As the celestial sigil hovered above Lin Tianming's head, its radiant glow extended across the entire Cloudspire Plateau. The heavens responded to his recognition as the Heaven's Chosen by unleashing a cascade of golden starlight, painting the sky in luminous trails that shimmered like divine ink upon a celestial canvas. For many of the gathered sects, this moment would be engraved in history—an event that signaled the rise of a new force destined to disrupt the established order.
Zhao Yueyin stood at Tianming's side, her expression calm, but her eyes betrayed the awe she felt. The young man beside her was no longer just a prodigious disciple of the Hidden Star Sect—he had become a phenomenon.
"Are you ready for what comes next?" she asked quietly.
Tianming's eyes never left the sky. "No one can ever be fully ready for destiny, Yueyin. But I intend to meet it head-on."
---
Return to the Hidden Star Sect
The journey back from the Convergence was quiet, but not peaceful. Though many bowed to Tianming's new title, not all offered their allegiance willingly. Assassins no longer attacked brazenly in groups, but rumors began to swirl—of traps laid in remote mountains, of poison masters tracking his party, of demonic sects stirring in the shadows.
Back at the Hidden Star Sect, preparations for the Sect Assembly commenced. Representatives from dozens of minor sects had arrived to witness and honor Tianming's elevation. The main square was transformed into a ceremonial ground, with floating lanterns and jade statues depicting past Heaven's Chosen now joined by one depicting Tianming, arms outstretched beneath a starry dome.
Grand Elder Yunxiao met them at the entrance.
"You've done what no one has in centuries," he said. "Now you must carry its burden."
Tianming bowed. "I carry not just my burden, but the hopes of the new generation."
Master Mo handed him a scroll. "This came while you were away. It's an invitation—from the Celestial Mandate Hall. They wish to meet you in person."
The scroll's edges bore the Seal of Heaven's Law.
Zhao Yueyin gasped. "That's not a request—it's a command."
Tianming stared at the seal for a moment. "Then I'll answer it. But first… there's something I must do."
---
The Secret Summit
In a secluded peak above the sect, Tianming met with four unexpected visitors. Representatives from rogue sects and exiled clans, all drawn to him by the rumors of his actions in the tomb and the trials.
One of them, a gray-robed man with sharp eyes, bowed. "I am Xun Fei of the Ashblood Clan. We believe you can unify us—the exiles, the forgotten, the discarded. Will you?"
Tianming studied the group.
"There's no place for the old systems in what's to come," he said. "But if you walk my path, you walk it with discipline, honor, and resolve. Swear to that, and I'll give you a new home."
They bowed as one.
---
Celestial Mandate Hall – City of Stars
A month later, Tianming arrived at the City of Stars, where the Celestial Mandate Hall resided. It was a city of wonders: floating towers, ever-burning flames that danced through the sky, rivers of stardust running through glass canals. At its heart stood the Mandate Spire, piercing the heavens.
Within its halls, Tianming was led before the Five Grand Thrones—five ancient cultivators who served as arbiters of fate and guardians of cultivation law.
A booming voice echoed. "Lin Tianming, do you understand what it means to bear the title Heaven's Chosen?"
"I do. It is not a crown of glory, but a mantle of responsibility."
"Then answer this: what is your path?"
Tianming stood tall.
"To awaken the dormant. To shatter stagnation. To rebuild the world where strength serves virtue—not oppression."
Silence followed. Then the First Throne nodded.
"Then let your next trial begin."
---
Trial of the Celestial Garden
The trial was held in a realm accessible only through the Mandate Spire—a massive pocket dimension known as the Celestial Garden. Within it lay divine beasts, spiritual plants, and heavenly guardians.
Tianming entered alone.
The air was thick with spiritual energy. Massive trees with glowing roots towered into the skies. Beasts the size of buildings grazed on clouds of qi. At the garden's center floated the Crystal Lotus—a test of both soul and spirit.
To claim the lotus, Tianming had to ascend its hundred-petal trial.
On the first petal, he was confronted by his past—visions of the boy who once begged for scraps, who trained under starlight alone.
> System Buff: Spirit Stabilization Activated. Emotional Interference Suppressed.
He advanced.
The second petal challenged his anger—manifesting enemies from his past. The bullies, the assassins, even Su Qianyu appeared.
But Tianming did not draw his blade.
"I am not the child you hurt," he said. "And I will not carry hate with me into the future."
They vanished.
By the 50th petal, spiritual pressure was so intense even breathing required willpower.
By the 80th, illusions began to crack his reality.
> System Alert: Psyche Overload Warning. Activating Mental Reboot
> Cooldown Remaining: 12 hours
Tianming clenched his fists. Blood seeped from his eyes, nose, and ears. But he did not falter.
On the 100th petal, he faced no illusion—only himself. A perfect mirror.
The reflection asked: "If you had to sacrifice everyone you love to change the world, would you?"
Tianming closed his eyes. "No. A world not worth protecting those I love is not worth changing."
The lotus glowed, then unfolded into a platform of light. Tianming stepped onto it.
The trial was complete.
---
Mandate Hall – Reward and Warning
Back before the Grand Thrones, the eldest throne spoke again.
"You have passed the Celestial Garden. Few in history have. You are now recognized not just as Heaven's Chosen—but as the Beacon of Fate."
A second sigil joined the first above his head.
But then, the Second Throne raised her hand.
"Beware. You have drawn the eye of the Void Cult. They move in shadows, older than time, and they will stop at nothing to corrupt fate."
Tianming bowed.
"I will be ready."
---
Back in the Sect
Tianming's return to the Hidden Star Sect was met with jubilation. He now bore two celestial sigils, marking him as a cultivator whose destiny had intertwined with the cosmos itself.
He resumed his cultivation, merging the power gained from the trials into his body. New system abilities unlocked:
> System Upgrade: Celestial Beacon Protocol
– Allows brief glimpses into future events – Boosts ally cultivation when nearby – Enables passive suppression of evil qi
Zhao Yueyin, standing beside him, smiled for the first time in days.
"You've changed again."
Tianming glanced at the stars. "Not changed. Just… evolved."
She looked up too. "Then what comes next?"
Tianming's eyes narrowed as the stars flickered with unknown portents.
"The world is shifting. The Void Cult is awakening. And the third star… is stirring."
---
To Be Continued in Chapter 37: Shadows Over the Empire