The Trial of the Nine Heavens was in chaos.
Countless cultivators fought desperately as the floating platforms continued to descend, eliminating the weak and rewarding the strong. The battlefield had become a whirlwind of spiritual techniques, clashing blades, and sky-shattering combat arts.
Yet amidst the storm, the Wen Clan stood unchallenged.
Wen Ming and Wen Ruoyan had already conquered three platforms, sending rival disciples plummeting into the abyss below. Wen Zixuan, having awakened his Heaven's Pulse Meridian, crushed his opponents with overwhelming spiritual pressure.
And at the center of it all—
Wen Wuxing stood face-to-face with the cloaked figure.
A silence stretched between them. Unlike the other combatants who fought with desperation, this person radiated a sense of calm amusement, as if everything unfolding was merely a game.
Then, they spoke.
"You're stronger than expected, Wen Wuxing."
The voice was light, almost playful, but carried an undertone of danger.
Wuxing didn't respond. Instead, he shifted his stance slightly, his abyssal energy flickering around his fingertips. This opponent… they were testing him.
And he had no patience for games.
A Clash of Titans
The figure vanished.
A heartbeat later, they reappeared behind Wuxing, a blade of dark-blue qi streaking toward his back.
But Wuxing was faster.
With a mere step, he turned and caught the strike barehanded. The energy crackled against his palm, yet his skin remained unscathed.
The cloaked figure paused. "Oh?"
Wuxing tightened his grip.
Then, with explosive force, he hurled his opponent backward. The figure skidded across the platform, flipping mid-air to regain balance.
"Interesting," they murmured. "Let's see how long you can last."
With a flick of their wrist, black lightning surged across their body, their aura shifting into something far more sinister.
Wuxing's eyes flickered. This energy… it wasn't ordinary qi.
It carried the scent of something far older—forbidden.
Ding!
New Challenge Detected: Unknown Combatant (???)
Difficulty: High
Possible Rewards: ???
A smirk tugged at Wuxing's lips.
"Let's find out," he said, before vanishing into the fight.
The Trial's Conclusion
All across the battlefield, rival sects and clans continued to fall one by one.
The Zhao Clan, expected to be a dominant force, had suffered humiliating losses—thanks in no small part to the Wen Clan's relentless assault.
Of the original 500 participants, only 12 remained.
Among them:
• Wen Wuxing, Wen Ruoyan, Wen Ming, and Wen Zixuan (Wen Clan).
• Zhao Lian and Zhao Hai (Zhao Clan).
• Liang Xu (Qilin Sect's top disciple).
• Three unknown disciples from the Obsidian Veil faction.
• The cloaked figure.
The Trial of the Nine Heavens was over.
A voice echoed through the sky.
"Finalists have been determined. The Tournament Finals begin tomorrow."
In an instant, the floating platforms disintegrated, and the remaining combatants were teleported back to the arena.
Wuxing landed gracefully, his robe barely rustling as he stepped onto the jade stone floor. Around him, the other finalists steadied themselves, their eyes filled with determination… and fear.
The true battles had yet to begin.
The Final Challenge: King of the Arena
The crowd roared as the finalists were presented before the Tournament Overseer.
"For our final phase, there are no more teams, no more alliances!" the elder announced. "This is a battle of supremacy—a free-for-all! The last one standing shall be named Champion of the Celestial Ascension Tournament!"
Tension spiked instantly.
A free-for-all meant no guarantees, no protection. The only path forward was to crush everyone else.
Ding!
Final Quest: Conquer the Celestial Arena
Objective: Defeat all opponents and claim victory.
Reward: ???
Wuxing exhaled slowly, flexing his fingers.
It was time.
Battle for Supremacy
The moment the match began, chaos erupted.
Zhao Lian and Zhao Hai immediately targeted Wen Ruoyan, hoping to eliminate her first. But before their attacks could land—
BOOM!
A crimson arc of sword qi tore through the air, sending them both flying.
Ruoyan wiped a speck of dust from her sleeve. "Pathetic."
Across the battlefield, Wen Zixuan's newly awakened Heaven's Pulse Meridian allowed him to fight three opponents at once, his palm strikes warping the very air with spiritual force.
Meanwhile, Liang Xu of Qilin Sect clashed with one of the Obsidian Veil disciples, their battle sending shockwaves through the arena.
And then there was Wuxing.
He didn't move immediately.
Instead, he watched. Analyzed.
Fighting at full power from the start was wasteful. A true predator waited for the right moment to strike.
Then, he saw it.
The cloaked figure, who had remained still since the match began, suddenly disappeared from sight.
But Wuxing was ready.
His fingers blurred, forming a rapid hand seal—Abyssal Sense Activation.
And for a brief moment, he saw it.
A shadow flickering toward Wen Ming's blind spot.
Without hesitation, Wuxing moved.
With a single step, he crossed half the battlefield.
With a single strike, he intercepted the cloaked figure before they could attack.
And with a single word, he shattered their illusion.
"Found you."
The impact sent the cloaked figure hurtling across the arena, their concealment completely broken.
For the first time, their hood fell away.
Revealing—
A woman.
Her long obsidian-black hair cascaded down her shoulders, her piercing crimson eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
The entire arena fell silent.
And then—she smiled.
"So, you really are interesting," she murmured.
Wuxing's expression didn't change.
But inwardly, he understood.
She wasn't just some rogue participant.
She was the true threat of this tournament.
And he would have to face her alone.
The Final Duel
One by one, the remaining combatants fell.
The Zhao Clan? Defeated.
The Qilin Sect? Eliminated.
The Obsidian Veil? Wiped out.
Until at last, only two figures remained in the arena.
Wen Wuxing.
And the mysterious woman.
She cracked her knuckles, a slow smirk playing on her lips. "I'll enjoy this."
Wuxing exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "You won't."
The overseer raised his hand.
The crowd held its breath.
The final battle of the Celestial Ascension Tournament—
Began.