In the Spirit Lake Courtyard
After their morning bath of love and warmth, Li Chen and Yu Qingci walked hand-in-hand toward the spiritual garden. There, Su Lingxue was seated on a stone mat, patiently teaching their son the fundamentals of cultivation.
Li Xuan, eyes sparkling with excitement, looked up and saw them approaching. He jumped to his feet and ran toward Yu Qingci.
"Mother! Mother! I want to learn flying techniques!" he exclaimed eagerly.
Yu Qingci chuckled, ruffling his hair with affection.
Ever since conceiving, her motherly instincts had deepened, and her gaze toward Li Xuan grew gentler by the day.
"Okay, I'll teach you…" she said with a soft smile.
Lingxue was stunned, wanting to stop her from spoiling him, but Qingci continued calmly, "But before that, you need to increase your strength. Only after you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm can you start learning flying sword techniques. And even then, you must first master the foundations of cultivation."
Li Xuan's bright enthusiasm wilted like a sun-dried flower. "Ah… is there no shortcut, Mother?"
Qingci replied firmly, "No shortcuts. Only through hard work and the right methods can you progress quickly. If not, you won't even be able to fly properly—understand?"
Li Xuan blinked, startled. Lingxue chuckled and walked over, pinching his ear playfully.
"Look what your mother Qingci said! Now, rebellious son, come and accept your punishment. Recite everything I taught you three times before you're allowed to play with your falcon!"
"Noooo! Mother! I'll listen! I'll behave!" he cried, struggling as Lingxue dragged him into his room and locked the door.
"Don't even think about escaping. Study diligently!"
Faint sobbing could be heard from inside, but it gradually faded.
Lingxue returned to Li Chen and Yu Qingci, who were now seated on a nearby stone bench beneath the shade of a blooming spiritual tree.
Li Chen smiled and pulled her gently down to sit beside him. Yu Qingci leaned into his other side.
"My dear sister," Qingci began, "Lingxue told me about our son's condition. The herbs needed to awaken his bloodline… they're extremely rare. Some can only be found in the upper realm."
Li Chen's eyes widened. Even Lingxue's smile faded as a hint of sorrow crossed her face.
"So… our son may never awaken his bloodline?" she asked softly. Even if she was from upper realm, she didn't have deep knowledge of herbs.
Li Chen gently caressed her shoulder, holding her hand. "Don't lose hope, Lingxue. There must be a way." He turned to look at Qingci.
Understanding his gaze, Qingci nodded and said, "Sister, I can arrange most of the herbs through the Silvercloud Trade Hall. But the last three —Bloodheart Ginseng, Celestial Jade Lotus, and Void Flame Mushroom—are nearly impossible to find in our realm. However… there might be a way."
Both Li Chen and Lingxue looked at her hopefully.
Qingci continued, "The Tournament of Ascension."
Lingxue's expression changed immediately. Her eyes turned cold. "The Tournament of Ascension…"
Li Chen noticed the shift in her tone and frowned. "Why do you both look so serious? What is this tournament? And how can it help us get the herbs?"
Before Qingci could speak, Lingxue cut in firmly. "No. Never. Xuan'er can wait. You don't need to risk it."
Understanding Lingxue's concern, Qingci held back, her expression calm but conflicted.
Li Chen's curiosity only grew. "Qingci… what is this Tournament of Ascension? How does it work? Please tell me."
After glancing at Lingxue and getting a silent nod, Qingci began explaining.
"Husband, the Tournament of Ascension is held every ten years in the Central Region. It's a grand event recognized by the upper realms, where cultivators whose bone age doesn't exceed thirty can participate. The minimum age is eighteen, so everyone gets at most two chances in a lifetime."
"The tournament is divided into five phases," she said. "Let me explain them."
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1. Talent Assessment
"Participants don't simply place their hands on a stone. Instead, they unleash their strongest attack onto the Talent Stone. The power level of the strike is used to determine their qualification. Only the top 1,000 with the highest scores are selected. The stone ranks power on a scale, and every point counts."
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2. Group Fighting
"These 1,000 cultivators are randomly divided into 100 groups of 10. Groups face off against each other in team battles. From the 50 matches, 50 groups are selected to proceed. Each group member must fight a member of another group."
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3. Monster Hunting
"The remaining 500 are transported into a pocket realm called the Rift of Realms. It overlaps with both the lower and upper realms. Inside are rare herbs, powerful beasts, and ancient monsters. The goal is to survive and gather resources. Only the top 100—based on their hunting score and monster's strength—will move on."
"That's also where the herbs for Xuan'er may be found," Qingci added.
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4. Soul Battle
"In this round, participants cannot rely on weapons or techniques. They must fight with only their souls. A crushing pressure—two realms higher than their cultivation—descends upon them. As time passes, the pressure intensifies, testing their spirit and endurance. The last 20 standing will advance."
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5. Final Ranking Battles
"The top 5 from the Soul Battle are given a temporary top 5 placement. The remaining 15 must compete for positions 6–10. Afterward, the top 10 rankings are opened for challenges. Anyone can challenge those above them. The true final rankings are only decided after this intense round."
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"Only the top five are granted supreme rewards—such as direct entry into upper realm sects, immortal-grade resources, or even bloodline awakenings. The others may receive rewards too, but not at the same level."
Li Chen's eyes narrowed. "So this tournament… it's a gate to the upper realm?"
Yu Qingci nodded. "Exactly. The upper realm governs countless lower realms. Many are desolate or void-like null realm (null void) , but some—like ours—have potential. From each region, only a few sects, usually 3 to 5, are granted slots to sponsor and recruit from the tournament."
Li Chen asked, "So there are multiple tournaments of ascension across different lower realms?"
"Yes," Qingci confirmed. "Each tournament is fiercely contested. If the top-ranked cultivator is recognized by a major sect, they may be directly accepted without needing to cross tribulation. Otherwise, they must still pass trials and begin as outer disciples."
"Make no mistake," she added. "This isn't just a competition. It's a battle for the future. It's a brutal trial. Deaths are common. That's why they tried to reduce casualities only among those selected 1,000. And the true details of the tournament are often kept hidden from ordinary participants. What I've told you is only what's commonly known."
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Li Chen sat back, slowly absorbing the weight of it all.
Lingxue cupped his face gently. "Husband… promise me you won't participate. Promise me."
Li Chen held her hands tightly. "Xue'er… I won't endanger myself. I'll only participate up to the third round—to get the herbs we need. I won't go any further."
Lingxue's lips trembled. "But—"
"No need to worry," Li Chen interrupted gently. "I promise. I'll never risk my life. I have you… and our children to live for."
He leaned down, resting a hand over her belly. "I swear to you—after the third round, I'll stop. That's my vow."
Yu Qingci looked at him with quiet admiration, her heart steady with trust.
Lingxue held him tightly, not fully reassured, but silently choosing to believe in the man she loved.
Yu Qingci gently caressed her soft flat belly and whispered,
'Child, I know you can't listen, but… your father can go to any length just to awaken your brother's bloodline. You shall be happy to get such a loving family after your birth.'
[Readers there is still time to comment. you can choose a character's future.
1. Chu Ying - give her last farewell
2. Chu Ying - plot armour to get her revenge.]