The Inner Sect's gates shook violently as alarms echoed across the mountains. A coalition of rival sects had launched a coordinated assault, aiming to seize territory, treasures, and hidden ancient relics.
Li Tian stood at the forefront, golden-white-purple aura of the Devouring Core spiraling around him. The battlefield was chaotic; disciples clashed in torrents of elemental energy, formations shattered, and the air itself seemed alive with spiritual force.
Han Xue appeared beside him, her eyes sharp. "This is no tournament. Lives will be lost, and power will decide fate. Every move must count."
Li Tian nodded, feeling the Core pulse rhythmically. "Then I will make every strike precise. Every enemy… a step toward mastery."
First Frontline Clash
Enemy squads surged forward, elemental storms colliding with protective barriers. Li Tian moved like a shadow, absorbing minor attacks with the Devouring Core and redirecting energy to protect allies and destabilize enemies.
A massive figure emerged: Zhao Ming, flanked by Xuan Wu and elite disciples, their combined aura pressing down like a storm.
"You've grown," Zhao Ming sneered, electricity crackling around him. "But this is war. No Core will save you now."
Li Tian's Core flared violently, golden-white-purple energy spiraling outward. "Then let's see whose will is stronger."
Advanced Spirit Realm Portal
Amid the battlefield, a portal to an Advanced Spirit Realm erupted, its energies rippling with chaotic force. Elders shouted warnings, but Li Tian's senses were drawn to it.
"The relics inside… the power…" Han Xue whispered. "Few survive without Core mastery like yours."
Li Tian's eyes glinted. "Survival isn't enough. I'll grow beyond all limits."
He stepped into the portal, entering a realm alive with turbulent energy and ancient spirits. Elemental storms raged, and shadow beasts prowled, their power far beyond ordinary disciples.
Shadow Beasts and the Core's New Power
Within the Advanced Spirit Realm, enormous shadow beasts emerged, testing every facet of Li Tian's abilities. One colossal creature, its body made of blackened stone and lightning, lunged at him.
Li Tian didn't dodge. The Devouring Core absorbed the energy, twisting and converting it into a controlled pulse that neutralized the attack. His Core pulsed, integrating new energy forms and expanding its conscious awareness.
The beast, sensing respect and strength, withdrew, leaving the path forward.
Zhao Ming & Xuan Wu Ambush
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ming and Xuan Wu appeared inside the realm, having bypassed defenses with stealth techniques. "You cannot escape!" Zhao Ming roared, launching lightning-infused attacks combined with elemental mastery.
Li Tian's Core flared violently. Using the chaotic energy of the realm, he created illusions, split attacks, and battlefield manipulations, isolating Zhao Ming and Xuan Wu while striking preemptively.
The battle shook the Advanced Spirit Realm itself. Rock and wind collided, fire spirals and lightning arcs intertwined, yet Li Tian moved like the eye of the storm—calm, precise, unstoppable.
Core Ascension Phase Two
Amid the battle, the Devouring Core reached another evolutionary threshold. Golden-white-purple spirals twisted into radiant loops of energy, responding instantly to threats and amplifying his strength.
Pain surged, but Li Tian embraced it, channeling the energy into focused attacks. Multiple enemies' assaults were absorbed, redirected, and neutralized simultaneously. His Core had become an autonomous force of strategy and power, a living extension of his will.
Even Zhao Ming and Xuan Wu staggered under the sheer force and unpredictable control.
Discovery of the Ancient Relic
Deep within the Advanced Spirit Realm, Li Tian discovered an ancient floating relic, emitting golden-violet waves. Its energy resonated with the Core, offering both insight and raw spiritual power.
Carefully, he absorbed part of its essence. The Core pulsed, integrating new abilities, and his aura intensified to levels never before seen—a harbinger of the mortal's transcendence.
Han Xue appeared quietly. "The world will notice you now… not all as friends."
Li Tian nodded. "Let them watch. Every sect, every secret, every threat… I will surpass them all."
Return and Aftermath
Emerging from the portal, the battlefield was silent but tense. The Inner Sect had gained a massive advantage due to Li Tian's decisive actions. Rival sects retreated, regrouping in fear and astonishment.
Li Tian's golden-white-purple aura still radiated power. The Devouring Core, now fully sentient and adaptive, marked the mortal's ascension from a mere prodigy to a cultivator shaping the destiny of the world.
He gazed at the distant horizon, mountains and storms merging with the twilight sky. Somewhere beyond, ancient sects, hidden enemies, and celestial secrets awaited.
"This is only the beginning," he whispered. "The Devouring Core… the Spirit Realm… the heavens themselves… I will rise beyond all."
The mortal without spirit roots had become a legend in the making, the storm heralding a new era of cultivation.