Kimarya was among the last people to leave the building. Everyone congregated near an open field. While she looked around, trying to find Dara and Leerum, she suddenly froze in shock. Above everyone on the field floated over a dozen elders in the sky! The one who held a more prominent position was the Elder Shamaner, who was in the center, with most people orbiting around paying attention to him.She suddenly felt her body lean to the side as a surprised Dara's hand narrowly missed Kimarya's shoulder, which she had just now tried to tap playfully to surprise her."Wow, how'd you do that? Are you sure you haven't started cultivating?!"Kimarya smiled at the playful Dara before saying, "Not yet. I'm preparing to start soon!"A gentle but resplendent voice interrupted. Kimarya recognized it as Shamaner's voice."Little ones, you have all survived a significant coming-of-age tradition of our sect.""I would like to once again congratulate all of you! You have maintained the honor of your houses and this sect." He continued, "Many of us elders have candidates in mind whom we are interested in accepting as personal disciples, but the final challenge you must face will help us make our final decision."For some reason, Kimarya felt as if he was directing his words toward her even though he was talking to the crowd here."For the last challenge, I first will have to explain a phenomenon that happens in every era of this world. This has happened once in every era when this world merges with another dimension. We refer to it as "The Fall of the Veil." "The Veil is an adjacent world with its own population of beings. In every era of this world, there comes a moment where both our worlds become one for some time, be it a few days or thousands of years before the Veil comes up, and we are separated once more."Shamaner continued," This phase almost always devolves into a pandemonium, of mass casualties, war, disease, and strife till a balance between all life is eked out."Many people in the small crowd looked astounded and even terrified. A disciple shouted, "Will the sect be safe? What about smaller villages?! "Dara leaned close to Kimarya and whispered, "He used to be a vagabond cultivator who was accepted into our sect. He was a tree demon who gained enlightenment from the Dao and transfigured into human form before being welcomed to our sect."Shamaner patiently responded, "As cultivators, we never shirk and hide from danger. You all know there are treasures and opportunities wherever there is a challenge and difficulty. The falling of the Veil inundates the world with energies extremely beneficial to cultivation. Many unique kinds of momentums, materials, creatures, and phenomena are revealed to the world, making these eras a golden age for cultivation.""Almost all major sects were purposely built near special zones connecting to the Veil, and in these sacred areas grow Veil Crystals."Shamaner explained that these crystals are extraordinary and allow an easier connection to the Veil. These crystals become more powerful the closer you get to the center, so everyone must try to reach their limit before selecting their crystal. These zones release a unique and painful resonance that hampers participants' cultivation levels and strength, so you must depend on your talent and fortitude.When you choose your crystal, there is an opportunity to catch a glimpse of your future! At the center lies the Prime Crystal Embryo, the centermost crystal of this sacred ground."All the candidates should go as far as they can withstand and no further. Please be very aware of your limits, or you may rush to your doom.Now go, little ones, may your path in the Dao be eternal and profound!" After he said this, multiple people rushed out in excitement to try and pick the best crystals or to compete with one another to see who could reach the furthest depths of the field of glowing crystals.Almost immediately, multiple kids dashed forward with glowing auras surrounding them. Some even fully activated their Ancestral spirit Beast skill and turned into a wide array of large, lumbering animals.But shortly, those who transformed immediately reached their limit before reaching one-third of the way to the center.Someone in a bird form who tried to fly to the center dropped like a stone.When their Ancestral beast form dissipated, it was a thin teenage boy with black hair and a long but thin nose writhing in pain as if being electrocuted by some mysterious energy. After he vomited 3 mouthfuls of blood, he moved no more.People finally realized that the Elder Shamaner's warnings weren't meant lightly. Everyone stopped rushing towards the center and began to advance. Some even retreated as they realized their limits in this challenge and selected crystals close to themselves.Kimarya saw Alastair and Zeal walking past the warm corpse of the kid who overestimated themselves. They walked at a measured yet fast pace. They didn't make the mistake of everyone else and never rushed towards the center with their full strength.Alistair had a golden, regal aura wrapping around his body, his hair moving free from the burden of gravity because of his detonating energy. Zeal had a fierce blood-red aura rampaging around him as he only gazed forward, seemingly no one getting into his sights. Alistair maintained his head high, basking in the attention of everyone else till he noticed someone walking behind him and Zeal.Leerum! He walked with powerful and confident steps. Around him was his dark green aura, rippling around him like a thin shell of armor. Bright azure spots were flitting on the surface, and a baleful aura of wildness pulsing from him.Kimarya heard Dara mention her name. "Be careful. You haven't yet cultivated, so don't push yourself too hard. Big sister is going to go ahead, okay?" She smiled, and a bright silver light borne from her spine surrounded her. An aura of oppression and violence sprung out from her. A few of the stragglers immediately noticed her as she broke into a strong jog."It's my turn, I guess." Kimarya stepped forward into the field of crystal outcrops and almost immediately felt pressure weighing down all her limbs as if gravity had increased. She felt an uncomfortable sensation on her skin that seemed to invade deeper and deeper into her flesh. She trudged along, thinking she wouldn't be able to make it any distance with this bizarre sensation. As she continued, she no longer could pay attention to others in her surroundings. All she could focus on was not letting the weight of the sky crush her into the ground.Soon, it felt like she was carrying another person, and she started perspiring. The invasive feeling only grew worse into a dull pain as it pulled at her muscles and nerves and sought to reach her core.She could only shuffle forward, agonizing over every step as if she carried the weight of the entire world. The invasive feeling now felt like electric glass growing into her bones and nerves. She had to pinch her numb arms to make sure her blood wasn't turning into crystals; the pain was almost overwhelming.She heard a voice past her foggy eye as two people walked past her. "Activate your cultivation, or you'll die before you reach any decent crystals!""Idiot, can't you see that the dumbass doesn't even have a cultivation base? It's already amazing enough that she's not dead. Girl, stop and choose an outer crystal before you die. Hmph!"That's right, Kimarya has yet to do any cultivation. Everyone else has been cultivating for several years already! She smirked and asked in her head, "Sunny status update.""Body status is 9% cell damage, Kimarya."She smiled and kept on one step at a time as the pain grew more agonizing. It felt like her skin was on fire, her bones ached. She was almost only 11 meters into the field, and it already felt like she had boiling water in her bones. "Sunny""Body status is 19% cell damage.""What percentage of cell damage is the upper limit where I'd still be able to walk back from?""36% of cell damage is the absolute most you can work with to ensure a safe return from this hazardous zone."Okay, I'll choose a crystal then. I noticed that my steps haven't gotten any heavier, so the weight I'm experiencing isn't physical weight or an increase in gravity; it's something else!"She continued on in her impossible and torturous trek. Suddenly, she saw a flashing light right in front of her. She saw a bloody figure swaying unsteadily on their feet as they held onto a large outcrop of crystal. Green energy poured into his body. It looked like some mystical baptism of radiant green light before dimming.The boy yelled, "Elders, I have finished the trial. Please help me out of this field!" There was no response. "Elders, I can't make it back out of the special zone, please!"As Kimarya slowly walked past, the boy coughed up blood, and his knees hit the floor."Please!" a voice spoke up at this moment. "It is forbidden for us to interfere in this process. Your fate lies within your hands. Please make every effort to return. You have only completed half of your final trial."He puked up blood right when he almost stood up. Kimarya could tell that if he didn't stand up again, he would be unable to make it back alive. It's still a question of him returning, even if he stood up."Please, I already got the stupid crystal; just help me out of here!! PLEASE!"No voices responded to him.Suddenly, he felt an arm grab underneath his shoulder, and he was awkwardly lifted to standing on his feet.It was Kimarya."If I can help you walk and take you a few steps, do you think you can make it back?"The boy wiped off blood from his lips as his eyes spoke of how grateful he was. He caught his breath and let out a weak "Yes.""23% cell damage Kimarya!"She ignored Sunny and helped him for three meters until she felt a noticeable change in the pressure on her."This should be good enough!" gasped out Kimarya as she was drenched in sweat and blood trickled down the side of her mouth."27% cell damage."The boy walked forward, wheezing and spittle colored in blood painted the floor. "Thank… you, senior sister!"