The morning sun filtered through a dense canopy of ancient pines, painting the forest floor with speckled light. Lin Xuan moved with quiet determination, his footsteps soft against the mossy ground. He clutched a rolled-up scroll in one hand, its parchment edges worn and frayed, as if it had weathered centuries of use. The scroll—his most treasured discovery—promised answers to questions that had plagued him for years. It spoke of a mythical artifact hidden within the depths of a secret realm, one that could elevate a cultivator beyond mortal limits.
The journey to this point had not been easy. Lin Xuan's modest upbringing in the valley below the Sacred Peaks offered little room for aspirations beyond survival. Yet he had always been different, driven by a relentless curiosity that set him apart from others. When other children played, he poured over ancient texts, training his mind as much as his body. When they rested, he practiced his Qi techniques under the faint glow of the moon. Now, all his efforts had led him here—to the entrance of the Hidden Dimension.
He stopped at the edge of a steep ravine, where an ancient stone bridge arched precariously over a chasm that seemed to stretch infinitely downward. Carved into the bridge's pillars were symbols he did not recognize, glowing faintly with residual energy. The scroll had warned of this place, describing it as the "Threshold of Trials." To cross was to be tested by the realm itself.
Lin Xuan took a deep breath, steadying his resolve. "Fear will not stop me," he murmured, his voice lost to the howling wind that swept through the ravine.
He stepped onto the bridge. Immediately, a wave of energy surged up from the stone, freezing him in place. The air around him shimmered, and the scenery blurred. When his vision cleared, he was no longer standing on the bridge but in a void of endless white.
A voice boomed, echoing from everywhere and nowhere at once. "You who seek the Eternity Core, prove your worth."
Before Lin Xuan could respond, the void shifted, and he found himself standing in a lush forest clearing. A massive beast materialized before him, its form a grotesque amalgamation of scales, fur, and claws. Its eyes glowed a deep crimson, and its roar shook the ground.
Lin Xuan dropped into a low stance, channeling his Qi to steady his trembling limbs. "A trial of combat," he whispered.
The beast lunged, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Lin Xuan sidestepped just in time, feeling the wind of the attack brush past his cheek. He retaliated with a burst of spiritual energy, sending a wave of shimmering force at the creature. It staggered but recovered quickly, its crimson eyes narrowing with anger.
"This is no ordinary guardian," Lin Xuan thought, adjusting his stance. He reached deep within himself, summoning not just his spiritual energy but the raw physical strength he had honed through years of relentless training. His body glowed faintly with Qi, a balance of the spiritual and physical that he alone had mastered among his peers.
The battle raged on, each exchange pushing Lin Xuan closer to his limits. The beast's attacks grew more ferocious, each swipe of its claws and snap of its jaws a reminder of the high stakes. But Lin Xuan's determination burned brighter with each passing moment. With a final, desperate surge of energy, he leapt high into the air, bringing down a concentrated strike that shattered the beast's form into a cascade of light.
As the light faded, the forest clearing dissolved, and Lin Xuan found himself once again on the stone bridge. He gasped for breath, his limbs trembling from the exertion. The voice echoed once more, now softer, almost approving. "You have passed the first trial. Proceed."
The glow of the bridge's symbols dimmed, and Lin Xuan stepped forward. Each step took him closer to the entrance of the Hidden Dimension, a massive stone archway etched with ancient runes. As he crossed the threshold, the air grew thick with an otherworldly energy, and the scenery shifted once more.
He now stood within a cavern of staggering proportions. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like jagged fangs, and a vast pool of liquid silver shimmered at the cavern's heart. Hovering above the pool was a crystalline sphere, glowing faintly with the light of a thousand stars. The Eternity Core. Lin Xuan's breath caught as he took in the sight. Its aura was overwhelming, a mixture of allure and danger that both drew him in and warned him away.
But Lin Xuan was not alone.
From the shadows emerged another figure, cloaked and hooded, their face obscured. The air around them crackled with power, their presence oppressive yet eerily calm.
"You have come far, mortal," the figure said, their voice smooth yet dripping with menace. "But the Eternity Core is not yours to claim."
Lin Xuan's grip tightened on his blade, his eyes narrowing. "I've earned my place here. I won't turn back."
The figure laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "Then prove you are worthy."
The cavern trembled as the figure raised a hand, summoning a torrent of energy that twisted and writhed like a living thing. Lin Xuan braced himself, his heart pounding. The final trial had begun, and the stakes had never been higher.