In the presence of an absolutely breathtaking woman, Sam found himself utterly captivated.
Her image imprinted itself indelibly upon his mind, etching a memory that would never fade. It was as though his will, once a steadfast tower, had suddenly begun to tremble and waver.
His breath grew shallow, and the blood in his veins surged with an intensity that threatened to engulf him. But Sam, despite his extraordinary martial prowess, remained a young and inexperienced soul in matters of the heart.
Hen Portia, her arms encircling Sam, seemed to radiate warmth and elegance like a rare and fragrant jade. Her very presence carried a delicate fragrance that intoxicated his senses and etched its presence deep within Sam's heart.
Yet, at this moment, everything felt like an illusion. Sam knew this was a fabrication, a temptation meant to test the strength of his spirit.
Determinedly, he squeezed his eyes shut, and within the sanctuary of his own heart, he began to recite the 'True Primal Chaos Formula.' It was an ardent effort to anchor himself, to withstand the seductive allure that threatened to unravel his sanity.
"Sam, do you not hold any affection for me?" Her voice, gentle as the spring rain, caressed his ears. It was a voice that could melt even the coldest heart. Sam's eyelids twitched, but his will remained unwavering.
With a soft sigh, Hen Portia released her embrace, her expression tinged with a hint of concealed sorrow.
Slowly, she withdrew, leaving Sam alone with his thoughts. The enchanting scene that had trapped him began to dissipate, and the world returned to a serene stillness.
Sam, having resisted the temptation, drew a deep breath. His heart continued to race, and his palms remained moist with sweat. The third trial had been successfully overcome.
As Sam's inner turmoil settled, elders watched his progress keenly. One remarked,
"This young man has passed the trial, but it was no short endeavour. It took almost half an incense stick's time."
Another elder said, "He's different from Jadely, who breezed through his trial in just a few breaths. This one took half an incense stick's time; perhaps he was entangled in feelings for a beloved. However, he might not surpass Jadely's record at this rate."
A third elder, his expression marked with wisdom, added, "Throughout history, valiant heroes have always been captivated by the beauty of women. It's a perfectly normal inclination. I appreciate this aspect of a young man full of vigor. Watching Jadely made me feel uneasy; it was as if I had been submerged in a chilling atmosphere."
The elders continued to discuss, light-heartedly acknowledging the generational differences in their perspectives.
Meanwhile, Hen Portia sat in quiet contemplation, pondering the identity of the girl who had appeared in Sam's dreams.
The fourth trial plunged Sam into a nightmarish abyss.
Darkness enveloped him, and he was waist-deep in a crimson pool of blood. Ivory skulls piled like mountains rose from the bloody depths, and the discordant wails of ghosts and devils blotted out the sky, hurtling toward Sam.
Undaunted, Sam sneered at the approaching horde of evil spirits.
He activated the 'Infinite Chaos Battle Forms,' causing his body to radiate a shining golden light. This light embodied purity, capable of piercing through all malevolence, dispelling all illusions, and conquering the inner demons lurking within.
The malicious spirits closed in, but Sam remained steadfast, determined to press on. He believed his heart could remain untouched, impervious to the allure of these otherworldly temptations.
Indeed, his luminous golden light reduced the evil spirits to mere ash upon contact, embodying his unyielding spirit.
As the ordeal concluded, Sam wondered aloud, "Is it over?" The dream trials comprised five stages: courage, morale, temptation, inner demons, and willpower.
While the first two trials were relatively straightforward, the latter three proved significantly more challenging.
Jadely, for instance, had struggled immensely with the fourth stage, which tested his ability to confront and conquer his inner demons. It had taken him half an incense stick's time to emerge victorious.
The observers marveled at Sam's seemingly untainted heart. "Does Sam really have no inner demons?" one inquired.
"He possesses a heart and mind of exceptional purity. Such a disposition is indeed rare. When considering the time spent in the previous four trials, only half an incense stick's time has passed. He is undoubtedly a promising talent," another elder noted.
With time, more candidates failed the trials and were promptly transported back to the lakeshore. The first two trials had been relatively manageable, but the numbers dwindled significantly from the third trial onward. The jade platform, which gauged their progress, shimmered with dazzling lights.
Throughout this process, Lily kept a watchful eye on Sam. She sensed his composure and unwavering determination, which set him apart from the other candidates, many of whom displayed fierce determination or sheer terror.
An inexplicable intuition began to form within her. She couldn't quite pinpoint it, but somehow, she knew Sam had succeeded in surmounting the dream trials and was now on the cusp of confronting the final challenge.
Sam remained trapped within a nightmarish hell in the fifth and ultimate dream trial.
He was submerged in a pool of scalding crimson blood, surrounded by towering stacks of ivory skulls.
Suddenly, the temperature of the blood surged, and the entire sea of blood ignited into black flames that shot toward him with unrelenting ferocity.
Sam's response was a resounding cry of unwavering determination. He understood the nature of his martial path—a journey that led him willingly into the heart of adversity.
Even as the flames engulfed him, he embraced the ordeal.
"My martial path is akin to a moth drawn to the flame. Do you believe that I will be reduced to ashes in a sea of ten thousand flames? I couldn't hope for a more fitting fate!"
The flames consumed him with that declaration, and everything dissolved into nothingness.
Sam stood again, back on the jade platform, surrounded by fellow candidates, many of whom expressed agony.
The abruptness of Sam's awakening caught Jonas by surprise. He glanced at the incense burner, realizing that only a fraction of the incense stick remained.
Frosty Jadely's record had been shattered.
Hen Portia, too, was taken aback. Having personally undergone the dream trials, she comprehended their formidable difficulty.
Despite her exceptional sixth-grade talent, she had completed them in less than half an hour. In contrast, Sam had conquered them in less than an incense stick's time—an achievement that bordered on the unbelievable.
"Extraordinary! I have never encountered someone with such unyielding martial determination," one of the elders declared, his voice marked with awe.
As Sam left the stage, Lily regarded him with a mixture of complex emotions.
She had always known of his steadfast will. Still, she hadn't anticipated him passing the dream trials with such speed and determination.
It was becoming increasingly evident that forsaking the martial path was impossible for Sam; his resolve had reached unparalleled heights.
Following this, Sam was led to a resting area where he would prepare for the final trial—the Exquisite Sagol.