The mountain peak previously stood high above the clouds, breaching even the sky within their hearts. But this same marvel of nature was now a meteor sliding down the rest of this majestic mountain.

The size, even though so thin, was enough to cover sects of all kinds and heritages having lasted eons. Thankfully, the Sky Sovereign Sect mainly resided within this mountain, not around. But the damage done overall since their clash began was still heavy.

The Earthen Prism Sect was quite far from them, though not as much as some would believe. However it did not matter, the mountain peak was not aimed at them in the first place.

Without much thoughts left wandering, Sun Xieren and Tian Yawen were not the only souls rushing back into the mountain. With enough cultivation, this process was quite fast, only taking a couple seconds to the more powerful.

Looking back at the entrance from the middle of the lowest level, a large shadow drowned the lights outside, watching disciples of all kind running inside.

Sun Xieren along the rest of the sect were left powerless when dozens of fleeing disciples rushing up the stairs were suddenly squashed like bugs by a giant wall of stone.

Everything felt surreal. None dared to imagine what kind of existence would even be able to survive this. Let alone the little disciples barely stronger than mortals and beggars all around the world.

Against descending, Wu Tian and Guizou were instead ascending the stairs. They encountered no resistance no matter how high they went. Minutes passed, hours flowed. Carefully walking was exhausting, always on edge.

The orange stone walls, ceilings and floors remained the same. But dust of the same color had clearly fallen everywhere since. Mainly realized when seeing corpses covered in it.

The stairs were now littered, especially earlier when still below, with blood puddles dusted with sprinkles of orange. Almost a delight to the eyes strangely, and most definitely a feast for the curious brain.

Soon enough, they crossed the last level, soon emerging from a truly dusty view.

Coughing at the tangible mist of dust reaching his knees, Wu Tian was confused. He expected to still be far from the top, yet was met with a clear blue sky. The sun was still high and mighty, raining down light to the mortals beneath its eternal glory.

Left in a strange daze, appreciating the scenery, he then finally lowered back his vision. A pair of eyes met with the horizon. All around, blue reaching the end of his abilities. The white clouds densely packed as if an extension of this open area, like a floor made for angels.

However, one spot was not so perfect. He went ahead, walking in a trance as he soon looked down. The wind blew his hair and fresh air cleared his nostrils. His lungs were finally freed of the dust layer, a hurricane of freshness calming his restlessness.

A giant hole had appeared within the sea of heavenly clouds.

Wide enough to let giants pass, far reaching enough to touch the titans on the other side. More importantly, the now visible ground far, far beneath had been leveled. A mountain peak spanning thousands of meters was laying motionless at the foot. The weight alone could almost be felt from the earthly cracks spreading far and wide across this now shambled territory. "What the fuck happened..?" He did not remember anything close to this. When down there, even though he could not see the other side, he would have been able to notice this rocky behemoth for certain.

Guizou shrugged with a wry smile. "Probably the mountain's peak falling down. Maybe that was the origin of the previous rumble. Or maybe not."

Wu Tian was quick on the uptake. "Are you saying someone did this? How?" Guizou shrugged again. "Doesn't really matter. And I can't say for sure. Just that a mountain wouldn't just break like this. A mountain is not something hollow, at least most of the time. It's a big block of stone that got eroded through countless years. A sculpture shaped by the chisel of nature itself."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Now, tell me honestly. Do you think nature can mess up like this? A sculpture that lasted for so long, breaking apart for no reason? Look over there. Look at these pillars, all bent and everything." Guizou pointed to the two messed up dark metallic pillars to Wu Tian's left and right. "I don't know what happened. But either this sect or their enemy caused this. Or maybe the mountain did break apart, but I would still blame whoever dug so much in the first place."

Basically slicing a mountain in half was not a very bright idea long term. Guizou did not need to insist on this.

Talking a bit more, Wu Tian was then asked to prepare. He frowned by reflex, soon perking his ears to something behind.

"...ver fo..."

"...fin g..."

"...hen pr..."

Waiting a few moments more, the voices rang much clearer to his eardrums. "I'll kill this bastard! I will plunder his stupid sect until nothing but bones remain!" Sun Xieren was then seen angrily stepping out from the pillar. Behind her stood Tian Yawen, silently listening to her rage.

She was seething, smoke almost rushing out from her scalp.

As she made her way into the now bright hall, she took notice of the intruder, and so did Tian Yawen. "Who?!" Shouting as expected, she and the Grand Elder widened their eyes at the incredulous situation. Who dared to come here?

Not being in a good mood, evidently, Sun Xieren shouted even more furiously. "Is it another fucking trap by your dumb sect master?! You little rat! Come here! I will have my people rape your Earthen Prism Sect until the flames of my fury run dry on the cinders of your beloved!" Qi majestically flowing from her like a wrathful torrent, Wu Tian felt a powerful pull before his vision was engulfed in temporary darkness.

Sun Xieren dismissed the change, glaring at the emerald eyed Wu Tian.

"Girl, don't get your head too deep into anger. You will surely regret it." Taking out a small curved dagger, Wu Tian awaited her sudden blurring figure.

Purple, blue, icy and fiery Qi exploded in front of him, blocking anything else from entering his field of view. Sun Xieren was in the middle, marching slowly yet rapidly. Ethereal as she may be, powerful as she may seem, Wu Tian seemed carefree.

The real Wu Tian then heard his master's voice. "Perfect, isn't it? I wanted to teach you about the Star Realm at some point. More precisely, how the opponents behave. You see, compared to the Warrior Realm, cultivators tend to be a bit predictable at this level. And for a good reason." Without enough speed to contend, Guizou did not bother making the first move. He was still playing with the dagger in the only hand his disciple still had, making it spin casually.

Sun Xieren was close enough to grab him when the dagger fell back into the proper position, tightly griped into his palm.

The chaos around her revolved, her fair left arm and left leg clad in purple and blue Qi respectively. Guizou grinned at the sight. "Too obvious. Two Stars I presume?" Taking a simple step left, Guizou shifted Wu Tian's body to his right, facing an extended left arm. One might think about the next move being her right arm or right leg, maybe even her left arm still there. But he knew better. He smirked visibly at an invisible burst of power draining her left arm's Qi like a shockwave in front of her fist.

He positioned the dagger a bit more angled toward the ground, stuck at waist level.

It only took an instant for her left leg to swipe upward, soon having her shin hit the tip of the blade. A deep and dark red Qi was covering the dagger, making it extremely sharp.

Flinching at the unexpected pain, Sun Xieren took a step back with swiftness rivaling a fairy. Guizou almost wanted to roar in laughter at the sight. "Kid, aren't you being too predictable? Two Stars is really not a cultivation where you can become lazy yet!"

Grimacing with the fitting gritted teeth, Sun Xieren alongside Tian Yawen were in pure shock. How could her casual strike be countered so easily? By a clear Warrior no less!

Humiliating!

First Luzhen Jie and now this. Her Sky Sovereign Sect had been struck with bad luck on this otherwise fine day.

She immediately spat. "Who are you?!"

Guizou harrumphed, displeased. "Why does that matter? Are you not going to take this seriously yet? I'll let you know, being a Star Realm expert really is a pitfall for most cultivators... Truly appalling! Do you only know how to use your strongest points? Suddenly shifting to only using your advantages will turn everything else into a weakness."

Wu Tian was still pondering when Guizou explained at the same time. "The Star Realm focuses on opening your meridians. She is Two Stars, meaning that her Heart Star and Forgotten Star have bloomed. Her left arm and left leg have unlocked their potential, able to fully utilize Qi as intended. Though it can still be improved."

"So now, with a bit more overall strength and resilience, her left arm and left leg received a really miraculous boost of everything compared to the rest of her body, mainly because Qi cannot flow well without opened meridians. With these two body parts so strong, it is only evident that she will heavily rely on them. So when you see a One Star, just watch out for their left arm, they all make this mistake. Especially in the Mortal Land! They simply don't know better!"

Wu Tian was even more surprised at the knowledge. But he also understood them. If the Divine Realm only boosted his body a bit more and a body part much further, he would definitely use it often.

His body spoke a bit more, awakening his daze. His dagger wielding hand was almost opened, his index finger teasing the opponent with an inviting gesture clear to see. This same finger along the rest of his body suddenly clad in stone armor. "Come on now little girl. Show me what a Two Stars has to offer!"