The morning sun burned over the valley like a forge, revealing scars left from countless skirmishes. The Inner Sect had prepared meticulously, yet the sheer scale of the approaching forces left even the elders uneasy. From every direction, hidden sects and shadowy factions converged, their combined aura a tempest that threatened to swallow the mountains themselves.
Li Tian stood atop a jagged cliff, Devouring Core pulsating in golden-white-purple brilliance. The Core's light flowed with the rhythm of his heartbeat, sensing every approaching enemy and analyzing countless permutations of battle strategies. Han Xue and several senior strategists flanked him, eyes sharp, minds calculating, but the air vibrated with anticipation—this would be the first large-scale war since the Core's ultimate evolution.
The Battlefield Ignites
The clash began with a roar of elemental energy. Lightning tore through the skies, firestorms erupted from the enemy lines, and wind currents twisted mountains into jagged whirlpools.
Li Tian moved like the eye of a hurricane:
Absorbing attacks from multiple enemies simultaneously with the Devouring Core
Redirecting enemy energy in precise arcs, striking weak points before they could react
Manipulating terrain using absorbed elemental forces—rocks became barriers, rivers became currents of energy, and wind currents formed invisible traps
Merging absorbed elements to create hybrid attacks, unpredictable and devastating
The enemy elite, including Zhao Ming, Xuan Wu, and Shen Wu, led the offensive. Their combined power rivaled ancient sect leaders, yet even their most coordinated attacks were anticipated and countered by Li Tian.
"You've grown… but you cannot control all of this!" Zhao Ming shouted, summoning lightning serpents that surged like dragons toward Li Tian.
Li Tian's Core flared, golden-white-purple energy spiraling outward. "Then let's see whose will shapes the battlefield!"
Tactical Brilliance of the Core
The Devouring Core's intelligence surpassed mere reflexes. Every move, every environmental change, every enemy fluctuation was calculated in real time:
Shadow assassins were lured into controlled energy traps and neutralized without collateral damage
Fire elementals were absorbed and converted into kinetic waves to collapse enemy formations
Air currents were manipulated to create turbulence, separating enemy squads and isolating leaders
Earth and water were merged into dynamic terrain barriers, forcing enemies into predictable paths
Even the most experienced elders watching from afar whispered in awe. "He is no longer a mortal… he commands the battlefield as though it were alive."
Han Xue observed closely, calculating backup strategies. "Every move he makes is perfect… but even the Core has limits. We must be ready to exploit opportunities it creates."
Li Tian's gaze swept across the chaos. "There is no limit when mind, Core, and battlefield are one. Let them come—every strategy, every formation, every attack… the Core has already accounted for it."
Decisive Encounters
The Inner Sect's disciples, inspired by Li Tian, surged forward. Each strike synchronized with the Core's manipulation of the environment. Rivers shifted, rocks surged, and lightning pulsed in harmony with their movements.
Xuan Wu attempted to flank, his elemental mastery creating a vortex of fire and wind. Li Tian anticipated every move: the Core absorbed fire energy, redirected wind currents to destabilize Xuan Wu's footing, and struck with a concentrated hybrid blast. Xuan Wu staggered, surprised at the speed and precision.
Shen Wu, controlling six elements at once, aimed to overwhelm the Core. But Li Tian had predicted the combination and split the attacks, absorbing fragments and converting them into amplifying energy that struck multiple enemies simultaneously.
Zhao Ming's final assault—an immense lightning storm—was redirected by the Core, the energy dispersing into controlled beams that shattered enemy ranks and forced retreat.
The valley echoed with the combined roars of retreating enemies and the victorious Inner Sect disciples.
Aftermath and Foreshadowing
As dust settled, Li Tian ascended the cliff once more. Golden-white-purple energy spiraled outward, dissipating into the sky, leaving a faint afterglow over the battlefield.
Han Xue approached. "The hidden factions have been checked… for now. But they will regroup. Their strongest forces, relic hunters, and even ancient sect remnants… they are aware of you now."
Li Tian's eyes gleamed. "Good. Let them come. Every challenge strengthens the Core and prepares me for the world beyond these mountains. The relic, the ancient powers, and the unknown threats… I will face them all. Nothing will stand in the way of the Devouring Core."
In the distance, cloaked figures watched from mountaintops, their eyes reflecting both fear and intrigue. Li Tian had proven his power and strategy on a scale few could comprehend. But the world was vast, and the relics, secret sects, and ancient powers were just beginning to stir.
The mortal without spirit roots had become a legend shaping the course of the cultivation world, and the next battles would push both Core and cultivator beyond imagination.