The ancient chamber fell silent after the inheritance was claimed.
Not a natural silence—
but one that carried weight.
The kind that follows transformation.
Each of them stood within the fading glow of the ruined inheritance site, their auras subtly different now—refined, sharpened, evolved. The air itself seemed unable to remain still around them, as if reacting to the changes they had undergone.
The guardians were gone.
The formation was broken.
And the trial—
was complete.
For a brief moment, no one spoke.
Not because there was nothing to say—
but because too much had changed.
Mo Xiao Lan stood quietly, faint frost drifting around him like a silent storm. His presence had grown colder, deeper—no longer just controlled, but absolute. The Heavenly Frost Domain Art had not merely strengthened him… it had elevated his entire existence.
Hei Luo rolled his shoulders slowly, a low chuckle escaping his lips. His aura had become heavier, more savage, more predatory than before. The Shadow Beast Devouring Art had pushed him beyond his previous limits. The shift was clear.
Seven-Star—
no.
Eight-Star Energy Core.
The pressure around him confirmed it.
Yan Lie wasn't present here—but if he had grown as expected…
then he too would have crossed into Eight-Star.
Zu Lin, standing a little off to the side, blinked in disbelief at his own hands.
"...I feel… different."
He clenched his fist.
The ground beneath him cracked slightly.
Then he laughed.
"HAHA! I got stronger!"
Five-Star Peak.
Not the strongest here—
but no longer someone to be ignored.
And then—
Lin Shuan.
He stood still.
Completely still.
But the stillness itself had changed.
Before, it had been concealment.
Now—
it was depth.
His aura remained hidden, suppressed as always, but internally—
everything had shifted.
The Emperor-level technique—
Extreme Frost Sword Ray—
rested within him like a sleeping god.
And because of it—
his foundation had advanced.
From Two-Star—
to Three-Star Energy Core.
Not explosive.
Not flashy.
But terrifyingly stable.
Refined beyond comparison.
He exhaled slowly.
"…it's time."
As if responding to his words—
the chamber trembled.
The walls began to dissolve into light.
The ancient ruins, the pillars, the formation remnants—
all of it began to fade.
A return mechanism.
The inheritance site—
was closing.
Qin Yue glanced around once, eyes sharp.
"…we're being sent back."
Hei Luo smirked.
"Good."
Mo Xiao Lan said nothing.
Zu Lin waved his arms slightly.
"Wait—just like that?!"
But before anyone could respond—
light engulfed them.
Again.
---
The transition this time—
was different.
Not chaotic.
Not disorienting.
But controlled.
Guided.
They didn't scatter.
They didn't lose awareness.
Instead—
they felt it.
The pull.
The direction.
The destination.
And then—
they arrived.
---
The Imperial Arena.
Once more.
But this time—
everything had changed.
The moment they appeared—
the crowd erupted.
Not slowly.
Not gradually.
But instantly.
A roar unlike before exploded through the sky, shaking the very structure of the arena. The noise wasn't just excitement—
it was shock.
Because those who returned—
were not the same.
One by one—
figures appeared across the arena stage.
Not dozens.
Not hundreds.
But a limited number.
The survivors.
The strong.
The chosen.
Blood-stained.
Wounded.
Exhausted.
But alive.
And that—
meant everything.
The elderly announcer stood at the center once more, his eyes scanning the returning warriors carefully. This time, there was no calm indifference in his gaze.
Only evaluation.
Deep.
Piercing.
Calculating.
"Those who stand here…"
His voice echoed across the arena, cutting through the chaos.
"…have passed the first trial."
Cheers erupted again.
But beneath the excitement—
there was tension.
Because everyone could see it.
The difference.
These were no longer mere participants.
They were contenders.
The strongest among those who had entered.
Lin Shuan stepped forward quietly, blending into the formation of survivors.
But even without releasing any aura—
something felt different.
Subtle.
Unnoticeable to most.
But not to all.
High above—
the crimson-robed Empire Protector watched again.
Her gaze—
locked onto him.
"…he advanced."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…and yet… he's still hiding everything."
A pause.
"…dangerous."
On the arena floor—
the returning warriors gathered.
Some stood alone.
Some in small clusters.
Some watching others carefully.
Because now—
the second phase was approaching.
And everyone knew it.
This was where things would truly begin.
---
The announcer raised his hand.
Silence fell instantly.
Even the restless energy of the crowd seemed to hesitate.
"You have survived the outer region."
His voice carried weight.
"Now…"
"…the real selection begins."
A ripple spread through the arena.
Excitement.
Fear.
Anticipation.
"You have gathered Spirit Herbs."
His gaze swept across them.
"Now—those who wish to advance…"
"…must prove their worth."
The words settled like iron.
"There are only twenty positions."
Murmurs erupted.
"Twenty warriors will be selected…"
"…to enter the Imperial Forces."
Some faces lit up.
Others hardened.
But then—
his voice dropped.
"…and among those twenty…"
A pause.
"…only five—"
The arena stilled.
"…will stand above all."
Now—
complete silence.
"The Top Five."
The words carried a different kind of weight.
Not just selection.
But elevation.
"These five…"
"…will be granted authority."
"Positions at the Four Gates of the Empire."
A wave of shock spread through the crowd.
Eastern Gate.
Western Gate.
Northern Gate.
Southern Gate.
The pillars of imperial defense.
To stand there—
was to hold power.
Status.
Influence.
"And one…"
The announcer's voice deepened.
"…will stand above even them."
The tension snapped tight.
"The strongest among you."
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because now—
it was clear.
This wasn't just a tournament anymore.
It was a battlefield of destiny.
---
Among the warriors—
subtle changes occurred.
Hei Luo stepped forward slightly, his Eight-Star aura flickering faintly. He didn't release it fully—but enough.
Enough for others to feel it.
Predatory.
Dominant.
His eyes moved—
landing briefly on Lin Shuan.
A faint smirk.
Then—
away.
Yan Lie appeared moments later at the edge of the arena, lightning dancing lazily around him. His presence alone caused a shift in the air.
Eight-Star.
Confirmed.
His eyes scanned the field—
then stopped.
On Lin Shuan.
For just a moment.
A grin formed.
"…you're still alive."
Not spoken aloud—
but understood.
Mo Xiao Lan stood quietly, frost gathering faintly beneath his feet.
Cold.
Controlled.
Unreachable.
Zu Lin stretched his arms dramatically.
"Alright! Let's go again!"
No one responded.
But strangely—
no one dismissed him anymore.
Qin Yue remained silent, his presence almost invisible—but his eyes missed nothing.
And Lin Shuan—
stood among them.
Unmoving.
Silent.
But within—
everything was different.
Three-Star Energy Core.
Perfectly stabilized.
And far beyond what it appeared to be.
His gaze moved across the arena.
The crowd.
The warriors.
The pressure.
The expectations.
Then—
toward the center.
Where the next battles would take place.
No expression.
No reaction.
But inside—
a single thought.
Clear.
Cold.
Certain.
"…it begins now."
---
The announcer lowered his hand slowly.
"The second phase—"
A pause.
"…will begin soon."
The arena trembled with anticipation.
"Prepare yourselves."
And just like that—
the stage was set.
No more forests.
No more hidden battles.
Now—
everything would be seen.
Every clash.
Every victory.
Every defeat.
Under the eyes of the empire.
Under the weight of expectation.
Under the shadow of destiny.
The strongest would rise.
The weak would fall.
And among them—
five would stand above all.
The wind swept across the arena once more.
Carrying with it—
tension.
Excitement.
And the promise—
of war.
Lin Shuan closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
Cold.
Steady.
Unshaken.
The next battle—
would not be hidden.
And neither—
would its consequences.