Jing Xuan’s Perspective

As Yi Lian stepped through the ethereal gateway, I found my gaze unwavering. The weight of the moment settled within me, heavy as the ancient air that enveloped us. I had watched him for so long, and now, here he was, crossing the threshold of the Trial Grounds. The gateway responded to his presence, hums of ancient energy reverberating through the very fabric of this place. Its once-dormant symbols on the gate glowed brighter, as if acknowledging his arrival. The immense doors began to close, slow and deliberate, sealing the path between the realms.

A gust of energy rippled through the air, and the dust around us swirled as the gate finally sealed itself. In that instant, there was no more trace of the passage, as if it had never existed. The air stilled, and for a brief moment, everything fell into silence.

It was at that moment that Baoyu materialized before me, her golden eyes catching the last remnants of the gate’s fading light. She was calm, collected, as always. But I could feel her presence shift in the air, a subtle change, like a ripple in still water. Without a word, she stood by my side.

Just then, a crack formed in the space around us. The energy, thick and palpable, quivered under the pressure of new arrivals. I had no surprise in me—only a quiet knowing. The Trial Grounds was never a place to be visited lightly.

From the rift emerged three women and four men, each radiating their own formidable aura. I had expected them, and still, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of their collective power.

Lirien and Sylvaine were the first to approach, their faces softening as they met my gaze. There was a warmth in their eyes, an understanding that made me feel at ease despite the presence of so many others. Lirien’s emerald eyes gleamed with a mischievous smile, while Sylvaine’s gaze was steady and knowing. The years we had spent together had cemented our bond, and I found comfort in their silent solidarity.

Naeris, however, was the opposite—distant, impassive. She only nodded in greeting, her eyes sharp and calculating.

The two men that followed, Zephiron and Veyron, exchanged looks, clearly perplexed by the situation. Their expressions were tinged with confusion, and I could see the faint furrow of their brows. Zephiron spoke first, his voice laced with both curiosity and mild reproach.

“Jing Xuan,” he said, his tone a mixture of surprise and concern. “You opened the Trial Grounds... without consulting us?”

His words hung in the air, a challenge and a question all in one.

Lucian, of course, showed no interest in the matter. As always, he wore an air of indifference, already turning away to seek something of more immediate interest to him. His sigh was the kind one gives when they’re burdened by the weight of someone else’s expectations. I knew he would leave the moment his curiosity was satisfied.

Then there was Caelum—as ever, he stood apart from the rest, his violet eyes gleaming with that infuriatingly smug smirk. He carried the air of someone who believed himself to know all the answers. His arrogance was something I could never quite tolerate, yet I had to admit, there was a certain brilliance in the way he saw the world.

The silence stretched on, thick and heavy, as I observed them all. Finally, Baoyu broke it.

"Let’s discuss this elsewhere," she said, her voice smooth as silk. Though she didn’t specify where, we all understood the direction she was taking. I nodded, my own thoughts steady.

Stolen novel; please report.

I turned to my old friends, Lirien and Sylvaine. Their understanding gazes met mine, and without further words, I conjured a portal.

One by one, we stepped through, leaving the Trial Grounds behind. I could feel their eyes on me, a mixture of curiosity, concern, and expectation. The journey ahead would not be easy for any of us, least of all Yi Lian.

Yi Lian’s Perspective

The moment I crossed through the gate, the first thing I noticed was the air. It was thick, damp with a peculiar metallic scent that seemed to hang in the atmosphere. It felt heavy, almost as though the air itself was saturated with unseen power. I swallowed hard, the pressure building within me. The world beyond the gate was unlike anything I had felt before, a strange energy pulsing beneath my skin, both foreign and familiar.

Then I saw it—a blur of motion in the distance.

Before I could react, a creature lunged at me from the shadows. Its sleek, azure fur shimmered in the dim light, and its sharp, gleaming fangs aimed directly at me. Azure Fang Hare, the system identified. A body-strengthening realm beast.

In a split second, my instincts kicked in. My body moved on its own, dodging the beast's powerful strike with a leap to the side. The wind from its leap brushed against me, its claws narrowly missing my skin.

I paused, feeling the surge of energy flowing through me. My mind, clearer now after the deep meditation, felt sharper. The system’s presence in my mind stirred once again. But this time, I was hesitant. I had been avoiding relying on it, unsure of whether I could trust its responses.

"Why didn’t you respond before?" I demanded, my voice sharp, tinged with suspicion.

The system’s reply was as cryptic as ever.

“At my current stage, I was unable to function when you… tore yourself apart. I was only at the first level. My focus was on sealing the damage you caused. It took precedence to prevent further consequences.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. The system wasn’t omnipotent. It had limitations. It followed a set of rules, and at that moment, my actions had put its primary functions to the test. It wasn’t the all-knowing ally I had hoped for. I filed that information away for later—once I accumulated more Creation Points, perhaps I could upgrade it to be more useful.

The hare, undeterred by its failed attack, began to circle back, its eyes burning with a primal hunger.

I was ready.

This time, I was prepared to fight.

With a focused thought, I summoned a long, sturdy staff into my hand. The energy flowed through me, but this time, it wasn’t the strange power of the world—it was something deeper, something that resonated with the core of my being. My staff shimmered in the dim light, its power rooted in my soul, in my very existence.

The Azure Fang Hare lunged once more, but this time, I didn’t dodge. I swung my staff with controlled precision. The beast never had a chance.

It crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

I stood frozen for a moment, the adrenaline still buzzing in my veins. The ease with which I had felled the beast was unsettling. It had been a body-strengthening realm beast, yet I had defeated it without much effort. Was this my true strength? I questioned, but the answer was elusive.

As I pondered this, the sound of rustling leaves broke through my thoughts. My senses heightened, and before I could react, a Shadow Moth descended from the darkness. A creature of stealth, it relied on surprise attacks. It was a peak body-strengthening realm beast, and it was fast—much faster than the hare.

The moth’s wings beat with a faint hum, its shadowy form almost invisible against the backdrop of the night. It moved with a terrifying precision.

I reacted just in time, deflecting its ambush with a quick thrust of my staff. The moth recoiled, its wings fluttering in anger. It wasn’t finished yet.

Through the haze of battle, I realized something important—the creatures in this trial weren’t here just to test my strength. They were here to test my awareness, my patience. They were teaching me that strength alone wouldn’t be enough.

I took a deep breath, centering myself.

In the distance, I could hear the rustling of leaves, the faintest sound of something larger moving through the dense underbrush. It was then that I knew—I couldn’t rely on sheer force alone. This trial would test my mind as much as my body.

I found a large hollow tree, its opening narrow but just wide enough for me to slip inside. I closed my eyes, shutting out the chaos of the world around me. My senses expanded, reaching out.

The silence was deafening.

Then, ever so faintly, I heard it. The movement of unseen creatures. The shifting of leaves. The distant sounds of something much larger prowling deeper in the forest.

A shiver ran down my spine.