Location: Primordial Nexus
Xiao Chen's heart still raced from the mental trial he had just endured. The weight of the illusions had felt real—far too real. But as the aftermath of the trial began to settle, a strange clarity filled his mind. The doubts that had once clung to him, whispering in the dark corners of his consciousness, had been dispelled. He had faced them head-on and emerged victorious.
For the first time in a long while, he felt truly focused. The path ahead was clear. There was no more room for hesitation. The restoration of the Xiao Clan—his family's legacy—was his to claim.
But before he could fully bask in the quiet victory of his trial, the familiar, comforting voice of the Primordial Life System echoed in his mind once again.
"Xiao Chen," the voice said, its tone deep and resonant, "you have completed the Trial of the Mind. Now, the final trial awaits. This trial will test not just your mental fortitude, but your physical limits. To fully master your cultivation, you must face the Trial of the Body."
Xiao Chen straightened, his breath catching for a moment. The Trial of the Body? He had heard of trials like this—physical tests designed to push cultivators beyond their breaking point, to force them to exceed their limits. This would be the ultimate test of endurance and strength.
"I am ready," he said without hesitation, his voice unwavering, but deep down, his heart thudded in his chest. The fear of failure was a distant but persistent whisper in his mind.
The air around him began to change immediately. The once calm and stable atmosphere of the Nexus began to distort, crackling with energy. A storm seemed to form out of nowhere, swirling dark clouds above him as the ground beneath his feet began to tremble. The very essence of the land seemed to shift, as if in anticipation of what was about to come.
From the shadows of the darkened landscape, a towering figure emerged. It was massive, its form hulking and imposing. The figure stepped forward, shaking the earth beneath it with each heavy stride. Its muscles bulged, its skin a deep shade of crimson, and its eyes glowed with an intense, fiery light. This was the Guardian of the Body—an embodiment of pure physical strength.
"This is the Trial of the Body," the system's voice echoed, its presence now more distant. "You must defeat this guardian in battle. The trial will not be easy. It will test not only your strength but your resilience, your ability to endure. Remember, this guardian is the embodiment of the limits of the human body. You must push beyond your own limits to prevail."
Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed. He could feel the pressure of the guardian's immense presence bearing down on him, a force unlike any he had ever encountered. His qi surged within him, ready for action. The energy in his body crackled with anticipation, but he knew that the true test was not just about how much power he could summon—it was about how far he could push himself, how much he could endure before his body broke.
With a battle cry, the Guardian of the Body lunged forward. Its massive fist came crashing toward Xiao Chen with the force of a falling mountain.
Xiao Chen didn't flinch. Instead, he met the guardian's charge head-on, his body moving with practiced grace as he sidestepped the punch, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow. The force of the punch created a shockwave that sent ripples through the air, the ground cracking beneath his feet.
The air around him buzzed with the intensity of the battle. Xiao Chen's movements were fluid, his body responding to every attack with speed and precision. He had trained his body for years—through rigorous sparring, intense physical conditioning, and cultivation—but now, in the face of the Guardian, every movement felt like a challenge. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he pushed himself harder and harder.
Is this it? a small voice whispered in the back of his mind. Am I really going to break here?
But Xiao Chen silenced the voice with a steely resolve. I will not break. I cannot. Not now.
The Guardian's fists came again, faster, more furious. Xiao Chen leapt backward, feeling the air whip past him as the punch nearly grazed his shoulder. His breath was ragged. He could feel the tension in his muscles, the strain in his every move. Focus, he told himself. I cannot fail.
His qi surged, trying to keep up with the onslaught of the Guardian's relentless strikes. The sweat on his brow stung his eyes as he wiped it away with the back of his hand. The pain was overwhelming—his muscles burned, his body ached, and yet he refused to yield. Every strike he evaded felt like a small victory, but every blow that landed sent a jolt of pain through his core. But he wouldn't stop. He couldn't. Not after everything he had worked for.
The Guardian struck again, its fist crashing into the earth with such force that it split the ground in two. Xiao Chen's feet slid as the shockwave knocked him off balance, but he recovered quickly. His heart pounded in his chest, his entire body trembling from the exertion.
The Guardian's eyes glowed brighter now, its strength seemingly increasing with every passing moment. Xiao Chen's vision blurred from exhaustion, but he pushed forward. No matter how hard it gets, I won't stop. Not until I win.
His body was at its breaking point, every movement heavy and sluggish. His legs wobbled with fatigue, and his arms felt like lead. What if I can't do this? The thought came unbidden, but Xiao Chen cast it away. I will find a way.
And then, in a moment of sheer willpower, something clicked. His qi surged, flooding his body with an intensity he had never felt before. The burning pain in his muscles became a fire that fueled him. His vision cleared, his focus sharp as a razor's edge. He saw the Guardian's next strike coming before it even began, and with a fluid motion, he ducked under its massive arm, using the momentum to twist around and deliver a powerful strike to the Guardian's chest.
The impact was like thunder, and the Guardian staggered back, its body flickering with cracks of energy. Xiao Chen didn't wait. He pressed the attack, using every bit of strength, every ounce of qi, to drive his strikes into the Guardian's body. With each hit, the Guardian's form flickered more, its immense power wavering.
Finally, with one last strike, Xiao Chen delivered a devastating blow that sent the Guardian crashing to the ground, its form dissipating into nothingness.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Xiao Chen stood there, panting heavily, his body on the verge of collapse. He could barely stay upright, but a sense of triumph filled his heart. He had done it. He had surpassed his own limits and defeated the Guardian.
"Congratulations, Xiao Chen," the system's voice resonated, this time with a note of approval. "You have passed the Trial of the Body. You have surpassed your limits and proven your strength. You are now one step closer to restoring the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Chen's vision swam as exhaustion threatened to overtake him, but the words filled him with a warmth he couldn't describe. He had succeeded. The trial was over, but the journey had only just begun.
---
System Notification:
Congratulations, Xiao Chen! You have successfully passed the Trial of the Body.
You have gained the following rewards:
+500 EXP
+100 Qi Condensation (Great Success)
Physical Mastery (Passive Skill): Increases overall physical strength, endurance, and resilience.
Your cultivation has reached the next level!
System Panel:
1. Cultivation
Level: Qi Condensation (Great Success) [500/2000 Exp]
Next Level: Qi Condensation (Perfection)
Speed: +1.5x faster growth
2. Skills
Swordsmanship: Entry (EXP: 45/100)
Alchemy: Entry (EXP: 30/100)
Fist Techniques: Entry (EXP: 25/100)
EXP Gain: +5 per sparring, +10 per potion
3. Professions
Alchemy: Entry (EXP: 60/100)
Forging/Beast Taming/Formations: Unlearned
EXP Gain: +10 per potion, +2 per forging attempt
4. Quests
Main Task: Restore Xiao Clan
Side Tasks:
Explore (+20 EXP)
Train Allies (+15 EXP)
Defeat Rivals (+30 EXP)
Refine Materials (+25 EXP)