Xuan Li stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the celestial scene before him. Suspended in the endless expanse of the void, the runes he had seen earlier had rearranged themselves into intricate, starry patterns, connecting across the darkness like constellations given purpose. His breath hitched as oppressive silence wrapped around him, a silence that seemed alive, gnawing at his spirit.
Then, it appeared.
Before him loomed an enormous eye—an unfathomable entity that dominated the cosmos. Its form resembled a solar eclipse, but no natural phenomenon could ever evoke such dread. The center was an abyss, a pitch-black void that swallowed all light, hope, and reason. Around its edges burned an intense ring of fiery purple and crimson energy, pulsating in rhythmic waves that resonated with power beyond mortal comprehension.
Tendrils of energy spiraled outward from the eye, clawing at the void like ethereal chains threatening to tear apart the fabric of existence itself. Stars that once shimmered faintly in the distance dimmed, overshadowed by the eye's unyielding presence. Xuan Li felt insignificant—less than a speck of dust in the vast, uncaring cosmos.
His knees gave way, and he knelt, trembling. His mind screamed, a primal instinct warning him of danger, yet he could not look away. The weight of the eye's gaze pressed down on him, as if it had reached into his very soul and was dissecting his existence.
As his thoughts spiraled into chaos, a deafening roar of voices rose from every direction, shattering the oppressive silence. Xuan Li's eyes darted downward, and he saw something he could barely comprehend.
Beneath him, in the boundless expanse of space, gathered thousands—no, tens of thousands—of figures clad in gleaming white armor. Their synchronized movements exuded discipline and immense power, their weapons glowing with celestial energy as they pointed toward a single target.
Hovering amidst the legions of white-armored figures was a lone man. Draped in a robe of black and gold, he stood tall, his presence commanding yet detached. His face was obscured by shadow, but when his eyes opened, Xuan Li's breath caught in his throat. The man's eyes were like twin galaxies, swirling with stars, planets, and an unending depth that threatened to consume all who gazed into them.
Above him, the monstrous eye loomed, pulsating with unfathomable energy.
The figures in white armor, their weapons raised, surged with power. The void trembled violently, cracks of blinding light splitting through the fabric of space. The energy they unleashed was immeasurable, enough to shatter worlds and reshape entire realms.
But the man in black and gold remained unmoving, his expression unchanged. Then, with an almost imperceptible sigh, his energy surged outward.
The eye above him glowed with terrifying brilliance, and Xuan Li's body stiffened as he watched the scene unfold.
In an instant, it was over.
The tens of thousands of armored figures collapsed as one, their bodies falling lifeless into the void. No cries of agony, no final words. Just silence. Xuan Li could only stare in disbelief. These figures—beings of unimaginable strength, each capable of destroying a planet on their own—had been erased as if they had never existed.
The void grew quiet again. The man in black and gold slowly turned, his gaze piercing through Xuan Li as if aware of his presence across time and space.
"I know you are seeing this," the man's voice echoed, deep and resonant, filling Xuan Li's mind. "I do not know who you are, but if you are witnessing this, then you have been chosen by him... Veldris."
The name struck Xuan Li like a thunderclap. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.
The man's form began to fade, his voice growing softer. "I pity you. You have been caught in a cruel fate... one that even I could not escape."
As the man vanished, so did the eye, its presence retreating into the abyss from which it had come. Xuan Li was left alone, floating in the endless void.
With a sharp gasp, Xuan Li jolted awake. His heart pounded in his chest, and sweat drenched his body. The scrolls were still in his hands, glowing faintly with the runes.
His mind raced with questions. "What was that? Who was that man? And what cruel fate was he talking about?"
Inside the locket, Veldris's voice remained silent, but his thoughts churned. This boy... he has seen it. There's no turning back now.
Xuan Li sighed, his expression grim. He muttered to himself, "Things are getting more complicated. I need to grow stronger, faster. It feels like something—or someone—is guiding me toward a path I can't avoid."
Steeling his resolve, Xuan Li set aside the strange vision. He unrolled the first scroll, the words of the Starfall Cleave's second sword glowing brighter.
Within the vast expanse of the Royal Grounds, an awe-inspiring phenomenon unfolded. Flames surged skyward, painting the heavens with shades of crimson and gold. The air trembled as waves of scorching heat radiated outward, forcing even seasoned cultivators to retreat and shield themselves from the oppressive energy.
In the center of it all stood Mei Zihan, his body wreathed in flames. Above him, the majestic shadow of a phoenix rose high into the sky, its fiery wings stretching across the firmament. The sacred bird let out a resonating cry, its voice shaking the heavens and commanding respect from all who bore witness. The fiery feathers falling from its form turned into delicate embers as they touched the earth, igniting reverence in the hearts of onlookers.
A disciple whispered, "It's Mei Zihan... he's broken through to Level Two!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd, their disbelief evident as they watched the prodigious young leader ascend to new heights. The sect masters, disciples, and even his sister, Mei Xue, stood frozen, their expressions a mix of shock and awe.
The heavenly tribulation had arrived. Dark clouds churned violently above, lightning crackling with destructive intent. Each roar of thunder reverberated like the fury of an ancient god, promising annihilation to any who dared defy its might.
Standing firm amidst this chaos, Mei Zihan smirked, his confidence unshaken. "It was about time," he murmured. "Let's see just how much my power has grown."
A massive bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, hurtling toward him with unstoppable force. The crowd instinctively recoiled, certain that even Mei Zihan couldn't withstand such an assault.
But he didn't resist.
Instead, Mei Zihan raised his fist. The flames around him began to shift, swirling toward his hand. His thoughts were steady, deliberate. This technique... I realized it after my battle with Xuan Li. His control over his energy was unlike anything I had ever encountered. It was as if every fragment of power was harnessed with perfect efficiency, leaving nothing to waste. I tried to replicate it, but it was nearly impossible... until now.
The flames condensed further, becoming more vibrant, more dangerous. The sheer density of power distorted the air around him, causing ripples as if reality itself was being altered. Mei Zihan's body radiated an aura of invincibility, his strength tangible and undeniable.
The lightning bolt was mere inches from his head when he unleashed his punch.
With a deafening roar, his condensed flames erupted, tearing through the thunderbolt as though it were nothing more than paper. The force of his strike extended far beyond its initial target, surging upward into the dark clouds. The heavens themselves quaked as the phoenix shadow screeched triumphantly, flames ripping a hole through the storm. The sky burned, as though Mei Zihan had torn asunder the veil separating mortal and divine realms.
The silence that followed was profound, broken only by the crackling of lingering flames.
the disciples surged toward Mei Zihan, their voices clamoring in excitement and awe.
"Brother Mei Zihan! What was that technique? How did you do it?"
"Can you teach us? Please!"
Mei Zihan raised a hand, silencing the crowd with a calm but firm gesture. A faint smile crossed his lips as he glanced at the dissipating flames. His thoughts, however, were elsewhere.
Xuan Li... I've taken my first step toward catching up to you. One day, I will challenge you again, and this time, I'll have the strength to make you acknowledge me.