Morning light poured across Celestial Gate City, illuminating the floating islands above like jewels suspended in the heavens.
The events of the previous night had already begun spreading through the city.
Rumors traveled faster than spiritual lightning.
The mysterious cultivator called Calamity.
The man who devoured a Spirit Sovereign's attack.
The man summoned by the Heavenly Wardens.
And the man now being courted by the Nine Dominant Sects.
Inside a quiet teahouse near the central plaza, Lin Xuan sat by a window calmly drinking spiritual tea.
Across from him, Wei Jian had already finished three cups.
His nerves were still completely shattered.
"You met a Watcher… and you're sitting here drinking tea?"
Lin Xuan took another sip.
"It's good tea."
Wei Jian slammed the table softly.
"That's not the point!"
Bai Lianhua sat beside them, her posture relaxed but her eyes thoughtful.
"Let him enjoy the calm while it lasts."
Wei Jian groaned.
"That's exactly what scares me."
Lin Xuan set his cup down.
"Relax."
Wei Jian leaned forward.
"No, you relax too much."
"You just came back from a meeting with beings that could erase cities."
Lin Xuan shrugged.
"They didn't erase me."
Wei Jian rubbed his temples.
"You're impossible."
Outside the teahouse, cultivators moved through the streets in a constant flow of robes, armor, and spiritual beasts.
Above the city, the floating sect islands cast enormous shadows.
Three of those shadows were now particularly important.
Wei Jian pointed toward the sky.
"You still haven't chosen."
Lin Xuan followed his gaze.
The Azure Sword Pavilion.
The Blazing Heaven Sect.
The Moon Reflection Sect.
Three invitations.
Three completely different paths.
Wei Jian leaned closer.
"Look… if it were me, I'd pick Azure Sword Pavilion."
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Sword cultivators are terrifying."
Wei Jian made a slicing motion with his hand.
"One strike, one kill."
Bai Lianhua shook her head.
"The Blazing Heaven Sect offers stronger combat training."
Lin Xuan glanced at her.
"You think I should join them?"
"They value aggression."
Her eyes glimmered faintly.
"You certainly have enough of that."
Wei Jian coughed.
"Or you could choose Moon Reflection Sect…"
Both of them looked at him.
Wei Jian shrugged.
"They're… mysterious."
Lin Xuan leaned back slightly.
"Mysterious how?"
Wei Jian lowered his voice.
"They study ancient laws."
Lin Xuan's interest sharpened.
"The same kind of laws the Heavenly Wardens guard?"
Wei Jian nodded slowly.
"That's why they're dangerous."
Bai Lianhua spoke quietly.
"And powerful."
Lin Xuan stood up.
"Then I think I already know my answer."
The floating islands above Celestial Gate City were connected by bridges of condensed spiritual energy.
Each bridge could only be activated with permission from the sect controlling the island.
When Lin Xuan approached the bridge leading to the Moon Reflection Sect, a ripple of silver light spread across the pathway.
Wei Jian stopped at the edge.
"Well… this is where I leave you."
Lin Xuan looked back.
"You're not coming?"
Wei Jian shook his head quickly.
"That sect makes me nervous."
Bai Lianhua stepped forward beside Lin Xuan.
"I'm still coming."
The silver bridge glowed brighter as they stepped onto it.
Clouds drifted beneath their feet.
The air grew colder.
Calmer.
Almost unreal.
At the end of the bridge stood a massive silver gate carved with crescent moon symbols.
As they approached—
The gates opened silently.
Waiting.
The Moon Reflection Sect was unlike anything Lin Xuan expected.
There were no towering palaces.
No blazing arenas.
Instead—
Crystal lakes reflected the sky like mirrors.
White stone pavilions floated gently above the water.
Silver trees swayed softly in the wind.
The entire island felt quiet.
Almost peaceful.
Bai Lianhua looked around slowly.
"It's beautiful."
Lin Xuan nodded.
"And deceptive."
Footsteps approached.
A group of disciples walked across one of the floating bridges.
Their robes were white and silver.
Their movements graceful and controlled.
At their center stood a young man with long black hair tied behind his back.
His aura was sharp but calm.
He stopped several meters away.
"You must be Lin Xuan."
Lin Xuan studied him.
"And you are?"
The young man clasped his hands politely.
"Shen Tianyu, inner disciple of the Moon Reflection Sect."
His gaze flickered briefly to Bai Lianhua.
"You're the ones who fought in the Heaven Measuring Tower."
Lin Xuan nodded.
Shen Tianyu smiled slightly.
"Your reputation arrived before you."
Shen Tianyu gestured toward a large circular platform floating above the lake.
"Before Elder Yue Qing meets you…"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"You must pass a small test."
Lin Xuan tilted his head.
"What kind of test?"
Shen Tianyu pointed to the platform.
"Combat."
Wei Jian would have panicked immediately.
But Lin Xuan only smiled faintly.
"Against you?"
Shen Tianyu nodded.
"I'm curious about your devouring technique."
Bai Lianhua stepped back quietly.
Lin Xuan walked onto the platform.
The lake beneath reflected both of them like a mirror.
Shen Tianyu drew a thin silver sword.
"I'll warn you."
His aura surged.
"I'm not a Spirit Sovereign."
Lin Xuan's eyes glimmered.
"I'm stronger."
Shen Tianyu vanished.
The speed shocked even Lin Xuan.
A silver blade flashed toward his throat.
CLANG!
Lin Xuan blocked with his arm.
The Devourer Star absorbed part of the impact instantly.
Shen Tianyu's eyes widened slightly.
"So the rumors were true."
He stepped back.
Then his sword began moving faster.
Silver light streaked across the platform.
Dozens of blade strikes descended from every direction.
Lin Xuan dodged several.
Blocked others.
But each strike carried strange energy.
Not raw power.
Law.
The air itself seemed to shift with every sword movement.
Lin Xuan felt something unusual.
"This isn't ordinary sword intent…"
Shen Tianyu smiled.
"Correct."
He raised his sword.
"This is Moon Reflection Law."
The lake beneath them suddenly shimmered.
Their reflections began moving independently.
Lin Xuan frowned slightly.
Then the reflection rose from the water.
A perfect duplicate of him.
Wei Jian would have screamed if he saw it.
The reflection attacked instantly.
Lin Xuan blocked his own strike.
Shen Tianyu spoke calmly.
"Moon Reflection Sect techniques manipulate mirrored laws."
Lin Xuan smirked.
"So you copied me."
"Temporarily."
The reflection moved with terrifying precision.
Every attack mirrored Lin Xuan's own combat instincts.
The platform exploded with clashing blows.
Shen Tianyu watched carefully.
"Let's see how you devour that."
Lin Xuan stepped back.
The reflection lunged again.
This time—
Lin Xuan allowed the attack to hit him.
The Devourer Star roared.
The mirrored law energy flowed directly into his core.
For a moment—
The reflection flickered.
Shen Tianyu's eyes widened.
"He's absorbing the reflection law?"
Lin Xuan grinned.
"Not bad."
The Devourer Star pulsed again.
The reflection shattered like broken glass.
Shen Tianyu laughed.
"I see."
His sword glowed brighter.
"Then try this."
The entire lake erupted.
Hundreds of reflections rose simultaneously.
Every one of them carrying sword intent.
Bai Lianhua whispered softly.
"Impressive."
Lin Xuan looked around calmly.
Then he spread his arms slightly.
The Devourer Star ignited.
A vortex of dark energy expanded outward.
One reflection after another dissolved into devoured law fragments.
Shen Tianyu stepped back slowly.
"Monstrous…"
Within seconds—
The entire lake calmed.
The reflections were gone.
Lin Xuan stood in the center of the platform, completely unharmed.
Applause echoed across the lake.
Lin Xuan turned.
Elder Yue Qing stood on a nearby bridge.
Her silver robes shimmered softly.
"Enough."
Shen Tianyu bowed respectfully.
"Elder."
Yue Qing walked onto the platform.
Her eyes studied Lin Xuan carefully.
"You devoured reflection law after seeing it once."
Lin Xuan shrugged.
"It tasted interesting."
She chuckled quietly.
"That ability will terrify many people."
Lin Xuan nodded.
"I noticed."
Yue Qing looked toward Bai Lianhua.
"You're welcome here as well."
Bai Lianhua bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Elder."
Yue Qing turned back to Lin Xuan.
"So…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"Have you decided?"
Lin Xuan looked around the peaceful island.
The calm lakes.
The silent pavilions.
The disciples observing quietly.
Then he said simply:
"Yes."
Yue Qing smiled faintly.
"Welcome to the Moon Reflection Sect, Lin Xuan."
A silver token appeared in her hand.
She handed it to him.
"This marks you as an Inner Disciple."
Shen Tianyu blinked in surprise.
"Inner disciple already?"
Yue Qing nodded.
"He's earned it."
Lin Xuan examined the token.
It pulsed with faint moonlight.
Yue Qing's voice became slightly more serious.
"But understand something."
Lin Xuan looked at her.
"This sect studies ancient laws."
Her eyes glimmered faintly.
"And ancient enemies."
The Devourer Star stirred quietly.
Lin Xuan smiled.
"That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for."
Far above the island—
Hidden among the clouds—
Two figures watched silently.
One wore blazing golden armor.
The other wore a mask shaped like a star.
The armored figure spoke first.
"So the Devourer joined Moon Reflection."
The masked figure nodded slowly.
"That sect always collects strange talents."
The armored figure's eyes narrowed.
"Should we eliminate him now?"
The masked figure looked down at Lin Xuan calmly.
"No."
"Not yet."
Far below—
Lin Xuan suddenly looked up at the sky.
For a moment—
His gaze met theirs.
The masked figure chuckled softly.
"He noticed."
The armored figure frowned.
"Impossible."
The masked figure smiled behind the mask.
"This Devourer…"
"He may become something truly terrifying."