Chapter 7: The Ruins and the tomb
Sovereign of celestial ascent
Chapter 7: The Ruins and the tomb
The tension in the air was suffocating.
Mu Qingfeng's sharp gaze flickered between Li Tianming and Jiang Chen, his fingers twitching over his weapon's hilt. The atmosphere crackled with unspoken hostility.
"You should hand over what you found," Mu Qingfeng said coolly. "Everyone in the sect will hear about this soon. Do you really think you can keep it for yourself?"
Tianming narrowed his eyes. "You're welcome to try."
Jiang Chen took a step forward, his hand resting on his sword as the whole place reverberated with an oppressive energy. "We don't have time for this. We must leave this place."
Mu Qingfeng's smirk faltered slightly. He was confident in his abilities, but facing two opponents who had just survived the ruins' trial made him hesitate. His instincts screamed at him—this wasn't a fight he could win.
His lips curled into a forced chuckle. "Hmph. This place is a tomb. I have no interest in staying any longer."
Without another word, Mu Qingfeng turned and fled into the shadows.
Tianming and Jiang Chen didn't chase him. He wasn't their biggest concern right now.
Before they could move, a dark energy sealed off the exit.
A deep tremor shook the ruins. The very air around them grew heavy. The trial was not over.
---
The altar in the center of the chamber flared with an ominous glow. Ancient inscriptions ignited, spiraling across the walls in golden patterns. A powerful force surged through the air, making the very stone tremble.
A deep, guttural voice reverberated through the chamber:
"Only the worthy may claim the Sovereign's Legacy. Face the Judgment of the Eternal Guardian."
From within the vortex of golden energy, a towering figure emerged—an armored specter wreathed in celestial power. Its hollow eyes burned with divine fire, and in its grip was a colossal halberd that crackled with lightning.
Tianming clenched his fists. "It's not over yet."
Jiang Chen exhaled sharply. "We should have known there was another trial."
The Eternal Guardian raised its weapon high, summoning a storm of celestial lightning. The ruins trembled as a spirit within the chamber stirred—an ancient presence that had been long dormant.
A whisper drifted through the chamber, soft yet overwhelming, filling the air with an ethereal resonance.
"You who seek the Sovereign's power… prove yourselves."
A faint figure materialized behind the altar, its form flickering between existence and nothingness. It was a shadowy spirit, draped in ancient robes, its eyes filled with unfathomable wisdom.
Tianming's mind raced. Was this the lingering will of the Sovereign? Or something else entirely?
But there was no time for answers. The Eternal Guardian lunged, its halberd slicing through the air with terrifying speed.
Tianming barely dodged, feeling the wind pressure cut across his cheek. Jiang Chen retaliated with a powerful sword strike, but the guardian's armor absorbed the blow effortlessly.
The fight had begun.
Tianming's mind sharpened. Raw power won't be enough. There must be a pattern in its attacks… a weakness.
Then he noticed it—the guardian hesitated slightly before each lightning strike.
"Jiang Chen! Aim for its left flank right after it attacks!" Tianming shouted.
Jiang Chen nodded, trusting Tianming's instincts. As the guardian swung again, Jiang Chen dashed in, his blade glowing with his full strength. The strike landed precisely on the weak point, shattering part of the guardian's armor.
The guardian staggered. For the first time, it looked vulnerable.
---
Sensing an opportunity, Tianming channeled his full energy into his blade. The Celestial Jade resonated, flooding him with an overwhelming power.
The guardian let out a final roar and lunged once more. Tianming met its charge head-on.
Tianming activated the Celestial Void Step and with a burst of speed, he sidestepped at the last moment, twisting his blade in a precise arc.
A piercing golden light exploded through the chamber as his sword struck true—severing the guardian's core.
The specter froze. Cracks spread across its form like shattered glass before it dissolved into radiant particles.
The ruins fell silent.
---
As the dust settled, the spirit behind the altar remained. Its gaze bore into Tianming, as if measuring his very soul.
"You have proven yourselves," it murmured. "The Sovereign's Legacy is yours."
The altar shifted, revealing a floating golden sigil pulsing with divine energy.
Tianming stepped forward, feeling an unseen force pulling him toward it.
The sigil shot forward, embedding itself into Tianming's chest. A surge of celestial power flooded his meridians, expanding his cultivation base. His vision blurred as ancient knowledge poured into his mind.
Jiang Chen watched in shock. "You… what did you just obtain?"
Tianming clenched his fists as golden light flickered across his skin.
"A power that will change everything."
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Far from the ruins, back in the sect, Mu Qingfeng stood in a quiet courtyard, his hands clenched behind his back. His lips were pressed into a thin line as he listened to a report from a hooded figure.
"So, Li Tianming survived the ruins?" Qingfeng's voice was calm, but his eyes flashed with something cold.
"Not only survived," the hooded disciple replied, "but he obtained some kind of legacy. There's no doubt—he's growing stronger."
Mu Qingfeng exhaled slowly. He had expected Tianming to die in that forsaken place. Now, his return would only make things more complicated.
His hands tightened.
If Tianming continued to rise, he could become a real threat.
"Li Tianming… Jiang Chen… you both took what should have been mine. Did you really think I would let that go?"
He had lost in the ruins, but the real battle wasn't there—it was here, in the world of sects and power.
But Mu Qingfeng was not foolish. He would not challenge Tianming directly—not yet. Instead, he would let the sect handle it for him.
A slow smirk spread across his lips as he turned to his informant.
"Spread the word. Li Tianming has obtained something from the ruins—something powerful. Let's see how long he can hold onto it."
The sect was filled with wolves. And now, all of them would have their eyes on Li Tianming.
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Next Chapter Preview: Chapter 8 – The Wolves of the Sect
-Rumors of Tianming's newfound power spread through the sect, drawing admiration and hostility alike.
-Mu Qingfeng's schemes take root, turning powerful disciples against him.
- A formal sect duel is declared, forcing Tianming to defend his claim. As tensions rise, unseen forces begin to move in the shadows.
-Tianming must prove that his power is not a mere stroke of fortune.
He was not just a survivor.
He was the Sovereign of the Celestial Ascent.