Half a month drifted by within the ancient ruins, a period of relative tranquility. For Mu Chen, Shen Xi, and the ever-lazy Nibi, the days were spent in leisurely exploration, moving through the primordial landscapes.
In contrast, Xiao Li and Yun Er had spent the fortnight hunting down other renowned geniuses. They sought to test the limits of their profound power, clashing with the prodigies to firmly etch their names upon the ancient tablet that hovered in the sky.
On this particular day, the stillness was shattered. The massive stone tablet suspended in the firmament suddenly erupted, releasing billions of brilliant rays of light that pierced through the perpetual mist.
The radiance gathered with terrifying efficiency, expanding until it formed the ethereal silhouette of a giant tower that seemed to bridge the gap between the earth and the heavens. In front of this majestic structure, a series of luminous platforms condensed out of pure spiritual energy, shimmering with a rhythmic pulse.
"Those whose names appear on the tablet may enter the Talent Measure Tower," a voice announced.
The sound was ancient, carrying the weight of countless eons as if it had traversed time and space to reach the present. It resonated between heaven and earth, filled with an indescribable majesty and a mystery that caused the spiritual Qi in the air to vibrate.
"Rewards will be distributed according to your rankings within the tower," the voice continued, its tone final and absolute.
Immediately, the names engraved upon the tablet began to glow with a blinding intensity. These names transformed into pillars of light that descended from the sky, enveloping more than thirty figures scattered across the ruins. In the blink of an eye, these geniuses were teleported to the central region where the tower stood.
Countless other practitioners, left behind in the outer reaches, watched the ascending beams with eyes full of envy and jealousy. They understood that while they were not the first to enter the ruins, those thirty individuals had secured an opportunity for benefits that might never be seen again.
Mu Chen and Shen Xi were among those highlighted by the light, yet they remained where they were. The pillars of radiance enveloped them, but other than providing a flashy display of spiritual energy, the teleportation mechanism found itself unable to move them.
Mu Chen's presence was a sovereign law unto itself; unless he allowed it, no array or ancient mechanism could forcibly displace him.
"What are you thinking?" Shen Xi asked softly. She was currently cradling Nibi, who was fast asleep and purring in her arms, seemingly oblivious to the event occurring around them.
"How about we meet the owner of that voice directly?" Mu Chen suggested.
Shen Xi tilted her head, a small smile appearing on her face. "That would certainly save us a lot of trouble. I'm not in the mood for climbing floors today."
"Well then, let us go," Mu Chen said.
In the next heartbeat, they were no longer standing in the central basin. They simply ceased to be in one location and appeared in another.
Mu Chen and Shen Xi were standing upon a small, narrow gravel path. The air here was thin, cool, and saturated with a delicate mist that clung to the mountain forest surrounding them. Before them stood an ancient pavilion, its wood weathered by ages yet untouched by rot.
The two walked through the mountain forest, their footsteps crunching softly on the gravel. Following the path, they arrived at the edge of a sheer cliff that looked out over a sea of clouds. Beside a white, jade-like stone seat grew a giant, gnarled green pine tree.
Standing there, with hands clasped behind its back and gazing into the infinite distance, was a solitary figure.
"Have you finally arrived?" the figure asked.
His appearance was striking. His skin was smooth and flawless like polished jade, almost too perfect, while his face resembled that of a young man. Yet his eyes betrayed his true nature—they were deep and ancient, filled with the weight of countless years.
"So, old man, who exactly are you?" Shen Xi asked, her voice blunt and devoid of the typical reverence shown to ancient spirits. "Are you the spirit of the tablet, or are you a fallen Ascendant cultivator?"
"Well, I am a fallen cultivator," the man replied, a faint, melancholic smile touching his lips. "My name was Tian Cang. This entire pocket of ancient ruins... it was created from a single drop of my blood."
Shen Xi accepted the explanation with a small nod. She glanced at Mu Chen and said quietly, "Soul Transcendence. Once you reach that stage, your body can sustain its own dimension."
In the world of high-level cultivation, as one's power increases, those dimensions can be manifested into the real world. There are gods and immortals who contained entire galaxies and universes within their very being.
Mu Chen considered this. "So this whole place is essentially one drop of his blood."
"Yes," Shen Xi said.
"That sounds uncomfortable," Mu Chen remarked.
Tian Cang, who had heard this perfectly well, smiled. "You get used to it."
"Well, since you are here, would you like to hear my story?" Tian Cang asked. He waved a hand, and a table composed of pure spiritual energy materialized between them, followed by three delicate cups.
He looked at Mu Chen with a knowing glint. "I hope you brought some wine?"
Mu Chen nodded casually. "I have some."
A wine jar appeared on the table next to the three cups. The three of them sat down, and Tian Cang began his tale.
"I was the only Ascendant cultivator of the Sky Continent," Tian Cang began, his voice dropping into a rhythmic, storytelling cadence.
He recounted his battles against the encroaching demon hordes and how, during a moment of profound weakness after being severely injured, he was ambushed. It was not the demons who had dealt the final blow, but his own people— cultivators who had secretly colluded with the demonic forces.
Tian Cang explained that the Sky Continent was protected by the Origin Killing Formation. This formation could only be fully controlled by the Demon Suppressing Tower.
Indirectly, whoever owned that artifact possessed the privilege to rule over the entire continent, wielding the continent's own spiritual energy to fuel their cultivation.
Mu Chen and Shen Xi listened in silence. Nibi woke up once during the more exciting parts of the battle descriptions, let out a tiny yawn, and then promptly fell back asleep. To her, the tale of a fallen legend was nothing more than a top-quality lullaby.
"Ruling over an entire continent," Shen Xi noted, her brow furrowing. "That is a significant allure for anyone seeking the peak."
"To be precise," Tian Cang corrected, leaning forward, "if you look at the world from above, these nine continents resemble the nine heavens. If you can become the master of one continent—or one heaven—you can communicate directly with the will of that heaven. Doing so allows you to increase your understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe."
The picture began to clear for Mu Chen and Shen Xi. In the Ascendant realm, further advancement required a deep, intrinsic understanding of the Dao.
"These divine artifacts are truly troublesome," Mu Chen joked, pouring a cup of wine. "Each one of them seems to bring a bloodbath in its wake."
He knew that because he held a portion of the Demon Suppressing Tower, it was only a matter of time before whoever was tracking the artifact would eventually find their way to him, regardless of the methods they employed.
Mu Chen looked at his cup. "So ruling a heaven is essentially a cultivation shortcut."
Tian Cang tilted his head. "A crude summary, but not inaccurate."
Mu Chen asked as he gulped down wine, "And people have been killing each other over it for how long?"
Tian Cang replied, "Since before your ancestors were born."
Mu Chen nodded slowly. "That's one way to put it."
"Is every heaven protected by such a formation?" Shen Xi asked.
"No, only Sky Heaven," Tian Cang replied.
Mu Chen poured himself another cup. "And the other heavens just decided this wasn't their problem?"
Tian Cang let out a dry chuckle. "In a manner of speaking. Long ago, this continent was enslaved by demons. After Hong Zun freed the land, he deployed the Origin Killing Formation specifically here," He paused. "And the formation act against Ascendant level cultivators from entering unless they were born of this soil. Living being or demon, it makes no distinction."
"So the formation is impartial," Shen Xi said. "It doesn't care whose side you're on."
"Correct. Unless one can control it and allow others to enter."
This was the first time Mu Chen had heard these specific details. Xiao Diao, for all his knowledge, had never mentioned such ancient secrets, and Mu Chen had never thought to ask the spirit of his own origin artifact about the internal politics of the heavens.
He also noted that Tian Cang referred to Hong Zun as ancestor.
"So, who ambushed you?" Shen Xi asked, her eyes narrowing.
Her Grandpa Yan and many others were still fighting the demon war on the borders, and now she was learning that the enemy had allies within their own ranks.
"If you were an Ascendant, how could anyone kill you here if other Ascendants can't enter?" She asked again.
"The number of demon kings exceeds the number of Ascendant cultivators," Tian Cang said, a shadow of pain crossing his baby-smooth face. "During the war, I was forced to detonate the Demon Suppressing Tower to hold them back. I was severely injured, and my realm dropped down to Soul Transcendence."
Tian Cang's fingers tightened slightly around his cup as he continued. "It was in that moment of vulnerability that I was ambushed by the Holy Sect."
"One of the six Super Sects?" Shen Xi asked.
Tian Cang nodded. "Yes. There are six of them today. But you should know... the Sky Sect was founded by me."
He paused, taking a sip of the wine, and looked at the two youths before him. "Have you decided which sect you will join during the recruitment? With your strength, you don't truly need any of them, but since you have come, you must have some plans."
Mu Chen looked at Shen Xi. They hadn't given the specific choice much thought until now.
"We can go to the Sky Sect," Shen Xi said, her voice decisive.
Mu Chen looked back at Tian Cang and nodded. "Well, since we have met the founder, we might as well take a look at your sect."
Hearing this, Tian Cang let out a deep, hearty laughter that echoed through the mountain forest. The sudden sound freaked out the sleepy Nibi, who jumped in Shen Xi's arms, staring at the old man with wide, indignant eyes and letting out a sharp meow as if asking what all the fuss was about.