The Heavenly Sword Sect's training ground was alive with activity. New disciples lined up to be tested by the Golden Core Realm instructor. Wang Tian, among the crowd, watched intently. His eyes took in every movement of the instructor and the disciples who challenged him.

One by one, the disciples stepped forward, their expressions a mix of determination and fear. The instructor, his aura imposing, matched their cultivation levels effortlessly, suppressing his power to give each disciple a fair chance.

Wang Tian, however, was not here to simply pass the test. He had a plan, and the first step was to make an impression—just enough to open the doors he needed.

As the instructor continued to test the disciples, Wang Tian analyzed every move, every subtle shift in technique. Wang Tian watched the battles closely, noting the instructor’s habits: a slight delay when transitioning between offensive and defensive stances, and a preference for using overwhelming force rather than finesse when pressured. Wang Tian realizes that while the instructor is powerful, he has a tendency to rely on brute strength, which could be exploited.

“He’s strong, but predictable,” Wang Tian thought, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “If I exploit that, I can win—on my terms.”

Wang Tian’s mind raced. His ultimate goal was to participate in the upcoming Sword Ceremony, where the best disciples would compete for precious resources. But to do that, he needed to prove himself. Not just by passing this test, but by demonstrating that he was a cut above the rest.

When it was finally his turn, Wang Tian stepped forward, his expression calm yet confident. The instructor turned to him, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed the young cultivator.

“Name?” the instructor asked, his voice deep and resonant.

“Wang Tian,” he replied, bowing respectfully.

The instructor nodded. “Are you ready to be tested at the Foundation Establishment level?”

Wang Tian shook his head, surprising the gathered disciples. “Instructor, with all due respect, I would like to challenge you at your own Mid Golden Core cultivation level—matching my own peak Foundation Establishment stage.”

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Challenging the instructor at his own level was one thing, but asking him to fight at an even higher level? It was unheard of.

The instructor raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You understand what you’re asking, Wang Tian? You could easily be defeated.”

Wang Tian nodded, his gaze steady. “I understand, Instructor. But I wish to demonstrate my abilities beyond the norm. I also have a request… if I succeed, I would like to participate in the Sword Ceremony.”

The instructor’s eyes narrowed, weighing the request. The Sword Ceremony was a prestigious event, and only the most promising disciples were allowed to participate. But this young man’s confidence piqued his interest.

“Very well,” the instructor agreed, his tone carrying a hint of challenge. “But know this—if you fail, not only will you forfeit your chance at the Sword Ceremony, but you may also lose the chance to become an outer disciple of the sect.”

“I understand,” Wang Tian replied, bowing again.

The training ground fell silent as the duel began. Wang Tian stood at the center of the training ground, his gaze calm and focused. His robes, dark as night, fluttered gently in the breeze, and his hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword. Across from him, the instructor watched with a stern expression, his battle-hardened aura emanating strength.

The disciples around the arena were buzzing with excitement, their whispers filled with speculation. Some doubted Wang Tian’s ability to face the instructor, while others expected something extraordinary.

“Begin,” the instructor’s voice boomed, breaking the tension.

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The instructor wasted no time. His sword lashed out with the force of a tempest, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. The ground beneath his feet cracked from the pressure of his spiritual energy as he aimed to overwhelm Wang Tian with sheer power.

But Wang Tian was prepared. With a swift movement, he unsheathed his sword, its blade shimmering with a faint azure glow. He didn’t meet the instructor’s strike head-on. Instead, he sidestepped, allowing the sword to graze past him, the wind from the strike ruffling his hair.

“Too slow,” Wang Tian thought, his eyes narrowing. “If I’m to win, I need to dictate the pace of this battle.”

As the instructor pivoted to deliver another blow, Wang Tian’s sword flickered forward, striking at the instructor’s side with lightning speed. The instructor barely managed to parry the attack, his eyes widening slightly in surprise at Wang Tian’s agility.

“Impressive,” the instructor muttered, a hint of approval in his voice. “But you’ll need more than that.”

Wang Tian did not reply. Instead, he focused on his breathing, his mind sharpening as he decided to test the power of his newly transplanted "Heavenly God Eye.”

His eyes, which had been calm and calculating, suddenly gleamed with a golden light. The world around him seemed to slow, every detail becoming crystal clear. The faintest twitch of the instructor’s muscles, the subtlest shift in his spiritual energy—it all became as apparent as the lines on his palm.

When he transplanted the Heavenly God Eyes into him, his mind was filled with knowledge and knew that it had a total of 6 techniques. Though using even the first technique required him to be at Golden Core cultivation, it was good even at the base form. It allowed him to perceive the flow of energy in his opponent’s body, predict their movements, and strike at their weaknesses with pinpoint accuracy.

The instructor moved again, faster this time, his sword a blur. But Wang Tian’s eyes tracked the motion effortlessly. He saw the energy gathering in the instructor’s arm a split second before the strike and adjusted his stance accordingly. His sword rose to meet the attack, deflecting it with ease.

But Wang Tian wasn’t content with merely defending. As the instructor’s strike was parried, Wang Tian countered with a series of rapid thrusts, each aimed at a vital point. To the onlookers, it seemed as if Wang Tian was reading the instructor’s mind, reacting to his every move before it was fully executed.

“What is this?” the instructor thought, his brow furrowing as he struggled to keep up with the sudden onslaught. “How is he predicting my moves?”

But even as the instructor’s confusion grew, Wang Tian remained focused, his expression unreadable. He had no intention of dragging this fight out longer than necessary.

The instructor, realizing he was being outmaneuvered, suddenly changed tactics. He leaped back, putting distance between himself and Wang Tian. His spiritual energy surged, and the ground beneath him began to glow with a golden light. The air crackled as he prepared to unleash a powerful technique.

“Mountain-Crushing Sword!” he roared, his voice echoing across the training ground. In an instant, the instructor’s sword transformed into a massive, ethereal blade, towering above them both. It descended with the force of an avalanche, threatening to crush everything in its path.

But Wang Tian didn’t flinch. He knew this technique well—an overwhelming display of power meant to intimidate and subdue. But brute force wasn’t enough to defeat him.

“Cloud Mirage Step,” Wang Tian whispered.

In the blink of an eye, his figure blurred, splitting into several afterimages that scattered across the training ground. The Mountain-Crushing Sword crashed down, shattering the earth where Wang Tian had been standing. Dust and debris flew into the air, obscuring the battlefield.

The disciples gasped, straining to see through the cloud of dust. But when the dust settled, Wang Tian was nowhere to be found—only his afterimages, which slowly faded into nothingness.

The instructor’s eyes darted around, searching for his opponent. But before he could react, a voice echoed from behind him.

“Over here.”

The instructor spun around, but it was too late. Wang Tian was already in motion, his sword aimed at the instructor’s exposed back. The Heavenly God Eye had revealed the brief window of vulnerability, and Wang Tian capitalized on it without hesitation.

The instructor barely managed to twist his body, avoiding a fatal blow, but Wang Tian’s sword still struck true. A thin line of blood appeared on the instructor’s arm, and he grated his teeth as the pain registered.

“You…” the instructor began, but Wang Tian didn’t give him a chance to finish.

Wang Tian knew that the time had come to end this. The instructor was strong, but the Heavenly God Eye had already revealed his every weakness. There was no need to drag this out any longer.

With a surge of spiritual energy, Wang Tian activated a trash sword technique from his memory.

“Heavenly God’s Sword!”

His sword blazed with golden light, and in an instant, the light condensed into a single, razor-sharp beam that extended far beyond the length of the blade. The air hummed with the sheer power of the technique, and the ground beneath Wang Tian’s feet cracked under the pressure.

The instructor’s eyes widened in shock. He could feel the overwhelming force emanating from Wang Tian, a force that far exceeded what a Foundation Establishment cultivator should be capable of.

“This… this is impossible!” he thought, instinctively raising his sword to defend himself.

But Wang Tian’s attack was too fast, too precise. The beam of light sliced through the air, aimed directly at the instructor’s sword. When the two forces met, there was a deafening explosion of energy, and the instructor’s sword shattered into fragments.

The instructor was thrown back by the impact, skidding across the ground before he managed to halt his momentum. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, and his breathing was labored. He struggled to rise to his feet, but the force of Wang Tian’s technique had taken its toll.

Wang Tian stood tall, his sword still glowing with the remnants of the Heavenly God’s Sword technique. He looked at the instructor, his expression calm but resolute.

“It’s over, Instructor,” Wang Tian said, his voice steady. “You’ve fought well, but this battle is mine.”

The instructor, still panting, finally managed to rise. He looked at Wang Tian, and despite his injuries, a smile slowly spread across his face.

“Well done, Wang Tian,” he said, his tone filled with respect. “You’ve truly surpassed my expectations. Your skill… your strategy… they’re far beyond what I’ve seen in a disciple your age.”

He sheathed the broken hilt of his sword, then turned to the gathered disciples.

“Wang Tian has earned his place in the Sword Ceremony,” the instructor announced. “His victory here is proof of his exceptional talent and cunning. Let this be a lesson to all of you—true strength lies not only in power but in the mind.”

The disciples erupted into applause, some still in shock at the display of skill they had just witnessed. Wang Tian bowed respectfully to the instructor, then turned to leave, his mind already on the challenges ahead.

As he walked away, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The Heavenly God Eye had served him well, and his plans were progressing perfectly. The Sword Ceremony would be his next test, and he was more than ready.