The academy buzzed with anticipation as an announcement spread through the halls. A rare event was set to take place—the Trial of Truth, a challenge that tested a climber's strength, resourcefulness, and secrets.
"Perfect timing," Zhu Yan muttered as they gathered in the training hall. "We've barely had time to recover from the forest, and now we're supposed to show off in some grand trial?"
Xu Mei frowned. "This isn't just a test. The Trial of Truth is meant to weed out the weak and reward the strong. Failing it could mean expulsion—or worse."
Lin Yue shivered at the thought, clutching her hands nervously. "But… why now? Isn't the Trial usually reserved for higher-tier climbers?"
Li Feng remained silent, his mind focused on the whispers from his Abyssal System.
[Trial Detected: The Abyss Watches. Participation Mandatory.]
The phrasing unsettled him, but he didn't let it show. Instead, he straightened and addressed the group. "Whatever this is, we'll face it together. Stick to what we've trained for, and we'll be fine."
Xu Mei arched a brow. "Optimistic, aren't you?"
"hmm.... practical ," Li Feng countered as he also had something in his mind.
The Trial was held in the Academy's Coliseum, a massive arena designed to replicate the dangers of the Celestial Tower. Rows of spectators filled the stands—students, instructors, and even a few powerful climbers who served as judges.
The group stood on the arena floor, surrounded by other challengers. The air was thick with tension, the weight of unspoken competition pressing down on them.
An instructor stepped forward, his voice amplified by his Celestial Screen. "Welcome to the Trial of Truth. Today, you will face challenges that test not only your combat skills but your ability to adapt, strategize, and survive."
His eyes scanned the crowd, lingering briefly on Li Feng. "Some of you will rise. Others… will fall. Let the Trial begin."
The first challenge was deceptively simple: a combat round against summoned beasts.
Li Feng and his group were pitted against a group of Tier-1 beasts. While the challenge seemed straightforward, the beasts were fast, coordinated, and relentless.
"Stay close!" Li Feng ordered, his Piercing Sight activating. He spotted weak points on the creatures—a thinner scale here, a softer hide there—and directed his teammates accordingly.
Xu Mei's Mirage Blade flickered like liquid light, striking with precision. Zhu Yan unleashed waves of flame, forcing the beasts into defensive positions. Lin Yue, despite her nervousness, created barriers that protected them from counterattacks.
Within minutes, the beasts lay defeated.
"First round complete," the instructor announced. "Proceed to the next stage."
The second challenge was a puzzle—a labyrinth filled with traps and illusions.
"This is more my speed," Zhu Yan said, grinning. "I'll burn our way through."
"No," Li Feng said sharply. "We don't know what triggers the traps. We need to think this through."
Using his Piercing Sight, Li Feng identified hidden mechanisms and energy flows that revealed safe paths. Lin Yue, growing more confident, used her barriers to disarm traps. Xu Mei's Mirage Blade disrupted the illusions, keeping the group grounded in reality.
They reached the exit just as another group set off a trap, triggering a cascade of fire and rubble.
"Nice work, Feng," Zhu Yan said, clapping him on the back.
Li Feng only nodded, his mind preoccupied. His Abyssal Nexus had remained eerily quiet throughout the Trial, a fact that unnerved him.
The final stage was where the Trial earned its name.
The group was led into a chamber lit by an unnatural, pulsating light. At its center stood a pedestal with an obsidian orb hovering above it.
"The Trial of Truth," the instructor explained, "reveals the secrets you hide and the fears you suppress. To complete it, each of you must touch the orb and face what lies within."
The crowd fell silent as the first climber approached the orb.
He hesitated, then touched it. The orb glowed brighter, and an image appeared above it—his deepest failure, laid bare for all to see.
Some gasped. Others jeered.
The climber, pale and trembling, stepped back. "I… I can't…"
"Failure," the instructor declared, motioning for the next participant.
Li Feng watched as one by one, climbers approached the orb, their secrets exposed. Some passed, their resolve unwavering. Others faltered, unable to face the weight of their truths.
Finally, it was his turn.
The group exchanged glances, but no one spoke. Li Feng stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
As his hand touched the orb, a chill ran through him. The light intensified, and an image formed above it—a shadowy figure standing amidst a sea of Nexus Points, their energy pulsing like stars.
The figure turned, revealing a face obscured by darkness. Its voice echoed through the chamber, chilling and familiar.
"Li Feng, the Abyss knows you. Will you accept its truth—or deny your fate?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"What… what is that?" someone whispered.
"A guardian of the Nexus Points?" another speculated.
Li Feng clenched his fists, his mind racing. The orb was revealing not his past, but his connection to the Abyss—a truth he hadn't fully understood himself.
"I don't fear the Abyss," he said, his voice steady. "I'll uncover its secrets and use them to climb the tower."
The shadowy figure seemed to nod before dissolving into mist.
The orb dimmed, and the instructor's voice rang out. "Li Feng passes."
Back in the dormitory, the group sat in tense silence.
"What was that?" Xu Mei demanded. "The Abyss, the Nexus Points… you're hiding something big, Feng."
He met her gaze, his expression serious. "I don't have all the answers. But whatever this is, it's tied to the tower—and to me. If we want to survive, we need to keep moving forward."
Zhu Yan sighed. "Well, at least we passed. That's something."
Lin Yue nodded hesitantly. "But what happens if the Abyss comes for us again?"
Li Feng didn't answer. Instead, he turned to the window, staring at the distant tower.
The Abyss watches all, he thought. But I'll be ready.