The abyss echoed with the roars of the colossal beast, its six monstrous heads emitting a deafening symphony of rage. Its red and black malice aura surged like waves, twisting the air around it as flames ignited along its massive torso. The creature roared, spreading its six heads wide as it unleashed a high-density flame, flooding the battlefield with unbearable heat.
Xuan Li charged forward, gripping the ominous black blade his master had given him. His cosmic energy wrapped around his body in a shimmering starlit aura. As the flames bore down on him, Xuan Li gritted his teeth and reinforced his defenses, enduring the blistering heat. When the inferno finally subsided, Xuan Li dashed toward the creature, cosmic energy surging into the blade. The weapon hummed with power, its black surface glowing faintly with starlight.
Swinging the blade with all his strength, Xuan Li aimed for one of the monster's heads. The blade struck, but the creature's obsidian scales, dripping with malice, repelled the attack with ease. Xuan Li staggered back, overwhelmed by the immense pressure emanating from the beast. Before he could recover, another head lashed out, striking him with brutal force.
The impact sent Xuan Li flying across the battlefield, slamming him into the wall of the block with a sickening thud. He coughed up blood, his ribs burning with pain. "It's a mutant monster," he muttered with a strained voice, his vision blurring. "And it's well above the early stage of Level 2..."
Despite his injuries, Xuan Li smiled faintly, defiance flickering in his eyes. "You seem to enjoy this, don't you?" he taunted, wiping the blood from his mouth.
The beast roared in response, its malice suffusing the air. Xuan Li struggled to his feet, gripping his sword tighter. He channeled cosmic energy into the blade once more, preparing to strike. But as he rushed forward, a sudden numbness spread through his right arm. His grip faltered, and the sword nearly slipped from his grasp.
"What... what's happening to my hand?" Xuan Li thought, panic creeping into his mind. "I didn't see that monster do anything... What's going on?"
His thoughts were interrupted as the monster's massive tail swung toward him with incredible force. The blow landed with a thunderous crack, hurling Xuan Li across the battlefield again. He collided with the wall, his body bloodied and broken. Pain wracked his form as he lay slumped against the stone, his breath ragged.
"I feel like my body's been tossed around like a ragdoll," Xuan Li thought bitterly. "Master's suppression on my foundation is pushing me to my limits. My cosmic energy is nearly depleted, and this sword... It's too heavy to wield effectively."
The monster roared again, flames gathering around its heads. Xuan Li knew he couldn't take another hit. Channeling the last remnants of his cosmic energy, he forced himself to stand. "My body's a mess, but if I can't reach my block, I'm finished," he thought, his mind racing.
Closing his eyes, Xuan Li tried to focus. He imagined a calm sea, its surface rippling as a single droplet fell. When the droplet touched the water, Xuan Li's eyes snapped open. With a burst of determination, he dashed toward his block, the monster's flames chasing after him.
The intense heat seared his body, but Xuan Li clenched his fists, refusing to falter. "You'd better pray I don't survive this," he thought as the flames engulfed him. "Because if I do, I'll make you regret it!"
Just as his strength was about to give out, a faint power within him stirred. A glowing flower-shaped mark appeared on Xuan Li's forehead—the dormant power of the Ethereal Starvine plant he had refined. A surge of energy coursed through his veins, giving him the strength to make one final leap.
With a desperate scream, Xuan Li propelled himself into the safety of his block. The monster's heads collided with the wall, unable to penetrate the barrier. It roared in frustration, its malice shaking the ground.
Inside the block, Xuan Li collapsed, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. The flower mark faded from his forehead, but its effects lingered. A surge of restorative energy enveloped his body, healing his wounds slowly but painfully. Xuan Li winced, forcing himself to sit cross-legged as the process continued.
Staring at the monster outside, Xuan Li's mind raced. "What caused my right arm to go numb earlier?" he wondered. Focusing his gaze, he noticed three tendrils on the creature's body, dripping with a poisonous black liquid and radiating malice.
"So, that's your trick," Xuan Li muttered, a grim smile tugging at his lips. "You've got some cards up your sleeve, but now I know one of them."
His thoughts turned inward, analyzing the challenges before him. "That poison is deadly, and those tendrils are fast—too fast for me to track right now. Not to mention the scales that repel my attacks, the long-range flames, and those six heads. My cosmic energy is limited, and the suppression on my foundation means I can't afford to waste any of it."
Gripping the hilt of his sword, Xuan Li thought of his master's words: "It does not matter how much energy someone has. What matters is how they use it."
"Master's advice..." Xuan Li muttered. "What exactly is he trying to teach me?"
In the locket, Veldris watched silently, his cosmic aura faintly glowing. "Disciple," he murmured, "cosmic cultivation is not just about ascending levels. It's about control, comprehension, and creativity. Learn this lesson well. It's the only way forward."
Outside the block, the monster prowled, its six heads snarling as it prepared for its next assault. Inside, Xuan Li sat in deep thought, his resolve hardening. "I can't defeat this monster with brute force or raw energy," he realized. "I have to create something new—an ultimate technique. Something that makes every ounce of energy count."
With a determined glint in his eyes, Xuan Li began to formulate a plan, his mind racing against time. The trial was far from over, but Xuan Li was ready to rise to the challenge.