“HAHA, nice try. What kind of powerful being have I ever offended? There is no way some godlike creature would ever care enough about me to personally write my story. I think you are lying to me. Not only that, but I also think that you were created because my talent was too extraordinary. After time reset, I could no longer be permitted to possess such limitless potential; as such, you were created. You are trying to manipulate my thoughts to cause me to live a life of mediocrity, a life where I cannot reach my true peak because of doubt regarding my own free will. That will never work, so I recommend you shut up unless I talk to you directly."
[I do not need to prove anything to you, Samuel. Everything will be uncovered in due time.]
“That is the same as confirming that I am right. Don’t disturb me with any more notifications; I am about to break through.”
Samuel had been restraining his itching talent, keeping it from breaking through, because of the dialog he had with the system, or rather, the seal. No, he is never going to call it a seal, as that would be one less thing he can feel good about and use to posture. It’s a system; it always has been and always will be.
‘I don’t know how long the germination of the talent will be this time, but regardless of when I wake up, I will be ready to succeed in this trial.’
Darkness welcomed his mind, just like it has countless times in the past. There was still a difference between this breakthrough and the previous lower-level ones; there was no golden dust. Samuel was not in any state to reflect on this, but if he was, he would realize that his talent was not forming a connection with the Heavens. At all. What effect this would have on his future cultivation path, however, was still unknown.
…
The eyes of a sleeping figure suddenly shut open upon having the barrier covering it dissipate to dust. The figure looked the same as when he went to sleep, but his presence was incomparable. He emitted the unfathomable and archaic feeling of time, as well as seemingly fusing with the space around him. The figure was obviously Samuel. Upon waking up, the first thing he did was utter gowla to check out the time sphere. What he found upon entering, however, was as he expected. The time distortion inside was only 1,000:1, one tenth of his previous starting point. What was strange, though, was the fact that on his soul, there were two glowing runes, one golden and the other silver. The golden one was obviously between his brows on the Yin Tang accupoint, but the silver rune was greatly surprising to Samuel. It was not the same rune that looked like a crosshair, located on his right temple, but rather an indeterminate shape, placed on both his eyes. You might be asking, How can one rune be in two places at once? Which is a good question. The runes were like two halves of the same blurry amalgamation he labeled the Space rune, being in one place yet two at the same time. All that happened when Samuel tried to make sense of this concept was to make him dizzy. The dizziness was so bizarre and intricate that he felt as if he were in multiple different spaces, all turning and churning like crazy. Out of fear of vomiting, he looked away as quickly as he could before having his mind return to his body.
“How come the germination only required three days this time, yet I obtained two runes this time, with the space one being heavily upgraded? This doesn’t make any sense.
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[Congratulations on breaking through to the Superior Mortal stage! You have managed to break through without relying on the Heavens, embarking upon the difficult yet rewarding path of Origin Cultivation. You do not want to mooch off the achievements of predecessors, but rather opt to find your own path.]
[Important to note: Spiritual qi is the product of the entity known as the Heavens, and by not accepting its government of your being, you will be unable to utilize it in any shape or form, lest you be more powerful than the Heavens in the region it rules over.]
“That would not really be a problem if I were at the Mortal Evolution stage, as my physique would devour that mystical energy from the void, making me independent from spiritual qi, but now... This might be a problem. Also, why do the tone and personality of the system keep shifting?”
[Because some messages are dictated by the code and rules of the system, while others are me speaking. Thus creating the contrast. Got it?]
“Oh.”
That was all Samuel bothered to respond to the once again bitchy system. After all, he had something to do: the Malataincacha trial. Deciding to not waste any time on useless questions he won’t get the answers to, the annoying system personality, or getting a feel of his newfound power, Samuel took two steps forward, passing through the dark veil covering the entrance of the tower.
Samuel had envisioned a great many things to greet his eyes on the inside of this tower. A giant adversary, an infinite expanse covered in beasts and monstrosities, and human opponents—instead of all of that, however, what was actually there was way less interesting or dangerous. Seemingly, of course. A formation, or rather a runic circle, surrounding something similar in appearance to a Buddhist prayer mat. There were no instructions, no adverseries, and nothing trial-y about this area.
“What the fuck kind of trial is this? Don’t tell me I have to comprehend a concept to pass, or that I have to write an essay or something. Maybe I should give up right now. What if there is a math test at later levels?”
Although this is what he said, he still walked calmly, with a slight apprehension, towards the mat. What can one really do with a prayer mat but sit on it or use it as decoration? Since it was a test, Samuel correctly assumed he had to sit down on the mat for it to begin. As he sat down cross-legged, which he hates doing, the most penetrative feeling he had ever experienced grazed through his body, mind, and soul. Samuel felt as if every aspect of his known self was explored, and all of his most intimate secrets were laid bare for this sense to see.
‘You have a sufficiently strong soul-mind connection. You pass.’
Upon hearing these words, Samuel immediately realized what that sense and trial were for. Before he could start feeling embarrassed and offended at being violated like that, he was transported to a similar room to the last one, the only difference being the cauldron standing in the center rather than the praying mat.
“I had to sit on the prayer mat previously for the tower to sense my being. Presumably, it will test the three aspects of soul-mind connection, will, and physique. I don’t know which one this is, but both would probably require me to enter this cauldron. I have a bad feeling about this one, though. It's going to cook me alive, isn’t it?”
Oh boy, he was right on the money! This was indeed a test to see how strong his body was, but also to test his will and determination. The process involved him being cooked alive until he could take it no more, and based on this, he will pass the test. Yes, that means the test won’t stop until Samuel stops it. Something he won’t do because he doesn’t know the rules, forcing him to stay in for as long as he physically can. It’s quite ingenious, to be honest. How many better ways are there to test someone's will than to make them believe they are not doing well enough, making them push themselves further?
Samuel, although reluctant to be cooked alive, knew the only way to exit this place was to either suffer a harsh punishment, die, or clear the trial, meaning he had to complete this task regardless of what it was. More importantly, however, is the fact that he gave his word to clear the trial. He, Samuel, eh, whatever the fuck his last name was, is an honorable man who never reneges on his word. If he said he would clear the trial, then he will. Simple as that. The potential for death and punishment is just serving as fuel. He is not afraid of the punishment; you are! How can the manly hunk that is Samuel be afraid of punishment? Hmph! Preposterous.
“I am going to regret entering this cauldron, aren’t I?”
Ding!
[Yes, you are. Have fun!]
“Fuck!”