The annihilation of the Black Sun Cult Master and his four Nascent Soul Elders by Ling Tian's two simple Primordial Chaos Palms became the most defining event in the history of the Sky Cloud Sect. Ling Tian was no longer viewed as a genius or a rogue disciple; he was seen as a Living God, the true Protector of the realm.
The Sect Master, Gu, immediately declared a day of celebration, but Ling Tian was nowhere to be found. He had retreated to his secluded cave dwelling atop the Tier-8 Spirit Vein, preparing for his departure.
Farewells and Final Gifts
Grand Elder Xi was the only one allowed to approach. She found Ling Tian sitting calmly, reading the ancient stone tablet he had taken from the Forbidden Archive.
"You are leaving, aren't you, Disciple Ling Tian?" Elder Xi asked, her voice tinged with melancholy.
"Yes," Ling Tian confirmed, not looking up. "The Seven-Heaven Realm can no longer offer me growth. The air here is too thin; the threats are too insignificant. My next step must be the Nine Immortal Realms."
Elder Xi sighed, yet pride shone in her eyes. "We knew this day would come. The Sky Cloud Sect was never meant to hold a force like you."
Ling Tian closed the stone tablet. He pulled out a small, exquisite porcelain bottle and handed it to her.
"This is payment for the hospitality," Ling Tian stated. "Inside are five Tier-7 Divine Longevity Pills. They will extend the lifespan of any Nascent Soul Realm expert by one hundred years and heal all foundational injuries. They are for you and Sect Master Gu."
Elder Xi gasped, her hands trembling as she took the bottle. Tier-7 Divine Longevity Pills were priceless treasures, capable of changing the political landscape of a dozen realms!
"And for the Sect," Ling Tian continued, a rare hint of appreciation in his voice. "I leave behind the complete formula for the Peak-Grade Spirit Augmenting Pills—not the Tier-7 formula, but a refined Tier-5 version that your disciples can manage. This will ensure your sect's prosperity for centuries."
The Final Step
Ling Tian then explained the specifics of his ascent. He didn't need the traditional, cumbersome Ascension Array that cultivators spent centuries preparing. His Perfect Golden Chaos Core and the Absolute Immortal Lineage provided a simpler, far more dangerous path.
"I will shatter the barrier between this Realm and the Nine Immortal Realms using the full power of my Primordial Chaos Core," Ling Tian explained. "It is faster, but the risk of cosmic void turbulence is high for those with a weaker core."
"Will you not say goodbye to the Sect Master?" Elder Xi asked.
"There is no need," Ling Tian replied coldly. "My final act—eliminating the Black Sun Cult—was the farewell. My path is forward, and I do not look back at the dust I leave behind."
He stood up, walking out of the cave dwelling and onto the peak of the mountain. He ignored the cheers and fearful gazes of the disciples who had gathered below.
Ling Tian looked up at the vast, distant stars—the stars of the Nine Immortal Realms.
He gathered the immense power of his Perfect Golden Chaos Core. The air around him began to distort violently. He focused the full, raw power of the Primordial Chaos Palm, not outward, but upward, aimed at the barrier of the Seven-Heaven Realm.
"This realm is too weak," Ling Tian declared, his final words echoing across the mountain and through the spiritual veins of the entire Sect.
CRACK! RRRRUMBLE!
A titanic, resounding shatter tore through the sky. The barrier of the Seven-Heaven Realm ripped open, revealing a blinding, chaotic void of silver and violet energy—the gateway to the higher Realms.
Ling Tian stepped forward, walking directly into the chaotic void without a hint of hesitation or fear. He was leaving the world where he was a King to enter a world where he would begin his journey anew.
The portal snapped shut behind him, leaving behind only the astonished, trembling leaders of the Sky Cloud Sect and the knowledge that a supreme power had briefly resided among them.