Chapter 14: The Trial of Strength
Li Yan stepped through the shimmering portal and found himself in a vast, desolate wasteland. The air was thick with the scent of scorched earth, and the ground beneath his feet was cracked and dry, as though the very soul of the land had been drained. In the distance, jagged mountains loomed, their peaks barely visible against the darkened sky.
A low rumble echoed across the horizon, and Li Yan's eyes narrowed. The ground shook beneath his feet as a monstrous figure appeared from the distance, emerging from a cloud of dust and debris. It was a massive, hulking beast, its body made of living stone and molten lava, its eyes burning with a fiery rage. The ground cracked open with each of its steps, and the heat radiating from its body caused the air to shimmer.
"So, this is the Trial of Strength," Li Yan muttered, grinning. "I was starting to get bored of all those emotional trials."
The creature let out a deafening roar, its voice a mix of earth-shattering rumble and fiery fury. The very sky above seemed to crack as it charged forward, causing the earth to tremble with each step. The creature's molten fists slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves in every direction.
Li Yan smirked. "Is that the best you can do?" He raised his hand, gathering energy into his palm, and with a single motion, hurled a powerful energy blast at the oncoming creature. The explosion sent debris flying, but the beast barely flinched. Instead, it swung its massive fist toward Li Yan, sending a shockwave that split the ground beneath him.
Li Yan's eyes gleamed as he teleported away from the impact zone, reappearing behind the creature. With a swift punch, he aimed for its back, but the creature's body was nearly impervious to damage. The stone-like exterior absorbed his blow, and the creature turned, its molten eyes burning with fury.
"You dare strike me, mortal?" the beast boomed. "You are nothing before me. I am the embodiment of raw strength. You cannot defeat me with mere power."
Li Yan chuckled, his eyes alight with confidence. "You're strong, I'll give you that. But you're about to find out why they call me overpowered."
With a sudden surge of energy, Li Yan powered up, his aura flaring brightly. His body glowed with intense energy, every muscle primed for battle. He then charged toward the beast, moving faster than the eye could follow, and landed a flurry of punches across its stone hide. Each strike created massive cracks in its body, but the creature's molten form continued to regenerate, flowing back together like liquid magma.
The creature roared in pain, its molten body seething as it retaliated with a massive punch, sending a shockwave that shattered the ground. Li Yan barely managed to dodge, his body twisting in mid-air as he teleported out of harm's way. He landed gracefully, his grin never faltering.
"You really think I can't break through that thick skin of yours?" Li Yan said, his voice filled with amusement. "You're looking at someone who's defeated gods and monsters far worse than you."
The beast growled, its molten eyes narrowing. "Foolish mortal. You cannot comprehend the true nature of strength. Strength is not just raw power, but the will to crush everything in your path. You are too weak to defeat me."
Li Yan's grin only widened. "You know, you keep talking about strength, but it's clear you don't understand it yourself. Strength is about more than just being tough or smashing things. It's about knowing when to push and when to hold back. It's about adapting, evolving, and becoming something more."
The beast seemed momentarily confused by Li Yan's words, but that confusion quickly turned to rage. It charged at Li Yan, its fists ablaze with molten fire. Li Yan, however, was ready. With a fluid motion, he summoned the power of the heavens, surrounding himself with a barrier of pure energy that deflected the beast's strikes.
The creature's molten fists collided with the barrier, sending a shockwave through the land, but Li Yan remained unscathed. He lowered his barrier and teleported in an instant to the beast's side. This time, he didn't strike the beast's stone body, but instead focused on its core—the heart of its molten form.
In a flash of light, Li Yan released a concentrated beam of energy directly at the creature's core. The impact was immediate, and the beast screamed in agony as cracks began to spread across its body. The molten substance within it began to boil and bubble, and within moments, the entire creature collapsed, its body breaking apart into shards of stone and lava.
Li Yan landed gracefully on the ground, his breathing steady. "See? That's real strength," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "It's not about brute force or smashing through everything. It's about knowing your opponent and exploiting their weaknesses."
As the remnants of the beast disintegrated into dust, the wasteland around Li Yan began to shift. The cracked earth began to heal, and the sky brightened, the oppressive atmosphere lifting. The sound of the wind became gentle, and the harshness of the land softened.
A voice, deep and resonant, filled the air. "You have passed the Trial of Strength, Li Yan. You have proven that true strength lies not just in power, but in the wisdom to wield it."
Li Yan smiled to himself. "Took you long enough to figure that out."
The voice continued, "You are now one step closer to your goal. But the trials ahead will be even more difficult. Prepare yourself, for the path to ultimate power is never easy."
Li Yan nodded, his eyes glowing with determination. "I've been through tougher trials than this. Bring on whatever you've got next."
With that, the wasteland dissolved, replaced by a bright light that enveloped Li Yan. As the light faded, he found himself standing at the entrance to a new trial, his body filled with both exhaustion and exhilaration. He had faced the Trial of Strength and emerged victorious, but he knew that the real challenges lay ahead.
With a deep breath, Li Yan stepped forward, ready for whatever came next.
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End of Chapter 14