Eternal Ascension: The Path of the Void

Jiang Chen stood outside the towering gates of the Azure Moon Inner Sect, the imposing silver arches glowing with runic inscriptions. The moment he had stepped foot past the outer sect boundaries, he had felt it—a vast shift in power.

Everything here was different.

The Qi in the air was thicker, saturated with divine energy. The architecture, carved from celestial jade and refined spirit stones, was leagues beyond the humble courtyards of the outer sect. Even the disciples carried themselves differently—a sharp contrast from the arrogant but ultimately weak outer sect members.

The inner sect disciples were true cultivators, those who had advanced beyond Qi Refining and into Core Formation or higher. Each step Jiang Chen took into this realm was met with silent scrutiny, veiled hostility, and some expressions of curiosity.

He ignored them all.

A steward approached, clad in azure robes embroidered with the sigil of the sect's administrative branch. His gaze held the same skepticism that the elders had.

"Jiang Chen?" His voice was clipped, professional.

Jiang Chen nodded.

"You have been assigned a residence in the Cloudrise Courtyard." The steward gestured towards a path leading up a smaller peak adjacent to the main sect grounds. "It is a standard residence for newly promoted inner disciples. Your identity token has been adjusted accordingly. You now have access to inner sect resources—contribution exchanges, cultivation halls, and training grounds."

Jiang Chen took the token the steward handed him. The moment he touched it, the jade inscription pulsed, binding itself to his aura. He could feel its embedded restrictions—tracking formations, access seals, and identification markers.

The steward studied him for a moment, as if debating whether to say more, then finally spoke again.

"I would advise you to keep a low profile. Many here are… displeased with your sudden promotion." His gaze flickered toward a nearby group of disciples. "Do not make unnecessary enemies."

Jiang Chen simply pocketed the token. "I'll keep that in mind."

Without another word, he strode past the steward and toward his new residence.

---

The Cloudrise Courtyard was modest by inner sect standards but luxurious compared to the barren outer sect dormitories. A private cultivation chamber, a small medicinal garden, and even a spirit-gathering formation built into the main hall.

Jiang Chen stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The moment he was alone, he exhaled, his composure softening slightly.

"The void responds more strongly here…"

He sat cross-legged in the meditation chamber, closing his eyes.

The Azure Moon Sect's inner sect was leagues beyond the outer sect in terms of spiritual density. For a normal disciple, this would mean faster Qi absorption and a smoother path to Core Formation.

But Jiang Chen did not cultivate Qi.

He reached inward, sensing the strange, boundless force that had awakened within him. Unlike Qi, which followed a structured path through meridians and dantian, this energy flowed freely, unbound by traditional cultivation methods. It did not accumulate—it expanded, stretching out like an infinite abyss.

Jiang Chen exhaled.

"My cultivation does not follow the path of Qi Refining… but something else entirely."

Even now, he could feel himself changing. His Void Physique was evolving, his body adapting to the vast, empty force that pulsed in his core. The Stone of Evaluation had been the first sign. Even a Nascent Soul elder's suppression had been erased like it was nothing.

The void did not resist. It did not fight back.

It simply consumed.

Jiang Chen's eyes opened.

He needed to test his limits.

And there was only one place in the inner sect suited for that.

---

The Celestial Combat Arena was one of the most revered locations within the inner sect. A massive coliseum built from Starmetal and Void Crystals, reinforced by ancient defensive formations to withstand even the might of a Nascent Soul cultivator's full power.

Here, disciples could challenge one another freely, battling for resources, prestige, or personal grudges.

Jiang Chen's arrival did not go unnoticed.

Whispers spread the moment he stepped through the archway.

"That's him—the outer sect nobody who shattered the evaluation stone."

"He doesn't even have a proper foundation. How did he get promoted?"

"Arrogant. If he steps into the arena, someone will put him in his place."

Jiang Chen ignored the murmurs and strode toward the challenge pillar. Disciples could issue duels by placing their names on the celestial jade monolith, allowing others to accept the challenge freely.

He reached forward and pressed his hand against the stone.

A ripple of dark energy spread through the monolith. The inscriptions pulsed strangely, reacting to his void-infused touch. Even before he withdrew his hand, he knew the challenge had already drawn attention.

Someone stepped forward almost immediately.

A tall youth, clad in silver-trimmed azure robes, his Core Formation aura sharp and oppressive. His eyes were filled with amusement, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"Jiang Chen." The youth's voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. "You must be delusional if you think you can challenge anyone here."

Jiang Chen studied him calmly. "And you are?"

The youth's smile widened slightly. "Wu Jian. Core Formation Fourth Stage." His gaze flickered with amusement. "I'd be happy to teach you why an outer disciple doesn't belong in our ranks."

Gasps spread through the arena.

Wu Jian wasn't just any inner disciple. He was an elite, known for his mastery over the Moonshadow Blade Arts, a technique capable of striking with phantasmal afterimages that confused and disoriented opponents.

Against a mere Qi Refining disciple, this wasn't even a fair fight.

Yet Jiang Chen simply stepped forward, his voice calm.

"Very well."

---

The combat platform was vast, large enough to hold battles between Core Formation combatants without risk of collateral damage. Wu Jian unsheathed his blade, the air distorting around him.

The match had barely started, yet most of the watching disciples had already decided the outcome.

"This will be over in seconds."

"He's a fool."

"A single strike from Wu Jian's Moonshadow Blade will end it."

The elder overseeing the match raised his hand. "Begin!"

Wu Jian vanished.

A blur of silver streaked across the platform, moving faster than the eye could follow. His sword flickered like a phantom, leaving afterimages that confused perception.

Then—he struck.

A flash of light, a silver arc cutting through the air—

And then Wu Jian's expression twisted in confusion.

His blade, meant to carve through flesh, passed through empty space.

No resistance. No impact.

It was as if he had struck nothingness itself.

Jiang Chen stood there, completely untouched.

He had not dodged.

He had not blocked.

He had simply let the void erase the attack.

Silence fell over the arena.

Wu Jian's eyes narrowed. He lunged again, his sword splitting into multiple phantasmal strikes, each one targeting Jiang Chen's vital points.

But once again—nothing.

Every attack passed through him, as if Jiang Chen did not exist in the same space.

Finally, Jiang Chen raised a hand.

The moment he did, Wu Jian felt it—a force beyond comprehension.

His body locked in place. The space around him warped, as if the very concept of movement had been denied.

A single step forward—Jiang Chen reached out and lightly tapped Wu Jian's chest.

A shockwave of void energy erupted.

Wu Jian's eyes widened in horror as his body was sent flying off the platform, crashing into the distant coliseum wall.

Defeated in an instant.

Silence.

No one spoke. No one breathed.

And then—the fear began.