In the Realm of Illusions, Apophis grew stronger by the day. Through the continuous absorption of the "Essence of the Abyss," its power and senses steadily increased. After months of training, Apophis had mastered some basic combat techniques, and its body gradually evolved, its scales now glinting with a deep purple light.

The old man stood in the center of the room, arms crossed and expression stern. "You seem to be progressing well, little one. But have you ever wondered how you even got here in the first place?"

Apophis grew tense; the question had been troubling it for a while, but it had no answer. Nervously, it swayed its tail and responded cautiously, "I don’t know either. I was drawn here by some strange force. I saw a powerful creature guiding me to this place, but I didn’t come here intentionally."

The old man squinted his eyes and snorted coldly. "You think this is just some random place you can stumble into? The 'Realm of Illusions' is a forbidden land left behind by powerful beings a thousand years ago. It’s not somewhere you can just wander into by accident. You’d better confess—did someone help you?"

Apophis quickly shook its head. "No one helped me! I swear, I just felt something guiding me."

The old man’s expression became more complicated, as if he were considering something. At last, he sighed. "No matter how you got here, it’s irrelevant now. Since you’ve entered the 'Realm of Illusions,' you must pass the trials here before you can leave. Otherwise, I won’t let you go."

“Heh, little one, do you know the secrets hidden in this place?” The old man furrowed his brow and smiled strangely.

Apophis felt a wave of nervousness. It wanted to nod, guessing it might have some ideas, but fearing it might be wrong, it chose to shake its head, indicating its complete unfamiliarity with the place.

The old man sneered, "This is a place beyond your wildest dreams—the 'Celestial Secret Realm.' Do you know how many people have yearned to come here but never had the chance? If you were just an ordinary creature, you would’ve been torn apart by the forces here long ago." As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the walls suddenly revealed swirling, mist-like patterns that slowly rotated, releasing an intense pressure.

Apophis was shocked but also sensed something familiar—an energy that resonated with the "Essence of the Abyss" within its body, as if silently calling to it.

"You’ve already touched the edge of power," the old man continued, his gaze sweeping over Apophis, "but to truly wield it, ambition and instinct aren’t enough. You need wisdom, patience, and to endure real trials." He paused, observing Apophis’s reaction.

Apophis, both nervous and excited, quickly lowered its head, signaling its willingness to accept the old man’s guidance.

The old man raised an eyebrow. "Heh, don’t be too eager to show your loyalty." He turned and waved his arm. Suddenly, the ground in the center of the hall cracked open, revealing a bottomless dark crevice. From the crevice slowly rose an ancient stone pedestal, and on it rested a pitch-black orb, with countless stars seemingly twinkling inside.

"Heh heh, let’s start you off with a little gift," the old man’s voice carried a hint of mockery. "This orb is called the 'Devourer of Stars,' formed by the extreme cold and heat forces I’ve gathered from the world. You must absorb the 'Essence of the Abyss' within it without being consumed."

Apophis stared at the orb, feeling the powerful and mysterious energy it emitted. The old man saw its hesitation and snorted softly. "Of course, you could choose to back out. But if you do, your training ends here."

Taking a deep breath, Apophis realized this was a pivotal opportunity. It stepped forward, its gaze resolute. As it approached the pedestal, a chilling aura emanated from the orb, threatening to freeze its body. However, the "Essence of the Abyss" within Apophis began circulating automatically, forming a barrier to fend off the initial shock.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Slowly extending a claw, Apophis touched the orb’s surface. Instantly, an invisible force exploded from within, and waves of cold and heat alternated, crashing into each other like ice and fire. Apophis gritted its teeth, enduring the pain, while silently following the old man’s training method, attempting to guide the forces into its body.

The air around Apophis seemed to solidify, and the energy within its body felt like it was being torn apart. Yet, the more painful it became, the more active the "Essence of the Abyss" became, gradually absorbing the stray energies. Apophis focused on adjusting its breathing and rhythm, slowly turning the terrifying forces into its own power.

Time passed, and eventually, the orb’s energy began to wane. Apophis’s body, though battered by the extreme environment, had become stronger. Its scales shimmered with a faint glow, and the once-heavy force inside it became light and effortless. Finally, it had absorbed the majority of the orb’s "Essence of the Abyss."

Just as it was about to relax, a sudden, powerful suction force burst from the orb, attempting to consume Apophis’s last bit of will. At that moment, Apophis felt like it stood on the brink of life and death. It knew that if it couldn’t resist, its very existence would be wiped out.

"Relax," a low voice echoed in its ears, seemingly the old man’s distant guidance. "Don’t fight it. Let the power flow naturally."

Gritting its teeth, Apophis followed the old man’s advice, adjusting its mindset, no longer resisting the suction but instead allowing its body to follow the flow. Suddenly, the force became gentle, and the last bit of "Essence of the Abyss" from the orb merged into Apophis’s body.

The pedestal slowly sank back into the crevice, and the hall returned to its previous tranquility. Apophis collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, filled with a sense of accomplishment for having overcome the challenge.

The old man walked forward slowly, casting a glance at the exhausted Apophis, and snorted softly. "Not bad, tougher than I expected."

Apophis lowered its head, expressing its gratitude.

"The 'Essence of the Abyss' within you has changed," the old man said, stroking his beard, seemingly satisfied with the result. "But this is only the beginning. The real training is yet to come. If you pass, perhaps then, you’ll be worthy of learning my true name."

Apophis’s heart trembled. It understood that this old man was more than just a casual mentor—he held secrets that ran far deeper.

"Hey, little one, how did you end up here so cluelessly?" The old man suddenly shifted the tone of his conversation, relaxing slightly, as if trying to ease the atmosphere.

Apophis quickly replied, "I really don’t know! I just followed a strange energy, and then I was here. I didn’t mean to!" It wagged its tail, trying to appear innocent.

The old man snorted lightly. "Hmph, that’s a bit of a weak excuse, don’t you think? Do you think this is a marketplace where anyone can just wander in?"

The old man smiled faintly. "You think just absorbing the 'Essence of the Abyss' means you’ve passed? This is only the start. If you want to truly control your destiny, you must pass the real trials."

Apophis reluctantly lowered its head. "So, what is the trial?"

The old man pointed towards a stone door at the far end of the room. "The next test lies beyond that door. Only by solving the riddles of the trial grounds will you be able to take the next step in your cultivation."

Apophis looked at the massive stone door, feeling a wave of unease, but it had no way to retreat. Taking a deep breath, it stepped into the world behind the door.

The Challenges of the Trial Grounds

As soon as it entered the stone door, Apophis found itself in a strange space. Dim light filled the surroundings, the air was thick with ominous energy, and the ground was covered in ancient runes. Apophis felt a brief dizziness but quickly steadied itself.

Before it could make sense of the situation, a deep voice echoed around it. "Welcome to the Trial Grounds, Apophis. Your task is to unravel the mysteries hidden in these runes. Only by solving them can you leave this place."

Apophis looked around but saw no one. Remembering the old man’s warning, it knew that everything would have to be solved on its own. Faced with the intricate runes, it felt the weight of the challenge, but soon steadied its resolve, determined to face whatever lay ahead.

It carefully studied the arrangement and patterns of the runes, recalling its experiences in the Realm of Illusions. Gradually, Apophis began to discover connections between the symbols and started working on deciphering their secrets.

As time passed, Apophis’s mind and will were tested to the limit. Through continuous trial and error, it eventually unlocked the hidden meaning behind the runes. With the final rune deciphered, the atmosphere in the space shifted.

The voice echoed once more. "Well done, you have passed the initial test."