As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the training grounds, the air grew still. The elder had gathered near the center of the arena, his expressions calm but firm, knowing full well the challenge that was about to unfold. The Endurance Test was infamous, designed to push participants to their physical and mental limits. It was a trial that would weed out the weak, not only in body but in spirit.

Wuji stood amidst the sea of candidates, his eyes fixed on the massive stone formation that dominated the arena's center. The elder leading the trial, an imposing figure draped in deep blue robes, stepped forward. His voice carried through the cool evening air, cutting through the murmurs of the crowd.

"The time has come for the Endurance Test. This trial will not test your speed or strength, but your resilience, your ability to withstand the forces of nature and persevere when all seems impossible," the elder declared, his gaze sweeping across the participants. "The formation will activate soon, and from then on, you must endure."

A collective hush fell over the candidates. Some glanced nervously at each other, while others stood tall, prepared for whatever was to come. Wuji's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of anxiety and determination coursing through him. He had heard rumors of this test—how it separated the weak from the strong in a brutal fashion. But hearing about it and experiencing it were two different things.

The elder raised his hands, gathered his Qi, and channeled it into the formation. Suddenly, the massive stone structure glowed with a faint, ethereal light, ancient runes carved into its surface lighting up one by one. A low hum reverberated through the ground, and then, with a burst of energy, the formation activated.

Immediately, a wave of blistering heat rolled over the arena. It was as if the very air had been set ablaze. Wuji instinctively shielded his face with his arm, feeling the searing heat singe his skin. The ground beneath his feet grew hotter, and the candidates around him let out gasps of discomfort. Some had already begun channeling their Qi to protect themselves, their bodies glowing faintly as they formed defensive barriers.

But Wuji had no such luxury. He had yet to start cultivating and was forced to rely on nothing but his raw willpower and his body's natural resilience. His mind raced. 'I need to stay calm. panicking will only make things worse,' he thought. He closed his eyes and focused on steadying his breathing, trying to block out the oppressive heat that felt like it was sucking the very air from his lungs.

Minutes passed, and the heat grew more intense, the temperature rising to unbearable levels. Sweat poured down Wuji's face, his clothes clinging to his body as if he had been standing in the middle of a desert. His skin felt like it was being scorched by invisible flames. Around him, some candidates had already dropped to their knees, the unbearable heat too much for them to handle.

'This is only the beginning,' Wuji reminded himself. He gritted his teeth and endured, focusing his mind on anything but the heat—his past life, his ambitions, the knowledge he had gained. He pictured the principles of thermodynamics, reminding himself that his body could adapt, even if slowly.

Then, just as the heat reached its peak, a sudden shift occurred. Without warning, the blistering heat vanished, replaced by a bone-chilling cold. Wuji gasped in shock as his sweat froze on his skin. His muscles stiffened, and his body convulsed involuntarily. The drastic change in temperature was like being thrust into the depths of a frozen wasteland.

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Frost began to form on the ground, and icy winds whipped through the arena, biting into Wuji's exposed skin like sharp blades. His teeth chattered uncontrollably, and he hugged himself tightly, trying to preserve what little warmth he had left. The cold gnawed at his bones, a numbing sensation creeping through his body as if he were slowly being frozen from the inside out.

This was no ordinary cold—it was a cold that sapped away strength, that dulled the senses and made even the act of breathing painful. Wuji forced himself to take shallow breaths, each exhale releasing a thin puff of fog into the air. 'This… this is worse than the heat.'

He glanced around, seeing some candidates shivering violently, their bodies trembling from the extreme cold. The cultivators among them fared better, their Qi flowing through them in protective waves, but even they could not entirely block out the effects of the formation. The test was designed to push everyone to the edge of their endurance, cultivator or not.

Wuji's mind fought to stay alert, but the cold was relentless. His muscles ached, and he could feel the energy draining from his body with each passing second. But then, a thought sparked in his mind—his experience as a scientist. He remembered reading about how the body reacted to extreme temperatures, and how the mind could control the body's response in dire situations. He had no Qi to protect himself, but he had knowledge.

'Stay active. Keep your body moving. Don't let the cold freeze you in place.' Wuji forced his legs to move, however small the steps. He stomped his feet on the ground, flexed his hands, rolled his shoulders—anything to keep the blood flowing. He grunted with the effort, but slowly, the movement warmed him just enough to keep him conscious.

Minutes passed, and just as the cold became unbearable, the temperature shifted again. The arena cycled back to blistering heat, this time even more intense than before. Wuji's muscles, which had stiffened from the cold, now screamed in protest as they were forced to endure the scorching air. The arena had become a furnace, and yet, the cycle continued—heat, then cold, over and over again.

By now, many candidates had collapsed, their bodies unable to withstand the constant shifts in temperature. Some had passed out entirely, carried off by attendants, while others clung to consciousness, their faces contorted in pain and exhaustion. Wuji's clothes were soaked through with sweat and frozen stiff in alternating cycles, his body pushed to the brink.

But through it all, Wuji endured. His body ached, and his mind was foggy from exhaustion, but he refused to give up. Each wave of heat and cold that struck him felt like it might be the last, but he forced himself to push through. The heat was suffocating, the cold numbing, but with each shift, Wuji grew more determined. He wasn't the strongest, he wasn't the fastest, but he was determined to prove that his willpower was just as strong as anyone else's.

As the evening deepened, the final shift in temperature hit. This time, it was cold—bitter, sharp, and unforgiving. Wuji's limbs trembled, his breath shallow. He could feel himself on the verge of collapsing, but in the distance, he saw the elder raise his hand.

With one final burst of light, the formation deactivated, and the bone-chilling cold began to recede. A collective sigh of relief spread through the participants as they realized the trial was over.

Wuji, gasping for breath, collapsed to his knees. His body was exhausted, but his heart swelled with pride. He had endured. He had survived. Though the ranking was still unknown, he had proven to himself that his willpower was unbreakable.

As the attendants began tending to the fallen candidates, Wuji looked up at the darkening sky, his breath forming clouds in the chilly evening air. 'This is only the beginning,' he thought, a small smile creeping onto his face. 'I will rise from here.'