"I see that you are a cripple and cannot cultivate. I will have mercy on you and see how strong your heart is" said the voice
"Thank you, elder!" Shi Feng's conscious exclaimed.
"At least you know your place." the voice faintly smiled
Suddenly, Shin Feng's conscious got transported
"You are at the five steps of hell. Each step will test you. Good luck." the voice faded off into the darkness
Shin Feng looked at the steps warily. He needed to get stronger to protect himself and the people who he loved. Shin Feng went up the first step. He got quickly attacked by negative thoughts
Voices whispered" Go die. You're useless."
Shin Feng already had experience with this since he got bullied in the clan multiple of times. But this way surpassed the level of when he got bullied. Shin Feng tried to stable himself as he got attacked. They kept on the onslaught.
"ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Shin Feng's conscious yelled
The negative thoughts backed off for some time but kept attacking after that stun. Shin Feng's appearance was covered in sweat. Shin Feng finally realized that if you keep struggling that you would get tired then you would die. He would have to merge with those thoughts but keep them under control as he would go deeper into the challenges.
Shin Feng attempted to merge with these thoughts so he let them attack his conscious exposed. He then relaxed his mind but the thoughts kept raging in his mind. He tried to sit down but he could barely move his legs so he kept standing. His conscious battled with the wicked thoughts. After five straight hours, Shin Feng's conscious won against the evil thoughts.
He sat himself down and took a nap. After twelve hours, he woke back up and stepped up to the next step. He felt nothing at first, but then... his body started to convulse
"WHAT IS THIS!!!!!"Shin Feng shouted
He grounded his teeth together as he tried to endure through the pain. It felt like his body was on fire. His body and mind were in turmoil
Meanwhile, the clan leader blew the forest apart to look for his son. But there was no trace of his body. The clan leader bashed his fist into the ground and caused a medium-sized crater.
Bursting in tears, he sank to the ground.
"Be safe my son," whispered the clan leader.
He returned back to the clan and pretended nothing happened. Shin Feng lingered in his mind but he was useless. He clenched his fist in anger. He never let anyone see it though
Shin Feng went crazy. His blood flowed reversely and his heart was beating faster than the speed of light.
"HELPPP!!!!!" shouted Shin Feng
He went limp on the floor. He woke up a minute later but he wasn't at the five steps of hell, he was at the front of the clan. He rushed inside with happiness and suddenly saw his father leading the clan outside to the graveyard. He face contorted with confusion.
"DAD!!" Shin Feng yelled. He extended his hand to grab his father robes but his hand went through it. He tried it over and over again. After giving up, he sank to his knees. He busted into sobs. He saw that that his name was on the stone.
His clan members looked at it in shame but pretended to be in sorrow. Shin Feng knew their true colors. He wished he could do something but he was too weak and foolish.
"I WAS TOO WEAK, TOO PETTY. IT'S ME TO BLAME!" Shin Feng smashed his fist into the ground and kept uncontrollably sobbing.
He ran off into the woods and going to the river of where he jumped into. He looked at himself in the water and ran his fingers through his hair. He kept sobbing but ever now and then. He looked up into the sky and had a deranged look in his eyes. But it only lasted as fast as you can blink
He realized then, it was a test. He calmed his body and soul.He felt that his will felt like iron.
A familiar voice sounded out, "You finally realized"
Shin Feng found himself laying on the floor of the second step. It felt like nothing to him. He felt unstoppable. He smirked to himself and adventured onto the third step. He felt all the symbols of the natural elements engraved into his brain. Suddenly, his fingertips start to disintegrate. It picked up the pace and reached to his wrists. Although all of this happened, his stayed calm.
He knew that he had to keep climbing up to stop the disintegration. He reached the fourth step and entered directly into an illusion. He was getting stabbed with swords and spears. It hurt but he wasn't bleeding but he was getting hurt. He checked his hands but there were none and his ankles were gone. He steeled his will but still couldn't get out. He started to panic but he came up with a plan. He brought forth all of the will to shove off the pain. He relaxed and the swords and spears started to crumble and the barrier started to cracked. He only had his calves and shoulder blades. He climbed up the steps and it turned into a miniature platform.
"All you have to do is reach the end of the platform," an old man smiled as he said.
But he couldn't move since he had nothing except his torso and head. He clenched his teeth. He recalled his father that cared for him. He couldn't let him down.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" shouted Shin Feng as his will crumbled the platform. The old man smiled and dissipated. The platform was within reach of his head. He tipped his head over and touch the end of it. He then regained his limbs and got transported to a white room.
"Congratulations on defeating the five steps of hell." a young man said as he stared into Shin Feng's eyes