Chapter 21 : Trials of the Inner Court

Chapter : Trials of the Inner Court

Tian Yu's transition into the Inner Court had been anything but smooth. The very moment he set foot within the territory of the Inner Court disciples, the atmosphere changed. The Outer Court was filled with struggling cultivators fighting to climb the ranks, but the Inner Court was different—here, power was an expectation, not an aspiration.

The training fields were vast, filled with powerful formations that allowed disciples to spar at full force without causing irreparable damage to the sect. Towering pagodas and floating islands dotted the horizon, serving as personal abodes for the strongest disciples. In the Inner Court, the gap between cultivators was stark—there were no weaklings.

Tian Yu was given a small courtyard at the far edge of the Inner Court, a space much larger and more refined than his previous dwelling. It came with a cultivation chamber, a meditation garden, and an automated formation that gathered ambient spiritual energy. Yet, even with these new luxuries, he knew that his presence was an anomaly.

The Weighing of Strength

Three days after his induction into the Inner Court, a notice was sent to his courtyard.

[System Alert: Mandatory Inner Court Trial]

Objective: Prove Your Worth to the Inner Court Elders.

Trial Type: Combat Examination.

Reward: Recognition, Eligibility for Special Resources.

Tian Yu smirked. He had expected something like this. It was a standard tradition for new Inner Court disciples to be tested, ensuring that they were worthy of the resources allocated to them.

The trial was to be held at the Skyfire Arena, a floating battlefield surrounded by spirit-enhanced barriers. It was a place where only the strongest disciples clashed. Word spread quickly, and soon, murmurs of a new, unknown disciple reaching the Inner Court spread like wildfire.

"Tian Yu? Never heard of him."

"I saw him defeat Fang Xuan in the Outer Court Tournament. If he's here, he's strong."

"He's only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, though. Can he really hold his own against true Inner Court disciples?"

Battle at Skyfire Arena

The arena was filled with onlookers as Tian Yu stepped onto the floating platform. The Sect Elders watched from the upper pagoda, their gazes indifferent but curious. Facing him was his opponent, Luo Qing, a disciple ranked within the top fifty of the Inner Court. A fierce fighter with a mastery of Blazing Spear Arts, he was at Foundation Establishment Late Stage, far beyond Tian Yu in raw cultivation.

"Newcomer, I'll give you one chance," Luo Qing said, his spear spinning in his grip. "Surrender now, and I won't embarrass you."

Tian Yu merely chuckled. "You should worry about yourself."

[System Alert: Combat Engaged!]

Luo Qing moved first, his spear igniting in flames as he thrust forward. Flame Serpent Strike! A torrent of fire shaped like a coiling serpent surged toward Tian Yu, burning through the air.

Tian Yu's eyes gleamed. He activated Void Steps, his body flickering out of existence as the flames passed harmlessly through where he had just stood. Reappearing behind Luo Qing, he unleashed Lunar Void Slash, a crescent blade of silver light cutting through the air.

Luo Qing barely had time to react. His spear spun defensively, deflecting the attack, but the force behind it sent him skidding back. His expression hardened. "Not bad, but let's see how long you last!"

The battle escalated, Luo Qing's spear techniques burning the air while Tian Yu's Void-based movements turned him into an elusive shadow. The arena trembled with every clash, shockwaves sending ripples through the protective formations.

The crowd gasped. "He's actually keeping up with Luo Qing!"

Tian Yu's movements became sharper. He was testing himself—feeling the limits of his current power. But he knew he had more.

Void Severance!

A pulse of spatial energy erupted from Tian Yu's blade. The very air distorted, and in an instant, Luo Qing was forced back, his defenses crumbling. Before he could recover, Tian Yu appeared before him, his palm glowing with black energy.

Void Palm Strike!

The impact sent Luo Qing crashing into the ground, the entire arena shaking from the force. Dust settled, and silence filled the air. Luo Qing lay motionless, his breathing heavy, unable to continue.

[System Alert: Victory Achieved!]

Reward: Recognition in Inner Court, +1000 Sect Contribution Points.

The crowd erupted in shock. Even the Sect Elders, who had watched indifferently at first, now studied Tian Yu with new interest.

A New Rivalry

After the battle, Tian Yu was approached by a group of Inner Court disciples. Among them was a striking young man clad in silver robes—Jiang Chen, ranked within the top ten of the Inner Court.

"You're interesting," Jiang Chen remarked. "But strength alone won't get you to the top."

Tian Yu met his gaze without flinching. "Then I'll climb with both strength and strategy."

Jiang Chen smirked. "I look forward to seeing that."

From that moment, Tian Yu knew—the Inner Court would be an even greater battlefield than the Outer Court. But that was fine. He was ready.

The Call of Forbidden Lands

The next morning, a new notice arrived.

[System Alert: Special Mission Assigned]

Objective: Investigate the Ancestral Ruins in the Forbidden Lands.

Mission Rank: S-Tier.

Reward: Unknown.

Tian Yu's expression darkened. The Forbidden Lands—a place where even Core Formation cultivators tread carefully. What secrets awaited him there? And how was this connected to the whispers of the Void Era?

Whatever the case, Tian Yu would find out. The path to true strength had only just begun.

End of Chapter : Trials of the Inner Court