Ascension of the Silent Guardian

In one of the dwellings in the floating islands near Elder Liang Wuyin's palace, Jiang Zhenhai sat in deep cultivation. The air around him vibrated slightly, signaling that he was close to breaking through to the next level.

"I'm close to a breakthrough, it shouldn't take much longer," he murmured to himself, reflecting on his cultivation, which had already reached the seventh level of the Mortal Realm and was about to reach the Spiritual Core. As he felt the flow of Qi through his body, a thought crossed his mind. "That boy... Tian Ling... How is his cultivation going?" Jiang Zhenhai thought, recalling the intense battle they had. Tian Ling's face appeared in his mind, and a mix of admiration and expectation filled his heart.

Not far away, in Zhao Xun’s dwelling, he cultivated diligently, his eyes fixed, and his mind focused. After witnessing Tian Ling's fight, Zhao Xun realized it would be impossible to compete with him without significant progress.

“If I hold a grudge against him... it’ll be my end,” Zhao Xun muttered, now fully aware that he needed to accelerate his own progress. He was already at the peak of the Mortal Realm, but the bottleneck to the next level seemed impossible to break. Frustration swelled within him, but he wouldn't let it stop him. "I will break through," he thought with determination.

Further ahead, on an island with several battle arenas, Elder Shen Qixin watched his disciples closely. The surrounding islands were a constant battleground, where Lan Wei and Qin Rong fought tirelessly.

"They still haven't understood the true meaning of battle," Shen Qixin thought, admiring their perseverance, yet knowing that control and precision were essential for victory. "It’s only a matter of time before they realize that brute strength isn’t enough," he reflected with a slight smile.

Nearby, Yu Meilin's dwelling was in complete silence. The disciple, who shared Tian Ling's same thirst for peace, had gone into seclusion since arriving at the sect. There were no battles for her, only continuous and relentless cultivation. To Yu Meilin, the outside world was a distraction — her only goal was ascension, and she was determined to follow that path at all costs.

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated Inner Sect Tournament was about to begin. This event, held every twenty years, was one of the most awaited in the sect. Only disciples who had reached the Spiritual Core could participate, and while the promise of valuable rewards was tempting, the true prize was the chance to become an elite disciple, directly guided by the sect master.

Jiang Zhenhai and Zhao Xun were among the competitors. Zhao Xun, who had recently broken through to the Foundation Realm, was determined to prove his worth. Jiang Zhenhai, still at the seventh level, faced an obstacle. He knew he needed to push for a breakthrough, and he saw the tournament as an opportunity to do just that.

The crowd’s roar was deafening when Elder Shen Qixin announced the start of the competition:

“Let the battles begin! The first competitors are Yang Lau, at the Spiritual Core Realm, and Wu Yu, also at the Spiritual Core Realm. Present yourselves!”

In the center of the arena, Yang Lau and Wu Yu respectfully bowed before taking their combat positions. Yang Lau infused his sword with Qi, advancing like lightning. Wu Yu, in turn, dodged nimbly, already prepared to counterattack with his thin chains that glowed with concentrated Qi. The chains seemed alive, responding to Wu Yu’s every command, forming a barrier around his body. When Yang Lau approached for another attack, the chains quickly ensnared him, immobilizing him.

With a single motion, Wu Yu hurled Yang Lau against the arena wall. The impact made his opponent spit blood, and without resistance, he surrendered.

Jiang Zhenhai, watching the fight, was amazed. "Is the difference between realms really that vast?" he thought, feeling a mix of fear and excitement. He knew he was close to reaching that level and mentally prepared for his turn.

The battles continued intensely, with disciples showcasing their techniques, until it was Zhao Xun’s time. Despite his recent breakthrough to the Foundation Realm, he soon faced a veteran disciple at the peak of the same realm. Zhao Xun’s defeat was swift. Even after correcting his temperament, he stood no chance against the experience of his opponent. "This is not where my journey ends," Zhao Xun thought, already planning his next move after the defeat.

Then it was Jiang Zhenhai’s turn. His opponent had recently entered the Spiritual Core Realm, putting Jiang at a disadvantage. However, he was confident in his sword skills. The two bowed to each other and assumed their positions. As soon as the fight began, an explosion of spiritual Qi lifted dust around the arena.

The blows were precise and swift. Jiang Zhenhai pressured his opponent, but the latter did not yield, countering with equal force. The fight seemed balanced until Jiang was struck by a blow that left him momentarily dazed. Feeling the pressure mount, he knew he needed to act. With a quick move, Jiang Zhenhai found an opening and delivered a powerful strike, forcing his opponent to admit defeat.

As the battles continued, in an isolated cave, Tian Ling slowly opened his eyes. It was the same moment the fights were happening, and he hadn’t felt time pass.

“Seventh level of the Foundation Realm. I’m about to break thr—" Before he could finish his sentence, a realization struck him. "Ninth level of the Foundation Realm? Doesn’t it stop at the seventh?" he thought, confused. A light shone in his eyes, and he sank back into meditation, focusing on understanding this new knowledge.

After several hours, he opened his eyes again, and words naturally flowed from his mouth, as if they were part of his very essence:

“Flowing Path Technique, second phase. The cultivation must be perfect, the foundation must be stable, and the path, clear. Gather spiritual Qi around your core, form three higher levels, and finally form your Inner Core and break through.”

Tian Ling was astonished. "What was that? This technique is incredible! Wait... Elder Lian Ziyue also surpassed the seventh level of the Foundation Realm. I hadn’t even noticed. But now that I think about it, what technique is she cultivating?" Immersed in his thoughts, Tian Ling realized he was on the verge of a major discovery.

Then Tian Ling closed his eyes and focused again on cultivation. He wanted to reach the Spiritual Core Realm as soon as possible. He felt confident and determined.

Meanwhile, the Inner Sect Tournament continued. Jiang Zhenhai had to face a disciple who was already at the fifth level of the Spiritual Core Realm. This time, he stood no chance — the power difference was too great. Even so, Jiang Zhenhai felt confident. "Once I break through to the Spiritual Core Realm, I’ll be able to compete with them," he thought.

After a few days of celebration for the end of the tournament, the disciples returned to their routine. Cultivation never stops, and for many, the real challenge was yet to come.