The mist that hung over the secret realm had begun to clear. Though the realm itself remained mysterious, its end drew near. With the remaining few days ticking down, every participant still within the realm knew—this was their last chance to change their fates.
Li Qingyun stood atop a weathered cliff, wind brushing through his robes. His eyes were sharp, scanning the land below, where the aura of jade tokens flickered faintly like fireflies waiting to be caught. He no longer sought to conceal his presence. With his cultivation stabilized at the 8th Stage of Qi Gathering Realm and his Jade Body Tempering Scripture having stepped into the transcendent stage, his body emanated a passive pressure—the effect of Unshakable Core—that made spirit beasts hesitate to even approach him.
[System Interface]
[Host:] Li Qingyun
[Realm:] Qi Gathering Realm (8th Stage)
[Physique:] Primal Chaos Vessel Physique
[Slots:]
Slot 1: Jade Body Tempering Scripture — Transcendent Stage (Passive effect: Unshakable Core)
Slot 2: Ninefold Essence Sutra — Perfect (Transcendent locked; requires 500 points)
Slot 3: Locked (requires 100 points)
[Techniques:]
Jade Body Tempering Scripture — Transcendent
Ninefold Essence Sutra — Perfect
Voidcleave Sword Manual — Perfect (Sword Intent: Budding Edge)
Phantom Step Art — Perfect
[Energy:] 0 Points
His tally had reached a staggering 90 jade tokens.
---
Xia Shuying had spent the last days near a crystal spring deep within a secluded vale. As she subdued a ferocious Blazing Horned Toad, she uncovered a cache of jade tokens near its nest—seven in total. The battle had tested her limits, and it was there she broke through to the 5th Stage of Qi Gathering Realm. Her token count stood at 63. She stood on a rock, panting lightly, her fingers brushing her sword's hilt. Her dark hair was dusted with ash from the toad's last breath, but her eyes were burning with clarity.
Qin Wushuang was barely seen. Some thought he had been eliminated, others believed he was hiding. The truth was far more interesting.
High in the Thunder Canyon, where bolts of spiritual lightning danced day and night, he had cultivated in seclusion. The harsh environment honed his lightning-aligned body technique, and he had broken through to the 5th Stage of Qi Gathering Realm silently. Along the cliff paths and ravines, he found clusters of jade tokens others had missed, accumulating 57 tokens by the end. Several eliminated participants spoke of a shadow defeating them swiftly, without a word—it had been him all along.
Mu Yihan wandered alone through the marshlands and shimmering groves. Her sword was quick and precise. In one fight, she and Bai Yu had clashed over a treasure herb guarded by a Spirit-Eyed Python. While Bai Yu was forced to retreat, Mu Yihan had claimed the herb and the five tokens it held. She consumed the treasured herb as it was supposed to be consumed as it is, and she had reached the 5th Stage of Qi Gathering Realm and held 55 tokens.
Meanwhile, Li Qingyun's pursuit never wavered. He fought head-on against spirit beasts, eliminated weaker participants with speed and mercy—never harming them beyond the point where they'd be forced to activate their teleportation talismans.
When he encountered Duan Li, the boy had only 17 tokens. Their fight had been brief. Li Qingyun overwhelmed him using his Phantom Step Art and a precise strike with Voidcleave Sword Manual. Duan Li activated his talisman, vanishing from the realm.
Lu Qingzhi, ever cold and refined, had managed 41 tokens. She faced off against Han Zhen near the lava-fissured grounds. In a flurry of movement, she forced him to yield. Han Zhen, unwilling to lose further, chose to teleport out. Lu Qingzhi quietly picked up the token he left behind.
_____
As the final day dawned, golden clouds rolled over the secret realm, and a bell tolled in the sky—signaling the end.
Light encased each remaining participant.
Li Qingyun looked one last time at the land that had tested him. Then the world spun, and in a breath, they were all gone, transported out of the secret realm.
The blinding light faded.
One by one, the young participants appeared on the massive stone platform of Azure Sky City's central arena, the very place where they had once nervously awaited the start of the secret realm trial. Now, their eyes shone with experience and determination, reflecting the growth they had undergone.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
All around the arena, spectators, city officials, and envoys stood eagerly. Proud parents scanned the crowd, searching for their children among the tired but spirited young warriors. The excitement was tangible, as whispers filled the air about who would claim the top spots.
Li Qingyun stepped forward calmly, his red robe fluttering slightly. His parents, Li Tianyang and Lin Meiyu, watched him with pride shining in their eyes.
"The results of the secret realm trial will now be announced!" a commanding voice echoed from the center of the arena. The senior Azure Sky official, draped in regal azure robes, raised his hand to quiet the crowd.
"Participants, please come forward in order. Your jade tokens will be counted publicly."
One by one, the children stepped up, placing their collected jade tokens into a shimmering basin shaped like a blooming lotus. With each set poured in, pulses of spiritual light rippled upward, counting and verifying the tokens.
The final rankings were revealed:
1st Place – Li Qingyun
Tokens Collected: 90
2nd Place – Xia Shuying
Tokens Collected: 67
3rd Place – Qin Wushuang
Tokens Collected: 61
4th Place – Mu Yihan
Tokens Collected: 55
5th Place – Lu Qingzhi
Tokens Collected: 41
6th – Feng Jue – 37 tokens
7th – Bai Yu – 30 tokens
8th – Han Zhen – 26 tokens
9th – Yu Qing – 21 tokens
10th – Rong Yue – 19 tokens
All the rest were eliminated but each elimination was met with applause and kind smiles. Despite the fierce competition, everyone knew these were children—brave souls testing their limits in a dangerous, unknown world.
The participants who were eliminated were ranked in the sequence they were eliminated.
At 25th place –Tang Hu.
24th place – Zhao Ruyan
23rd place – Guo Tiancheng
22nd place – Cheng Yuan
21st place – Wu Hong
20th place – Yan Wei
19th place – Xie Fen
18th place – Luo Min
17th place – Duan Li
16th place – Mei Xuan
15th place – Huo Zeming
14th place – Sheng Lian
13th place – Si Yulan
12th place – Lin Xiang
And at 11th place – Ji Wuxin.
Even though they will not gain additional reward from the sect envoys and city lord mansion they still gained precious experience and will still be recruited in a sect.
Among the crowd, city officials and envoys took careful notes. The top ten participants would now be offered to select the sect they want to enter and the Azure Sky City will provide them resource to them , ensuring their
growth in years to come.
The top 3 will be rewarded with an extra reward but it was a secret as City Lord Mansion has not divulged what will the reward be.
Parents and relatives rushed forward to embrace their children. Some exchanged excited words, others stood quietly in awe of what had been accomplished.
As the crowd's applause echoed through the arena, Li Qingyun's parents hurried to his side, their eyes shining with pride and relief. Li Tianyang gently placed a hand on his son's shoulder, his voice thick with emotion. "Qingyun, you've surpassed all our hopes. We always believed in you, but today you've truly shown your strength." Lin Meiyu embraced her son tightly, whispering softly, "No matter what challenges come next, remember we are always with you. You've made us so proud." Li Qingyun smiled warmly, the weight of their love grounding him amid the excitement. For a brief moment, the trials and competition faded away, replaced by the unbreakable bond of family and quiet promise of a bright future.