Kai stood at the edge of the molten pit, his chest rising and falling steadily as waves of unbearable heat slammed against his skin. The lava was alive. It hissed, boiled, and bubbled like a beast calling him to his death. Every instinct screamed at him to step back, to run, to do anything but jump but retreat wasn’t an option. Not anymore, it was too late to back out now. With one final exhale, Kai stripped off his robes until only his underwear clung to him, sweat already pouring down his back in streams. His body looked solid, toned, but none of that mattered. Against lava, muscle was paper. Against lava, flesh was kindling.He clenched his fists, muttered under his breath, “I won’t break… I can’t afford to break,” and then leapt.The instant his body struck the molten surface, the world dissolved into white-hot agony.His scream tore out of him, raw and primal, shaking the mountain. The sound wasn’t human, it was a mixture of despair, fury, and the kind of pain that made every ne

The grand elder led Kai deeper into the mountain, through twisting stone passages that glowed faintly from the veins of lava running beneath the rock. The air here was thick with heat and the metallic tang of molten ore, and every step seemed to carry the echoes of a thousand hammers striking steel. Sparks burst in the distance like fireworks, the rhythmic pounding of iron against iron reverberating through the volcanic halls.Kai’s eyes roamed everywhere. He saw disciples drenched in sweat, faces smeared black with soot, their arms rising and falling with mechanical precision as they hammered glowing weapons into shape. Elder forgers moved more deliberately, their hammers glowing faintly with Qi as they pressed runes into the surface of blades, each strike reverberating with power. The sight was mesmerizing, the entire place felt alive, like one giant beating forge-heart.The grand elder, his white hair fluttering faintly despite the oppressive heat, smiled as he watched Kai take it

Soon enough, the towering shadow of the Combat Hall loomed before them. It wasn’t just the building itself, it was the weight of countless battles fought inside its walls. Even before stepping foot on the marble floor of the entrance, Kai and Abigail could feel the eyes of disciples drilling into them from every direction. Some were cold, sharp with open hatred, the kind born from envy and prejudice. Others carried admiration, curiosity, or even faint awe, but none of the stares were gentle. Every step they took seemed to stir whispers, their names floating faintly in the air like smoke.“Look, that’s the new girl… the one who caused the blood quake when her essence was tested…”“And that guy… isn’t he the average one? Why’s he walking so confidently?”“Maybe he’s clinging to her coattails.”“…Or maybe he’s just stupid.”None of it mattered to Abigail and Kai. They walked on as though the crowd were air. Abigail, of course, wasn’t completely silent, she had her tantrums. She tossed he

Kai’s fist shot forward with everything he had, the kind of strike that could rattle stone and split a tree in half. When it connected with Darius Feng’s chest, a loud boom echoed across the combat hall, making the entire ring tremble under the pressure. The spectators who had been watching with crossed arms or mocking grins widened their eyes in surprise.For the briefest second, everyone thought Kai’s blow had landed cleanly, but then Darius staggered back.Not by one step. Not by two. By three full steps. His expression shifted from smug amusement to slight shock, and the grin on his lips faltered. He had clearly underestimated Kai. That one punch wasn’t ordinary at all, it carried explosive force that most early-stage cultivators couldn’t produce.Gasps rippled through the crowd, disciples whispering frantically.“Senior Brother Darius actually moved back…”“Who the hell is this Kai?”“That punch… it wasn’t normal!”But before anyone could bask in the surprise, the recoil from the

Wei’s steps were slow but heavy with arrogance, each one echoing like he already owned the combat hall. His eyes locked onto Kai like a predator sizing up prey, and his smirk widened as though the outcome was already decided.Before Wei could get close, Darius moved first. With a casual flick of his wrist, he stepped in front of Kai, his robes swaying as he blocked Wei’s path. His smile was sharp, his posture deceptively lazy, but the air between the two men tightened like a drawn bow.“If you’re so desperate for a fight, Wei,” Darius said, his voice carrying across the hall, “then fight me. No need to posture in front of someone who’s clearly just starting out. If you’ve got fire to burn, I’ll happily smother it for you.”A ripple of murmurs spread through the watching disciples. Some gasped at Darius’ boldness. Others whispered excitedly, already betting on what might happen next.Wei stopped, his smirk never fading, though his eyes sharpened. He tilted his head slightly, his tone d