Game Invasion: 100x Evolution, From Weak to God

The tiger’s lair was easy enough to find.

It was located inside the mountain behind it, the very same mountain that had nearly been split in half by Caelum’s blade.

Outside the cave lay scattered human bones and countless empty wine jars. There was no way to tell how many travelers this Lesser Beast had devoured over the years.

No wonder the people outside feared the Mistveil Range so much.

The culprit had most likely been this beast all along.

The cave itself was dimly lit.

Caelum ventured deeper inside and reached the end after barely twenty paces.

There, rooted in the soil, stood a blue Spirit Herb that steadily absorbed World Aether.

"As expected."

A smile appeared on his face.

His guess had been correct.

There really was a treasure hidden here.

Anything capable of drawing in World Aether was certainly no ordinary weed.

It had to be a genuine Spirit Herb.

He had no idea what its effects were, but a gain was a gain.

Footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.

A swordsman entered the cave.

The moment he saw Caelum reaching for the Spirit Herb, his expression froze.

Without hesitation, he backed out of the cave.

In a panic, he formed a hand seal and immediately shot into the sky atop a flying sword.

His voice echoed from above.

"No offense, fellow cultivator! I meant no disrespect!"

He had merely been passing through and hoped to pick up whatever treasures remained.

Instead, he had walked straight into the owner.

Anyone who saw a mountain split cleanly in half would think twice before trying to steal a treasure.

Perhaps this man hadn’t caused it.

Then again, perhaps he had.

Anyone willing to bet their life on the answer was welcome to try.

Whether they succeeded would be up to fate.

After harvesting the Spirit Herb, Caelum continued along the mountain path.

As always, he traveled while nourishing both the saber and the Bladeleaf hidden within his sleeve using the Secret of Transcendence.

On a whim, he decided to nourish the Spirit Herb as well.

To his surprise:

[Grade Increased]

[Springwell Flower: Earth Grade]

"Hm?"

Caelum looked genuinely surprised.

"Spirit Herbs level up this easily?"

Then he glanced at the Bladeleaf.

It was the very first thing he had started nourishing.

Yet despite all this time, its grade had never increased.

Instead, its spirituality and Sword Intent continued growing stronger and stronger.

It was rather strange.

"Maybe weeds don’t have grades?"

Caelum couldn’t figure it out.

Several days later, he finally crossed the Mistveil Range.

As he emerged from the mountain paths, the world suddenly opened before him.

In the distance stood a colossal city.

Its towering walls stretched across the horizon, grand and imposing.

Upon reaching the city gates, he saw a single name engraved above them.

Skyspire.

"I finally made it."

Thankfully, the rumors had been true.

Beyond the Mistveil Range really did lie the Skyspire Order.

The journey had not been wasted.

As soon as he entered the city, he noticed Ascendants everywhere.

Their numbers were astonishing.

Looking deeper into the city, he saw what appeared to be a heavenly paradise shrouded in mist and radiant light.

After asking around, he learned that was where the Skyspire Order itself was located.

"Young Ascetic, I can tell at a glance you’re here to join the Skyspire Order."

The elderly woman running a nearby stall spoke up with a grin.

Caelum placed a small piece of silver on her counter.

"Do you have any advice for me?"

The woman happily pocketed the silver.

"As luck would have it, the Skyspire Order begins recruiting disciples in half a month. Just show up when the trials start."

"Are there any requirements?"

"There are."

She nodded.

"The Skyspire Order only accepts those below the Ascendant Realm. Anyone whose cultivation surpasses the Awakened Realm should look for another Ascendant Order."

"I understand. Thank you."

"Here, take a flatbread. Fresh out of the oven. Still hot."

Caelum accepted the bread and wandered through Skyspire while eating.

By all rights, he was still only in the Initiate Realm.

Granted, he was somewhat stronger than his peers.

But he still qualified for recruitment.

There was no reason not to try.

A figure in white passed through the crowd.

She looked remarkably similar to the woman who had once stayed at Skyreach Monastery.

Caelum glanced at her before turning into a Spirit Herb shop.

The shopkeeper greeted him immediately.

"Looking to buy Spirit Herbs, Ascetic?"

"Do you purchase them?"

"Of course."

Caelum produced the Springwell Flower.

"Oh?"

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened.

"An Earth Grade Springwell Flower? That’s quite rare."

A short while later, Caelum left the shop carrying a pouch of Spirit Stones and silver.

He rented a small courtyard within Skyspire and settled there temporarily.

Throughout his stay, he continued nourishing both the Bladeleaf and his saber.

Less than half a month later:

Buzz!

A brilliant radiance erupted from the saber before quickly fading.

[Grade Increased]

[Steel Saber: Celestial Grade]

As the weapon advanced into the Celestial Grade, the blade manual engraved upon it transformed as well.

Following the revised instructions, Caelum practiced the technique.

The difference was immediately obvious.

The power of the Riftcleaver Blade Art had increased severalfold.

It could now be considered a true Celestial Grade Martial Art.

As though responding to his blade intent, the Bladeleaf suddenly unleashed a surge of Sword Intent that flooded the courtyard.

The Sword Intent intertwined with his blade aura.

Then both shot skyward.

For a moment, countless swords and sabers throughout the surrounding area trembled and rang.

Ascendants everywhere looked on in shock.

"What an incredible Sword Intent!"

Others were more puzzled.

"This blade aura... why is its Vital Essence so overwhelming?"

Not long afterward, both the Sword Intent and blade aura gradually dissipated.

Caelum reached down and patted the Bladeleaf.

Its Sword Intent continued growing stronger with every passing day.

He was genuinely curious what it might eventually become.

Time passed.

Several days later, as the sun rose in the east, boundless rays of dawn descended from the Skyspire Order.

A vast curtain of radiant light stretched from heaven to earth.

The sight resembled a celestial realm descending into the mortal world.

The recruitment trials had begun.

"Hurry!"

"If we can join the Skyspire Order, our future on the Path of Ascension will be limitless!"

Ascendants from every corner of the region rushed toward the curtain of light.

Among them, Caelum even spotted several players.

Blending into the crowd, he followed everyone forward.

The participants were not limited to Ascendants.

Many ordinary mortals had come as well.

Most knew their chances were slim.

Yet the Path of Ascension stood right before them.

What if they possessed talent?

What if fate favored them?

Should they truly step onto the path of immortality, they could leave behind the struggles of ordinary life forever.

Before the curtain of light, an Ascendant approached Caelum with a friendly smile.

"No idea how dangerous the trial will be. How about we work together?"

"Not interested."

Caelum refused without hesitation.

Ripples spread across the radiant barrier.

An elderly Daoist with white hair and beard emerged from within.

His gaze swept calmly across the crowd gathered before him.

Then he spoke.

"Those who wish to join the Skyspire Order may enter the light behind me."

"There will be no fighting or killing during this trial, so you may put your minds at ease."

"Those who possess the proper fate will naturally receive the inheritance and enter the Skyspire Order."

A collective sigh of relief spread through the crowd.

"Good. No fighting."

"At least our lives won’t be in danger."

"Let’s go!"

"Hurry!"

Caelum followed the others into the radiant light.

One by one, their figures vanished.

When he regained his bearings and looked around, he found himself standing at the foot of a mountain.

Ahead stretched a stone stairway leading all the way to the summit.

Caelum looked up.

The peak blazed with dazzling radiance.

Assuming this was the inheritance the old Daoist had mentioned, he wasted no time.

He stepped onto the stone staircase and began climbing.