The Moonhood Pavilion towered in silence atop a serene cliff wreathed in silver mist. Within its grand central hall, dozens of elite disciples stood in formation — all of them handpicked cultivators from the Moonhood Class, the most promising young talents of the sect.
At the center, stood Li Tianming. His black robes fluttered softly, his gaze calm yet piercing. Beside him was Yue Qianyin, her silver-laced robes shimmering like frost beneath the moonlight. Whispers surrounded them — rumors of the "outsider" who had bested inner sect disciples with terrifying sword mastery.
But today was different. Today was the test of the Moonhood Class — a one-on-one challenge of might, will, and technique.
His first challenger stepped forward — Han Yunli, a Core Formation peak cultivator, known for his speed-based saber arts. Without a word, the battle commenced.
Han Yunli surged forward, slashing down with:
"Meteor Fang: Seventh Echo – Heaven-Splitting Arc!"
Blades of astral light cracked through the air — but Li Tianming stood still.
Then, his sword whispered from its sheath.
"Heavenbane Sword Art: Third Form – Black Sun Descent!"
A sweeping arc of black flame fell from his blade, cleaving through the meteoric arcs and sending Han Yunli flying, blood dripping from his lips.
Gasps echoed across the pavilion.
Another challenger came — Mu Yanshao, an ice-element cultivator who summoned a storm of frost with:
"Frozen Lotus Bloom: Tenth Bloom – Soul-Binding Petals!"
Crystalline petals swirled in a deadly dance — but Tianming's sword roared with silent majesty.
"Void Severing Sword: Fifth Form – Eternal Winterbreak!"
His strike shattered the petals into ethereal dust.
The final match was against the class prodigy — Lin Wuqing, a dual-attribute cultivator with storm and blade mastery. The hall fell silent as he stepped forward.
"Show me what makes you worthy of Qianyin," Lin Wuqing smirked, drawing two glowing swords.
The battle erupted into chaos and brilliance.
"Storm Shatter Arts: Final Rend – Ninefold Gale Execution!"
Winds howled, space twisted — yet Tianming's sword resonated with boundless force.
He stepped forward, eyes like obsidian voids.
"Void Severing Sword: Ninth Form – Eternity Split!"
The air split with a deafening boom. Space cracked visibly. Lin Wuqing's defenses shattered, and he collapsed, stunned and trembling.
The Moonhood Pavilion fell into silence.
No one doubted now.
Li Tianming had carved his name into the Moonhoo
d Class — not merely as a student, but as its ruler.