The Three Peaks Trial began the moment they stepped into the formation.
The first challenge—the Thousand Phantom Maze.
Illusions layered upon illusions, each step threatening to mislead or trap them.
"Stay close," Li Hao said calmly.
Lin Xue moved beside him, her fox spirit flickering.
"I'll disrupt their core patterns."
The maze shifted violently.
Phantom beasts lunged from all directions.
Wang Lei reacted instantly, his daggers slicing through false images while tracking real threats.
Su Ling supported from behind, her emerald flames stabilizing their senses and weakening the illusions.
Li Hao stepped forward.
Ice spread beneath his feet.
"Freeze the structure itself."
The illusion layers cracked.
Lin Xue seized the moment—her fox spirit weaving through the broken patterns, exposing hidden nodes.
One by one, they shattered them.
The maze collapsed.
Record time.
The second trial—Beast Sovereign Mountain.
A roar shook the sky.
Multiple beasts descended at once.
This time, Li Hao didn't hold back.
"Soul Binding Cord—activate."
Golden light surged.
His Frost Fang Wolf and Earth Thunder Dragon emerged.
For the first time—
Their movements synchronized.
Perfectly.
Lightning and ice merged into a unified assault.
The battlefield turned chaotic.
But controlled.
Dominated.
Even Lin Xue paused for a moment, watching.
"…So this is his true strength."
The final trial—Heavenly Rank Arena.
Hundreds watched as Li Hao stepped forward.
His opponent roared, charging with overwhelming force.
Li Hao didn't move.
Until the last second.
Then—
He raised his blade.
Ice erupted.
The arena froze.
And in that frozen world—
Li Hao stood alone.
Victorious.
A new rank claimed.
A new presence acknowledged.
Not just a disciple.
But a rising dominion.
High above the sky—
The Heavenly Eye opened wider.
This time…
It did not merely observe.
It focused.
On him.
--- Rise of the Dominion
The trials began.
Illusions.
Beasts.
Battles.
Li Hao stood at the center.
The Soul Binding Cord activated.
His beasts moved as one.
Frost.
Lightning.
Power unified.
Opponents fell.
Ranks shattered.
By the end—
Li Hao stood victorious.
Rank 98.
A new force within the inner sect.
Above the clouds—
The Heavenly Eye opened wider.
Watching.
Calculating.
Preparing.