The elder’s voice rang out across the outer sect square like a judge delivering a death sentence“Alexander Kane. Ten full years in the Azure Cloud Sect, and you’re still stuck at Qi Refining First Layer. No breakthroughs. No contributions worth mentioning. The sect has no place for dead weight like you.”Alexander Kane remained on his knees, the rough stone of the platform digging painfully into his skin through his patched gray robe. Small spirit stones flew from the laughing crowd, bouncing off his shoulders, chest, and forehead. One particularly sharp stone struck just above his eye, drawing a thin line of blood that trickled down his face. He made no move to wipe it away. He had learned long ago that showing any reaction only made the mockery louder.Victor Lang pushed his way through the front row, his bright embroidered robes catching the afternoon light and making him stand out like a peacock among crows. The Fourth Layer disciple flashed a wide, cruel grin as he pointed directl

Alexander Kane barely rolled clear as the beast’s claws slammed into the stone where he had been lying. Sparks flew from the impact, and the entire cave shook.He kept one hand locked on the glowing jade slip, refusing to let go even as pain tore through his side.“Back off!” he shouted at the massive creature. “I’m not your dinner tonight!”The beast roared again, its red eyes glowing brighter in the dim cave. Saliva dripped from its jaws as it turned, tail whipping across the floor and forcing Alexander to duck low. The suppressing formation pressed down harder, making every breath feel like he was lifting a boulder.“Come on, you stupid rock,” Alexander growled at the jade slip, his voice rough. “You showed me those visions. Give me something useful before this thing tears me apart!”The jade slip pulsed warmly in his grip. Another flood of images slammed into his mind, clearer this time. He saw a grand cultivation hall where a promising disciple was betrayed by his own senior brot

The beast filled the entire cave mouth, jaws wide and dripping with saliva. Its roar shook loose stones from the ceiling as it lunged for the kill.Alexander Kane gripped the jade slip with everything he had left. “Now! Give me whatever power you’re holding back!”The jade slip exploded with light. A clear, mechanical voice boomed directly inside his head.[Supreme Late Bloomer System activated. Host confirmed. Maximum efficiency absorption and instant evolution protocol online.]Alexander’s eyes widened. “What the…? Talk faster! This thing is about to eat me!”[Host is at critical life threshold. Surrounding spiritual energy, beast core, and jade slip fragment available for absorption. Evolve all at maximum efficiency? Yes or No?]The beast’s claws slashed down. Alexander threw himself sideways, the strike gouging deep trenches into the stone floor where he had stood.“Yes!” he shouted. “Do it! Absorb everything!”[Initiating maximum efficiency absorption.]Power slammed into Ale

Alexander Kane stepped deeper into the ruined plateau, ancient stone pillars casting long shadows under a strange, dim sky. The air felt heavy with old energy that made his skin tingle. Behind him, Victor Lang was still on the ground, breathing hard and staring at the jagged rift that had closed behind them.Victor scrambled to his feet. “Wait! You can’t just leave me here! Take me back!”Alexander stopped but didn’t turn around. “Take you back? You pushed me off a cliff today and told the entire outer sect I belonged in a hole. Now you want my help?”Victor’s voice cracked with panic. “That was different! I didn’t know… I didn’t know you would become this!”Alexander finally looked back. “Exactly. You didn’t know. Because you never looked past calling me trash for ten years.”[System notification: Current location identified as Fragment Zone 7 of the Hidden Realm War. Spiritual energy density is 300% higher than Azure Cloud Sect outer grounds. Absorption efficiency increased.]Alexan

Alexander Kane led the way deeper into the ruined fragment zone, his steps confident on the cracked stone paths. Emily Reed and Victor Lang followed close behind, their eyes darting nervously at every shadow.Emily broke the silence first. “Alexander, you still haven’t told us everything. One moment you’re the outer sect’s biggest joke, the next you’re absorbing techniques like they’re candy. What exactly happened when you fell into the abyss?”Alexander kept walking, scanning the broken pillars for more resources. “I hit the bottom. Almost died to a guardian beast. Found an old jade slip that triggered something called the Supreme Late Bloomer System. It lets me absorb any spiritual energy, technique, or treasure at maximum efficiency and evolve them instantly. No waste. No limits.”Victor snorted from behind. “That sounds like a fairy tale. Or a demonic cultivation method. The sect elders will execute you on sight if they hear that.”Alexander stopped and turned to face him. “They a