The sun barely crested the horizon, yet the training grounds were already alive with energy. The air crackled with intensity as the young warrior stood before Zhao Tian, his body aching yet filled with a restless hunger for more. Three weeks of relentless training had pushed him beyond what he thought possible, yet deep inside, he knew he had only scratched the surface of his potential.
Zhao Tian studied his grandson with a critical eye. "Today, we push beyond mastery. Today, we step into the realm of monsters."
The old master gestured towards a towering monolith of solid black stone, its surface covered in ancient runes pulsing with ominous energy.
"This," Zhao Tian said, "is a Celestial Gravity Pillar. It will crush you under its force, test your bones, and bend your will. Only those who can withstand its pressure are worthy of the path beyond mortal cultivation."
A smirk played on the young man's lips. "You make it sound like I have a choice."
Zhao Tian chuckled darkly. "You don't. Now, enter."
🔥 The Gravity of the Heavens
Stepping forward, he felt the weight almost immediately. A force unlike anything he had ever encountered bore down on him, making his muscles scream and his vision blur. His knees buckled, and for the first time in his training, he felt as though he might break.
"This is the force of the heavens," Zhao Tian's voice echoed through the crushing silence. "If you cannot handle this, then you are not worthy to defy fate."
Grinding his teeth, he focused inward. He had no dantian to channel qi like others, but his body was different—it absorbed qi instinctively, molded it, bent it to his will. Taking a slow breath, he let the force press into him, feeling his muscles, his bones, his very essence adapting.
Step.
The ground trembled as his foot moved forward. Step. His vision cleared. Step. The weight began to lessen, not because it was diminishing, but because he was embracing it.
Zhao Tian's eyes widened. "Impossible… he's already syncing with it?"
Then something changed. His mind drifted, and suddenly, memories that weren't his own flashed before his eyes—
A battlefield of gods and demons clashing.
A celestial being shrouded in golden flames.
A monstrous entity swallowing worlds whole.
And in the center of it all… himself.
A whisper echoed in his mind. "You are not ready to remember… but soon, you will."
His eyes snapped open, burning with an unknown power. The gravity no longer held him—it bowed before him.
Zhao Tian took a step back. "What… in the name of the heavens… are you?"
⚔️ The Creation of a New Technique
He exhaled sharply, and the stone beneath his feet cracked. The gravity pillar, an object designed to withstand celestial-level forces, trembled slightly.
Something had awakened within him, and instinctively, his body moved. He raised his hand, channeling the chaotic energy within himself, molding it like a sculptor crafting perfection.
Then, he struck.
The air vibrated with sheer destructive force. A shockwave erupted, shattering the pillar into a thousand pieces. Dust and debris filled the air as Zhao Tian shielded himself, his heart pounding with disbelief.
The young warrior stood amidst the wreckage, panting heavily. He looked at his hand, realization dawning.
"I… created a technique," he murmured.
Zhao Tian stepped forward, his voice unreadable. "What did you just do?"
He clenched his fist. "I don't know… but it felt like… the very essence of destruction and creation." His eyes lifted, burning with a new resolve. "I'll call it… Void Dragon Rend."
Zhao Tian remained silent for a moment before letting out a deep laugh. "Boy… you just stepped into the realm of true monsters."
The young warrior wiped the sweat from his brow, a grin breaking across his face. "Then let's see just how monstrous I can become."