The first to break through was Wang Lei.
Wind burst around him as his aura climbed—Qi Condensation Late Stage.
"Haha! Finally!" he laughed.
Moments later, Su Ling's emerald flames intensified.
Her control sharpened as she stepped into late stage as well.
Lin Xue followed soon after, her illusions gaining depth—each one harder to distinguish from reality.
Finally—
Li Hao's aura surged.
A cold pressure spread through the cave.
Qi Condensation Late.
Inside his Soul Sea, the dragon roared louder than ever before.
Lightning struck against ice.
Yet both forces remained under control.
Balanced.
Refined.
Li Hao opened his eyes slowly.
Stronger.
But not enough.
"We continue," he said.
Because their goal was not just growth—
It was supremacy.