Phase Three was simple—on the surface.
A massive monolith stood in the center of the mountain basin. It pulsed with spiritual energy. Hundreds of glowing inscriptions covered its surface.
"The Third Gate," Elder Mo explained. "A sentient artifact. It tests potential, not power. Place your hand upon the stone and pour your Qi into it."
One by one, candidates approached.
Most failed to even activate a single rune.
A few lit up one or two.
The best among them lit up three, sometimes four.
When Lin Feng stepped forward, the crowd had already grown restless.
"Watch," one disciple muttered. "He'll light up five at most."
"I heard he's from some backwater village."
"He's a fluke."
Lin Feng exhaled and placed his hand against the stone.
System Synchronization: Astral Trait Detected – Compatibility 98%
The monolith shuddered.
Lines of light exploded across its surface.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six—
Eight runes lit up.
Gasps turned into stunned silence.
Elder Mo rose to his feet. "Eight…?"
Even the cloaked watcher stepped forward.
"His soul resonance is off the charts," the man said. "He's either a reincarnated expert or…"
"Or something else entirely," Elder Mo finished.
Lin Feng lowered his hand and walked away without a word.
Behind him, the runes slowly faded.