Inside the Cloud Mist Internet Café, the cheers that followed the fall of the Heavenly War Commander slowly faded as the battlefield on the glowing screen began transforming once again. The floating platforms inside the Heavenly War Domain rearranged themselves, drifting slowly through the golden clouds like fragments of an ancient sky fortress being rebuilt piece by piece.
Everyone inside the hall understood what this meant.
The second gate had fallen.
Now only the final trial before the War Sovereign remained.
Standing near the screen, several cultivators whispered nervously.
"The third gate…"
"That's where most strong challengers fail."
Nearby, Liu Kang grinned widely.
"Hahaha! Now we'll see if that kid can keep going!"
Standing beside him, Chen Yu watched the screen carefully.
"The Heavenly Fortress Guardian is not like the previous enemies."
Beside him, Yan Feng nodded.
"That guardian controls the battlefield itself."
On the third floor balcony, Long Wei leaned slightly forward.
"The third gate tests strategy, not just strength."
Nearby, Mo Tian remained calm and silent.
His gaze followed the glowing battlefield without a trace of emotion.
Inside the simulation, the massive Third Heavenly Gate slowly opened.
Ancient runes glowed across its enormous surface.
The sound of heavy stone grinding echoed across the floating battlefield.
Then the environment changed.
The battlefield transformed into a massive celestial fortress.
Stone walls rose from the floating platforms.
Ancient watchtowers appeared across the horizon.
Massive ballista weapons materialized along the fortress walls.
Inside the café, the watching cultivators gasped.
"The battlefield changed completely!"
Standing behind the counter, Lin Tian watched the transformation quietly.
Inside his mind, the system panel updated again.
MYTHIC REALM PROGRESSION
Gate One — Cleared
Gate Two — Cleared
Gate Three — Activating
Lin Tian smiled faintly.
"The real defensive battle begins now."
Inside the simulation, the Heavenly Fortress Guardian descended from the sky.
Unlike the previous guardians, this warrior wore shining silver armor that radiated powerful divine energy.
The armor was covered with ancient runes.
Behind the warrior floated a massive halo of golden light.
In his hands rested an enormous war hammer.
The weapon alone looked heavy enough to crush mountains.
Inside the café, the watching cultivators whispered anxiously.
"That hammer looks terrifying."
Standing near the screen, Chen Yu spoke quietly.
"That guardian specializes in battlefield control."
Yan Feng nodded.
"And overwhelming defense."
Inside the simulation, the Fortress Guardian stepped onto the platform.
Each step caused the battlefield to tremble slightly.
"You have passed the first two gates."
His deep voice echoed across the fortress battlefield.
"But the Heavenly Fortress stands between you and the throne of the sovereign."
Han Jue raised his sword calmly.
"Then I'll break the fortress."
Inside the café, Liu Kang burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! That kid really talks big!"
The Fortress Guardian lifted his hammer.
Golden energy surged across the battlefield.
The system warning appeared.
ENEMY SKILL ACTIVATED
FORTRESS DOMAIN
Inside the simulation, the battlefield changed instantly.
Massive energy barriers rose around the arena.
The ballista towers along the fortress walls activated.
Golden energy arrows began aiming toward Han Jue.
Inside the café, the watching cultivators gasped.
"The entire battlefield is attacking him!"
Standing behind the counter, Lin Tian observed quietly.
"This is the strongest defensive domain in the realm."
Inside the simulation, the first volley of arrows fired.
Hundreds of glowing projectiles shot toward Han Jue like falling stars.
The battlefield exploded with light.
Han Jue moved instantly.
His body blurred across the floating platforms.
The arrows struck the ground behind him.
Stone exploded into fragments.
Inside the café, the watching cultivators shouted.
"That attack covers the entire battlefield!"
But Han Jue continued moving calmly.
His sword flashed.
Several arrows shattered midair.
Standing near the screen, Chen Yu spoke quietly.
"He's already analyzing the attack pattern."
Inside the simulation, the Fortress Guardian attacked.
The massive hammer descended.
The platform beneath Han Jue shattered instantly.
Han Jue jumped sideways.
The hammer slammed into the ground again.
Shockwaves spread across the battlefield.
Several nearby walls cracked.
Inside the café, Liu Kang whistled.
"That hammer is insane!"
But Han Jue had already moved forward.
Instead of attacking the guardian directly, he slashed toward one of the fortress towers.
His sword flashed.
The tower cracked.
Inside the café, several cultivators looked confused.
"He's attacking the fortress?"
Standing nearby, Yan Feng nodded.
"He's weakening the domain."
Inside the simulation, the Fortress Guardian roared.
The hammer swung again.
Han Jue dodged the strike.
Then his sword flashed again.
Another tower shattered.
Inside the café, the watching cultivators gasped.
"The domain is weakening!"
Standing on the third floor, Long Wei nodded slowly.
"He figured it out."
Mo Tian finally spoke quietly.
"The guardian draws strength from the fortress."
Inside the simulation, the Fortress Guardian's aura suddenly surged.
Golden energy spread across the battlefield.
The system warning appeared.
FORTRESS DOMAIN — MAXIMUM DEFENSE
The remaining towers fired again.
Energy arrows filled the sky.
Han Jue moved like lightning across the battlefield.
His sword flashed again and again.
One tower shattered.
Then another.
The fortress walls cracked.
Inside the café, the watching cultivators shouted excitedly.
"He's dismantling the battlefield!"
But the Fortress Guardian attacked again.
The hammer descended from above.
Han Jue stepped inside the attack.
His sword flashed.
The blade struck the guardian's chest armor.
Cracks spread across the silver armor.
Inside the café, the watching cultivators erupted.
"He damaged the guardian!"
The Fortress Guardian staggered slightly.
The fortress walls behind him began collapsing.
The domain was breaking.
Standing behind the counter, Lin Tian watched calmly.
Inside his mind, the system panel updated again.
High-Level Combat Detected
Realm Evolution Progress: 58%
Lin Tian smiled faintly.
"The system is evolving faster than expected."
Inside the simulation, Han Jue stepped forward again.
His sword raised calmly.
The Fortress Guardian roared.
The hammer swung one final time.
Han Jue stepped inside the attack.
The blade flashed.
The sword pierced the guardian's armor.
Golden cracks spread across the warrior's body.
The battlefield froze.
The Fortress Guardian slowly lowered his hammer.
"You have broken the fortress."
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"You may approach the throne."
The guardian's body dissolved into golden light.
Inside the Cloud Mist Internet Café, the screen flashed brightly.
GATE THREE — CLEARED
For several seconds, the entire hall remained silent.
Then the crowd erupted louder than ever before.
"He cleared the third gate!"
"He's actually reaching the final boss!"
Standing near the screen, Chen Yu stared at the battlefield.
"The War Sovereign is next."
On the third floor, Mo Tian watched quietly.
His calm gaze rested on the glowing screen.
Because the throne of the War Sovereign…
…was about to awaken once again.