The morning mist clung to the landscape like a shroud, muffling sound and blurring vision as Jiang Chen began his journey toward the Gate of Origin. His path led him through the Whispering Forest, a place as mysterious as it was dangerous. Tales of spirits, ancient beasts, and lingering curses had made it a place to avoid for all but the most daring travelers.
Jiang Chen, however, felt a sense of calm despite the ominous reputation of the forest. With each step, he felt his Heavenly Serpent's Core responding to the energy in the air, as if attuning itself to something hidden within the woods. The forest's aura was dense, the spiritual energy thick and untamed.
"A place like this can't be mere coincidence," he muttered to himself. His grip tightened on his jade slip, its map now etched into his memory. The Gate of Origin lay far beyond this forest, but his instincts told him that this leg of the journey was crucial.
The First Trial
It wasn't long before the forest's true nature revealed itself. The air grew colder, and the faint whispers of the forest seemed to take on a life of their own. Jiang Chen stopped, his senses sharpening.
A sudden rustle broke the stillness. From the shadows of the towering trees emerged a creature that defied description. It was a beast of dark, shifting energy, its form resembling a massive wolf with glowing crimson eyes and ethereal tendrils swirling around its body. This was no ordinary spirit beast—it was a Shadow Warden, a guardian of forbidden places.
The beast let out a guttural growl, the sound reverberating through the forest. Jiang Chen steadied his breathing and activated his spiritual energy. The Heavenly Serpent's Core surged within him, sending waves of power through his meridians.
"You're in my way," Jiang Chen said, his tone even but resolute.
The Shadow Warden charged, its speed blinding. Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed as he sidestepped, his movements precise and fluid. He retaliated with a strike imbued with the Heavenly Serpent's energy, his palm glowing with a radiant golden hue. The impact sent the beast skidding back, but it quickly recovered, its crimson eyes burning brighter.
"Persistent, aren't you?" Jiang Chen muttered. He realized brute force alone wouldn't be enough. The Shadow Warden wasn't just strong—it was cunning, its movements adapting to his attacks.
Closing his eyes briefly, Jiang Chen focused inward, tapping into the deeper reserves of his core. A technique he had not yet mastered came to mind, one he had glimpsed during his time studying ancient texts in the sect: the Serpent's Binding Mirage.
As the Shadow Warden lunged again, Jiang Chen channeled his energy into the ground. A golden serpent-shaped aura erupted around him, coiling toward the beast. The ethereal serpent constricted the Shadow Warden, its form flickering with Jiang Chen's unstable mastery.
The beast thrashed and howled, its tendrils lashing out, but the serpent held firm. With a final surge of power, Jiang Chen launched himself forward, striking at the beast's core with a concentrated burst of energy. The Shadow Warden let out a final, haunting cry before dissolving into wisps of shadow.
Breathing heavily, Jiang Chen stood amidst the fading remnants of the beast. He felt a surge of energy flow into him, as if the forest itself acknowledged his victory.
The Ancient Altar
Deeper into the forest, Jiang Chen stumbled upon a clearing bathed in an otherworldly glow. At its center stood an ancient altar, its surface etched with intricate runes pulsating faintly with light. The air around it hummed with an eerie resonance.
Approaching cautiously, Jiang Chen felt the Heavenly Serpent's Core reacting more intensely than ever. The altar seemed to resonate with his presence, as if waiting for him.
Placing his hands on the altar, he felt a surge of energy flow through him. The runes lit up, and a voice echoed in his mind, neither male nor female but ancient and commanding.
"Bearer of the Heavenly Serpent's Core, your path is intertwined with the realms beyond. The Gate of Origin awaits, but first, you must prove your worth. Will you accept the trials of ascension?"
Jiang Chen's heart raced. This was no ordinary encounter. The altar was a fragment of something far greater, a test set by forces beyond his comprehension.
"I accept," he said firmly.
The light from the altar intensified, and the world around him shifted. Jiang Chen found himself standing in a vast expanse of white, a void with no discernible boundaries. Before him appeared three figures, each cloaked in shadow and radiating immense power.
"To ascend, you must defeat us. Each of us represents a facet of your journey: Strength, Wisdom, and Resolve. Only by overcoming all can you proceed."
The first figure stepped forward, its form solidifying into a towering warrior clad in obsidian armor. It wielded a massive blade that seemed to hum with destructive energy.
Strength
The warrior wasted no time, swinging its blade with devastating force. Jiang Chen dodged, the ground where he stood moments ago splitting apart. He countered with a strike of his own, but the warrior's armor absorbed the blow effortlessly.
"Raw power alone won't defeat this one," Jiang Chen thought, analyzing the warrior's movements. He noticed a brief delay between its swings, a moment of vulnerability.
Timing his movements carefully, Jiang Chen baited the warrior into overcommitting to an attack. As the massive blade struck the ground, he leapt onto the warrior's arm, channeling his energy into a concentrated point. With a precise strike to the warrior's helmet, he shattered its form.
The figure dissolved, and the second stepped forward.
Wisdom
This figure was not a warrior but a scholar, holding a glowing tome. The void around them transformed into a labyrinth of illusions, each one designed to confound and mislead.
Jiang Chen closed his eyes, focusing on the Heavenly Serpent's Core. The core's energy allowed him to see through the illusions, discerning the true path. The scholar tested him with riddles and puzzles, each more complex than the last, but Jiang Chen's sharp mind and unyielding determination carried him through.
When the final riddle was solved, the scholar nodded and vanished, leaving only the final figure.
Resolve
The last figure was a mirror image of Jiang Chen himself, a manifestation of his doubts and fears. It spoke with his voice, its words cutting deep.
"Do you truly believe you're worthy of ascension? Do you think you can control your fate, or are you merely a pawn in a game beyond your understanding?"
Jiang Chen's hands clenched into fists. "I may not have all the answers, but I will forge my own path. No matter the cost."
The doppelgänger attacked, its moves mirroring Jiang Chen's perfectly. The battle was fierce, but Jiang Chen's unwavering resolve tipped the scales. With a final strike, he dispelled the apparition.
The void shattered, and Jiang Chen found himself back at the altar. The runes glowed brighter than ever, and a new energy filled him. The voice returned.
"You have passed the trials. The Gate of Origin awaits. May your resolve guide you to greatness."
Jiang Chen stepped away from the altar, his mind clear and his spirit stronger than ever. The Whispering Forest was behind him, and the next stage of his journey lay ahead.
The Ascending Realms awaited, and Jiang Chen was ready to face whatever challenges they held.