The crystal exploded with a blinding glare. Above its surface, stars appeared—ten, perfect and blazing, darker than night itself yet ringed with an eerie luminescence.

"Ten… Ten Stars! Death Affinity!" someone cried out in disbelief.

Before the shock could settle, another burst of light erupted—this time silver-white, ethereal, carrying the chill of eternity. Another perfect set of Ten Stars manifested, this one unmistakably attuned to Soul.

The disciples staggered back. Two Ten-Star affinities…? That had never happened in the sect's history.

And then—before the echoes faded—a third radiance surged forth. This one was golden, dazzling, like the rising sun breaking through endless night. Its brilliance carried majesty, its weight crushing the hearts of those nearby. Nine stars blazed, shimmering with peerless intensity.

The elder's composure finally cracked. His hand tightened on his spear as his voice rang like thunder:

"Impossible… Death, Soul—both Ten-Star affinities—and a Nine-Star Gold affinity as well?! This… this is beyond genius!"

The crowd fell silent, too stunned to even whisper. Every eye turned toward Tian Lei, who simply withdrew his hand, his expression calm, though deep within, even he felt the enormity of what had just been revealed.

The Spirit Stone, now dim and fractured, smoked faintly on its pedestal—utterly drained, as though testing him had nearly destroyed it.

Hmm… Death, Gold, and Soul, Tian Lei thought. Well, they all make sense. I died and lived again, so Death probably comes from that. My soul is powerful, so Soul affinity fits. As for Gold… that's most likely tied to my physique.

He recalled the Primordial Elephant Eternal Body Art—a physique renowned for its overwhelming offense. Gold is an offensive element in this world, one that stands near the peak of destructive force. No wonder it showed up in me.

Murmurs finally broke the silence, rippling through the crowd like a storm.

"Two Ten-Stars and a Nine-Star…""Even in the ancient records, there's nothing like this!""Is he even human?"

The disciples' awe quickly twisted into envy, disbelief, even fear. Some clenched their fists until their knuckles whitened. Others bowed their heads, unwilling to meet Tian Lei's gaze.

The elder raised his hand sharply, silencing them all. His voice, though calm, carried an undercurrent of trembling excitement.

"Death. Soul. Gold. With affinities like these, even among dragons, you would be revered as a supreme prodigy. Tian Lei… from this moment forward, your path is no longer ordinary cultivation. You stand upon a road few have ever touched—perhaps one that has never been walked before."

His eyes flickered with both reverence and something darker, a hint of greed quickly masked.

The elder turned, his spear striking the ground with a resonant clang. "The second trial begins. You have one month. Forge your Roaming Dragon Spear Art into a new technique, fused with your affinity. At the end of that time… only those who succeed will climb further."

The manuals in the disciples' hands seemed to burn heavier at his words. Some held them with renewed determination, others with despair.

Tian Lei looked down at his own copy, the pages already glowing faintly under his touch. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

Death, Soul, and Gold… three paths, each powerful enough on their own. But if I can fuse them together…

His eyes gleamed. Then my spear won't just roam like a dragon—it will devour heaven and earth.

The disciples slowly dispersed, each clutching their manuals as though they were both a lifeline and a curse. Groups formed quickly—friends whispering together, rivals glaring across the courtyard, the ambitious already plotting how to mold the spear art into their own image.

Tian Lei, however, turned without hurry, heading back toward the row of huts. His steps were calm, measured, his expression unreadable. But he had barely walked a few paces before shadows slid across his path.

A handful of figures stepped out from the crowd, blocking his way. Their eyes burned with jealousy and something harsher—fear.

"Bastard," one of them spat, his knuckles tightening around his spear. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

Another sneered, stepping closer. "Death, Soul, and Gold? Two Ten-Star affinities and a Nine-Star? Don't make us laugh. Nobody's that perfect. You must have tricked the Spirit Stone somehow!"

The murmurs of the watching disciples thickened, some eager for a clash, others stepping back as though afraid to be caught in it.

Tian Lei's gaze swept across the group, calm as still water. He didn't answer immediately. He simply adjusted the medallion at his waist and met their eyes one by one.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet—yet it cut sharper than steel.

"Step aside."

The air tightened, the challengers' faces darkening at his indifference. Spears trembled in their hands, as though itching to strike.

One of them suddenly roared, his pride snapping like dry kindling.

"Don't you dare look down on me!"

He lunged, not with his spear, but with a clenched fist glowing faintly with qi. The strike came in a wide arc, aiming straight for Tian Lei's jaw.

Tian Lei didn't flinch. He shifted a single step sideways, his body gliding just out of the fist's path. At the same moment, his hand shot up—clean, precise. Fingers closed around the attacker's wrist like an iron clamp.

The momentum of the punch shattered instantly.

With a twist, Tian Lei pulled, spinning the man off balance. His other hand pressed lightly against the youth's shoulder—not with force, but with perfect control. The challenger staggered back a few steps, nearly tripping, his arm throbbing under Tian Lei's grip before it was released.

The courtyard erupted with gasps.

"That… that was too clean!"

"He didn't even use qi…"

"Was that pure technique?"

The challenger's face flushed red, humiliation burning hotter than pain. He snarled and raised his spear this time, the point trembling as his killing intent surged.

But Tian Lei's eyes, calm and sharp, pinned him in place.

"Do you really want to test the difference between us?" Tian Lei said, his tone still quiet—yet it carried the weight of inevitability, like a mountain pressing down.

The challenger froze. His spear shook, but he couldn't thrust it forward.

The youth's jaw clenched. His pride screamed louder than his reason.

"I said—don't look down on me!" he roared again, voice cracking under the weight of his own fury. With a guttural shout, he forced his qi to surge, his spear lashing out in a desperate thrust.

The air trembled as the point shot toward Tian Lei's chest.

But Tian Lei's expression didn't change. His body swayed just enough for the spear to whistle past his side. In the same instant, his foot slid forward—light as mist, precise as a blade. His palm struck the flat of the youth's spear shaft.

CRACK!

The weapon jolted violently, almost tearing from its owner's grip. The force rebounded up the challenger's arms, numbing them to the shoulder.

Before he could recover, Tian Lei's spear was already in his hand, the tip resting at the youth's throat. The movement had been so fast, so fluid, that many hadn't even seen when Tian Lei picked it up.

Gasps rippled through the disciples.

"He… disarmed him?""In one move…!"

The challenger froze, his face draining of color. The cold gleam of Tian Lei's spearhead against his skin stole whatever courage his anger had left.

Tian Lei's voice came low, quiet, but edged with finality.

"This is the last time I'll tell you. Step aside."

The courtyard went deathly silent.

The youth's lips trembled, torn between pride and the crushing reality before him. His spear was no longer in his hands. His opponent's weapon hovered at his throat.

For a heartbeat, he stood rigid—then his knees buckled. He stumbled back, sweat dripping down his temples, his defiance cracking like thin ice under the weight of Tian Lei's gaze.

The spearpoint withdrew with the same calm precision it had been placed. Tian Lei spun it once in his hand, then lowered it, letting the wood kiss the ground with a dull thunk.

"Pride without Strength," Tian Lei said, his tone flat but carrying across the courtyard, "is nothing more than wasted noise."

The disciples murmured, eyes wide. Some looked at the fallen youth with pity. Others—at Tian Lei—with a mixture of awe and fear.

The youth clenched his fists, shame twisting his face. But he could not move forward again. His body refused, his heart refused.

Tian Lei turned his back on him without hesitation, stepping toward the center of the courtyard. The silence was heavy, charged.

Then, from the crowd, another voice broke through—low, cold, cutting:

"Interesting… so that's your level, Tian Lei."

A taller figure stepped out from among the disciples, spear in hand, eyes glinting like a predator that had finally spotted worthy prey.

The air shifted again. This one was no hotheaded fool.

This one… was dangerous.

"Wait—!" one disciple suddenly cried, his face paling as recognition dawned. "Isn't that Long Aotian? The prodigy from the Golden Heaven Divine Land!"

A ripple of shock tore through the courtyard. Murmurs rose like a tide, disciples craning their necks for a better look.

Long Aotian… here?

ntil now.

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