At dawn, the Yun Clan's skies shimmered with spiritual light as the grand flying vessel, Cloudpiercer, hovered above the main courtyard—its hull carved from ancient Starwood, inscribed with talismans that shimmered faintly in the early sunlight. The vessel radiated prestige, and only core disciples or those bound for sacred missions were granted the honor of traveling aboard it.
I stood at the base of the ascending staircase, my travel robes swaying in the breeze, hair tied high with a dark jade clasp. My sword rested on my back, and the aura around me was calmer than usual—still, beneath the surface, my cultivation surged with recently honed power.
Yun Ling'er arrived shortly after, dressed in elegant travel robes of light blue and silver, her sword tied to her waist. Her expression was distant, reserved—yet her gaze flicked toward me as she approached.
We said nothing at first.
Then she sighed. "Let's just focus on the trial. No distractions."
I smirked. "Of course. Just the two of us. Alone. No distractions at all."
She glared—but didn't deny it. Instead, she boarded the flying vessel, and I followed.
The Cloudpiercer ascended with a hum, its runes activating as it tore through the skies. Below, the Yun Clan's towering peaks and cloud-wrapped gardens vanished from sight, replaced by the endless blue of the Immortal Realm skies.
We traveled in relative silence at first. Yun Ling'er stood near the edge of the deck, watching the sky, her hair dancing in the wind. I leaned against the rail beside her.
"You've been quiet," I said.
She didn't look at me. "I'm thinking."
"About me?"
"About how to beat you in the trial."
I chuckled. "You're welcome to try."
We shared a brief look—challenging, but no longer cold. There was something deeper now, something unspoken.
Suddenly, the vessel trembled slightly. A spiritual ripple passed through the air.
A nearby Yun Clan cultivator appeared on deck, bowing quickly. "Young Master Wu, Lady Ling'er… we're entering the outskirts of the Heaven-Breaking Valley."
I stepped forward and looked out.
Below us stretched a vast chasm carved into the world, like a sword had once split the heavens. Towering cliffs loomed on either side, glowing with natural Qi veins. Clouds of mist moved like beasts, forming and reforming ominous shapes.
Other flying ships could be seen approaching in the distance—clans, sects, and rogue cultivators all arriving for the same reason.
A surge of pressure filled the air. Even from above, the valley's spiritual gravity pressed down like a silent challenge.
Yun Ling'er's eyes sharpened. "The valley rejects the weak."
I felt it too. My Evil God's Eyes activated instinctively, glowing faint red for a moment as I peered deeper into the chasm below.
"Then I'll make sure it accepts me."
She turned to me, her face unreadable. "And if it doesn't?"
I smiled darkly. "Then I'll break it."
The Cloudpiercer descended toward the designated landing platform, where the officials of the Immortal Dao Academy awaited to register participants.
Dozens of powerful auras stirred.
The trial was about to begin.