Chapter 6: The Final Trial

Sovereign of the Celestial Ascent

Chapter 6: The Final Trial

Tianming stood before the massive stone doors of the ancient chamber, his gaze locking onto the figure on other side. Jian Cheng.

Dressed in the flowing robes of the Celestial Wind Sect, Jian Cheng cut an imposing figure—tall and lean, his posture steady as a mountain. His piercing hazel eyes held neither malice nor arrogance, only an unwavering determination. Strands of long brown hair were tied loosely behind him, revealing sharp, well-defined features that carried an air of quiet confidence. Unlike the scheming disciples Tianming had encountered, there was no envy in Jian Cheng's gaze—only the desire to test himself against a worthy opponent.

For a moment, they sized each other up. Then, a small smirk formed on Jian Cheng's lips.

"May the stronger one prevail."

Tianming nodded, gripping his sword. "Whoever deserves it will take it."

There was no need for pretense. This was a battle of strength, not hatred. As their energies surged, Tianming couldn't help but think—the world was vast, and not every rival was an enemy.

The moment Tianming stepped into the chamber along with the new univited guest, he knew something was wrong.

The air was heavy, thick with an unseen pressure that seemed to crawl beneath his skin. The cavern walls pulsed with faint veins of golden light, illuminating the intricate carvings that lined the stone.

Beside him, Jiang Chen exhaled sharply, his hand tightening around his sword. "This place... It's different from the rest of the ruins. Do you feel it?"

Tianming nodded. "It feels like something is alive here."

At the center of the chamber stood an ancient pedestal, and upon it rested a jade artifact encased in a barrier of swirling energy. Tianming's heart quickened. Could this be the inheritance left behind by the ancient sovereign

The Celestial Jade.

It radiated a gentle, almost inviting glow, yet the closer Tianming got, the more his instincts screamed at him to be careful.

Jiang Chen took a cautious step forward, but before either of them could move further, a deep rumbling filled the chamber.

The carvings along the walls shifted, the stone shifting like living flesh. The golden veins pulsed violently, and a low voice, neither human nor beast, echoed through the air.

"Who dares disturb my slumber?"

A chill ran down Tianming's spine.

Before he could react, the ground beneath them shook violently, and a shadowy presence began to rise from the depths of the cavern. A figure, draped in ancient, tattered robes, materialized before them.

Its eyes burned with celestial fire, its presence overwhelming.

Jiang Chen instinctively raised his sword, his stance defensive. "A spirit… No, something worse."

Tianming held out a hand. "Wait. It hasn't attacked yet."

The entity's burning gaze landed on Tianming, and the jade in his grasp flared to life, sending out golden ripples that filled the chamber.

A test.

The ruins had been waiting.

And now, they would judge him.

The spirit raised a skeletal hand, and in an instant, the chamber transformed.

Tianming and Jiang Chen were no longer standing in a cavern but floating in a void of swirling golden mist.

Suddenly, phantoms appeared—warriors clad in celestial robes, their weapons drawn. Their faces were blurred, but their intent was clear.

Kill or be killed.

The first attacker lunged.

"Mortal, you dare seek the inheritance of the Celestial Ascent?" The voice was like rolling thunder, reverberating in Tianming's bones.

Tianming tightened his grip around his sword. So this is the guardian of the trial…

Tianming barely had time to draw his blade before the clash of metal rang through the air. The force behind the strike sent him skidding backward, his arms numb from the impact.

Beside him, Jiang Chen was already moving, his Storm Edge Swordplay cutting through the mist, dispersing a phantom warrior before another took its place.

"They're testing us!" Jiang Chen shouted. "Prove we are worthy, or we die!"

Tianming gritted his teeth. The Celestial Jade was resonating with his core, and suddenly, knowledge—not his own—poured into his mind.

"Embrace the void. Become the storm."

His instincts sharpened. The next phantom came at him, but this time, he didn't meet its blade head-on. His sword lashed out, cutting through the phantom effortlessly.

One by one, the warriors fell.

Until only one remained.

The spirit.

It no longer watched—it attacked.

With impossible speed, it was upon them.

Tianming barely had time to react before a searing hand slammed into his chest, sending him crashing into the void.

Pain.

And then—

Understanding.

Images flashed before his eyes.

A war long forgotten. A civilization lost to time. A power buried beneath these ruins.

And a warning.

"Beware the False Celestial."

The vision faded.

The guardian wasted no time, raising its massive spectral blade and bringing it down in a sweeping arc.

Tianming reacted instantly. He sidestepped, the blade narrowly missing him and crashing into the stone floor, sending cracks rippling outward. Before the guardian could recover, Tianming surged forward, his sword shimmering with celestial light as he struck.

His blade met resistance mid-air—an invisible force repelling his attack. The guardian's barrier!

So brute force won't be enough…

The guardian countered with an explosive palm strike. Tianming barely managed to block, but the impact sent him skidding backward, his feet digging trenches into the ground.

He gritted his teeth. The guardian was testing more than just strength—it was testing comprehension.

Closing his eyes for a brief moment, Tianming focused inward. He recalled the engravings on the walls—the runes that had glowed the moment he entered. Understanding struck him like a bolt of lightning.

He shifted his stance, adjusting his breathing, and let his qi flow in sync with the ancient energy in the cave. His body felt lighter, almost as if he were stepping beyond the constraints of the mortal realm.

The guardian lunged again, but this time, Tianming didn't dodge. He ascended—his body flickering like mist, evading the attack as though he were beyond physical limitations.

His sword pulsed with newfound energy, and with a single strike, he pierced through the guardian's barrier. The spectral warrior let out a final, echoing roar before dispersing into wisps of light.

The cave fell silent.

Tianming exhaled, steadying himself as he approached the altar. The barrier around the jade artifact flickered, then vanished.

Reaching out, he grasped the jade treasure, it started to glow and change shape and Tianming realIzed that it has taken the form of a sword.

Primordial Jade Sword

The moment his fingers touched its surface,a flood of energy surged into him, knowledge searing into his mind.

A technique—one lost to time.

The Celestial Void Step.

His pulse pounded. With this, his movement technique would surpass anything he had before, allowing him to phase between the material and ethereal realms.

Just as he was absorbing the information, the sealed entrance behind him trembled.

Someone was coming.

The cave walls pulsed with an eerie glow as Tianming advanced further, the jade artifact still warm in his grasp. The moment he had claimed it, the ruins had responded, as if something ancient had begun to stir.

But he wasn't alone.

A groan echoed from behind him.

Tianming spun around, sword raised, only to find Jiang Chen staggering from a collapsed passageway, his robes torn and his left arm bleeding.

"Jiang Chen!" Tianming rushed to him, catching him before he collapsed completely. "What happened?"

Jiang Chen let out a sharp breath. "The moment you passed the trial, something changed in the ruins. The path behind me crumbled—I barely managed to escape." He coughed, forcing himself upright. "But that's not all. I sensed something—an awakening."

Tianming frowned. "I felt it too."

A deep tremor ran through the cave, as if responding to their words. The air thickened with unseen pressure, an ominous presence pressing down on them.

Jiang Chen wiped the blood from his mouth. "We need to leave. Now."

But before they could move, the entrance exploded inward.

Mu Qingfeng and his disciples strode into the chamber, their expressions sharp with greed and malice.

"Well, well." Mu Qingfeng smirked. "Two rats scurrying about in the dark." His gaze flickered toward the jade artifact in Tianming's grasp. "Hand it over, Junior Brother. You've already proven your talent—I'm simply taking what should belong to the strongest."

Jiang Chen, still catching his breath, let out a dry chuckle. "Funny. I thought sect rules didn't favor outright robbery."

Mu Qingfeng's smirk deepened. "Rules?" He stepped forward, hands glowing with crackling Thunderfire Qi. "Rules don't apply in a place like this."

Jiang Chen tensed. He wasn't in the best shape, but Tianming knew he wouldn't back down from a fight.

Tianming tightened his grip on his sword. "I earned this treasure." His voice was calm but firm. "If you want it—come take it."

Mu Qingfeng's eyes flashed. "Very well."

With a flick of his wrist, a bolt of lightning-infused fire shot toward Tianming.

Tianming moved on instinct. The Celestial Void Step activated, his body flickering like a mirage as he evaded the attack. The ground where he had been standing moments ago exploded into molten rubble.

Jiang Chen, despite his wounds, launched forward, slashing at the nearest disciple. His Storm Edge Swordplay sent a burst of cutting wind through the cave, forcing two attackers back.

Mu Qingfeng's eyes widened slightly. "Interesting… but not enough."

He gestured, and his remaining disciples surged forward.

Tianming and Jiang Chen moved in perfect sync—parrying, dodging, striking with deadly precision. Tianming's sword sliced through the air, forcing one disciple into retreat, while Jiang Chen's wind techniques sent another crashing into a rock formation.

But Mu Qingfeng hadn't made his real move yet.

And then—

BOOM!

A pulse of ancient energy erupted from the depths of the cave.

The fighting stopped immediately.

A deep, guttural whisper filled the air.

"Who dares desecrate my domain?"

The temperature plummeted. The torches flickered violently before extinguishing, plunging the cave into near darkness.

Jiang Chen, despite his injuries, grabbed Tianming's sleeve. "That's what I sensed earlier." His voice was grim. "This place isn't just an old ruin—it's a tomb."

Mu Qingfeng stepped back, his confidence wavering for the first time. "What… is this?"

The shadows near the far end of the chamber twisted.

Then something stepped out.

A figure clad in ancient robes, its face obscured by darkness, eyes burning with celestial fire.

Jiang Chen whispered, "An awakened spirit."

Tianming gritted his teeth. Whatever had been sealed here was now awake.

And it was angry.

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Coming up next in chapter 7

-Tianming and Jiang Chen battle Mu Qingfeng's forces as the spirits wrath intensifies

-Tianming unlocks a hidden ability from the Celestial Jade.

-Jiang Chen makes a shocking revelation about Mu Qingfeng's true motives.

-The temple begins collapsing, forcing them to escape.

The world shall know soon,

Tianming is no longer just a runaway.

He is the Sovereign of the Celestial Ascent.