The Sect Master gathered himself as he looked at Tian Lei. Raising his hand, he gestured for the other elders to remain silent.
"Tian Lei," he said solemnly, "you have passed the final trial."
As his words echoed through the hall, the other elders paused—and then, one by one, began to dissolve into mist, their forms fading like candlelight in the wind.
"If you had lived in our era," the Sect Master murmured, his tone tinged with nostalgia, "perhaps the Myriad Sect would never have fallen."
Tian Lei looked at him in silent awe, but the old master smiled faintly. "I know what you’re thinking. Every major figure of the Myriad Sect bound their souls to this legacy, so that one day—if someone exceptional were to appear—we could at least witness them. To see the culmination of all that our Sect once stood for... and the very thing that led to its destruction."
His smile turned weary as he extended his hand. "For clearing this trial, you will receive this—an ancient technique of Celestial Rank, known as the Heaven-Purifying Arts. It’s not just a forging technique. It can purify anything—materials, flames... even cultivation techniques themselves, so long as your will is strong enough to sustain it."
Tian Lei’s eyes widened. "A cultivation art that can purify other techniques? Meaning... it can fix their flaws and make them even stronger?"
The Sect Master nodded. "Yes. And now—it is yours."
He placed his palm on Tian Lei’s forehead. A surge of divine light flowed into Tian Lei’s mind, inscribing countless runes of fire and light. Along with it came another object—a small, broken piece of jade, identical to the one Tian Lei had obtained during the Trial of the Spear.
The Sect Master withdrew his hand, his form flickering. "You may leave now."
Before Tian Lei could ask anything further, the world around him shimmered—his vision collapsing into a swirl of blinding radiance. In the next instant, he was gone.
When he opened his eyes, he was back outside.
"Another door done?" Haiyun asked.
Tian Lei nodded and sat cross-legged to calm himself. Haiyun and Elder Lin didn’t disturb him, watching quietly as his aura gradually stabilized. After half an hour, he finally opened his eyes again.
"What door next?" Haiyun asked.
Without a word, Tian Lei stood and walked toward the Alchemy Door.
"Best of luck," Haiyun and Elder Lin said in unison.
Tian Lei nodded, placing his hand on the ancient stone door. In an instant, light engulfed him once more.
When his vision cleared, he found himself sitting on a wooden bench overlooking a lush garden filled with medicinal herbs.
A stream of memories surged through his mind, and understanding dawned on him. "So... now I’m a herb farmer," he muttered.
In the sect’s hierarchy, herb farmers were servant disciples—responsible for tending to alchemical plants, watering them, fertilizing the soil, and nurturing them until harvest.
Then, a line of glowing text appeared before his eyes:
[Phase I Trial: Elevate your position to Alchemy Disciple.]
Tian Lei nodded slightly. "So this is my first trial," he murmured.
He looked around the field, examining the irrigation channels, soil patterns, and growth cycles of the herbs. Then, drawing upon the inherited memories, he spoke softly to himself.
"Spirit Rain Technique... and Rejuvenation Technique—both are basic farming arts."
He nodded again. Spirit Rain was used to enhance the spiritual moisture within the soil, while Rejuvenation restored the earth’s vitality after multiple harvests—ensuring that every new batch of herbs could grow strong and rich in essence.
Tian Lei rolled up his sleeves, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Alright then... let’s see how a ’farmer’ works his forge."
He extended his hand, summoning a thin thread of spiritual energy. The air shimmered, and droplets of crystalline light began to form—tiny pearls of luminescent rain suspended above the garden.
Spirit Rain Technique.
The droplets fell gently, each one carrying refined spiritual essence. As they soaked into the soil, the dull brown earth brightened into a deep, rich gold-green hue. The herbs, which had been sluggish and weak, suddenly stirred—leaves trembling, roots drinking greedily from the rejuvenated ground.
Tian Lei’s spiritual sense stretched deeper, mapping the flow of energy beneath the surface. "The soil here is exhausted," he murmured. "Too many harvests, not enough balance. No wonder even the highest-grade seeds can’t mature."
He placed both palms on the ground. This time, his flame flared—soft and golden, not destructive but cleansing.
Rejuvenation Technique.
The earth pulsed beneath his touch. A low hum filled the air as the dead soil began to breathe again, veins of light spreading through it like molten rivers. Tian Lei felt the life within the land stirring, resonating faintly with his own spirit flame.
But something strange happened—his Heartflame, the same one that had absorbed the Empyrean Fire, reacted. It flickered and expanded, merging with the Rejuvenation Technique in ways the memory-arts had never described.
The Spirit Rain above shifted from blue to gold, and the Rejuvenation pulse deepened until the entire field shimmered like a living furnace.
Within moments, the herbs began to sing. Their essences intertwined, releasing a faint, intoxicating aroma. Spiritual energy condensed into motes of light, swirling gently above the crops like fireflies.
A sudden chime rang out in his mind.
[Congratulations! You have discovered a derivative art: Spirit Rebirth Technique.]
[Effect: Restores soil vitality and enhances plant spirit by 300%. Efficiency increased by 250%.]
Tian Lei blinked, then grinned. "So, I accidentally forged a new technique out of farming arts... huh. Guess blacksmithing isn’t the only thing I can refine."
As the day turned to dusk, the once-ordinary herb garden had transformed into a paradise of light and fragrance. Even from afar, other servant disciples paused their work, staring in disbelief at the shimmering fields glowing under the twilight.
"What in the world...? Those are tier-three herbs—they were withering this morning!" one of them gasped.
"Did someone use a grandmaster’s elixir on the soil?" another murmured.