Somehow, in this unknown era, he mastered the power of the Void Gap. He also learned the intricate art of controlling the restrictions perfectly. He reorganized his abilities while retaining his five core inner techniques. These were Limitless, Domain Skill, Butterfly Effect, Reverse Energy, and Universal Comprehension. He also kept the Special Grade Body 100 Techniques for physical combat. This restructuring opened up vast, terrifying opportunities for his cultivation path. The Limitless Technique now granted him absolute control over the mixed restrictions. Through the Domain Skill, he could manifest the Dao of Mysteries. He combined this with Void Gap power and Universal Comprehension. He fused the Domain and Butterfly Effect for devastating reality manipulation. He paired Reverse Energy with Special Grade Body techniques for invincible melee combat. Most importantly, the Domain Skill now allowed the use of 100 Dao Spells. This capability gave him an overwhelming advantage in any future battle. Aldo had unknowingly created a legend without even stepping outside the cave. The noise of the miners finally stirred him from his deep slumber. He opened his eyes, signaling the end of his long seclusion. He looked at the trembling man and asked a simple question. "Hey you, how long has it been since the last beast tide?" The miner stammered, terrified by the ancient aura of the man. "Sir, it has been 500 years since those events happened." "Thanks," Aldo replied calmly, seemingly unaffected by the passage of centuries. He instantly understood the situation and vanished from the dark cavern. He moved with blinding speed toward the ruins of Astro Hildo Academy.
Although the Astro Hildo Empire had survived the cataclysm of five centuries ago, its once-glorious heart, the Astro Hildo Academy, was now beating its final rhythms, stagnating on the precipice of oblivion due to centuries of decline. Aldo gathered this grim truth through hushed conversations with the locals and made an immediate, resolute decision: he would take the reins and restore the academy to its former supremacy. However, desire alone was insufficient; powerful factions circled the dying institution like vultures, all coveting its ancient legacy. The position of Head Master required the Imperial Order of the Astro Hildo Emperor, meaning the appointment was strictly by royal decree. Yet, rumors circulated that due to the crisis, a grand tournament would be held among the temporary volunteer instructors, with the victor claiming the title and the Emperor's seal. The competition was scheduled to begin in just two days at the Shinfu Academy, located in the city of Shinfu—the new capital established after the Beast Tide devastated the old lands. For a mortal, the journey to Shinfu would take a grueling month, but for Aldo, distance was irrelevant. He activated the Special Grade Body 99th Technique: Light Speed, blurring out of existence and reappearing instantly at the gates of the capital.
The registration square of Shinfu Academy was a chaotic sea of ambition, teeming with nearly 200 Order 1 and Order 2 masters from every corner of the continent, all eager to test their luck. The air buzzed with the tension of rivalry. However, amidst the throngs of ordinary cultivators, a distinct group stood apart, radiating an aura that suffocated those who dared to get too close. There were ten of them, arrogant and aloof, calling themselves the "Followers of Heaven." Aldo's pitch-black eyes swept over the crowd and locked onto this group the moment he entered the grounds. He recognized the signature of their power immediately. "Heaven Gap masters... they are indeed them," he whispered to himself, a cold spark of recognition igniting in his gaze. Upon learning that registration would continue until tomorrow, he turned away from the noise and checked into the quiet solitude of the Dahru Hotel to await the inevitable storm.
He waited until the moon was high and the clamor of the crowd had died down before approaching the registration desk. Under the cover of night, Aldo successfully registered, using the quiet opportunity to extract vital intelligence from the weary instructor. He learned that this was not merely a hiring process; it was a political maneuver. The Imperial Order aimed to fully resurrect the Astro Hildo Academy, thereby reclaiming their sphere of influence over the ancient capital. However, the barrier for entry was steep—only Order 1 masters were eligible for the Head Master position. Those without the rank could challenge a test to prove their worth. To demonstrate his eligibility without revealing his true, terrifying power, Aldo stepped into the testing arena against an Imperial Guardian. For ten minutes, he did not strike back once. instead, he perfectly parried and deflected every lethal strike with the minimum required effort, creating the illusion of a struggling but capable fighter who barely managed a draw.
2674th Year of the Fallen Era, March 14th.
The sun rose over the Shinfu Academy arena, illuminating the tense faces of the participants. The Emperor himself stood upon the high dais, his voice booming across the capital. "I declare the tournament open!" The competition was massive, split across 39 distinct locations to select 38 instructors and one supreme leader. While the battles for the teaching positions were relegated to other academies, the main event—the battle for the Head Master—remained in Shinfu. The Emperor's next words sent a chill through the crowd. "The rule for the Head Master selection is simple: A Life and Death Battle Royale. The last one standing on this stage will not only become the Head Master of Astro Hildo Academy but will also be crowned the Imperial Master." The crowd gasped. This was a tradition held for centuries; the Head Master of Astro Hildo was synonymous with being the 'First Master of the Country,' a role that had been temporarily filled by an Imperial Guardian for decades. Now, the throne of the martial world was empty, and the slaughter was about to begin.
The referee appeared on the stage and his voice echoed across the arena. "There are 64 participants in today's competition, and if the rules are clear, we invite Master Aldo and Master Xyunju to the battle." On one side of the stage, a young man of about twenty-two years appeared. He was dressed in a deep red robe and wore a black hat adorned with yellow-gold lines. He wore simple glasses that framed his sharp eyes. This was Aldo. On the other side appeared a hunched warrior with white hair and a green aura that reeked of sins. It was Master Xyunju. "Boy, it seems today is the day your life ends, but it is not too late to beg." "Noisy." "Boy, then die!" He grabbed a small crescent-moon shaped sword and immediately launched a vicious attack. His aura revealed that he was a cursed user. Aldo decided to test the raw combat power of his body without using any abilities. He waited until his opponent was within one meter. He countered with blinding speed, using a combination of kicks and punches. He delivered the final fatal blow directly to Xyunju's heart. The fight ended instantly. It happened so fast that his enemy did not even realize he had died. "Who was that?" "Whoever this man is, he is terrifyingly strong." "What a magnificent strike." The audience erupted into applause. According to the rules, the winner remains on the stage until the end. The last person standing on the stage is considered the winner. This meant he would not leave the stage until the tournament was over. "Next." "Next." "Next." "Next." He repeated this thirty-one times. In just two hours, he eliminated nearly four-fifths of the participants from the game. Only the mysterious group of ten remained. Seeing this overwhelming power, some of the remaining participants admitted defeat without even stepping onto the stage. "Who else?" His voice came out so powerful that it shook the very souls of every living being nearby. "Sound that holds law," one of the group members whispered in amazement. Aldo looked at them and spoke calmly. "Hey you, all of you come together." "Are you a fool, do you think you can stand against all of us?" "It does not matter, the one remaining on the stage at the end wins." They stepped onto the stage all at once. It was one against ten. "Today I will teach you how to greet your senior brother." Boom. They all struck together with devastating force. However, it was as if there was an invisible barrier between them and Aldo. They simply hit the air. "Heavenly Restriction." "How many?" "I do not know, but I fear we do not have enough time to break it." They looked at each other and nodded. They bowed deeply. "Forgive us, Senior Brother, we were rude, forgive us." "Next time will be your death!" His words were so heavy that the living beings around them coughed up blood. "Words that hold Dao." One of them smiled strangely while coughing blood. "Take care." They said this and all ten vanished from sight. Everyone was amazed by the power of the man on the stage. In history, no one had ever handled sixty-three people alone in two hours. It was a record. "I declare Master Aldo the winner of today's competition." The competition ended with that proclamation. An award ceremony followed, and the Emperor granted Aldo the title of Imperial Master. Two days later, the tournament officially ended. It was announced that the academy would start operations in one day. The entire new academy staff departed for Astro Hildo.