The gates of the Ascendant Citadel closed behind them with a resounding thud, sealing Kalen and Sorin inside the towering city of immortals. The atmosphere within was entirely different from anything they had ever experienced. Immortal cultivators moved about with purpose, their auras radiating overwhelming power. Every step echoed with the weight of countless battles, and the air buzzed with untapped potential.
“This is it,” Sorin said under his breath, his eyes sweeping over the immense citadel. “We’re in the big leagues now.”
Kalen remained silent, focused. His mind was already preparing for what lay ahead. He knew they couldn’t let their guard down, even for a moment. They had come to prove themselves, but the trials that awaited would not be easy.
Ahead of them stood a massive structure carved into the mountain, its entrance guarded by imposing statues of ancient immortals. This was the Trial Hall, where those seeking entry into the Citadel’s sects would face their greatest tests.
A towering figure clad in silver armor stepped forward as they approached, his expression stern and unreadable. He was clearly a guardian of the trials, and his aura spoke of centuries of experience.
“You seek the trials?” the guardian asked, his voice deep and commanding.
Kalen nodded. “We do.”
The guardian looked them over, his gaze sharp. “You are outsiders, unaligned with any sect. The trials will be harsh, and failure means death. Are you prepared for that?”
Sorin smirked. “Wouldn’t be much of a trial if it was easy.”
The guardian didn’t smile. Instead, he motioned to the massive doors of the Trial Hall. “Enter, then. The first trial will test your understanding of the Five Pillars of Immortality—Body, Mind, Spirit, Energy, and Soul. Only those who can balance all five will be allowed to continue.”
Kalen’s eyes narrowed. He had heard of the Five Pillars but had never trained specifically in them. His cultivation path had always been unconventional, focused on his unique blend of Voidflame Abyss. This would be a true test of his adaptability.
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THE FIRST TRIAL: THE PILLAR OF BODY
As they stepped through the doors, the world around them seemed to shift. They found themselves in a vast arena, surrounded by towering walls. The ground beneath them trembled, and in the distance, they could see massive statues of immortal warriors standing motionless.
Suddenly, the statues came to life, their stone forms cracking and shifting as they took up massive weapons. The Pillar of Body would test their physical strength and combat abilities.
Kalen flexed his hands, flames of ice and void flickering around them. “I’ll handle the front. You cover me from behind,” he said to Sorin, who nodded.
The first statue lunged forward, its enormous sword cleaving the air as it descended toward Kalen. With a swift movement, Kalen sidestepped the attack, the ground shattering where the sword struck. He retaliated, launching a blast of frozen flames at the statue, his attack searing through the stone and leaving deep cracks in its surface.
Sorin, meanwhile, darted to the side, his Heaven’s Devourer technique already active. As he slashed through one of the smaller statues, he absorbed the energy it released upon destruction, his own aura growing stronger with each kill.
“This is too easy,” Sorin said, grinning as he felled another statue.
But Kalen knew better. The statues were just the beginning. The real challenge would come after they had demonstrated their physical capabilities.
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THE SECOND TRIAL: THE PILLAR OF MIND
After defeating the statues, the arena shifted again. This time, they found themselves standing in a serene field, but Kalen could sense the illusion. The Pillar of Mind was designed to test their mental fortitude, forcing them to face their deepest fears and doubts.
Sorin looked around, his confidence wavering slightly. “Something’s off.”
Before Kalen could respond, the world around them twisted. Suddenly, Kalen was alone, standing before a reflection of himself. But this wasn’t just a mirror—it was a twisted version of him, one that represented all of his insecurities, his failures, and the darkness within his heart.
The doppelganger spoke, its voice cold and cruel. “You think you’re strong? You think you’ve escaped your past? You’re nothing more than a lost soul, grasping at power you don’t deserve.”
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Kalen clenched his fists, fighting back the rising tide of doubt. He had faced so many challenges already—his dark past, the loss of his loved ones, the endless battles for survival. But now, he had to confront the truth that still haunted him.
“I’m not that person anymore,” Kalen said, his voice steady. “I’ve forged my own path, and I’ll continue to grow stronger. You’re just a shadow of the past.”
With a burst of voidflame energy, Kalen shattered the illusion, banishing the doppelganger. He stood still for a moment, letting the remnants of the illusion fade from his mind. The challenge of the Pillar of Mind had been taxing, but it had also reaffirmed his resolve. He knew that the path ahead would be fraught with more trials that would challenge not only his strength but also his will.
He glanced over at Sorin, who was emerging from his own illusion, his face pale but determined. "That was... unpleasant," Sorin muttered, his eyes filled with the memories of what he had just confronted.
Kalen nodded in agreement. "It wasn’t supposed to be easy. But we’re still here."
Sorin clenched his fists, his energy flaring briefly. "Let’s keep going. There’s more waiting for us."
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THE THIRD TRIAL: THE PILLAR OF SPIRIT
The world around them changed once again, this time transforming into a vast and empty void, filled only with the echo of their own thoughts. The Pillar of Spirit was meant to test their inner strength—their connection to the essence of their cultivation.
For Kalen, this was both a challenge and an opportunity. His cultivation of Voidflame Abyss was a delicate balance of seemingly opposing forces, and mastering them had been no easy feat. But here, in the heart of the spirit trial, he would have to confront the essence of those powers in a way he hadn’t before.
Sorin, too, faced his own spiritual battle. The energy of his Heaven’s Devourer technique, fierce and predatory, had always been difficult to fully control. He had to make peace with the destructive aspect of his power if he wanted to move forward.
Kalen closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself. The frozen flame flickered to life, its icy tendrils intertwined with the void that pulsed through his core. The forces inside him surged as if testing his control, but he steadied himself, breathing in and letting the forces align. The key wasn’t dominance, but harmony.
His spirit stretched out, encompassing the void and flame, feeling their connection, and then—an epiphany. These energies weren’t separate forces to be balanced, but rather two sides of the same coin, a unified force that represented his true path. As he realized this, the swirling powers inside him became one, his cultivation reaching a new level of understanding.
Beside him, Sorin was going through a similar realization. The energy of Heaven’s Devourer didn’t need to be constrained—it needed to be accepted for what it was: a consuming force that would only grow stronger as he honed it. When Sorin opened his eyes, his aura was sharper, more refined, the power in him crackling with untapped potential.
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THE FOURTH TRIAL: THE PILLAR OF ENERGY
The void vanished, and they found themselves standing before a massive altar, pulsating with ancient energy. The Pillar of Energy was the most straightforward trial, but also one of the most dangerous. It required them to harness pure, raw energy and merge it with their own cultivation.
Kalen stepped forward first, his hands outstretched as he channeled his voidflame energy toward the altar. The flames surged around him, flickering between cold blue and dark void, as they intertwined with the power of the altar. The energy fought against him, resisting his control, but Kalen’s mastery of his cultivation allowed him to guide it smoothly, absorbing it into his core.
Sorin followed suit, his own power surging as he tapped into the altar’s energy. The wild and chaotic energy of the altar resonated with his Heaven’s Devourer technique, amplifying its ferocity. Sorin gritted his teeth, focusing all his willpower to control the overwhelming force coursing through him.
The trial lasted longer than either of them had expected, but eventually, the energy settled, merging with their respective powers and pushing their cultivation even further.
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THE FINAL TRIAL: THE PILLAR OF SOUL
The final trial came upon them swiftly. They found themselves standing in a circular chamber, its walls inscribed with ancient runes glowing faintly in the dim light. The Pillar of Soul was the ultimate test—a direct confrontation with the very essence of their beings.
A spectral figure appeared before them, glowing with an ethereal light. “To succeed here, you must face the truth of your soul,” it intoned. “Only by embracing what lies within will you ascend.”
Kalen stepped forward, his expression unwavering. He had been through countless battles, both within and without, and his soul had been shaped by those experiences. The spectral figure extended a hand, and Kalen felt a force pulling at his very core, drawing out his deepest memories, fears, and desires.
For a moment, he saw flashes of his past—his home, his loved ones, the battles that had scarred him. But with each memory, Kalen’s resolve grew stronger. His past had forged him into who he was now, and he would not run from it. He accepted the pain, the loss, and the strength it had given him.
Sorin faced a similar test. The specter mirrored his soul, revealing to him the raw ambition that drove him, the hunger for power, and the fear of failure. But rather than being overwhelmed, Sorin embraced it all, knowing that his path, while difficult, was one of growth and evolution.
As the trials came to a close, the specter spoke again. “You have proven your strength, both in body and soul. The gates of immortality are now open to you.”
Kalen and Sorin exchanged a glance, their expressions filled with determination. They had passed the trials, but this was just the beginning. The real journey lay ahead—one that would take them deeper into the realms of immortality, where even greater challenges awaited.
Together, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever came next.