The morning mist coiled like serpents around the towering peaks of the Azure Sky Range, where the mountains tore into the heavens like blades forged by ancient gods. Every boulder glowed faintly with spiritual energy, and the air itself shimmered with threads of blue Qi.
For three days, Xiao Wang had traveled across forests, rivers, and plains—his crimson robes torn, his boots caked with dried mud. His eyes, however, burned brighter than the rising sun.
He stood at the foot of an immense staircase carved into the mountain itself—ten thousand steps of stone leading to a city in the clouds. Above it, golden palaces floated amidst lightning and azure fire.
"So this is the Azure Sky Sect…"His voice was calm, yet beneath it lay the restrained pulse of a storm.
"Let's see what the so-called strongest sect of the Eastern Realms has to offer."
The Sword at his back, wrapped in black cloth, vibrated faintly. A whisper brushed against his mind—ancient, soft, yet heavy as eternity.
"The sky above this mountain reeks of false divinity… and blood long forgotten."
Xiao Wang's gaze sharpened. "You can sense it too, can't you?"
"This sect was built upon the bones of gods," the Sword murmured. "A thousand souls cry beneath its halls… perhaps your fate is not to join it, but to conquer it."
He smirked faintly. "Then let's begin."
The Steps of Heaven
The staircase leading up to the sect was more than stone—it was a test.
Each step was carved with runes that shimmered as he placed his foot on them. Waves of spiritual pressure pressed down like the weight of an ocean. The further he ascended, the more it tried to crush his body.
All around, other young cultivators climbed—hundreds of them—each hoping to pass the entrance trials. They came from clans, sects, and kingdoms across the realm. Some laughed as they ascended, showing off their cultivation. Others collapsed halfway, blood dripping from their noses.
"Look! That boy—he's walking without any visible Qi flow!" one sneered, pointing at Xiao Wang.
"Probably a commoner. He won't last ten steps!"
Their laughter echoed like crows.
Xiao Wang ignored them, his expression serene. Beneath his skin, the Devouring Orb pulsed silently. The faint aura of the Sword restrained itself—sleeping, yet aware.
By the time he reached the seven-thousandth step, many had already fallen. His breath was steady, his heartbeat calm. Only when he reached the last step did his knees tremble slightly.
At the summit stood a vast stone courtyard guarded by colossal statues—dragons, phoenixes, and celestial swords. Above them floated a golden plaque:
Azure Sky Sect — Where the Mortal Touches the Divine
And standing before it was a woman dressed in azure silk—tall, graceful, her presence serene yet commanding. Her beauty was ethereal, like moonlight reflecting on still water.
"New applicants," she announced, her voice echoing through the peaks. "I am Elder Yun Xi, overseer of this year's recruitment. You will each demonstrate your potential before the Spirit Mirror. Those who fail… will descend the mountain immediately."
The Spirit Mirror
A massive crystal slab stood at the center of the courtyard. When Yun Xi's hand brushed across it, the mirror shimmered with ancient runes.
"Step forward, one by one. The Mirror will test your soul root and potential."
One by one, the candidates stepped forward.
"Yellow root, mid-grade!"
"Blue root, low-grade!"
"Red root, high-grade fire affinity!"
Excited murmurs filled the air. Some cultivators cheered; others gritted their teeth in envy.
Then, as Xiao Wang's turn came, whispers rippled across the crowd.
"Isn't that the poor boy from the western border villages?"
"He doesn't even emit Qi waves—what's he doing here?"
"Hah! Maybe he'll break the Mirror with his weakness!"
Xiao Wang stepped forward, calm and silent. His palm pressed against the mirror.
For a long moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Crack…
The mirror's runes flickered erratically. The light dimmed. The crystal began to hum, then shudder.
Elder Yun Xi frowned. "What…?"
Suddenly, the entire mirror split in half, releasing a shockwave of cold, devouring air.
The crowd gasped.
"W-what is this?! His energy… it's devouring the mirror's essence!"
Xiao Wang's eyes turned crimson for a brief second, and the Sword's voice whispered inside his mind—
"You devour even the Heavens' judgment. Good… remember this hunger."
Yun Xi's expression hardened. "Candidate number 347—name?"
"Xiao Wang," he said simply.
Her gaze lingered on him for a long moment. "...Proceed. The Sect Master will decide your fate."
The Duel of Blood
While the next candidates were tested, a loud scoff came from the crowd. A tall young man in azure robes—handsome, proud, with a fan of white jade—stepped forward.
He smirked. "You. Commoner. Did you enjoy your little trick?"
Xiao Wang didn't look up. "What trick?"
"You dare feign ignorance? You broke the Spirit Mirror with some cursed artifact, didn't you?" His tone was mocking. "I, Li Han, heir to the Azure Sky Sect's inner branch, challenge you. If you lose, crawl down the mountain."
The crowd roared in approval.
Elder Yun Xi frowned. "Enough, Li Han. This is not the time—"
But the Sword's voice purred inside Xiao Wang's mind.
"Accept it. Let the blood of fools be your first offering."
Xiao Wang raised his gaze, crimson eyes gleaming faintly. "Fine. I accept."
The courtyard cleared. The duel began.
Li Han unsheathed his sword—a gleaming azure blade that crackled with lightning. "Let's end this fast!"
He dashed forward, sword striking like thunder. The ground cracked beneath his speed.
But Xiao Wang stood still, eyes calm, hand resting on the wrapped hilt at his back.
At the last moment, the black cloth unraveled—revealing a blade that seemed to devour light itself.
SHIIING!
Li Han's strike met the Sword—and was instantly consumed. The lightning vanished, absorbed into the blade.
"What—?! My Qi—!" Li Han screamed, his spiritual energy draining rapidly.
The Sword's voice was soft, cold, divine.
"Feed me."
Xiao Wang's crimson eyes flared as he whispered, "Devour."
The Sword erupted in a spiral of dark red and gold energy, tearing through Li Han's defenses. In a single flash, the azure blade shattered, and Li Han fell to his knees, his Qi ripped away.
The courtyard trembled.
The watching disciples fell silent in awe and fear.
Yun Xi's expression darkened—but there was something like fascination in her eyes.
"Enough," she said sharply. "The duel is decided. Candidate Xiao Wang… step back."
Li Han collapsed, pale as snow. Xiao Wang sheathed his sword in silence. But inside, he could feel it—the Sword's energy pulsing like a heartbeat, drinking in the remnants of Li Han's cultivation.
"You see now," the Sword whispered, "every victory feeds us both. Every soul, every spark of Qi—they are but offerings to our ascent."
The Path of Ascension Begins
Later that night, Xiao Wang stood at the edge of the sect's cliffside, staring down at the ocean of clouds below. The moon painted silver trails across his sword.
The voice came again, softer this time.
"They will fear you. They will hunt you. But in the end… they will kneel."
He smiled faintly. "And what will you do, old one?"
"Guide you… until you surpass even the gods that once forged me."
Far below, bells rang across the mountains—the Azure Sky Sect welcoming its new disciples. But none knew that among them stood the one destined to devour heaven itself.
The wind carried the sound of his whisper.
"The path begins now."