CHAPTER 55: SECT COMPETITION III

After hundreds of duels, crushing eliminations, and more than a few exploded platforms, the dust had finally settled.

Ten disciples now stood at the summit. Ten names etched into the formation board for all to see, glowing with silver-blue light as the array recorded their victories.

These weren’t just popular picks—they had earned their place through battle.

Some dazzled the crowd with overwhelming might.

Others clawed their way forward through brutal, strategic warfare—outlasting opponents who, on paper, should’ve overpowered them.

Regardless of the path, they now stood on even ground.

The Azure Feather Sect’s Grand Disciple Selection had reached its final phase.

The air in the arena shimmered with tension. Where once there had been thunderous cheers, now silence reigned—awestruck, reverent silence. Only ten remained, and each had carved their name into the minds of thousands.

Among them stood Tian Lei, motionless as ever. Sword sheathed. Eyes calm. Robes untouched by dust.

From the highest observation terrace, elders leaned forward. Peak Lords watched in silence. Core disciples exchanged nervous glances.

Because he was still completely unscathed.

Not a scratch. Not a nick. No opponent had even managed to land a hit. Not once.

Even the stone platforms seemed to yield before him—cracking cleanly with each stroke of his blade, as if the arena itself recognized the disparity.

And watching from the upper terrace, Huang Jie gritted his teeth so hard his jaw trembled.

That bastard... he seethed, fingernails digging into his palm as he stood among the ranked Core Disciples.

Not because Tian Lei had insulted him.

Not because he had lost to him personally.

But because every fighter he had lined up—every so-called ’pawn’ chosen specifically to test, pressure, and eventually eliminate Tian Lei—had failed to even touch him.

He’d handpicked them all. Pulled from various Peaks. Backed by solid spirit roots, enhanced bloodlines, powerful techniques. And still...

Still.

They were all struck down by a single blow.

One.

No theatrics. No drawn-out battles. Just the faint rustle of black robes, a single gleaming arc—and then silence.

Some had their meridians sealed. Others had their bones shattered on the spot. One unfortunate challenger had even fainted before Tian Lei drew his sword—collapsed from sheer pressure, like a candle snuffed out before a storm.

In the crowd, murmurs turned into gasps. Gasps turned into awe. And awe gave way to declarations.

"Did you see that?"

"That wasn’t just a sword move... that was Sword Intent Embryo, wasn’t it?"

"No wonder. That explains why he only ever swings once."

"He hasn’t used a single technique. Not one named move. That only makes it scarier..."

By the time Tian Lei entered the final ten, his name was no longer whispered.

It was chanted.

"Tian Lei."

"Tian Lei!"

"TIAN LEI!!"

The name rang like thunder across the observation stands. He wasn’t just a competitor anymore—he had become a symbol. A storm. And many among the audience were becoming his devotees, swept up in awe as he defeated every opponent with effortless dominance.

Now seated quietly among the remaining finalists, Tian Lei sat cross-legged, eyes closed, as if meditating—but inside, a profound shift was taking place.

He wasn’t resting.

He was refining.

Within him, the Sword Intent had finally taken shape—no longer just a faint glimmer or embryonic concept, but a living presence. His Sword Embryo had been born.

In the cultivation path of weapon users, Sword Intent wasn’t just a technique or battle instinct—it was a declaration. It defined one’s path, sharpened one’s will, and carved a Dao unto the world.

And Tian Lei’s path?

The Way of Domination.

His Sword Intent Embryo wasn’t gentle or elegant. It didn’t flow or dance like wind or water. It crushed. It overwhelmed. It stood above, untouchable, unchallengeable. It didn’t merely defeat—it made others realize they could not even touch him.

This essence of absolute superiority had fused with his sword artand with the dragon’s pride coming from the Dragon Soul in him. And through that resonance, and his own powerful comprehension the embryonic Sword Intent had been created faster than it should have.

Now, Tian Lei had taken the crucial step forward.

From Sword User to Sword Apprentice.

A pivotal transformation.

Where ordinary cultivators simply swung their blades using techniques, Sword Apprentices began to understand why they swung them in the first place. It was no longer about form or repetition—it was about intent.

Why do you wield the sword?

What do you seek to cut?

What will your blade carve into the world?

These questions were no longer philosophical musings—they became the very fuel behind each swing. At the Sword Apprentice stage, a cultivator began forming the foundation of their Sword Path—a personal truth that the blade would one day embody.

And Tian Lei... had already begun to answer those questions.

Each strike he delivered wasn’t just an attack.

It was a statement.

A declaration of dominance.

As Tian Lei closed his eyes and continued to comprehend it, the Qi around him began to shift—tinged with a faint, oppressive red hue, dense with intent and formless will.

It wasn’t violent.

But it was absolute.

Other disciples nearby instinctively felt the pressure—an unspoken command, a presence that demanded acknowledgment. Many subconsciously lowered their heads. Some took an involuntary step back, unable to bear the weight of his existence.

Even without moving, Tian Lei stood alone.

And slowly, the whispers began.

"What... what is he doing?"

"Is he cultivating?"

"No... no, it’s something else..."

One elder narrowed his eyes. "He’s stabilizing his Sword Intent Embryo," he muttered.

"What a monster..." another elder whispered in awe. To comprehend a Sword Intent Embryo at the Mortal Realm—such a feat could only be described as monstrous.

Up above, among the honored seats, a murmuring of astonishment echoed through the Grand Elders and Core Elders. Many eyes turned toward the Sect Leader, hidden admiration mixed with begrudging envy. Some even glanced at their own Peak disciples with disappointment.

From Sword Peak, one of the elders clenched his fist, unable to contain himself. It was the third time this day that he’d stood up in excitement.

His robes fluttered with spiritual pressure as he stepped forward and bowed respectfully toward the Sect Leader. His eyes, though sharp, held an eager gleam.

"Sect Leader," he said earnestly, "please... allow him to train under my Sword Peak. His talent will shine brighter if nurtured in a place that truly understands the blade."

All eyes turned toward the Sect Leader, awaiting her response.

But she merely shook her head. "No," she replied gently, her voice carrying through the terrace like a calm tide.

Before the elder could voice further protest, she added with a slight smile, "However, I will permit him to visit your Sword Peak for study and reference, if he wishes."

The Sword Peak elder bowed deeply, gratitude plain in his expression. "Thank you, Sect Leader," he said with sincere respect.

Seated in the highest chair of honor, Sect Leader Mu Renxue watched the arena below with composed dignity, her golden eyes fixed sharply on Tian Lei as he continued to dominate with effortless superiority.

A rare, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of her lips—a fleeting softness amidst her usually ice-cold poise.

"Good... my cute disciple, you’re doing wonderfully."The thought passed through Mu Renxue’s mind like a warm breeze slipping through frost.

Down below, Tian Lei finally opened his eyes, his meditation complete.

The air around him settled, the oppressive pressure fading, yet the impression it left behind lingered like a phantom blade.

He had done it.

He had stabilized the embryonic form of his Sword Intent—an achievement that most cultivators would not touch until well beyond the Spirit Awakening Realm.

His breath was calm. His eyes steady. And his sword... utterly silent. Yet every elder and disciple present knew—they were witnessing the birth of a monster that defied convention.

And high above, the Sect Leader watched with eyes that glowed just a bit warmer.

"You done?" an elder asked faintly, watching Tian Lei rise to his feet.

"Apologies, Elder. I got absorbed in my cultivation," Tian Lei replied calmly, brushing the dust from his robes.

The elder waved his hand dismissively, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "It’s alright. After showing something like that, even if you have taken whole day, no one here would dare complain."

It was common sense to not disturb one’s enlightment so no one minded if the competition got delayed because of Tian Lei stabilizing his Sword intent Embryo.

He cleared his throat and looked around at the remaining finalists. "Now that the meditation break is over, and all ten of you have stabilized your conditions... it’s time to draw lots."

With that, he clapped his hands once. A sect servant brought forward a wooden tray with a small jade bowl, misty with protective seals. Within it were ten folded slips of paper—all five of same shape and size with no difference in them.

"Pick one," the elder instructed as he held the bowl forward.