The moment Yan Fu's three afterimages struck simultaneously, the courtyard of Ji Xia Sect erupted with violent shockwaves. Stone tiles shattered and fragments of rock shot through the air like arrows. The immense force of the clash shook the entire mountain.
Yet when the dust began to settle, the mysterious visitor still stood where they had been before.
Completely unmoved.
Their black robes fluttered gently as faint silver light surrounded their body.
Yan Fu immediately leapt back, landing several meters away as his eyes narrowed slightly.
"An energy barrier," he muttered quietly.
Li Fei, watching from behind the defensive formation, clenched his fists. Even from a distance he could see the terrifying density of the energy surrounding the visitor.
"That attack… Master's Celestial Strike technique… and they blocked it without even stepping back."
The visitor slowly lifted their head.
"You attack decisively," the stranger said calmly. "That is good. Hesitation is death in the cultivation world."
Then their silver eyes glowed faintly.
"But your strength… is still immature."
Suddenly the air around the visitor exploded outward.
BOOOOM!
A massive wave of spiritual pressure erupted like a storm.
The disciples were pushed back again as the courtyard trembled violently. Several lanterns shattered and fragments of stone cracked apart under the overwhelming aura.
Yan Fu raised his staff instantly.
Golden runes spiraled around him as he stabilized his stance.
"So this is your true pressure," he said quietly.
The visitor smiled faintly.
"Not yet."
At that moment a deep roar shook the entire sect.
RRRRRROOOOAAAAAR!
Vorath moved.
The massive black lion lunged forward like a streak of shadow, his claws tearing through the air with terrifying speed.
The ground shattered beneath his leap.
"Enough testing!" Vorath roared.
His claws struck down with devastating force.
BOOOOM!!!
The courtyard exploded as the attack landed.
But just before the claws could reach the visitor, the stranger raised a single finger.
CLANG!
The claws stopped.
Vorath's enormous strength was halted by a thin layer of shimmering silver energy.
The visitor's eyes glimmered with curiosity.
"A divine guardian… and a proud one."
Vorath's amber eyes burned with fury.
"You dare mock this sect!"
Dark energy surged from his body as his muscles expanded and his claws glowed with destructive power.
This time he attacked with his full strength.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each strike sent shockwaves across the courtyard.
The visitor stepped backward for the first time, dodging with fluid movements.
Yan Fu's eyes sharpened.
"They're fast."
Aetherion stepped forward calmly.
"Then we must restrict their movement."
The celestial beast lowered his head.
His horn began to glow with brilliant turquoise light.
Streams of divine energy spread across the ground like glowing vines.
"Celestial Binding Domain."
The energy shot outward across the courtyard, forming a massive glowing formation that covered the entire battlefield.
The visitor paused slightly.
"Oh?"
Their foot suddenly sank slightly into the glowing energy.
"Interesting technique."
Aetherion's calm voice echoed across the courtyard.
"This domain slows spiritual movement. Even powerful cultivators cannot move freely inside it."
Vorath roared again.
"Then let's see you escape this!"
The black lion launched himself forward again, this time moving even faster.
His claws ripped through the air like dark lightning.
The visitor's silver eyes flashed.
This time they did not dodge.
Instead they raised their hand.
A strange symbol appeared in the air.
The moment Vorath's claws struck—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A blinding explosion erupted across the courtyard.
Dust and debris blasted outward as spiritual energy surged wildly.
The disciples gasped as the shockwave knocked them backward again.
Li Fei struggled to keep his footing.
"What just happened?!"
When the dust cleared, the visitor was standing several meters away.
But something surprising had happened.
A thin line of blood slowly ran down their cheek.
The visitor touched it lightly.
Then they smiled.
"Well done."
Vorath landed heavily on the ground, breathing deeply.
"You're not untouchable."
The visitor laughed softly.
"No… I am not."
Suddenly lightning split the sky.
CRAAAAACK!
Tianlong descended.
The enormous dragon spiraled downward from the clouds, electricity surging across its scales like a raging storm.
Its wings spread wide across the sky above Ji Xia Sect.
The air filled with violent thunder.
The visitor finally looked upward.
"A dragon guardian as well…"
The dragon's voice echoed like thunder itself.
"You threaten this sect."
Lightning gathered in Tianlong's jaws.
"That ends now."
BOOOOOOM!!!
A massive bolt of lightning crashed down from the heavens.
The visitor moved instantly.
They leapt backward just as the lightning struck the ground, turning the courtyard stone into molten rock.
Yan Fu saw the opportunity.
"Now!"
He slammed his staff against the ground.
Golden runes erupted outward in every direction.
"Celestial Suppression Formation!"
Massive pillars of light rose from the courtyard, forming a cage of divine energy around the battlefield.
The visitor finally looked slightly impressed.
"You've combined beast guardians, domain magic, and formation control…"
"That is not the strategy of a simple cultivator."
Yan Fu's voice remained calm.
"You came here to test Ji Xia Sect."
"So we will show you its power."
The visitor slowly straightened.
Their silver eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Very well."
Then they raised both hands.
For the first time since the battle began, their full aura erupted.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
An overwhelming wave of power exploded across the mountain.
The sky darkened.
The clouds above the sect began to spin violently.
The disciples gasped in terror.
"That power…"
Elder Huoran's face turned pale.
"This isn't just Celestial Realm."
Yan Fu's eyes sharpened immediately.
"Half-step Divine…"
The visitor smiled calmly.
"You noticed."
Silver flames erupted around their body like a burning storm.
"Now the real test begins."
The battlefield fell silent for one terrifying moment.
Then the visitor disappeared.
WHOOSH!
They reappeared directly in front of Yan Fu.
Their fist shot forward like lightning.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The impact sent Yan Fu flying backward through three stone pillars.
The courtyard shook violently as dust filled the air.
Li Fei shouted in panic.
"MASTER!"
But before anyone could react—
The dust exploded outward.
Yan Fu stepped out slowly.
His robes were torn slightly, but his eyes burned with determination.
Golden energy surged around him.
"Good."
He raised his staff again.
"Now I can finally fight seriously."
Behind him, Vorath roared.
Aetherion's horn shone brighter.
Tianlong unleashed another storm of lightning.
The entire Ji Xia Sect battlefield ignited with power.
The Celestial Trial had only just begun.
And the mountain itself trembled beneath the clash of titans.