Chapter 33 – The Sovereign’s Awakening
As Tianming stepped out of the trial grounds, the harsh winds of the Storm Horizon Sect whipping against his face, he was met with an unexpected sight. Jiang Chen and Xie Yuan stood at the entrance, their robes tattered, their faces lined with exhaustion—but their eyes burned with unwavering determination. Scattered around them were remnants of countless failed attempts—broken formation flags, charred talismans, and even crude digging tools—all signs of their desperate struggle to reach him. Jiang Chen let out a breath of relief, grinning despite his bruises.
Lie Xueyan simply exhaled. Tianming felt a warmth spread through his chest. In a world where power reigned supreme, where betrayal was often a certainty, these two had risked everything just to bring him back. His grip tightened around the Celestial Jade at his side—this was no longer just his battle. He wasn't alone.
The golden radiance surrounding Tianming slowly faded, but the aura he exuded remained overwhelming. His body pulsed with divine energy, his very presence warping the spiritual currents around him. Every cultivator present could feel it—the raw, unrestrained power that had just been unleashed.
Jiang Chen, still catching his breath, stared at his friend in disbelief. "Tianming… is that really you?"
Lei Xueyan, still leaning against the shattered temple wall, wiped the blood from her lips. Her amber eyes were filled with both awe and something else—relief. "You're alive…"
Tianming turned his gaze toward them, his golden eyes glowing with an intensity that seemed almost otherworldly. He clenched his fist, feeling the boundless energy coursing through him. For the first time in his life, he felt free—unshackled from fate itself.
He looked at the Celestial Guardian, who now knelt before him.
A celestial being… bowing?
Lei Tianxing's voice was steady, but there was a trace of unease. "The Celestial Guardian only kneels before one who has transcended the constraints of this world." His sharp eyes locked onto Tianming. "What have you become?"
Tianming remained silent for a moment, his mind absorbing the knowledge that had flooded into him during the trial. He could feel it—a deeper connection to the Celestial Jade of Primordial Chaos, its true potential now unlocked.
"I have broken the chains of fate," he said finally, his voice calm but resolute. "I am no longer bound by destiny."
The Guardian slowly rose to its feet. "You have proven yourself. The path ahead is now yours to walk… but beware. Others will seek to shackle you once more."
With those words, the Guardian's form began to dissipate into motes of divine light, vanishing into the void.
A heavy silence followed.
Lei Tianxing exhaled slowly. "Tianming, do you realize what you have done?"
Tianming turned to face him. "I have taken my first step toward true ascension."
The sect leader's expression was unreadable. "And now, the world will take notice."
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Far from the Storm Horizon Sect, within the grand halls of the Azure Dragon Pavilion, a ripple of energy swept through the sect's divine wards, causing protective arrays to flicker for a brief moment.
An elder seated in meditation suddenly opened his eyes. His brows furrowed as he reached out with his divine sense, tracing the source of the disturbance.
"It has awakened…"
At the center of the great hall, a man sat upon an elevated throne. Clad in azure robes embroidered with golden dragon motifs, his presence alone was enough to suffocate lesser cultivators. His piercing gaze remained fixed on the rippling celestial energy before him.
The Pavilion Lord.
"The Celestial Jade of Primordial Chaos," he murmured. "After all these years, someone has managed to unlock its full potential?"
One of the elders, a man with graying hair and sharp eyes, bowed respectfully. "My Lord, should we move?"
The Pavilion Lord's lips curled into a faint smile. "Of course."
He tapped a finger against his armrest, and a golden talisman ignited before vanishing into the void.
"The heavens have granted us an opportunity." His voice was soft but filled with authority. "We will not let it slip away."
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Far beyond the mortal realm, in the endless celestial expanse where only the most powerful entities resided, a pair of luminous golden eyes slowly opened.
A deep, ancient voice echoed through the void.
"The child has awakened."
Another presence stirred—a whisper of divine energy shifting across the realm.
"Then… the trial has truly begun."
The golden eyes narrowed. "If he survives what comes next… he may yet reach the throne of the heavens."
And with that, the presence vanished, leaving only silence in its wake.
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Back at the Storm Horizon Sect
Tianming stood amidst the wreckage of the trial chamber, his newfound power settling within him like an unquenchable flame.
Jiang Chen finally shook himself out of his stupor. "So, what now?"
Lei Xueyan pushed herself up, still sore but grinning. "What do you think? We get stronger."
Tianming glanced up at the sky. Somewhere out there, enemies were already plotting against him.
His fingers tightened around his sword.
"Then we move forward."
The road to ascension had only just begun.
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What Comes Next in Chapter 34:
Tianming's new abilities are tested in battle.
The Azure Dragon Pavilion's assassins make their first move.
A shocking revelation about the Celestial Jade's true origin.
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