"I thank the Elder for his guidance," Zhi Xuan replied, bowing low again, his formality perfect. "The path I carve may be filled with thorns and blood, but I am only responsible for the final result. I have fulfilled the initial agreement—I returned alive."

  Yan Shen smiled faintly. The smile contained no laughter, only silent acceptance. He shifted his gaze from Zhi Xuan to Fei Sheng and Feng Yi.

  "Both of you also returned with satisfying results," Yan Shen said, his aura like autumn mist enveloping both of them, correcting their still-turbulent essence circulation. "Feng Yi, your Phoenix Fire has heated up; the Core you obtained has pushed you onto the path of foundation refinement. Fei Sheng, your Law of Wind is more stable and sharp."

  Yan Shen nodded slowly, the flicker in his eyes indicating deep wisdom. With a serene step, he walked toward the peak of Cloud Sky Mountain, signaling Zhi Xuan, Fei Sheng, and Feng Yi to follow him.

  "Ascend," Yan Shen said calmly. "Recover yourselves; tomorrow morning will be decisive. Whether you are worthy to stand in the ranks of the Star King's Stairs depends on the strength of your will to advance."

  Zhi Xuan, Fei Sheng, and Feng Yi followed Yan Shen's calm steps, ascending the white jade stairs that spiraled around Cloud Sky Mountain. Every step Yan Shen took seemed to tread on the invisible Law of Heaven, his aura like autumn mist radiating an oppressive calmness. The three young cultivators, though physically exhausted, felt a strong spiritual urge to keep their steps steady.

  Beside him, Mei Hua walked with small steps, clutching the Lulu doll and the small monkey statue tightly in her tiny hands. The gentle warmth from her hand, which Zhi Xuan had felt earlier, was the only anchor Zhi Xuan had from the spiritual chaos he had just left. Zhi Xuan glanced at Mei Hua, and his faint smile returned, a genuine smile, far from his cold calculations in the Secret Realm.

  "We will rest at the Pure Cloud Peak," Yan Shen said, without turning his head. His voice, as gentle as the murmur of water in a jade pond, carried the promise of absolute recovery. "There, you will have one night to correct your foundations, before dawn arrives and the results of the Heavenly Selection are announced."

  "Pure Cloud Peak," Fei Sheng repeated, his crystal eyes radiating deep curiosity. He knew the place—one of the remote peaks on Cloud Sky Mountain that was rarely opened, where the spiritual essence was said to be the purest, a peak nestled between the Southern Mountains and the Jade Dragon Mountains stretching across the Southern Continent.

  They arrived at the peak, which was shrouded in a delicate, cold mist, adorned with small formations that locked the essence. In the middle of the peak, a white jade pavilion stood tall, radiating an aura of ancient tranquility. About thirty young cultivators, who had successfully exited the Falling Star Secret Realm before the trio, were sitting cross-legged on meditation mats.

  These cultivators were the true geniuses from various regions of the Southern Continent: those who targeted the Heavenly Selection from the beginning. Most were at the peak Organ Transformation realm, with a few who had successfully stepped into the early-stage Consciousness Transformation realm—like Fei Sheng.

  The others, who were confirmed to have failed the Heavenly Selection, could only lament on the peak's periphery, their faces pale but also holding a certain satisfaction. After all, participating in the Heavenly Selection, which was a tough competition among various geniuses of the Southern Continent, was enough to prove themselves.

  "We failed, I never thought the Falling Star Secret Realm was full of hidden dangers."

  "Yes, this is not just about fulfilling the beast cores, this is us against self-serving cultivators."

  "That is true, I almost died in there. The Azure Kings inside are stronger than the Azure Kings in the wild."

  "Of the hundreds of failed cultivators, all those who died have become part of the Falling Star Secret Realm... This is cruelty!"

  At Pure Cloud Peak, a tense and silent atmosphere enveloped the jade pavilion. The thirty genius cultivators sitting cross-legged on meditation mats radiated complex essence fluctuations—there was hidden exhaustion, joy over achievement, and a vague suspicion toward everyone around them.

  These geniuses, although injured and exhausted, were still extraordinary figures. Their gazes, which were previously focused on internal cultivation, now lifted, fixed on the trio who had just arrived.

  Fei Sheng, whose Wind aura radiated the majesty of a senior, was immediately recognized by some early-stage Consciousness Transformation cultivators. Meanwhile, Feng Yi, with her crimson robe and aggressive Phoenix Fire aura, attracted greater attention—she was a member of the Fire Phoenix Sect's bloodline.

  However, the one who drew the most attention was Zhi Xuan. His battered appearance, his robe stained with spiritual blood, and the serenity he projected while holding Mei Hua's hand, created a confusing contrast.

  His cultivation, which was only at the Late-Stage Blood Transformation, should not have been able to survive in a Secret Realm filled with peak Consciousness Transformation experts, let alone be the last group to exit.

  "Look! Fei Sheng and that Fire Phoenix Girl," whispered a peak-stage Organ Transformation cultivator, his eyes radiating jealousy. "They must have obtained something big. They were the last group to exit."

  "And who is that Blood Transformation brat?" another cultivator replied, his tone full of contempt. "He dares to be among them? Just a decoration? Perhaps he only hitched a ride on their beast cores."

  Amidst the whispers and scrutinizing glances, Yan Shen ignored it all. He led them to the jade pavilion, where a Thousand Heavens Sect disciple in jade robes, with Five Element cultivation, was waiting with a large jade formation before him.

  Yan Shen paused briefly at the pavilion entrance. His calm aura swept across the room, dampening the whispers and scrutinizing glances.

  "Juniors, focus on foundation recovery. The assessment will begin at dawn," Yan Shen said, his voice containing gentle yet undeniable authority. He turned to the jade-robed Thousand Heavens Sect disciple. "Disciple Ling, register them. They are the last group to return."

  Disciple Ling, a young man who looked to be in his early twenties with an early-stage Five Element aura, bowed respectfully to Yan Shen. He was a calm and formal figure, accustomed to the arrogance of young geniuses. Before him, a large jade formation radiated a gentle light, recording the results of every cultivator who successfully exited.

  Zhi Xuan released Mei Hua's hand. The little girl understood the silence around them and stood still beside him, holding Lulu and the small monkey statue, her innocent eyes following every movement.

  Fei Sheng stepped forward first. His graceful demeanor and his early-stage Consciousness Transformation cultivation already commanded respect in Disciple Ling's eyes.

  "Fei Sheng," Fei Sheng said, his voice calm. He took out his storage bag and placed it on the jade formation. "Acquisitions: one Raven Thunder Azure King Core, one Earth Azure King Core. Three Organ Transformation Azure King cores."

  The cultivators around them gasped. One Consciousness Transformation Core was enough to secure a safe position on the Star King's Stairs. Fei Sheng had surpassed that. Disciple Ling noted it calmly. The jade formation flickered, absorbing the Cores.

  It was Feng Yi's turn. The Fire Phoenix Girl stepped forward with her regained arrogance. She slammed her storage bag onto the jade formation, her gaze challenging all the watching geniuses.

  "Feng Yi. Acquisitions: two Fire Azure King Cores, four Organ Transformation Azure King Cores."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The whispers in the pavilion subsided, replaced by a heavier silence. Two Consciousness Transformation Cores in one team—they must have successfully endured the greatest disaster in the Secret Realm.

  All eyes now turned to the last figure.

  Zhi Xuan, standing beside Mei Hua, was a striking anomaly. He was a Blood Transformation cultivator, with a robe stained with spiritual blood that had not yet dried. He ignored the contemptuous glances from the geniuses and the surprised looks from Fei Sheng and Feng Yi, who now realized that Zhi Xuan had not taken out all the cores they obtained when it was their turn.

  Disciple Ling, with the serenity of a Five Element cultivator, looked at him with a gentler gaze, as if he was only going to record a pitiful number.

  "Name?" Disciple Ling asked politely, a mere formality.

  "Zhi Xuan," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice cold and stable. He stepped forward with a calm movement, his physical exhaustion not visible in his demeanor. He took out his storage bag, an old pouch made of ordinary Beast skin, and placed it on the jade formation, far from the slam of Feng Yi's bag.

  "Acquisitions: One Lightning Azure King Core, one Raven Thunder Azure King Core, three Organ Transformation Azure King Cores."

  Zhi Xuan spoke in a flat and cold tone, without the slightest hint of pride or joy in his voice. For the watching geniuses at Pure Cloud Peak, the number should not have been surprising—two Consciousness Transformation Cores were already impressive enough for a hitchhiking Blood Transformation cultivator.

  However, among the crowd, Fei Sheng gasped. His crystal eyes widened. He knew exactly where the Raven Thunder Azure King Core came from. He and Feng Yi each had two Consciousness Transformation Azure King cores, while Zhi Xuan also had two Consciousness Transformation Cores.

  Feng Yi, who had just stood tall with restored arrogance, froze. She turned toward Zhi Xuan, the Phoenix Fire in her eyes radiating shock. They all knew that the Lightning Azure King Core was the result of a collaboration along with two other cores, the result of the giant shadow finger they had agreed to keep silent about.

  But the Raven Thunder Azure King Core, brutally killed using the Divine Furnace as a projectile, was an acquisition Zhi Xuan had kept for himself, hiding it from Disciple Ling and the other geniuses when his turn arrived. On the other hand, the reaction of the geniuses was much harsher.

  "What?!" roared an early-stage Consciousness Transformation cultivator, one of the geniuses considered to have a great chance. "Six Consciousness Transformation Cores in one group? That is cheating!"

  "That Blood Transformation brat has two Consciousness Transformation Cores?!" another one yelled, his face pale. That genius had only managed to obtain one Golden Azure King Core, and it had drained his entire foundation.

  The whispers immediately turned into a roar filled with jealousy and anger. The cultivators who felt secure in the top ten positions suddenly felt their seats shaking.

  Disciple Ling, known for his serenity as a Five Element cultivator, frowned for the first and last time. Not because of the number of cores Zhi Xuan brought, but because of the sudden harsh reaction that swept through Pure Cloud Peak.

  "Silence!" Disciple Ling hissed, his stable aura suddenly spreading, dampening the wave of spiritual chaos that was beginning to churn in the pavilion. "Every acquisition will be verified by Grand Elder Yan Shen. If there is cheating, it will be revealed."

  However, no one was listening. Jealousy and contempt had turned into open accusation.

  "You must have obtained that core through cheating!" exclaimed a young man from the Wind Sword Sect, who had only managed to acquire half a Consciousness Transformation Core. "A Blood Transformation like you could only be bait in that Secret Realm! How could you have two Consciousness Transformation Azure King Cores?!"

  "Yes! He must have stolen it from a dead Beast, or from a dying cultivator!" another one replied, his face flushed red with baseless anger. "The Heavenly Law would not allow such a weak foundation to obtain such incredible results!"

  Amidst the blind accusations, Zhi Xuan remained standing tall. His expression was cold and flat, as if the roar of the geniuses were merely the sound of annoying mosquitoes. His physical exhaustion did not hide the calculative sharpness he had just displayed—he had hidden the Lightning Azure King Core for himself, only to reveal it at the last moment. He had secured his top position with the Raven Thunder and Lightning Cores.

  Feng Yi, whose Phoenix Fire began to churn due to shame and anger, was about to leap forward to defend the honor of their group and the honor of the Consciousness Transformation Fire Cores she had obtained. But Fei Sheng beat her to it.

  Fei Sheng stepped forward, his hand closing and opening his jade fan with a sharp click, an action that immediately drew attention. His stable and majestic Law of Wind aura immediately spread, holding back the spiritual chaos created by the angry geniuses.

  "Fellow Brothers and Sisters!" Fei Sheng said, his voice filled with the authority of an early-stage Consciousness Transformation cultivator with a solid foundation. "All our acquisitions are the result of efforts we risked our lives for in the Secret Realm. If you have an issue with the Law choosing Brother Zhi Xuan, then address your objections to Grand Elder Yan Shen, not to us!"

  Fei Sheng had used Yan Shen's name as a shield, a clever and effective action. However, he could not hide the look in his crystal eyes now fixed on Zhi Xuan, a look full of a plea for help to calm the situation.

  Zhi Xuan waved his hand. The Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron whizzed loudly. The jade-gold furnace, originally the size of a bead, immediately grew to the size of a human head, hovering above his cold left palm.

  The aura radiated by the Soul Artifact immediately spread—not the aggressive aura of the Law of Thunder, but the serene and deadly resonance of the Law of Four Seasons. The Law of Winter and Autumn engraved on the Furnace immediately created ripples of essence in the air, countering the spiritual chaos unleashed by the angry geniuses.

  The anger of the geniuses suddenly halted. They stared at the spiritual blood stain on Zhi Xuan's robe, then at the Divine Furnace he held so casually. Zhi Xuan's sudden change in aura—from exhaustion to cold, calculative, and menacing—made them step back.

  "A Soul Artifact?" whispered one of the Consciousness Transformation cultivators. Only geniuses with extraordinary foundations were capable of forging a Soul Artifact, especially one that possessed such ancient and harmonious Law of Four Seasons.

  "Yes, this is my Soul Artifact, not just a spiritual weapon," Zhi Xuan said with a slight grit of his teeth, turning his head back and glaring sharply. "If you want to see if I cheated or not, then try to withstand one impact of this furnace."

  A stifling silence enveloped Pure Cloud Peak. All eyes were fixed on the jade-gold Soul Artifact slowly spinning in Zhi Xuan's palm. The Furnace's aura radiated an ancient Law Pressure—a resonance far denser and more terrifying than the Law of Fire and Thunder they had just faced in the Secret Realm.

  "I do not need an Azure King core to understand a law," Zhi Xuan continued sharply, his breath coming out rough. "I possess an understanding of the Law of Four Seasons that even encompasses the entire Universe."

  Zhi Xuan, standing tall, allowed the suffocating silence to linger. His expression was a perfect reflection of an abyss of ice—cold, unavoidable, and deadly.

  "If you desire the same thing as me," Zhi Xuan said, pointing toward the Thunder and Lightning Azure King Cores. "Then you must also look at yourselves, whether you deserve it or not is how deep one's understanding of the Great Path is."

  That sequence of words, spoken with a different arrogance—not Feng Yi's fiery arrogance, but the cold and absolute arrogance of Dao—struck the geniuses like an invisible spiritual blow. They had accused a Blood Transformation cultivator, but the cultivator retaliated by displaying a Soul Artifact resonating with an almost perfect Law of Four Seasons.

  "He is right," suddenly said one man who had been previously filled with silent contemplation. "He comes from the same wild domain as me in the deep south, the Star Wilderness."

  The man, who was previously just sitting in the corner and meditating, now opened his eyes. The man did not wear luxurious robes like the others, but a hunter's garb, and his muscular body was like celestial steel. A Late-Stage Blood Transformation aura was released and clashed with Zhi Xuan's, which was immediately met by Zhi Xuan with a clash of will.

  Su Baolian, the hunter from the Star Wilderness, radiated an aura of natural ferocity, a cultivator whose Dao was carved by blood and the law of the jungle. His Blood Transformation foundation, although at the same level as Zhi Xuan's, felt as sharp as an ancient knife honed by hundreds of battles against Spiritual Beasts.

  Two stubborn wills, both originating from the wilderness, collided in the air. Zhi Xuan's will was as cold as ice and calculative, while Su Baolian's will was pure and brutal.

  KRAKK!

  The spiritual silence in the jade pavilion cracked. The previously angry Consciousness Transformation geniuses gasped. They watched two Blood Transformation cultivators, two monkeys who should have only been bait, exchange a spiritual clash that should only occur between Five Element cultivators.

  Zhi Xuan, whose physical and spiritual exhaustion was deep, felt the pressure from Su Baolian. However, his will, which had just been strengthened by the Ancient Devil's control key, did not retreat. His eyes radiated a Black Jade glint, facing Su Baolian's Celestial Steel aura with deadly composure.

  Su Baolian laughed low, a rough and pure laugh, like stones grinding. He immediately retracted his will, ending the brief confrontation.

  "Brother Zhi," the man called out, raising one hand and giving a thumbs up. "I am Su Baolian; from today, you are my brother!"

  The statement was a declaration of recognition from the wilderness. Su Baolian did not care about the Azure King Cores; he cared about the stubborn Dao he sensed within Zhi Xuan—a cultivator who endured the horrors of the Secret Realm and still stood tall.

  Fei Sheng sighed in relief, the tension between his eyebrows easing. Su Baolian's intervention, although unexpected, had broken the spiritual chaos that was beginning to peak.

  Zhi Xuan nodded flatly, accepting the recognition without excessive emotion. "Zhi Xuan. Pleased to meet you, Brother Su."

  He did not reply with arrogance, but with cold acceptance. In his eyes, Su Baolian was a legitimate person, a cultivator from the wild who understood the Law of the Jungle—a Law where results were everything. In fact, Zhi Xuan himself would think twice before fighting Su Baolian at the same realm.