Tian Lei flicked the blood off his fingers and stepped away from the destroyed tables.
The only one left breathing was the final experiment—the young master who had miraculously survived.
Ye Qin.
A nobody from a declining clan.
Originally destined to awaken some mediocre bloodline—the Red Serpent, a venom-type beast that most nobles mocked behind closed doors.
But now...
Tian Lei looked down at the boy’s trembling body.
Blue essence pulsed through Ye Qin’s veins like living lightning. His flesh twitched and rearranged itself, muscles tightening, bones strengthening. His eyes, which had been brown before, flickered with a faint metallic shine.
"Heh... the Giant Steel Scale Anaconda," Tian Lei murmured, amused.
"A vastly superior species. Thick defense. Immense strength. Long-term potential."
Ye Qin groaned weakly as his spine cracked into a straighter, stronger shape.
Tian Lei crossed his arms and leaned against the cave wall, watching.
"But the real change won’t appear immediately," he muttered to himself. "Essence core alterations always come in delayed waves. His bloodline won’t fully settle until the awakening moment."
He checked the surroundings.
The cave was silent now. Only the faint drip of blood from the ceiling remained.
Tian Lei exhaled slowly, feeling no guilt, no satisfaction—only calculation.
"According to the timeline, this one will awaken in three months... when his beast finally hatches from its egg," Tian Lei mumbled.
"At least the initial phase is over. The bloodline has been perfectly transfused, and now all that’s left is to wait for the natural awakening."
Muttering to himself, he left the cave, raising an undead guard to watch over the boy until the moment of awakening arrived.
"As for me... it’s still a long time," Tian Lei sighed.
Beast awakening happened at the age of twelve—
and he was only six.
There were still six years before his turn.
That was why he chose these young masters in the first place.
All of them were animals in human skin... all of them were close to the next awakening ceremony.
Their bodies were perfect test subjects.
Tian Lei walked out of the cave, dusting off his robe as if nothing important had happened. The night air felt cold against his skin, but his mind was already moving ahead.
He had six years.
Six long years before his own awakening.
Six years before he could begin any real path of power.
He didn’t plan on wasting a single day.
"For the next six years... I need to set everything up," he muttered. "And the first thing I want to try is forming my own sect."
He had no interest in joining anyone else’s organization.
No interest in kneeling under someone weaker.
No interest in letting fate arrange his life.
If he wanted influence, protection, and a foundation strong enough to carry him in the future, he needed followers. Resources. Territory.
His own sect was the simplest answer.
"But to create a sect, I first need to see what the requirements are," Tian Lei thought as he flew through the air, heading toward the capital city of the Divine Azure Empire.
In this world, sects and all other forces were ranked by Stars.
For example, the Divine Azure Empire itself was a Five-Star Power, meaning it had the authority to evaluate, approve, and oversee all lower-star organizations—whether they were sects, academies, or even small kingdoms.
So, if Tian Lei wanted land for his sect and official recognition,
he had to apply directly through the Divine Azure Empire.
Tian Lei sped through the clouds, the wind cutting past his ears as the massive outline of the Empire’s capital slowly came into view—an enormous city built in tiers, each layer protected by shimmering arrays.
He narrowed his eyes.
"The Capital City of the Divine Azure Empire... Azure Divine City."
A place where the strongest clans lived, where elite sects established branches, and where every major force sent their geniuses for training or diplomacy.
If there was anywhere to get information, it was here.
He descended outside the main gates, blending into the huge crowd. Merchants, nobles, mercenaries, and cultivators all streamed in and out like a constant river.
Tian Lei walked forward calmly.
Creating a sect wasn’t as simple as claiming a mountain and putting a sign on it. There were rules, taxes, land permits, and star-ranking evaluations.
"I need to find the Imperial Registration Hall first," Tian Lei muttered.
It was the place where the Empire handled all official matters:
– Sect registration
– Academy registration
– Clan founding
– Merchant guild approvals
– Land allotment permits
Everything started there.
He followed the flow of people into the city. The inside was massive—huge stone buildings, flying spirit beasts, guards patrolling the skies, and banners bearing the Empire’s symbol.
Tian Lei’s gaze sharpened.
"This is definitely the right place to gather information."
He asked a passerby for directions and soon came to a huge building at the center of the city—a towering structure made of blue jade and reinforced with formations.
A sign hung above the giant doors:
Divine Azure Empire – Hall of Registrations and Evaluations
People were lined up at different counters inside—some submitting clan documents, others waiting to be evaluated as a new merchant group or minor sect.
Tian Lei entered quietly.
He scanned the large hall until he saw a counter with a glowing plaque:
"New Sect Establishment – Inquiry & Application"
A bored clerk sat behind it, flipping through a book.
Tian Lei stepped forward.
"I want information on establishing a sect," he said.
The clerk lifted his head, eyes tired, clearly having dealt with too many overconfident idiots.
"Name?" he asked.
"Tian Lei."
"Cultivation level?"
"Don’t wanna reveal it."
The clerk paused, looked at him again, then shrugged and pulled out a scroll.
"Fine. Here are the basics you need to know about creating a sect under the Divine Azure Empire," he said, pushing the scroll across the desk.
Tian Lei opened it.
The requirements were written clearly:
To establish a One-Star Sect:
Minimum of 10 disciples
At least 1 protector at the 1st stage Earth Realm
A sect leader at least at the 9th stage Earth Realm
Proof of land ownership or request for land allotment
A unique sect name and emblem
Empire evaluation to confirm eligibility
Tian Lei tapped the scroll.
"So land comes last?"