The skies above the Cindralore Outer Academy trembled with unnatural weather.
Thunderclouds churned in radiant spirals. Bolts of violet lightning danced between the rings of heaven. Trees bowed as qi turbulence swept the air, and even stone began to fracture under the weight of unleashed elemental presence.
This was no ordinary sparring duel anymore.
🧓 The First to Arrive – Guāng Hànxī (光寒曦)
From the southern edge of the arena, a streak of pale silver light descended—serene, slow, yet dignified as a falling star.
The First Elder of the Outer Academy, Guāng Hànxī, stepped into view.
His long white robes shimmered with a gentle prismatic halo. His expression was unreadable.
Students gasped. "It's the First Elder…!"
"So… this caught even his attention."
🔥 The Second to Arrive – From Above
But far above the arena—unseen by most—a terrifying pressure layered over the world like rising heat from a firestorm.
Only the most attuned instructors shuddered and looked up.
Suspended in the sky, hovering like a sun trapped in a human frame, stood the Second Elder of the Outer Academy:
Liè Huǒzōng (烈火宗) – "Blazing Flame Patriarch"
Cultivation: Level 8 · 5-Stars – Peak Pulse Resonance
Element: Flame
Aura: Boundless, radiating burning calm and catastrophic silence
He said nothing. He simply… watched.
From the clouds, flame flowed like veins of magma trailing his cloak.
Behind him, multiple Outer Academy instructors arrived, forming a semi-circle high above the dueling grounds—each one shielding the arena's outer barrier to contain what was now a true clash of near-divine forces.
⚡ Léi Xuánzi – Rampage Mode Activated
"Storm Rupture Ascension" (雷崩升形)
The instant the beastpulse orb merged into his core, Léi Xuánzi disappeared from view—only to reappear mid-air, hovering like a god of thunder incarnate.
Hair: Now free-floating arcs of plasma-gray lightning, whipping around his head like storm ribbons.
Eyes: Pure, blinding white with arcs of violet discharge streaking outward.
Voice: Metallic and echoing, layered like thunderclaps over metal drums.
Skin: Cracked with lightning glyphs, glowing serpentine sigils crawling across his arms and back like divine storm scripture.
Arms & Feet: Veined with stormsteel vines, pulsing with every heartbeat. His footsteps left behind cratered sigils and scorched runes.
His aura screamed with power.
Even the divine beast Thunder Wyrmlion Sovereign behind him bowed its head.
Léi Xuánzi was no longer simply fighting.
He was ascending.
"By the stars…" one instructor muttered.
Even among the Top 2–10 students, a few subconsciously backed up.
And Jiǎng Mùchéng—staring wide-eyed—took a step back.
"He's… transformed…"
🌿 Mù Bǎifēng – Rampage Mode Unleashed
"Verdant Cataclysm Bloom" (苍林爆化)
A deep tremor echoed through the ground. The wind shifted.
Mù Bǎifēng, calm no longer, raised his hand and crushed a leaf between his fingers.
In that moment, his hair unraveled into vines, extending past his waist, glowing faint gold and green.
His eyes became spheres of sunlight, pulsing like they carried the heartbeat of an entire forest.
Bark lines coiled over his body—his skin transforming into rooted armor, blooming with glowing leaf sigils across his back and shoulders.
From behind him, the Verdant World-Treader roared—its antlers now bearing dozens of glowing seed orbs, trembling with pent-up world force.
Jiǎng's breath caught.
"AI… explain this."
📜[SYSTEM ANALYSIS: LIVE COMBAT SCAN – RAMPAGE MODE COMPARISON]
🧬 Léi Xuánzi (雷玄子)
– Cultivation: Level 5 · 9-Stars
– Status: Temporary Rampage Mode Activated
– Beast: Supreme Ancient-Class
– Result: Temporarily fighting at Level 6 baseline
– Rampage Mode: Controlled, thanks to nearing Pulse Control breakthrough
🧬 Mù Bǎifēng (木百枫)
– Cultivation: Stage 6 · 9-Stars
– Status: Temporary Rampage Mode Activated
– Beast: Legendary Divine-Class
– Result: Temporarily fighting at early Level 7 threshold
– Rampage Mode: Mastered
📊 Victory Probability Estimate:
– Léi Xuánzi: 0.01%
– Mù Bǎifēng: 99.99%
Jiǎng stared at the numbers.
"That gap… it's not just power. It's control. It's time."
He exhaled.
And whispered:
"So that's what a true cultivator looks like..."
The air thundered.
The divine beasts stood poised.
Rampage met Rampage.
And now—
The final clash was about to begin.
The arena had long since stopped being a battleground.
It had become a cathedral of power.
Instructor Mù Bǎifēng stood firm, bark-armored and leaf-etched, his golden-green eyes calm.
"Xuánzi… enough. You've proven your growth. To even stabilize Rampage Mode is worthy of pride."
"You do not need to go further."
But standing opposite, Léi Xuánzi did not return the calm.
His breathing had changed.
His control was still present—but barely. His aura crackled with chaos. The divine thunder around him surged with raw desire—to break limits, to strike forward.
His lips parted.
"Teacher…"
"This… is not about winning."
He raised a hand, and the Stormpiercer Fang flew into his grasp.
"This is the spear I forged for a world that told me to kneel."
He turned it to the sky.
"Thirty seconds remain. Please… accept my strongest technique."
⚡[Heavenbrand Pulsefang – Sovereign Spear Ascension]⚡
The instant the spearhead touched the ground—the sky cracked.
From behind him, the Thunder Wyrmlion Sovereign opened its jaws. A spiral orb of lightning condensed in its throat, spinning faster and faster until—
BOOM.
It launched the orb into Xuánzi's back.
The moment he caught it, his spear transformed.
Spearhead: Became a spectral thunder-lion maw, jaw parted with fanged edges and arcs of golden-violet lightning roaring from its center.
Shaft: Lined with a glowing serpentine spine, etched with ancient stormbone sigils that pulsed with thunderous rhythm.
Wings: Lightning erupted from Xuánzi's back—forming beastlike arcs that mimicked the Wyrmlion's shape.
Aura: The spear pulsed with a heartbeat—not his, not the beast's, but the merged will of both.
⚔️ Technique Effects (Condensed):
Thunder Reverb Shock – Each blow echoes with a delayed sonic burst.
Soul-Break Ripple – Causes qi disruption, delaying techniques for 3 seconds.
Stormline Rend – Horizontal cleave that tears earth and air in jagged arcs.
Skyroar Domain – Passive pressure disrupts flying beastpulse and stuns lower cultivators.
Ninefold Sovereign Descent – Final burst phase: nine spectral lion-dragon bolts raining judgment.
"HE'S CHARGING IT!!" someone shouted.
Even those protected by barriers stepped back.
👁️ MC's Perspective
Jiǎng Mùchéng could barely believe his eyes.
"That's not a technique. That's a divine punishment."
Yet—he wasn't burning from exposure.
In fact, deep within his Elemental Core, the body absorption technique surged.
All the leftover qi, the ambient thunder, the vibrations of divine resonance—
Were being absorbed.
His body drank it in like dry soil under storm rain.
📜[Absorption Rate: 7.4%... 8.1%... 10.2%...]
📈 Pulse Thread Conductivity Increased
🔹 Iron core resonance strengthening
🔥 Ambient qi storage expanding
Even as he stood shocked, his body was growing stronger.
🧓 Elder Dialogue – Watching from Above
From his floating seat, Guāng Hànxī, First Elder, murmured:
"To see Léi Xuánzi evolve this far, in the Outer Academy no less... it is extraordinary."
In the sky, Liè Huǒzōng – Blazing Flame Patriarch, his fiery aura barely restrained, responded through voice transmission:
"That spear technique. It's unmistakable."
"The Heavenbrand Pulsefang—passed only to true descendants of Skyveil Arcanum Hall."
"He has not yet comprehended its full soulpath… and still, he could already kill a Level 6 · 1-Star cultivator with it."
"That boy is not Outer-tier anymore."
🌿 Teacher's Response
Mù Bǎifēng inhaled slowly.
Then his eyes gleamed—no fear, only fierce pride.
"Very well, Xuánzi."
"Come. Strike as you are now."
He raised his halberd—roots around him glowed.
"Verdant Oathwood Halberd – Wall of the Worldroot King!"
Massive vines shot from the ground—forming a triple-layered dome, each ring inscribed with wood-nature sigils of resistance, reflection, and absorption.
⚡ Final Clash
Léi Xuánzi roared.
The spear howled with divine wrath.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!"
He hurled it like a god hurling judgment.
The sky split.
The Ninefold Sovereign Descent activated—
The spear fractured into nine massive thunder-lion dragon heads, each one wreathed in fangs and lightning.
CRASH–CRASH–CRASH!!!
They struck in waves.
1st bolt – Shockwave.
2nd bolt – Sundered bark.
3rd bolt – Cracked the first dome.
4th – Ripped vines from soil.
5th – Sent energy flaring skyward.
6th – Shattered pulse barriers.
7th – Knocked the instructor back a step.
8th – Made him grit his teeth.
9th – Landed directly on his chest.
BOOOOMMMMM!!!
A blinding flash engulfed the entire stage.
When the light faded—
Instructor Mù Bǎifēng stood.
Arm burned. Vines shredded. Robes torn.
His halberd was cracked.
But his eyes?
Calm. Proud.
"You've come far, Léi Xuánzi…"
The last thunderbolt faded from the sky.
The burning air returned to stillness.
Five minutes had passed.
And with it—the Rampage Mode of both cultivators dissipated.
Léi Xuánzi stood, spear lowered, gazing forward.
A single strike had reached his teacher's chest. A touch of impact. A moment of connection.
He smiled.
And then—
He collapsed.
His body gave in all at once, drained of qi, lightning, and every last thread of force.
He had poured everything into that technique.
The entire arena—silent for three heartbeats—erupted into applause.
Clapping echoed like thunder across the stands.
Students, instructors, even the elites in the Top 10 all stood in respect.
A few whispered in awe:
"That was Léi Xuánzi… That was Outer Academy power?"
"He could already hold his ground against a Stage 6!"
Instructor Mù Bǎifēng approached his student, placing a steady hand on Xuánzi's shoulder.
"You've done well. Rest now. You exceeded expectation… even mine."
Nearby, the students ranked 2 through 10 all looked toward Léi Xuánzi with anxious eyes.
"Senior..."
"First senior…"
Even Huǒ Chén, still silent, bit his lip. His eyes did not contain jealousy—but something far more raw: awe and shame.
Just as Mù Bǎifēng turned to lift his unconscious disciple—
The skies parted once more.
Descending in radiant golden light came the First Elder of the Outer Academy,
Guāng Hànxī (光寒曦) – the man of silver serenity.
And above, flames swirled and rippled as the Second Elder,
Liè Huǒzōng (烈火宗) – Blazing Flame Patriarch, slowly descended, surrounded by glowing instructors.
Every student dropped to one knee.
"Greetings, First Elder!"
"Greetings, Second Elder!"
All bowed.
Except one.
Jiǎng Mùchéng, wide-eyed, confused, still standing upright—half-bowing, half-tilting—slowly followed everyone else's posture like someone unsure if they were in line for a bakery or about to be executed.
"Who are they?" he muttered.
That one awkward delay didn't go unnoticed.
Both First and Second Elder turned ever so slightly, their gazes brushing over Jiǎng Mùchéng for just a moment longer than the rest.
The First Elder smiled faintly.
📜[Guāng Hànxī used Technique: Radiant Pulse Rejuvenation (光愈灵脉)]
A beam of prismatic healing light descended from his palm, bathing Léi Xuánzi in gentle radiance.
His wounds closed instantly.
His breath stabilized.
His body was restored in seconds.
The crowd let out soft gasps.
Even Instructor Mù Bǎifēng stepped back and bowed in thanks.
"Thank you, Elder Guāng."
Guāng Hànxī raised a hand calmly.
"It is well deserved."
He turned to the audience now, his voice gentle but echoing through the entire arena like sunlight cast in words.
"Today… you have all witnessed a spark of what lies ahead."
"This is not the summit. This is merely the entrance to the world of true cultivators."
"If you wish to be strong—if you dare to stand among giants—you must surpass yourself."
"In six months, the gates to the Inner Academy will open once more… during the Crimson Star Ascension Trials."
"Train. Bleed. Fight. Rise."
His gaze swept over all.
And then he nodded once, concluding:
"For today's trial, Léi Xuánzi shall receive the Grade 4 Pill – Thunderheart Ascension Elixir (雷心升元丹)."
"The rest of you… return to training."
The arena roared again.
Léi Xuánzi remained unconscious, his spirit recovering in peace.
But Jiǎng Mùchéng remained silent, hands clenched.
"Six months…"
He looked down at his own hands—still shaking, but stronger than ever before.
"Then I'll make sure… my name is remembered next."