Chapter 46 - The Rewards of Strength

Jiang Cheng stood before the ancient altar, his robes torn but his posture unwavering. The battle had tested him, forced him to surpass his limits, but he had emerged victorious. Now, in this grand, forgotten chamber, three treasures floated in front of him, each pulsing with overwhelming energy.

A deep, ancient voice echoed in the chamber, carrying both wisdom and warning.

"You have proven yourself worthy. Choose wisely, for power alone does not shape one's destiny—understanding does."

Jiang Cheng's eyes swept across the three treasures.

1. The Celestial Void Scripture – A mysterious cultivation technique said to grant control over space itself. Those who mastered it could traverse vast distances in an instant and even manipulate reality to some extent.

2. The Tyrant's Dragon Armor – Forged from the scales of an ancient divine dragon, this armor was nearly indestructible and greatly enhanced the wearer's physical strength and resilience.

3. The Nameless Sword – A blade that had no recorded history, yet it exuded an aura sharper than any divine weapon Jiang Cheng had ever encountered. It felt as if it had been waiting for someone to wield it.

Each treasure possessed immeasurable power, but he could only choose one.

Jiang Cheng exhaled softly, his thoughts sharp and precise. He already possessed powerful weapons and techniques, but what he lacked was an ability that would allow him to maneuver freely in battle, to control the battlefield itself.

With firm resolve, he extended his hand—

The Celestial Void Scripture.

The moment his fingers made contact, a powerful force surged into him, dragging his consciousness into a boundless void filled with swirling stars, fractured space, and endless nothingness.

A deep voice, neither human nor divine, resounded in his mind:

"Space is infinite. Time is but an illusion. To control one is to defy the heavens."

As these words settled in his soul, Jiang Cheng felt his understanding of movement, positioning, and reality itself shift. Before he could fully process what was happening, his body reacted instinctively.

Whoosh—!

His figure blinked several feet away without taking a single step. He reappeared in an instant, his body feeling neither the motion nor the force of movement.

Jiang Cheng's breath caught.

He hadn't moved in the conventional sense. He had simply ceased to exist in one place and reappeared in another.

This was Void Step, the first stage of the Celestial Void Scripture.

More knowledge flooded into his mind. This was only the beginning—at its peak, the technique would allow him to not only traverse space freely but even bend it to his will, rendering himself untouchable in battle.

A feeling of exhilaration surged through him.

The ancient voice spoke once more:

"This is the first step on the path to the void. Walk forward, and the heavens shall part before you."

Jiang Cheng slowly exhaled as his mind returned to reality. The altar before him dimmed, its energy exhausted. The once-mystical chamber now felt eerily silent, as if the ancient presence had withdrawn completely.

Boom—!

A deep rumbling echoed through the ruins. The walls cracked, and the entire structure trembled violently.

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes.

"The trial grounds are collapsing."

He had no time to hesitate. Activating Void Step, he flickered and reappeared at the exit in an instant, covering a vast distance as if space itself had bent to his will.

The moment he stepped outside, the ruins behind him collapsed entirely, sealing away whatever secrets remained within. The dust settled, leaving only an eerie silence in its wake.

Jiang Cheng clenched his fists. Even though he had only unlocked the initial stage of the Celestial Void Scripture, he could already feel its potential. If mastered, this technique could make him nearly untouchable.

Still, mastering such an ability wouldn't be easy. It would take time, effort, and numerous battles to perfect.

For now, he had taken another step forward.

A gust of wind carried the scent of the battlefield to his nose, and he turned his gaze towards the distant horizon. His journey was far from over. There were stronger enemies to face, greater trials to overcome, and deeper mysteries to unravel.

But with each battle, he would carve his own fate.

With a faint smile, Jiang Cheng disappeared into the distance, leaving behind only the echoes of his triumph.