Heaven Plain Mountain, the Ancient Pavilion Terrace.

This was the heart of Human Valley where generations of wanderers and elite challengers gathered to compete in the Assessment Ceremony. Heaven Plain Mountain rose an extraordinary ten thousand meters into the sky, its summit broad and level, spanning tens of square kilometers — easily surpassing the footprint of an ordinary city. If circumstances demanded it, the summit alone could comfortably house several hundred thousand people.

Viewed from a distance, the mountain’s main peak was wide at the base and tapered sharply upward, resembling an enormous funnel driven into the earth.

The summit itself was remarkably flat, blanketed with hundreds of varieties of flowers and trailing greenery — nothing like the frozen desolation one might expect at such altitude. It looked instead like a garden in full spring bloom.

Beyond the main peak, four lesser peaks stood nearby, each distinct in character.

The Eastern Peak, barely a tenth the size of the main summit, was densely forested, lush with growth, home to spirit beasts and flourishing life. The Western Peak resembled a desert — dry, scorching, swept by strange tornadoes that whipped up violent sandstorms, though the moment one crossed beyond its borders, the storms vanished without trace. The Southern Peak resembled a lake region, abundant in water and teeming with fish, where wildlife showed no fear of approaching humans. The Northern region held several snow-capped peaks, battered by howling winds and relentless blizzards — a frozen world where life rarely took hold.

If the main summit of Heaven Plain Mountain served as the gathering place where wanderers and elites lodged and competed in the formal Assessment, the four lesser peaks functioned as battlegrounds. Within their borders, anyone could settle a dispute through combat under the proper regulations — a path to glory, to claiming a crown.

Heaven Plain Mountain and the Ancient Pavilion Terrace were said to be the place in Human Valley closest to the will of the divine, a sacred site revered by the entire population. Even the most formidable figures, upon arriving here, were forced to set aside arrogance and bring forward their genuine best to compete for honor — Ji Wuri himself was no exception.

No one, however powerful, could override the laws set down by the ancient deities.

This was the singular place where achievement received true recognition.

And only with that recognition could a person truly rise within Human Valley.

The permanent population residing atop Heaven Plain Mountain’s Ancient Pavilion Terrace fell far short of several hundred thousand, even though the summit could easily accommodate that many. Beyond the senior figures of the Heavenly Pride Wanderers’ Association and a handful of sages invited as honored guests for the Assessment, no one else dared set foot in this sacred ground.

Of course, whenever the Assessment Ceremony convened, three white-clad maidens would descend upon the summit without fail.

No one knew how far back into history their existence stretched. Possessing strength on the level of divine envoys, even figures as venerable as the Heavenly Pride Chairman and the Thousand-Year Great Sage knew nothing of their origins — only that, for as long as Human Valley’s history had been recorded, these three white-clad maidens had always been present. They sometimes appeared near Human Valley’s entrance, occasionally engaging in conversation with wanderers who caught their interest. And at every quarterly Assessment Ceremony, they appeared punctually, though they rarely spoke — typically observing from a distance, or departing partway through. Only for an exceptionally rare wanderer or elite challenger would these three divine-envoy-tier maidens engage directly, asking questions or delivering formal evaluation.

Throughout Human Valley, even figures like the Heavenly Pride Chairman and the Thousand-Year Great Sage regarded the three of them as the divine envoys of the gods themselves within Human Valley.

They were the eyes of the divine.

Watching over everything that transpired in Human Valley on the gods’ behalf.

“Titan — this is Heaven Plain Mountain’s Ancient Pavilion Terrace. The building complex directly across from us is the Heavenly Pride Academy proper, and that great statue standing before its entrance is the Heavenly Pride Elder, founder of the very first Heavenly Pride Wanderer’s Academy. We can’t enter just yet — the Assessment Ceremony is still three days off. We’ll be lodging here at the Scholar’s Residence for now; the Heavenly Pride Wanderers’ Association provides complimentary food, board, and security, so there’s no need to worry about word of your participation getting out prematurely. If you’d like to explore, that’s fine, but don’t wander too far. The White Jade Book City and the Ink Jade Archive are both places that should interest you. But remember this above everything else: never, under any circumstances, accept a challenge from someone provoking you. Accept a duel here, and you’ll be transported instantly to one of the four lesser peaks to settle it. Some students — the type who’ve lingered here far too long, turned into entrenched, troublesome veterans — make a habit of challenging others purely for the sake of reputation. And there are others, jealous of genuine talent, who scheme behind the scenes to sabotage promising students. We need to stay alert for both.” The Principal had personally led Yue Yang and the rest of the delegation to Heaven Plain Mountain’s Ancient Pavilion Terrace, and was now walking his prized pupil through every detail he could think of, eager to ensure he understood the landscape completely.

“Yes, understood.” Yue Yang naturally played the obedient student.

“Honestly, I’m not worried about your performance at all. Barring some unforeseen disaster, you’re winning this Assessment’s championship.” The Principal lowered his voice, leaning in close to murmur the rest. “But fine jade invites theft. I don’t want some scheming opportunist getting to you before the results are announced — prematurely exposing the flying battle construct secret, or putting your safety or your standing at risk.”

“Principal, I won’t get into conflicts with anyone, I promise.” Yue Yang had never been the type to shy away from trouble. If he hadn’t still wanted to keep using Zhonghua’s position to his advantage a while longer, he’d already have been moving as aggressively as Ji Wuri or the Heavens-Splitting Demon Lord to win people over.

Zhonghua, the Hall of Light Master from the Central Divine Hall, currently serving as the Silver Maple City Lord’s tenth son, wasn’t anywhere close to a match for Ji Wuri. But he could still stir up real trouble where it counted. At minimum, his maneuvering would draw Ji Wuri’s attention elsewhere, leaving Yue Yang free to remain hidden in the shadows a while longer.

In the middle of this exchange, the transport array behind them flared to life — another delegation had just arrived. Yue Yang recognized the man leading it instantly: that gold-loving fool, Jinji, Gold Leaf City’s Junior Lord, who’d shown off so shamelessly at the last exchange. Beyond his standing as junior city lord, Jinji now also carried the identity of an elite student determined to claim the championship. Armed with the Strong Magnetic Battle Construct, his confidence was at full tide — he was certain this Assessment was his moment to shine, his clear path to the unmatched honor of the championship crown.

Gold Leaf City had originally prepared to contest for the championship at the previous Assessment as well. But Ji Wuri’s overwhelming arrival had changed everything — beyond Zhonghua and Captain Cook, no one had dared challenge him directly.

With Ji Wuri’s Vengeful Prince absent from this round, and Zhonghua’s Jet Beast and Captain Cook’s Ocean Warrior also out of the running, Jinji saw no remaining reason to doubt his own victory.

As far as he was concerned, even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of failure simply didn’t exist.

Setting aside Ji Wuri’s Vengeful Prince entirely, Jinji — armed with his Strong Magnetic Battle Construct — genuinely believed his “Crimson Heaven-King” outclassed even Zhonghua’s Jet Beast and Captain Cook’s Ocean Warrior. Scanning the field and finding no one who could possibly match him, Jinji had no doubt left in his mind. The championship was already as good as in his pocket.

“Move aside. Don’t you lesser supporting players have any sense of your place?” One of Jinji’s companions, spotting the Principal’s group ahead, waved his hand with arrogant flourish, gesturing for Yue Yang’s party to clear the path.

“Jinji’s brimming with confidence, isn’t he,” Instructor Oumon observed, unable to resist a cold laugh.

“We’re meant to respect our elders — even ones who aren’t strictly our own teachers, even ones who’ve devoted ten years to nurturing students and produced not a single championship to show for it. Remember, we’re nobles. Dignity, grace, and a measure of pity for lesser people — that’s what defines us.” Jinji’s smug little speech earned a chorus of reckless laughter from his entourage.

“Oh? Is that really how you see it, Principal Jinzhong and Instructor Jinguang?” The Principal felt his own anger rising sharply. He was, whatever else might be said, a city’s recognized Heavenly Pride Academy Principal — and here he was, being humiliated in public by some scheming, overprivileged junior.

“Ha ha ha, our Junior Lord is quite right that respecting one’s elders matters — though his phrasing carries a touch of youthful brashness. Young people, you understand — always full of fire, speaking their minds directly. Allow me to apologize on his behalf; I trust you’ll be generous enough to forgive a young man’s enthusiasm.” The opposing Principal Jinzhong made no attempt to hide his favoritism, and the hollow apology fooled no one — everyone present could plainly hear the public mockery dressed up as an apology. He apparently decided this wasn’t quite enough, adding: “Coming to the Ancient Pavilion Terrace to compete in the Assessment is the will of the gods themselves, and naturally we intend to give it our full effort — much the same way you’ve prepared your Sacred-tier quill pen for this round’s evaluation! We don’t have the kind of extraordinary genius students you do, so we’ve had to put our energy into constructs instead — ten years of dedicated research finally bore fruit with the Strong Magnetic Battle Construct. It’s only reasonable little Jinji feels some pride about it, much the way you must have felt overjoyed discovering your own genius student’s Sacred-tier quill pen achievement!”

“Congratulations, truly,” Instructor Jinguang chimed in, his sarcasm thick. “This round’s award for creativity is clearly already decided in your favor. A Sacred-tier quill pen — what a remarkable accomplishment!”

“Looks like I’ll have plenty to learn from watching this Assessment unfold.” Jinji shot Yue Yang a look dripping with contempt and naked provocation.

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha—”

Jinji’s entire entourage erupted into reckless, gloating laughter, thoroughly pleased with themselves.

The Principal and Instructor Oumon stood seething, faces dark with fury.

As Principal and instructor, they understood perfectly well the little secret behind Gold Leaf City’s claim — Jinji had never possessed the ability to design the Strong Magnetic Battle Construct at all; the credit had simply been forced onto him as borrowed glory. Quietly hiding the deception would have been one thing. But to then turn around and use that fraudulent achievement as a weapon to attack a genuine prodigy — to undermine a real, exceptional student?

As Gold Leaf City’s delegation strode off, thoroughly self-satisfied, the Principal swallowed his fury and reached over to give Yue Yang’s shoulder a steadying pat. “Little Titan — don’t let garbage opponents like these get under your skin. Stay focused on your own work, and before long you’ll find yourself standing at the summit while these clowns aren’t even worth the ants beneath your feet. People like that aren’t worth your anger. Our real opponent was never them. Our real opponent is time itself. Win that race, and there won’t be a single soul left in Human Valley capable of standing in the way of your flight.”

Instructor Oumon clenched his fists tight, silently resolving something within himself.

This round, they wouldn’t merely win the championship — they would win it decisively, beautifully, whatever it cost in revealed strength.

There was no way he would let these crawling vermin spit their venom on Titan unanswered. Titan was something far greater than even the father of any mere construct master. A man like him deserved absolute protection from the petty theatrics of small-minded fools — anything less would be an unforgivable, intolerable desecration.

(End of Chapter)