Chapter 1: The Calm Before the Storm

Five hundred years ago, golden scriptures descended upon the world, etching the cruel decree of fate into the skies. The Ancient War Nexus—a battlefield where the myriad races waged war for supremacy—had opened its gates, and humanity was no longer exempt. Those who fought and survived would gain power beyond measure, but those who fell would be reduced to dust, forgotten by time. From that day forth, every human world was bound to the cycle of war, its people striving to cultivate and grow strong enough to survive the inevitable.

And now, the time had come once again.

"Tianming, wake up! You're going to be late for class!"

Li Tianming groaned, rolling over on his straw mattress as a soft yet firm voice reached his ears. He cracked one eye open to see his aunt, Li Yuyan, sitting by the window, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. Even though her legs were weak, her beauty remained untouched by time. She had raised him ever since his parents disappeared, and though life had been hard, she had never once complained.

"You're up, aren't you?" she said with a knowing smile.

Tianming sighed. "I was hoping I could skip today."

She chuckled. "The Dragon Martial Competition is in a month. If you don't train, you'll regret it later."

"Yeah, yeah." He stretched lazily before standing up and getting dressed. His clothes were plain, unlike those of noble sect disciples, but he didn't care. Strength wasn't in the fabric—it was in the heart.

The morning sun bathed the city streets in a golden hue as Tianming walked toward the school with his best friend, Zhou Feng, a short and stocky boy with an ever-present grin.

"I barely got any sleep last night," Zhou Feng grumbled. "Kept thinking about the rankings. Do you think I have a shot at the top 15?"

Tianming smirked. "That depends. Have you finally learned not to trip over your own feet?"

"Hey! That happened once—alright, maybe twice."

As they arrived at the academy's grand entrance, students bustled about, their chatter filled with excitement and nervous anticipation. Today's sparring session would determine their class rankings—a crucial factor in qualifying for the provincial Dragon Martial Competition. Only the best would get the chance to prove themselves on the battlefield.

Inside the classroom, the teacher, Elder Mu, stood before the students, his stern gaze sweeping over them. "Before we begin our sparring session, let's review the reason we train so hard."

A collective groan echoed through the room.

"We already know this, Elder Mu. Why go over it again?" one student muttered.

Elder Mu ignored the complaints and continued, "Five hundred years ago, the Ancient War Nexus forced humanity into an endless war. Every world, every race, every civilization must fight for their survival. Only the strongest among us can hope to ascend, and only through battle can we carve out our place in the cosmos."

Tianming listened in silence. Though he had heard this a thousand times before, it was a reality he could never ignore. Strength determined everything. Without it, one was nothing but prey.

Elder Mu's voice hardened. "This is why the Dragon Martial Competition exists—to prepare our best warriors for the trials ahead. If you wish to rise, you must fight for it."

With that, the lecture ended, and the students were led to the training grounds.

The sparring arena was an open courtyard, surrounded by towering stone pillars. The first matches commenced quickly, with students testing their martial arts techniques against one another. Some were swift and precise, while others relied on brute force.

Zhou Feng's match was up next.

His opponent, Wei Liang, the 16th-ranked student, stood across from him, a lean boy with sharp eyes. The two clasped their fists in respect before assuming their stances.

"Begin!" the instructor shouted.

Wei Liang attacked first, dashing forward with a swift palm strike. Zhou Feng barely dodged, his movements slower but steadier. He retaliated with a powerful punch, forcing Wei Liang back.

The match became a contest of endurance. Zhou Feng relied on his strong physique, while Wei Liang used speed and technique. But as the fight dragged on, Zhou Feng's persistence paid off. With a final, desperate lunge, he landed a solid blow to Wei Liang's chest, sending him stumbling out of bounds.

"Winner—Zhou Feng!"

Zhou Feng collapsed onto his knees, panting. "That… was way too close."

Tianming chuckled. "At least you didn't trip this time."

Zhou Feng scowled but grinned nonetheless. "Now I'm in the top 16! One more rank and I'll qualify for the competition!"

Just as the excitement died down, another voice rang out.

"Li Tianming."

A tall figure stepped forward—Wu Jian, the 4th-ranked student. His muscular build and towering height made him an intimidating opponent, but what stood out the most was his expression of disdain.

"I challenge you." His voice was laced with arrogance. "Let's see if your calm facade can hold up against real strength."

Silence fell over the training ground as all eyes turned to Tianming.

He met Wu Jian's gaze with unwavering composure. "Alright."

With that, the match was set. The next fight would decide whether Tianming could hold his rank—or if he would fall.

To Be Continued…