Three months had passed since Qin Chen took control of the Azure Sky Sect's rebirth.
In that time, the sect had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.
Qin Chen had been madly refining pills every day to the point where he wanted to throw up when he saw a cauldron.
Every ranked Core Disciple—once scattered in strength, once limited by their resources—had now reached the absolute peak of Core Formation.
No exceptions.
No weak links.
They had all reached the Peak of the Golden Core Realm.
And the reason?
Qin Chen.
His Grade 5 Alchemy skills had pushed the limits of what should have been possible. With full access to the sect's resources, he had spent every day refining top-tier pills—Scarlet Core Pills, Draconic Blood Essence Pills, Meridian Refining Elixirs, Heaven's Flame Qi Pellets—each one allowing the disciples to temper their bodies, purify their meridians, and push their cultivation forward at an insane rate.
It wasn't just the pills either.
With their cultivation skyrocketing, Qin Chen had personally trained them in battle, using his terrifying combat prowess to refine their techniques.
Through his constant suppression, through battle after battle—they had been forced to evolve.
And today?
Today would mark their final test.
BOOOOOOOM!
A massive dueling arena had been constructed within the inner sect—a floating battle platform infused with powerful formation arrays to withstand the impact of top-tier battles.
The entire sect had gathered.
Thousands of Azure Sky Sect disciples stood around the battle platform, whispering amongst themselves, their excitement reaching a fever pitch.
"Today… Senior Brother Qin Chen is going to fight all of them at once?"
"Every single ranked Core Disciple is at the peak of the Golden Core Realm now! They are monsters in their own right!"
"Even Senior Brother Zhao Yan! He's already on the verge of breaking through to Nascent Soul!"
"I don't know… Qin Chen is a complete anomaly. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins."
BOOOOOOOOM!
A single step.
Qin Chen ascended onto the floating battle platform, his golden-purple robes fluttering in the wind.
The ranked Core Disciples stood in formation before him, their eyes burning with the will to fight.
Zhao Yan, the First-Ranked Disciple, took a step forward. His aura was overwhelming—a storm of Golden Core Qi surging around him.
"Qin Chen." His voice was steady, filled with admiration but also confidence. "We are ready."
Qin Chen smirked. "Show me."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The instant the words left his mouth, ten Peak Golden Core cultivators attacked simultaneously.
The moment the battle began, the air trembled.
Zhao Yan shot forward first, his sword slashing down, carrying the full weight of his nearly-Nascent Soul-level strength.
Liu Feng moved at the same time, unleashing a torrent of fire Qi that split the battlefield in half.
The other ranked Core Disciples each launched their own techniques, working together as a single unit—a complete contrast to the disorganized strength they once wielded before.
BOOOOOOM!
Swords clashed. Flames exploded. Qi shockwaves tore through the arena.
The crowd watching couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"Monsters… they've all become monsters…"
Even some Core Elders were stunned.
"This… this is what a few months under Qin Chen's training has done?"
"They are no longer just 'strong'… they are on an entirely different level!"
But while the ranked disciples had transformed into some of the strongest Golden Core cultivators in the region—
Qin Chen was still Qin Chen.
He moved like lightning, weaving through their combined attacks with inhuman precision. Every counterstrike, every motion, was flawless.
BOOOOM!
He flicked a single finger—and Zhao Yan's sword was blasted away.
He swept his arm—and Liu Feng's flames were devoured by his Sovereign Fire.
A single step—and he was behind Liu Qingcheng before she even realized it.
One versus ten.
And yet, it wasn't even close.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
After a final exchange of blows, a deafening shockwave exploded outward, sending every single Core Disciple flying off the platform.
They crashed into the surrounding barriers, panting, trembling—but not broken.
They had lost.
But their eyes were blazing with satisfaction.
They were strong now.
Stronger than they had ever been.
And Qin Chen?
He was satisfied too.
The entire sect had gone silent.
They had all witnessed it.
The transformation.
The birth of true monsters.
As the ranked Core Disciples slowly picked themselves up, Zhao Yan wiped the blood from his lips, exhaling. "We lost."
Qin Chen smirked, stepping forward and offering a hand. "But you're no longer weak."
Zhao Yan grabbed his hand, pulling himself up. A slow grin spread across his face. "No. We are not."
Liu Feng chuckled, shaking his head. "Monstrous freak…"
The other Core Disciples, despite their exhaustion, felt a fire ignite within them.
Liu Qingcheng looked at Qin Chen with both admiration and a hint of fire in her eyes.
For the first time in their lives—they were no longer just talented disciples.
They were true powerhouses.
And yet—
Qin Chen wasn't done.
He turned toward the Sect Master, who had been observing everything from the highest seat of the viewing platform.
"Now that the Core Disciples are strong enough…" Qin Chen's voice carried across the arena.
"It's time to raise the elders."
A murmur spread across the sect.
"The elders?"
"He's really following through with that?!"
Qin Chen's eyes gleamed. "With my current skills, I can refine Nascent Soul-level and even Soul Transformation-level pills."
The Sect Master's expression shifted slightly.
"You really want to refine pills for the elders?" His voice was calm, but Qin Chen could sense the deep curiosity in his tone.
Qin Chen smirked.
"Not just the elders. You as well."
The entire sect was silent.
Although some had heard about the promise Qin Chen made, none really believed it.
It was simply too far-fetched. A disciple under the age of 20 refining pills for a Soul Transformation level expert?
Something as absurd as that had never even crossed their minds until Qin Chen.
After the commotion died down, Qin Chen finally set his plan in motion.
His first objective was refining Soul Transformation Pills & Nascent Soul Pills for the Core Elders & Sect Master – With their enhanced strength, the Azure Sky Sect wouldn't just have powerful disciples, but true powerhouse elders.
Next, he wanted to push Zhao Yan to Nascent Soul – He was already at the verge of breaking through. Qin Chen would personally refine the pills needed to guarantee his ascension.
Lastly, he would Give Liu Qingcheng the Mysterious Bloodline Inheritance – He had obtained a vial of blood from the system, matching her fire-related bloodline. He would see if it could awaken something even stronger within her, and it was useless to him.
And with this, the Azure Sky Sect's rise would be nearly unstoppable.
As Qin Chen walked away from the arena, the entire sect watched him go.
Every single disciple, elder, and even the Sect Master himself knew—
Qin Chen wasn't just changing his fate.
He was changing the fate of the entire sect.
And soon—
The Northern Wilderness would feel it too.