The Birth of the Sovereign’s Court 

Jiang Chen stood at the edge of a towering cliff, his golden-amber eyes scanning the vast, untamed land before him. The Sovereign Realm stretched endlessly—mountains that scraped the heavens, rivers flowing with spiritual essence, and an untouched land brimming with power.

For the first time since stepping into this realm, the weight of what he had just created settled upon him.

This was more than just a realm.

This was the beginning of something greater.

Bai Muchen walked up beside him, arms crossed. "This place has limitless potential. But potential means nothing unless we use it."

Xiao Dong smirked. "Yeah, we could make a hell of a base here. Maybe even start a faction."

Qin Tian, standing silently at the edge of the cliff, didn't speak. But Jiang Chen could feel the weight of his presence, the silent agreement in his posture.

Jiang Chen exhaled slowly, then turned to face them.

"No," he said. "Not a faction. Not a sect."

They all looked at him.

"This is something more. Something greater."

He paused, then spoke the words that would set everything into motion.

"This is the birth of the Sovereign's Court."

Jiang Chen's words carried through the wind, echoing across the vast expanse of the realm.

Bai Muchen raised an eyebrow. "You're building a force?"

Jiang Chen nodded. "Yes. But not just any force. The Sovereign's Court will not be bound by any kingdom, sect, or empire. It will not answer to anyone but itself."

Xiao Dong let out a low whistle. "Sounds ambitious."

Jiang Chen's voice remained steady. "I am still a disciple of the Heaven Sundering Pavilion. And so are you. This does not change that." He glanced at each of them. "You do not need to leave your sects to be part of this. The Sovereign's Court will exist as something separate—something greater. A force that will one day rival the strongest sects in existence."

Bai Muchen smirked. "A small, elite group, huh?"

Jiang Chen nodded. "For now. Only the most exceptional will be allowed in. No dead weight."

Qin Tian's sharp gaze flickered. He wasn't one for words, but after a long pause, he gave a slight nod.

The Sovereign's Court was born.

Jiang Chen turned to the three warriors beside him.

"I want you all to be part of this."

Bai Muchen's smirk widened. "Took you long enough to say it."

Xiao Dong grinned, cracking his knuckles. "A faction of monsters? Sounds fun."

Qin Tian remained silent, his hand resting on his spear. After a moment, he closed his eyes and nodded.

BOOOOM!

The moment they accepted, the Sovereign Token flared with golden light, surging toward them. The moment the energy touched them, it sank into their cores.

The sky trembled in acknowledgment.

Bai Muchen clenched his fists, feeling the energy course through him. "So this is what it means to be part of this realm."

Xiao Dong laughed. "Feels like we just got sworn into something legendary."

Jiang Chen's gaze swept over them. This was just the beginning.

Xiao Dong leaned against a boulder. "So, what's the plan? Recruiting an army?"

Jiang Chen shook his head. "No. The Sovereign's Court will remain small. Only the most exceptional warriors will be invited. No mediocrity. No dead weight. Only those strong enough to carve their own path."

Bai Muchen grinned. "That means we'll be picky, huh?"

Jiang Chen nodded. "Extremely."

For now, the Sovereign's Court would remain small. A force that could move unseen, growing in power until the time was right to reveal itself to the world.

The Court would be built on strength, loyalty, and the will to defy fate itself.

Silence fell between them.

Then, Xiao Dong asked the question that had been hanging in the air.

"So… what now?"

The realization sank in.

The Temple of Heaven and Earth would not let them climb any further. The trials had ended. Their path forward here was closed.

Bai Muchen looked over at Jiang Chen. "I guess this is it, huh? The end of this little adventure."

Jiang Chen exhaled, his eyes gleaming with clarity. "No. This is just the beginning."

Xiao Dong cracked his knuckles. "Well, we made it this far. Might as well see where the next path takes us."

Bai Muchen smirked. "Heh. Not like we have a choice."

Qin Tian remained silent but stepped forward beside them.

Jiang Chen turned his gaze toward the swirling exit portal that had now appeared.

This wasn't just the end of the trial.

This was the beginning of something far greater.