10: Trials of Fate

“Beep—!”

Lin Yuan's fingers moved like lightning as he thrust his student card into the exchange terminal and clicked [Exchange All] without hesitation! The 2000 points on the screen instantly dropped to zero.

“Exchange confirmed: High-Purity Spiritual Power Crystals × 500, cost 2000 points.” As the cold mechanical female voice finished, the storage locker next to him popped open with a “buzz,” instantly filled with a massive amount of crystal-clear energy crystals emitting a dense blue glow! The surging spiritual power aura was almost tangible.

Inside the Time-Space Cultivation Cabin, runes flowed, isolating the interior from the outside. Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, his pores opening across his body like a greedy giant whale sucking in water.

With a wave of his hand, dozens of Spiritual Power Crystals were crushed by an invisible force, turning into a thick, inseparable azure spiritual mist that instantly filled the entire cabin. The concentration was so high that tiny droplets of spiritual liquid even condensed on the cabin walls!

“Begin!” Purple lightning and starlight flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes.

The moment the cabin door closed, a strange sense of sluggishness enveloped his body. Everything around him seemed to have been put in slow motion; the flow of time became viscous and slow.

[Time-Space Cultivation Cabin: Double Time Flow Activated]

[Internal 12 Hours = External 6 Hours]

[Current Spiritual Power Concentration: 100%]

The first day ended! Lin Yuan was already soaked in sweat, and beneath his skin, it felt as if countless small purple-gold dragons were galloping and roaming!

The Primordial Purple Qi acted like the most efficient furnace, frantically refining, purifying, and absorbing the massive influx of Spiritual Power Crystals! The numbers on the data panel were jumping frantically at an unprecedented speed:

[Combat Power +25 → 1625!]

[Mental Energy +6 → 306!]

“Not enough! Far from enough!” Lin Yuan growled low, a near-insane obsession flickering in his eyes.

Double time flow! This was a golden opportunity—ten days outside, twenty days inside! This was his final trump card for charging into the “Nine Heavens Trial”! Without hesitation, he grabbed another large handful of crystals, and an even more violent torrent of energy surged into his body!

Twelfth day of cultivation! When Lin Yuan practiced the “Thunder Punishment” form of the Purple Heaven Startling Thunder Sword to its Peak, with thunder snakes dancing wildly around him and nearly forming a physical thunder domain, the data panel suddenly erupted with a dazzling golden halo!

[evolution points: 1005/1000]

[Upgreadable Cultivation Aptitude: Outstanding Talent → Celestial Genius (Unique Through the Ages)]

[Upgrade now?]

“Upgrade! Immediately!” Lin Yuan roared in his heart!

BOOM—!!!

It was as if a loud bang from the beginning of the Universe exploded deep within his Soul! Invisible shackles shattered inch by inch!

In an instant, the entire world completely changed in his eyes—the trajectory of spiritual power flowing in the air was perfectly visible, like clear threads; every subtle node of the Cultivation Technique's operation and the mysteries of energy conversion were as simple and clear as looking at the lines on his palm; even the ethereal “True Meaning of Thunder” became within reach!

[Talent Upgrade Successful: Celestial Genius]

[Combat Power Growth: 25/day → 100/day]

[Mental Energy Growth: 6/day → 15/day]

[Requirement for Next Level: 10,000 evolution points]

“Is this... the power of a Celestial Genius?!” Lin Yuan was ecstatic, feeling every cell cheering and jumping for joy!

He instantly cast aside distracting thoughts, his Cold Star Sword drawing purple thunder as he boldly swung his sword in the viscous “mire” formed by fifty times gravity!

Wherever the sword light reached, the air was torn into visible black hairline fractures, and tiny spatial ripples undulated like water waves! His cultivation efficiency was far more than doubled!

Internal time, the twentieth day!

The cabin door slowly slid open. A heart-palpitating, majestic aura, like a sleeping Vicious Beast Awakening, surged out from within the cabin with a boom!

Zhou Qingxue, who was waiting at the door, was caught off guard and was pushed back three steps by this aura, her pretty face instantly turning pale!

A figure walked out. His physique didn't seem to have changed much, but standing there, he gave off a contradictory sense of being as heavy as a mountain and as violent as thunder!

His skin was as lustrous as jade, with a faint purple-gold glow flowing through it; as his eyes opened and closed, starlight and Purple Electricity intertwined and rotated, as if they contained two miniature Universes!

Just a casual glance made Zhou Qingxue feel her Soul tremble slightly!

[Base Combat Power: 2700 (Reserve Martial Artist · Overlimit State)]

[Mental Energy: 492 (Fourth Heaven)]

[evolution points: 213]

[Cultivation Techniques: Purple Heaven Startling Thunder Sword: Perfection (10%); Sky Wandering Steps: Major Achievement (95%); Mountain Crushing Fist: Transcendent]

[Equipment: Purple Electricity (Red Grade · Unbound · Conditions Met)]

“You... you...” Zhou Qingxue looked at the youth before her, who seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. Her red lips parted slightly, and her silver eyes were filled with extreme shock. It took a long while before she managed to squeeze out one word: “Monster!”

Lin Yuan smiled slightly without saying a word. With a thought, the “Purple Electricity” longsword, which had been silent for a long time, automatically flew into his hand.

Buzz—!

The sword blade instantly erupted with an unprecedentedly brilliant purple glow. Countless fine thunder patterns seemed to come alive, joyfully roaming and jumping on the sword body, emitting a pleasant clear hum! Man and sword resonated, becoming one!

“Grand-uncle is waiting for you.” Zhou Qingxue took a deep breath, suppressing the stormy waves in her heart. She turned to lead the way, her pace a few points faster than usual.

In Zhou Xingchen's office. The moment Lin Yuan pushed the door and entered, Dean Zhou, who was facing a holographic star map in deep thought, suddenly turned around! Those eyes of his, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, were now filled with an undisguisable astonishment and inquiry!

“2700...” Zhou Xingchen's voice carried a hint of dryness that even he didn't notice. “In just ten days... no, for you, it was twenty days... your combat power has already crushed the ordinary shedding mortality realm and is directly approaching an Awakening Realm Martial Artist!”

Lin Yuan bowed respectfully: “It is all thanks to the Dean's cultivation.”

Zhou Xingchen took a step forward and instantly appeared in front of Lin Yuan. His powerful Divine Thought swept across Lin Yuan's body without reservation, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter: “Your Foundation is as stable as a rock, without any superficiality... your power is harmonious and flawless... how is this possible?!” He looked like he had discovered some peerless treasure, yet also like he was looking at an incomprehensible mystery. “Interesting... very interesting!”

The encrypted communicator on the desk suddenly lit up with a red light, and a voice so old it seemed to have crossed endless ages rang out: “Xingchen, bring him here. The ‘Gate’ has already... opened for this ‘little monster’.”

All emotions on Zhou Xingchen's face instantly vanished, replaced by a cold solemnity. He took out a silver token that was neither metal nor jade, engraved with an ancient pagoda-shaped emblem, and solemnly handed it to Lin Yuan: “Hold it! This is the ‘Pagoda Key,’ and also your trial credential!”

The path leading to the bottom floor of the heaven-reaching pagoda was filled with a suffocatingly heavy pressure. Zhou Qingxue remained silent all the way until they reached that massive bronze gate that seemed to connect to the prehistoric ages. She suddenly stopped, grabbed Lin Yuan's wrist tightly, her icy fingertips trembling slightly, her voice carrying an unprecedented earnestness: “Live! You must come back alive!”

“Rumble—!”

The massive bronze gate slowly opened inward, revealing a staircase inside that spiraled upward and disappeared into endless darkness, as if a giant beast had opened its maw to swallow everything.

Zhou Xingchen stood at the entrance, his figure appearing exceptionally small in the shadow of the giant gate. His voice was low and powerful, like a great bell ringing deep within Lin Yuan's Soul: “The Nine Heavens Trial, danger at every step! Remember, believe in what you believe, choose what you choose!”

Lin Yuan took one last look at the two people outside the gate, his gaze as firm as a rock. He gripped the Purple Electricity sword and the Pagoda Key in his hands and, with one step, entered that dark abyss that swallowed everything!

Behind him, the heavy bronze gate slammed shut, cutting off the last ray of light and all paths of retreat.

The absolute darkness did not last long. In the void, a cold, grand, and emotionless voice descended like a divine oracle:

[Nine Heavens Trial · First Layer · Choosing the Path]

Five Great Trial Rules:

Time Stagnation: The trial space is independent of the external time flow.

Nine Heavenly Paths: Willpower, Fate, Martial Skills, Talent, Bloodline, Skills, Artifact Refining, Alchemy, Formations.

Sole Choice: Choose one to enter; once selected, it cannot be changed.

Judgment of Life and Death: Success grants the ultimate gift; failure results in Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, returning to nothingness.

Subsequent Key: Successors unlock the qualification to challenge the remaining eight paths.

Lin Yuan's gaze was like lightning, instantly sweeping across the nine illusory gates, each emitting a different aura—some heavy, some sharp, some profound, or some mysterious. Finally, his gaze fixed on the most ethereal and unpredictable light gate, which seemed to be woven from countless threads of fate.

“Fate.”

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a decisive determination! The moment his words fell, the entire space shattered and reorganized like a broken mirror!

[Fate Trial · Activated]

[Trial Format: Nine Questions of Destiny]

[Rule Description:]

Nine Questions, Nine Choices: Face nine interrogations of fate and make your choice.

Glimpse of Heavenly Opportunity: Answering all nine choices correctly allows a glimpse into a fragment of the true essence of the long river of fate.

Zero-Sum Obliteration: Three incorrect answers will result in Luck being reset to zero and existence being erased!

A voice that seemed to come from the end of the Universe, containing endless vicissitudes and wisdom, rang out in the distorted and changing space:

“The path of fate begins with a choice.”

“Nine questions and nine answers, interrogating the true heart.”

“Three mistakes, Luck resets to zero! Obliteration!”

First Question: The Cliff of Despair

The scene changed abruptly! Lin Yuan was on a ten-thousand-foot precipice, beneath his feet was the rolling Soul-Devouring Astral Wind! The only withered vine in his hand that he could use for leverage made a “creak” sound as it strained under the weight, cracks spreading!

“The vine breaks, the person dies! Choose:”

Let go and gamble that there is life below the cliff (slim chance)

Climb to survive (one chance in ten)

Call for help to attract beasts (unpredictable fortune or woe)

Lin Yuan's eyes were cold, but a disdainful curve hooked at the corner of his mouth. He didn't even look at those three “dead ends.” The Primordial Purple Qi in his body moved slightly, and the Profound Truth of the Sky Wandering Steps flowed!

With a sudden tap of his toe on the end of the vine that was about to break, his body used the force to soar into the air like a great roc. At the same time, the Purple Electricity sword turned into a bolt of purple lightning that tore through the astral wind, stabbing fiercely into a seemingly smooth protrusion on the cliff wall! “Boom!” Stones flew, revealing a hidden hollow! “I choose—to tread out a path to life!”

Second Question: The Temptation of Power

Two ancient books, one emitting a towering malevolent aura and the other a noble righteous qi, floated before his eyes.

“Blood Fiend Demonic Technique: Can slaughter cities and destroy nations in ten days, requires the sacrifice of a thousand Souls!”

“Azure Origin Righteous Method: Requires a hundred years of bitter cultivation to reach Minor Achievement, balanced and peaceful.”

“Instant success? The Righteous Path? Choose one to Cultivate!”

Lin Yuan didn't even bother to look closely. A strange true fire, a Fusion of starlight and purple lightning, flared up in his palm, instantly incinerating the two ancient books into void-like blue smoke! "A shortcut to the Demonic Path? A century on the Righteous Path? They are all shackles!"

His voice was sonorous, carrying an unquestionable dominance. "My Dao is only to 'strengthen myself'! My techniques are created by me!"

Third Question: Life or Death Choice

The illusion solidified! To the left, Zhou Qingxue was trapped in a sea of molten lava, her silver hair scorched; to the right, Lu Mingchuan was impaled by countless hideous mechanical tentacles, dripping with blood! Despair filled both of their eyes!

"Lacking the strength to save both, you can only save one! Choose:"

Save Zhou Qingxue

Save Lu Mingchuan

Roll the dice and leave it to fate

"Bullshit!" A terrifying purple-gold light erupted from Lin Yuan's eyes! He was not bound by this 'choose one of two' rule at all!

The Purple Lightning Sword in his hand let out a dragon's roar that could pierce gold and crack stone. A terrifying Sword Astral, fusing the Perfection of the Purple Heaven Startling Thunder Sword Intent, the Transcendent Mountain Crushing Fist force, and the source of the Primordial Purple Qi, slashed out fiercely!

Boom! Crack—! The entire illusionary space was shattered like fragile glass by a single sword strike! "My choice? I'll save both! No one can take them away!"

Fourth Question: The Web of Karma

Two diverging paths. On the left, hundreds of emaciated refugees knelt on the ground, wailing; on the right, a white-robed old man with an immortal air stood stroking his beard, pointing toward a fleeing bloody light in the distance.

"Left: Save the people, but let the demonic cultivator bring disaster for a hundred years."

"Right: Slay the demon, but leave the refugees to die."

Old Man: "This is the Karma of the Heavenly Dao; you must choose one."

Lin Yuan's gaze was like a torch, instantly seeing through the imperceptible sly smile in the old man's eyes and the obscure connection between the fleeing bloody light and the old man.

"Karma? Bullshit!" he roared. The Purple Lightning Sword didn't point toward either path. Instead, following the connection sensed by the Primordial Purple Qi, he thrust out a world-shaking sword strike toward a certain spot in the Void Realm at a speed exceeding thought—the location of the demonic cultivator's true body hidden by illusions!

Pfft! The illusion shattered. A charred sword hole appeared on the forehead of the hidden demonic cultivator's true body, his face full of disbelief!

Fifth Question: The Mystery of Divine Artifacts

Nine Divine Artifacts (saber, sword, bell, cauldron, pagoda, mirror, zither, pearl, banner) floated in the air, radiating divine light and world-destroying auras. They vied for attention, each exuding a fatal temptation.

"Choose one to take; the others shall fall into eternal silence!"

Lin Yuan sneered, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to concentrate. The Primordial Purple Qi within him circulated slightly, emitting an aura that transcended the material world.

He was not tempted at all! Time seemed to freeze. Seeing that they couldn't move Lin Yuan, the nine Divine Artifacts suddenly began to attack each other frantically! Divine light exploded, and energy was annihilated!

Finally, all the brilliant light dissipated, leaving only a simple, unadorned wooden small sword with several cracks, quietly floating in front of Lin Yuan.

"The dao observing sword breaks through all false dharmas and glimpses the source of the Great Dao." That ancient voice carried a hint of indescribable complexity.

Sixth Question: Spacetime Paradox

A phantom of the Long River of Time emerged. Upstream, a young Lin Yuan had a dazed look, about to be led astray into the Demonic Path by a dark shadow. Downstream, the future Lin Yuan had a Sword Intent that reached the heavens, yet he carried an indescribable loneliness and hidden danger.

"Awaken one person to change their fate. Choose:"

Awaken the lost youth

Warn the future Supreme

Lin Yuan looked at the two 'selves' with a deep gaze. He slowly drew the Purple Lightning Sword. He didn't slash at the past or the future, but used the sword as a brush, channeling the Primordial Purple Qi to draw a brilliant trajectory through the 'present' in the rushing Long River of Time!

This sword strike contained the absolute will of 'seizing the moment, my fate is mine to command'! "The past is gone, and the future is undecided! I choose—to let the 'present' me cut through all shackles!" In an instant, the 'present' Lin Yuan, who was currently cultivating, gained a clear Dao Heart, and his inner demons vanished!

Seventh Question: The Scales of Good and Evil

A giant golden scale. On the left tray were Lin Yuan's parents, their faces hideous as they frantically slaughtered living beings; on the right tray were over a hundred terrified, crying innocent children.

"Kill one evil to save a hundred good. Choose!"

Lin Yuan looked at the cold markings on the scale symbolizing 'righteousness.' There was no struggle in his eyes, only bone-chilling coldness.

He didn't walk toward the scale at all. Instead, he poured all his strength into a fierce kick against the seemingly indestructible base of the golden scale! Boom! The scale collapsed! "Kill my kin to save others? Hypocrisy!"

His gaze was like lightning, piercing through the void. "I choose—to drag out the filthy hand manipulating this 'game of good and evil' from behind the scenes!" From deep within the illusion came a frustrated grunt and the sound of space shattering.

Eighth Question: Discerning the True Self

Three 'Lin Yuans' appeared simultaneously: one standing with a sword in the trial space (the present), one sitting with eyes closed in a cultivation pod outside (the past), and one fast asleep in a deep illusion (the illusory).

"Three bodies, only one remains. Which is real? Which is fake? Choose the true body!"

Lin Yuan looked at the three identical versions of himself and suddenly laughed out loud! His laughter was filled with absolute confidence and insight into his own heart! "A thousand phantoms are all vanity!"

He pointed at his own brow, his voice shaking the Universe: "The 'me' that is thinking 'who am I,' this will that is 'currently making a choice,' is the only—Truth!" As his voice fell, the entire space shook violently, and the two phantoms burst like bubbles!

Ninth Question: The Ultimate Path

Nine gates engraved with different ancient totems, leading to the unknown, surrounded Lin Yuan. Heart-wrenching cries for help and expectations came from behind the doors:

"Yuan'er! Save me!" (Gate of Parents)

"Lin Yuan, Teacher can't hold on much longer!" (Gate of Teacher)

"Lin Yuan! Don't leave me!" (Gate of Zhou Qingxue)

"Kid, come help!" (Gate of Lu Mingchuan)

..."Enter one gate, and the others will be closed forever. The people behind those doors will fall into the abyss of eternal despair!"

Nine types of heart-wrenching calls were like demonic sounds piercing the ears, impacting the Soul!

Lin Yuan's gaze slowly swept across the nine gates. There were ripples deep in his eyes, but more so an absolute clarity and firmness that transcended family, friendship, and gratitude.

He took a deep breath. At the moment all the cries for help reached their Peak—he suddenly turned around! Toward the area outside the circle of nine gates, toward the seemingly empty 'tenth direction' of endless darkness and void, he took a decisive step forward!

"My path," his voice was resolute, echoing in the dead space, "is beneath my feet! It is carved out by my own hands!"

Rumble—!!!

The entire Destiny Trial space erupted with unprecedentedly brilliant light! Even the cold notification voice carried a hint of unbelievable fluctuation:

[Nine Questions of Destiny · Final Judgment]

[Trial Completion: 500%! (Fate Defier!)]

[Rewards Gained:]

fate dice (Bound): Control the strings of fate, roll for the changes of Karma. Can be rolled once every 7 natural days to trigger an unknown fate event.

dao observing sword (Bound): Breaks through all false dharmas and glimpses the source of the Great Dao. Can cut through the vast majority of Formations, illusions, and disguises in the world.

[Permissions Unlocked: Gained eligibility to challenge the remaining eight 'Nine-Fold Trials'.]

Official Certification: One-Star Probationary Tazi (Probationary Legacy Successor of the heaven-reaching pagoda).

[Mandatory Announcement:]

Insufficient Realm! Trialist Lin Yuan, please return to the heaven-reaching pagoda after advancing to the shedding mortality realm Martial Artist to begin the next level of trials! Immediate teleportation!

Just as Lin Yuan's fingertips touched that 'fate dice,' which was neither metal nor wood and covered in mysterious patterns, a vast torrent of information like a sea of stars forced its way into his mind! Simultaneously, the simple and unadorned 'dao observing sword' automatically flew to his back, appearing exceptionally docile.

Before he could digest this massive amount of information, the entire heaven-reaching pagoda suddenly let out a terrifying roar that seemed to come from the ancient primordial wilderness! The pagoda's body shook violently!

The void surrounding him split open without warning into eight bottomless, giant gaps flowing with thick, dark red blood!

Above each gap, the names and records of trials that could freeze the Soul were engraved in blood-colored characters burning with the flames of unquenchable resentful Souls:

[Remaining Nine-Fold Trials to be Evaluated:]

[Will]: Nine-Fold Soul Interrogation (Annihilate the Soul, reshape the true self) [Star Domain Record: 3 people]

[Martial Skill]: Seven Days to Divinity (Learn the God-grade <<Spirit Shadow Step>>, <<Eight Desolations Manual>>, and <<Heavenly Rainbow Sword Manual>> to Major Achievement) [Star Domain Record: 5 people]

[Talent]: ??? (Requires Awakening talent to view) [???]

[Bloodline]: ??? (Requires Awakening Bloodline to view) [???]

[Skill]: Seven Days of Enlightenment (Master a new 'Rule-level' ability) [Star Domain Record: 1 person]

[Artifact Refining]: Heaven-Opening Workmanship (Create a brand-new weapon-forging method recognized by heaven and earth) [Star Domain Record: 3 successful people]

[Alchemy]: Defying Creation (Create a brand-new Alchemy technique that seizes the creation of heaven and earth) [Star Domain Record: 2 successful people]

[Formation]: Breaking Samsara (Crack the eternal malevolent Formation 'Nine Nether Reincarnation') [Star Domain Record: 894,256,347 people attempted... all... Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering! Eternal damnation!]

Hiss—!

Lin Yuan gasped, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinpricks! Looking at those blood-drenched numbers, especially that final string of rapidly jumping annihilation counts, a bone-chilling coldness originating from biological instinct instantly froze his entire body!

Compared to these eight 'trials' whose names alone radiated death and despair, the Destiny Trial he had just passed was like a gentle introductory game!

"Reward settlement complete."

"One-Star Probationary Tazi Lin Yuan, insufficient Realm."

"Mandatory repatriation!"

The cold voice of the Pagoda Spirit announced without emotion. Before Lin Yuan could react, an overwhelming and irresistible terrifying spatial force instantly enveloped him!

Buzz—!

With a flash of light, Lin Yuan's figure appeared stumbling outside the giant bronze gates at the base of the pagoda. He tightly gripped that strange 'fate dice' in his hand, and the simple 'dao observing sword' hung quietly on his back.

The giant bronze gates slammed shut behind him as if they had never been opened. Only the cold 'Pagoda Key,' the eight blood-colored trials branded in his mind, and his status as a 'One-Star Probationary Tazi' weighed heavily on his heart.

It reminded him that everything he had just experienced was not an illusion, and that path to the heavens had only just begun, and... it was filled with killing intent at every step, a narrow escape from death!