Chapter 10: The Trial of Power
The first Hall stood before Li Yan like a colossal monument to the unknown, its dark, reflective surface shimmering with an energy that seemed to call out to him. He could feel its pull, as though the very Hall was alive, watching him, waiting for him to enter. The eerie glow of its walls stretched far beyond what his eyes could comprehend, hinting at an infinite expanse within.
Li Yan's grin widened, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Time to see what this trial is all about."
As he stepped forward, the air around him shifted, the very atmosphere crackling with an unseen force. The moment his foot crossed the threshold of the Hall, a deep voice echoed through the vast chamber, reverberating through his very bones.
"Welcome, Li Yan, to the Trial of Power."
Li Yan raised an eyebrow, sensing the weight of the words. It was a trial, but what kind of trial was it? A test of physical strength? A test of willpower? He wasn't sure, but one thing was certain—he didn't plan to back down.
The voice continued, its tone commanding and filled with authority. "Only those who possess true strength may pass this trial. But beware—power is not always what it seems. You must show your strength in all its forms, not just in raw might."
The Hall's interior shifted with a deafening sound, and suddenly, the vast space was filled with the silhouettes of countless opponents. They were humanoid, but their features were distorted, as if they were projections of pure energy—beings born of raw power, each one emanating an aura that made the air thick with pressure.
Li Yan's grin didn't fade. "So, you want me to fight, huh? Well, I'm always up for a good brawl."
Before he could take another step, the first opponent lunged toward him. It was a massive figure, its body made of crackling lightning and raw elemental energy. The being's fist swung with the speed of a thunderstorm, aiming directly for Li Yan's chest.
Without a hint of hesitation, Li Yan raised his hand. The lightning was absorbed by an invisible barrier of energy around him. He had faced elemental attacks before, and this one was no different. With a flick of his wrist, the electricity was redirected, sending a surge of power back toward the attacker.
The creature was sent flying backward, crashing into the distant walls of the Hall with a thunderous boom.
"Is that all you've got?" Li Yan taunted, watching as the creature slowly rose, its form crackling with renewed energy.
But the creature didn't retreat. Instead, it merged with several others, combining into a massive storm of elemental fury. Now, the creatures surrounded him, their auras blending into a swirling vortex of power.
Li Yan's expression remained unchanged. "Okay, now we're getting somewhere."
Without warning, the creatures launched themselves at him in perfect unison. They were fast—too fast for ordinary cultivators. But Li Yan was far from ordinary. He moved with the ease of someone who had seen a thousand battles, his body flickering in and out of existence as he dodged and countered each attack with fluid precision.
Each strike from the creatures was met with a counterattack from Li Yan—each of their punches and energy blasts absorbed, deflected, or sent spiraling back at them. The Hall seemed to bend under the sheer force of their clash, as lightning, wind, and fire collided with each other in violent bursts of raw energy.
As the creatures grew increasingly frustrated, they fused into a singular entity—a gargantuan being of pure, unrelenting energy. Its body was an amalgamation of all the elements, and its power radiated outward in waves of destruction.
Li Yan raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Well, this is more like it."
He leaped forward, his body surrounded by a glowing aura of light. With a single punch, he collided with the giant creature's chest, and the ground beneath them shattered like glass, sending shockwaves that reverberated throughout the entire Hall. The creature roared in pain, its massive form beginning to crack and fracture under the force of Li Yan's blow.
Before the creature could retaliate, Li Yan followed up with a series of devastating punches and kicks, each one leaving behind a trail of destruction. The creature's energy began to dissipate, its form disintegrating into nothingness as Li Yan's overwhelming power crushed it from within.
The Hall fell silent for a moment, the echoes of battle lingering in the air. Li Yan stood at the center of the now-destroyed arena, his breathing steady, his expression unchanged.
"Is that it?" he asked aloud, his voice carrying a note of boredom. "I thought this was supposed to be a trial. Come on, give me something worth my time."
The deep voice from earlier returned, this time filled with an eerie calmness. "You have passed the Trial of Power, but the true nature of strength is not just in your ability to destroy. You have shown your physical might, but now, you must face your greatest adversary."
The Hall darkened, and a figure began to materialize before him. It was not another opponent, but an image—an image of himself.
Li Yan's eyes narrowed as he stared at the figure. It was him, but not. The figure before him was a distorted, darker version of himself, one that radiated an aura of cold, unyielding power. This version of Li Yan was devoid of the carefree grin, its eyes filled with an icy determination that seemed to reflect the very void of the Infinite Heavens.
"Face yourself," the voice intoned. "This is your greatest adversary. The strength you must overcome is not the power of others, but the power within yourself."
Li Yan chuckled, his grin returning. "So, you want me to fight my darker side, huh? Alright, I'm game. Let's see what you've got."
The dark version of Li Yan moved with startling speed, its every motion more calculated and precise than any opponent he had faced before. Each strike was a direct challenge to his own abilities, each movement a reflection of his own strength and weaknesses.
Li Yan parried the first few blows with ease, but the longer the battle went on, the more he began to feel the weight of the fight. The dark version of himself seemed to anticipate his every move, countering with a brutal efficiency that left Li Yan on the defensive.
"You are me," the dark version said, its voice cold and detached. "Your greatest enemy is your own limitations. You are too careless, too willing to take risks without considering the consequences."
Li Yan's grin faltered for a brief moment, but it quickly returned. "You're right. I am careless. And I love it. But that's what makes me me. So if you think you can break me with your lectures, then you've got another thing coming."
The dark version of Li Yan struck with even greater force, but Li Yan's body seemed to shift and adapt, his movements becoming more fluid and unpredictable. The fight between them was no longer one of brute strength, but of willpower—Li Yan's carefree nature against the cold, calculated efficiency of his darker self.
With a final, decisive blow, Li Yan's energy flared, overwhelming the dark version of himself and sending it crashing to the ground. The dark figure vanished into nothingness, leaving Li Yan standing alone once more.
"Guess I'm just too good," he said with a wink, as though the battle had been nothing more than a game.
The deep voice spoke once again, this time with a hint of approval. "You have passed the Trial of Power, not by defeating your enemies, but by overcoming the limitations you placed upon yourself."
Li Yan stretched, yawning lazily. "Yeah, yeah. I knew I'd get through it. Now, can we move on to the fun stuff?"
The Hall began to shift once more, its walls rearranging as the next trial prepared itself. But Li Yan was already ready for whatever lay ahead, his mind focused on the road ahead. After all, the Infinite Heavens were full of endless possibilities—and he wasn't about to let a little trial slow him down.
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End of Chapter 10