One million years later…
The sky was filled with floating vehicles and glowing skylines. Technology ruled cities, with towers stretching to the heavens and roads paved with light. Yet amidst this marvel of modernity, the arcane had not vanished—it had evolved.
In the heart of Jianghai City stood the Tianyuan Spiritual Academy, a prestigious institution of cultivation where thousands of students trained in spellcraft, artifact forging, body refinement, and spiritual manipulation.
The sects of the old world had not disappeared. Instead, they had merged with modernity—hidden behind academies, corporations, and research institutes. Cultivators still existed. The battle for power, immortality, and ascension… still raged.
And in the crowd of new students arriving at the academy gates, dressed in sleek uniforms and carrying arcane devices, stood a man in simple black robes.
His name… was Li Xuantian.
To the world, he was a nobody.
To the heavens, he was a threat.
He stepped forward, his eyes observing the students around him. Most were in the Foundation Establishment realm or higher. Some boasted bloodline mutations, spirit weapons, and ancestral techniques. Yet none of them… felt dangerous to him.
A flying drone hovered before him, scanning his aura.
Qi Condensation. The display turned blue, indicating the lowest possible rank.
Snickers echoed from the nearby students.
"Did they seriously let someone like that into Tianyuan?" one of them whispered. "Is he from some backwater village?"
Li Xuantian ignored them.
He had long grown indifferent to mockery.
---
In the academy's open courtyard, new students gathered for their first day of orientation. A middle-aged instructor with a sharp gaze stepped forward, holding a jade tablet.
"I am Master Wei," he said. "And for those of you who think this academy is a playground, let me remind you… only the strong survive."
He gestured toward a large glowing crystal in the center of the courtyard.
"This is the Spiritual Assessment Crystal. Place your hand on it. It will determine your latent power and cultivation foundation. Do not attempt to cheat. It cannot be deceived."
One by one, students stepped forward. Some crystals glowed purple. Others red. The stronger the glow, the greater the potential.
Then it was Li Xuantian's turn.
Snickers echoed again.
"This will be fun."
He stepped forward in silence, placed his hand on the crystal—and waited.
For a moment… nothing happened.
Then the crystal began to crack.
A second later—BOOM—it shattered into dust, the fragments vaporizing in a pulse of uncontrolled energy.
Gasps spread through the courtyard.
"What the hell?!"
"That crystal is reinforced with star-forged jade and celestial patterns! It's… unbreakable!"
Master Wei stepped forward, eyes wide. "That crystal could only be shattered by someone at… at least the Divine Ascension Realm…"
Li Xuantian turned, his eyes calm. "You wanted to test strength… not realm. I gave you your answer."
Silence.
The crowd parted as he walked away.
---