The announcement of the Grand Sect Tournament spread like wildfire.
All across the continent, ancient sects that had remained silent for decades began to stir. Flying ships pierced the skies, and spiritual beasts thundered across valleys as powerful cultivators prepared to converge at one place—Skyreach Plateau.
It was not just a test of strength. It was a statement of dominance.
And for many, it was the perfect chance to uncover the secrets behind the recently awakened Celestial Seals.
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Heavenfire Sect – Outer Courtyard
Jing Hao couldn't contain his excitement.
"The Grand Tournament! Can you believe it?! This is what every cultivator dreams of!" He rushed into the courtyard, waving the formal invitation scroll.
Yan Ruyue glanced at him, mildly amused. "You're going to burn a hole through that if you keep shaking it."
Xuantian sat in meditation, the black orb of the Celestial Seal floating quietly before him. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and unreadable.
"We will go."
Jing Hao blinked. "Just like that?"
Xuantian rose to his feet. "This tournament is not just a spectacle. It's a convergence point. Something… or someone… wants all the sects in one place."
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Skyreach Plateau
Skyreach Plateau had not been used for centuries. A relic of a forgotten era, it now shimmered with formations newly awakened by celestial power.
Massive stone pavilions hovered above ground, connected by bridges of starlight. Spiritual beasts patrolled the edges, and divine envoys from neutral clans oversaw the preparations.
Sects from all across the world began to arrive:
Crimson Thunder Sect, known for lightning-fast sword techniques.
Jade Blossom Pavilion, whose female cultivators wielded illusions and poison arts.
Void Spirit Temple, silent monks said to speak directly to the stars.
And even a delegation from the reclusive Northern Frost Warden Sect, whose members had not been seen in nearly two centuries.
But none stirred the crowd more than the arrival of Heavenfire Sect.
Though considered weak in recent years, the presence of Li Xuantian, the quiet cultivator with unknown origins, drew countless eyes.
Whispers spread.
"That's him—the one who returned from Blood Moon Citadel alive."
"I heard he shattered an ancient illusion of himself. Who does that?"
"They say he's still in Qi Condensation… but I felt his aura. It's terrifying."
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First Round – Celestial Labyrinth
The first trial began not in battle, but in mystery.
The Celestial Labyrinth was an ancient formation maze—one that shifted based on a cultivator's spiritual alignment. Each team would enter with three members, and only one could emerge from each group to proceed.
Jing Hao swallowed hard as they stood before the entrance, which rippled like water.
"Only one of us gets out?"
Ruyue nodded. "It's not a test of loyalty. It's a test of choice."
Xuantian didn't speak. He stepped forward and vanished through the veil.
Inside the labyrinth, time twisted.
He found himself in a forest of crystal trees, with shadows whispering memories of his past. He walked through moments long buried—disciples who died under his leadership, decisions he regretted, and the haunting silence of a million years spent waiting.
At the end, he was offered a choice: leave the labyrinth… or stay, and resurrect one soul from his past.
He stood in front of the vision of his closest disciple, a boy he had once treated like a son.
"I'm sorry," Xuantian said.
Then he walked away.
---
Outside the Labyrinth
Hours passed.
Many emerged from the labyrinth, some weeping, others wounded.
Then, a ripple tore through space, and Li Xuantian stepped out—unscathed.
He held a crystal token—the Mark of Passage—signaling his qualification for the second round.
The judges exchanged uncertain glances.
One of them, an elder from the Void Spirit Temple, whispered, "He chose to abandon a soul for the sake of the future. Few have that resolve."
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Eyes in the Dark
From a shadowed balcony overlooking the tournament grounds, two figures watched.
Both wore robes that shimmered unnaturally, and their eyes glowed red in the darkness.
"That's him," one whispered. "The one who carries the second Seal."
"Do we act now?"
"No. Let him reach the final round. Let the others exhaust him first. Then… we claim the relic."
Behind them, the symbol of a twisted lotus glowed faintly—the mark of the Demonic Sect.
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In the Camps – That Night
Jing Hao returned to the Heavenfire Sect's resting quarters, rubbing his sore shoulders.
"I fought through mirror demons, time illusions, and a maze that kept flipping gravity. And you just walked out like it was nothing?"
Xuantian gave him a faint smile. "Your trial was your own. You overcame it. That's what matters."
Yan Ruyue was silent, her eyes scanning the skies.
"Something is wrong," she murmured. "There are too many hidden forces here. This tournament is just the surface. Beneath it… something else is moving."
Xuantian nodded.
And in the distance, beyond the mountains that ringed the plateau, the sky shimmered—just for a moment—as if something massive stirred in the heavens.
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