five percent? Ten percent?
The system offered no answers, just passive observation and analysis. Whatever the bloodline's ultimate capabilities were, they would apparently reveal themselves gradually as his cultivation advanced and awakening percentage increased.
The next morning brought the first of his scheduled ranked duels—against Lin Shu, ranked eighth, Foundation Establishment Mid Peak. The challenge was scheduled for midday at the main arena, with standard rules and the Ranking Committee officiating.
Lin Shu was apparently a well-regarded disciple, popular among his peers, with solid combat skills developed over three years of sect training. He wasn't affiliated with any major faction, which meant defeating him wouldn't create additional political complications.
The arena was less crowded than for Axel's duel with Zhou Ming—apparently ranked challenges between seventh and eighth position weren't quite as dramatic as newcomers defeating seventh-ranked disciples. But several hundred disciples still attended, curious to see if Axel's victory had been fluke or genuine capability.
Lin Shu was already on the platform when Axel arrived, looking confident but not arrogant. He performed a respectful bow as Axel took his position.
"Junior Brother Axel. I watched your duel with Zhou Ming—your technique is impressive. But I'm not going to make his mistake of underestimating you or relying on enhancement techniques." Lin Shu smiled slightly. "This will be a straightforward test—your skill against mine, no tricks, no desperation gambits."
"I appreciate the direct approach," Axel replied honestly. After the politics and maneuvering, a simple combat test was refreshing.
The judge confirmed terms, verified stakes—Lin Shu wagering his eighth rank position against Axel's seventh—and signaled the start.
Lin Shu opened with a probing combination, testing Axel's defenses without committing to full offense. Solid technique, good form, efficient energy usage. He was clearly well-trained and experienced.
But he was also only Mid Peak while Axel was now Late Early. The difference was noticeable.
Axel defended casually with the Flowing Water Palm technique, redirecting Lin Shu's attacks without difficulty. After thirty seconds of ineffective assault, Lin Shu recognized the power differential and adjusted his strategy, fighting more defensively to avoid quick defeat.
It didn't help. Axel's enhanced capabilities meant he could see openings Lin Shu didn't even realize existed. When the opportunity presented itself, Axel struck with a precisely controlled Qi Strike that knocked Lin Shu off his feet without causing injury.
First clear hit. The duel was over in under two minutes.
"Victory to Axel King," the judge announced. "Ranking positions exchange accordingly."
Lin Shu accepted the loss gracefully, performing a bow before leaving the platform. "Well fought. Your foundation is exceptional—I couldn't even get close to penetrating your defense. Congratulations on maintaining seventh rank."
The crowd dispersed with less excitement than after the Zhou Ming duel. Apparently defeating an eighth-ranked disciple when you were seventh-ranked wasn't particularly newsworthy.
Two days later, Axel defended his ranking again—this time against Yu Mei, ranked ninth, Foundation Establishment Mid. The duel lasted slightly longer, nearly three minutes, but the outcome was never in doubt. Axel's Late stage cultivation gave him advantages that Mid cultivators simply couldn't overcome.
Three days after that, he faced Wang Bo, ranked tenth, also Foundation Establishment Mid. Another straightforward victory in under four minutes.
By the end of the week, Axel had defended his seventh rank three times and gained a reputation as a solid but not exceptional defensive fighter. The duels had been convincing enough that nobody questioned his capabilities, but not so overwhelming that they revealed his true Late stage cultivation.
Perfect execution of strategic power concealment.
Elder Shen's formation training progressed in parallel with the ranked duels. Three hours each morning learning spatial manipulation, temporal distortion theory, dimensional folding mathematics, and practical array construction. The education was intensive and comprehensive, drawing on Elder Shen's six centuries of accumulated knowledge.
"Your spatial perception is exceptional," Elder Shen observed during their fifth lesson. "Most disciples study formations for months before they can sense dimensional structures clearly. You perceived them within hours. That's bloodline manifestation—your Hongmeng heritage provides innate understanding of spatial concepts."
Axel was practicing a basic spatial compression array, trying to fold three-dimensional space into a smaller area without creating instabilities. The mathematics were complex, requiring precise Qi manipulation and geometric understanding.
But with his enhanced comprehension and bloodline affinity, the technique came almost naturally. Where other students would struggle for weeks, Axel achieved basic competency in days.
"How far can spatial manipulation extend?" Axel asked as he completed the compression array successfully. "Could you theoretically fold space across miles instead of just feet?"
"Theoretically, yes. Practically, it requires cultivation levels far beyond Foundation Establishment." Elder Shen demonstrated, casually creating a spatial fold that connected two points ten feet apart, allowing him to place an object at one location and have it appear at the other instantly. "True spatial teleportation requires at least Nascent Soul cultivation, usually Soul Projection. Dimensional travel requires Dao Comprehension or higher. The techniques you're learning now are foundations for those advanced capabilities."
The system interface flickered with confirmation:
[FORMATION THEORY MASTERY: 47% → 63%]
[SPATIAL MANIPULATION: BASIC COMPETENCY ACHIEVED]
[BLOODLINE AFFINITY ACCELERATING LEARNING]
[ESTIMATED TIME TO INTERMEDIATE MASTERY: 3 MONTHS]
[ESTIMATED TIME TO ADVANCED MASTERY: 2 YEARS]
[RECOMMENDATION: CONTINUE CURRENT TRAINING REGIMEN]
Three months to intermediate mastery was remarkable speed. Most disciples apparently took years to reach that level, and many never achieved it at all. The Hongmeng Bloodline was providing advantages that would compound over time, making Axel exponentially more capable in spatial techniques compared to normal cultivators.
By the end of his first week as Elder Shen's official student, Axel had:
Advanced to Foundation Establishment Late Defended his seventh rank three times Achieved basic competency in spatial manipulation Begun accumulating spirit stones from duel victories and monthly allocation Avoided major political complications through careful neutrality
Liu Feng summarized the week's progress during a quiet evening in their quarters: "You've established yourself as a legitimate mid-tier ranked disciple without revealing your full capabilities. The upcoming challenges from fourth and fifth rank will be more difficult, but you have two weeks to prepare. Overall, successful week."
"Successful but exhausting," Axel admitted. "Between formation training, ranked duels, and daily cultivation, I'm barely sleeping."
"Welcome to sect life for ambitious disciples. The talented ones work constantly—the moment you stop pushing forward is the moment rivals catch up or surpass you."
Axel knew Liu Feng was right, but the relentless pace was wearing. On Earth, even in demanding corporate jobs, there had been weekends, vacation days, time to rest and recover. Here, rest was just another form of falling behind.
But he'd known this would be the cost of pursuing cultivation seriously. Power required dedication, and dedication required sacrifice.
The Primordial Pillars pulsed steadily within his dantian, their Late stage configuration stable and powerful. Four percent bloodline awakening hummed in the background of his existence, providing advantages he was only beginning to understand.
He was seventh-ranked among outer disciples. He was Elder Shen's student with access to advanced formation knowledge. He had allies who provided genuine support and advice.
In three more weeks, the monthly evaluation would test disciples across multiple categories—combat, cultivation speed, technique mastery, contribution to sect missions, and overall potential. Top performers would gain increased resource allocations and priority consideration for the Heavenly Ascension Trial selection.
Axel needed to place highly. Not just for resources, but to establish himself as someone worth investing in, someone who could navigate both cultivation advancement and sect politics successfully.
The path forward was clear even as it grew more challenging.
Foundation Establishment Core Peak—the absolute pinnacle of the Foundation realm before attempting breakthrough to Core Formation—was perhaps two or three months away if his current advancement rate continued. But before then, he had ranked challenges to win, monthly evaluations to excel at, and formation mastery to develop.
The cultivation journey continued. Each day brought new challenges, new growth, new understanding of what power truly meant in this world.
Axel closed his eyes and sank into meditation, his Primordial Pillars drawing in ambient Qi automatically, his foundation continuing its relentless optimization.
He'd come from nothing. From death on Earth to awakening in a hostile forest to barely surviving his first weeks.
Now he stood among the ranked disciples of a major sect, learning from a six-hundred-year-old Formation Master, wielding power that could shatter stone and defeat cultivators with years more experience.
The journey wasn't over. It had barely begun.
But with each step forward, Axel King proved that talent, determination, and a Mythical-grade foundation could overcome obstacles that would have destroyed lesser cultivators.
The Core was approaching Peak. Soon he would attempt the breakthrough to Core Formation and enter the ranks of true powerhouses.
But that was a challenge for future Axel. Present Axel just needed to keep moving forward, one day at a time, one duel at a time, one formation lesson at a time.
The pulse of his Primordial Pillars beat steady and strong, a promise of power yet to be fully realized.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges. But tonight, Axel simply cultivated and let his foundation grow stronger.
The real journey was only beginning.
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