Having dominated the Barrier Gauntlet, Ling Tian was given no time to rest. He was immediately escorted by Grand Elder Xi herself to the summit of the Heavenly Sword Mountain, to the site of the Sky Cloud Sect's final trial.
There, beneath the vast blue sky, stood an ancient, ten-meter tall monolith: the Heavenly Ranking Stone. Its surface was etched with thousands of names, each radiating a light corresponding to the strength of the cultivator who carved it.
"This Stone," Grand Elder Xi explained, her eyes fixed on Ling Tian with burning interest, "tests the essence of your Qi and your Dao Core. You must strike the Stone with all your might. The power and purity of your strike will determine how deeply your name is carved, and your rank. Only cultivators in the Golden Core Realm can etch their names at the very top."
The gathered Elders watched with thinly veiled scorn. Ling Tian was still at the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation. Even if he was a genius, the Golden Core was far beyond him. At best, his name would etch beneath thousands of others.
"This is the final test," Elder Xi stated. "If your name carves into the top 100, your requirements are met. If not... you will be expelled, and all promises are rescinded."
Ling Tian gave a small nod. He stared at the monolith, a sneer forming on his lips.
"Golden Core?" he thought, mocking. I do not possess a Golden Core; I possess a sea of Primordial Chaos. This will be far more destructive.
The first candidate, a genius from a major clan in the Fifth Layer of the Spirit Foundation Realm, stepped forward. He unleashed a full Qi attack, punching the Heavenly Ranking Stone.
DONG!
His name appeared in a bronze glow at the bottom of the monolith, at Rank 2,754. He snorted in frustration.
Ling Tian stepped forward. All eyes, including Grand Elder Xi's, were fixed on him.
He didn't bother using a complicated punching technique. He simply stood there, closing his eyes for a moment. He took a deep breath, activating the Absolute Immortal Lineage.
The Primordial Chaos Qi in his Dantian spun, condensing itself to a level of illogical density. The energy was not like a Golden Core; it was like a miniature black hole.
Ling Tian opened his eyes, his purple gaze flashing with lightning. He unleashed a punch toward the Heavenly Ranking Stone.
There was no loud, booming sound. Instead, there was a high-pitched, disruptive "CRACK!" sound, as if space itself was fracturing.
Ling Tian's strike energy pierced the stone surface.
WHOOSH!
Not a bronze light. Not a silver light. The entire Heavenly Ranking Stone lit up with a blinding Violet-Gold Glow and radiated a suffocating spiritual pressure.
At the very summit of the monolith, transcending all previous names, a single name began to etch, radiating a light far brighter than any other.
The name carved itself directly at Rank 1:
L I N G T I A N
A silence deeper than the void gripped the mountain peak.
The Elders were aghast. The current Rank 1 name belonged to the previous First Core Disciple, a cultivator at the Full Golden Core Realm believed to be unmatched, whose etching glowed bright gold.
Ling Tian's etching was not only at Rank 1; it carved so deeply into the stone that Energy Cracks were visible around it. And its light was a mix of Gold and Primordial Violet, far more potent and arrogant than the pure Golden Core light.
"He... he surpassed the Golden Core with mere Qi Condensation?" whispered one Elder in disbelief.
Grand Elder Xi, a Nascent Soul Realm legend, let out a booming, joyous laugh rarely heard.
"Excellent! Truly excellent!" she exclaimed. "The Sky Cloud Sect has slept for too long! We have gained a True King!"
She turned toward Ling Tian, who simply stood there with an arrogant "I told you so" expression.
"Ling Tian, you have met all conditions, and surpassed all the Sky Cloud Sect's expectations," Grand Elder Xi said. "You are now the Honorary First Core Disciple of the Sky Cloud Sect, with every privilege you demanded."
She presented him with a purple jade token that radiated an ancient aura. "Welcome to the Sky Cloud Sect. The Sect is yours to dominate."
Ling Tian took the token, clipping it onto his robe. He looked at the shattered Heavenly Ranking Stone, where his name shone like a new sun.
Moonlit City is over. The Sky Cloud Sect is merely a stepping stone, Ling Tian thought. The path to immortality awaits. And on that path, anyone who dares to block me...
He sneered, his eyes flashing with contempt. ...will be destroyed.