The sun hung low in the sky, casting long golden streaks over the Heaven Sundering Sect's rugged mountains. The entire sect had gathered at the Skyfall Plateau, a vast, windswept cliffside that served as a departure point for those venturing into the outside world.
Jiang Chen, Bai Muchen, and Xiao Dong stood at the edge, staring into the horizon. The moment they crossed this boundary, they would leave behind the safety of their home and step into one of the most dangerous trials of their lives.
They weren't going to some minor battlefield.
They were heading into the Temple of Heaven and Earth—one of the Three Forbidden Realms of the Azure Sky Province.
A realm where even the strongest warriors of the past had perished.
A place where only madmen would willingly step foot.
Which is why it was perfect.
Behind them, the entire sect stood in formation. Outer Disciples, Inner Disciples, True Disciples, and Elders alike had gathered to witness their departure. Even the First and Second Grand Elders, who rarely made public appearances, were standing beside the Old Man.
Sect Master Wu Tianhai cracked his neck, his sharp eyes glinting with amusement.
"Brats, listen up!" his voice boomed like thunder, silencing the entire sect.
"The three of you have been given an opportunity to walk a path that very few have ever dared to tread. The Temple of Heaven and Earth is no playground. It is not a mere trial to test your mettle. It is a forge."
His grin widened, showing his teeth.
"A forge that will either temper you into an indomitable warrior… or break you into dust."
Xiao Dong grinned. "That just makes it more exciting."
Bai Muchen rolled his shoulders. "Sounds like the perfect training ground."
Jiang Chen remained silent, his golden-amber eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The Old Man continued.
"You've been given seven days to prepare, and now, your journey begins. The three of you will head toward the Rift of Sundering, the entrance to the Temple of Heaven and Earth. From there, you will be on your own."
His expression darkened slightly.
"The temple does not allow outside interference. The moment you step inside, not even we can help you. No reinforcements. No second chances. You live and die by your own strength."
The disciples behind them whispered among themselves.
"Even the Grand Elders can't interfere?"
"Just how dangerous is this place?!"
First Grand Elder Wu Tianhai crossed his arms. "The temple is an ancient land, its laws set in stone. Time flows differently inside. A year may pass for you in there, while only a few months pass for us outside."
Second Grand Elder Xue Fang added, "Your survival is dependent on your instincts. The temple is not a mere dungeon—it is a living entity that shifts and changes. Be prepared for anything."
The Old Man took a step forward, his Nascent Soul-level aura pressing down on them.
"Before you leave, I'll give you three final pieces of advice."
Strength is Not Enough.
The Old Man's grin faded slightly.
"No matter how strong you think you are, there will be things inside that do not care for power alone. The temple does not reward brute force—it rewards survival instincts, adaptability, and ruthlessness."
His gaze lingered on Jiang Chen.
"Your Chaos Qi is a weapon that will set you apart. Use it wisely."
Jiang Chen nodded. "Understood."
Trust is a Luxury.
The Old Man's expression turned sharp.
"You three are brothers in arms, but inside the temple, not everyone will be your ally. There will be others—rogue cultivators, remnants of past sects, lone wanderers seeking their own opportunities."
Bai Muchen smirked. "Let them come."
Xue Fang shook his head. "Don't underestimate them. Some of the strongest cultivators alive today once trained in that temple. Their legacies still remain. If you are not careful, you may find yourself at war with someone whose name is already etched in history."
Xiao Dong cracked his knuckles. "Sounds like a damn good time."
Do Not Challenge the Unknown Carelessly.
The Old Man's grin widened again, but this time, it carried an eerie weight.
"There will be things in that temple you will not understand. You will see things that defy logic. Some trials are meant to be overcome. Others are meant to be avoided."
His gaze darkened.
"If something does not seem natural, walk away."
With those final words, the Old Man raised his hand.
A brilliant golden light surged into the air, forming a massive sect insignia that burned into the sky like a celestial mark.
"Jiang Chen. Bai Muchen. Xiao Dong."
He smirked.
"Go and carve your names into legend."
The entire sect erupted into cheers.
"MAKE THE SECT PROUD!"
"DON'T DIE, YOU CRAZY BASTARDS!"
"BRING BACK SOMETHING WORTHY OF THE HEAVEN SUNDERING NAME!"
Jiang Chen turned toward Bai Muchen and Xiao Dong.
The three of them grinned.
And without another word—
They stepped forward.
Into the unknown.
The Heaven Sundering Sect faded into the distance behind them as Jiang Chen, Bai Muchen, and Xiao Dong soared through the sky, their figures cutting through the clouds like streaking meteors.
For five days, they traveled at top speed, crossing vast mountain ranges, endless plains, and ancient forests. Their journey took them past kingdoms, sects, and hidden lands, each radiating its own unique presence.
Even at their velocity, the Temple of Heaven and Earth was not an easy place to reach.
The temple resided deep within the Skyfissure Ravine, a desolate land of shattered peaks and eternal storms, where ancient energies lingered and reality itself trembled beneath the weight of long-forgotten battles.
The deeper they traveled, the heavier the atmosphere became.
By the third day, the very air crackled with primordial energy.
By the fourth day, they had long since left civilization behind.
By the fifth day, the Temple of Heaven and Earth finally came into view.
They weren't alone.
As Jiang Chen, Bai Muchen, and Xiao Dong descended toward the temple's entrance, dozens of other cultivators already gathered at the outer perimeter turned their heads in shock.
The sheer force of their combined presence made the air tense.
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Who… who the hell are they?"
"Their auras… terrifying! These three are stronger than most of the Core Formation cultivators here!"
"Wait! I recognize them! That's Bai Muchen—the Undefeated Fist Demon! And the one with golden eyes—that's Jiang Chen, the madman who took the Heaven Sundering Sect by storm!"
"And that one… Xiao Dong, the Madstorm Brawler! These three are all monsters!"
A rogue cultivator, clad in ragged but durable robes, narrowed his eyes. "Why are they here?"
The Heaven Sundering Sect was not known for sending their disciples to the Temple of Heaven and Earth. Most assumed their disciples were too battle-crazed to care for systematic trials like this one.
But now…
Now, three of their strongest had arrived.
The crowd shifted uneasily. Some looked on in awe. Others, in fear.
One Foundation Establishment cultivator, dressed in the robes of a lesser sect, sneered. "Hmph. What are those lunatics doing here? Do they really think they can step foot into the temple and walk out alive?"
Before his companion could respond—
BOOM!
A sudden pressure slammed into the air as Bai Muchen cracked his knuckles. His Titanblood Physique exuded an unshakable, crushing presence, the aura of a warlord who had never tasted defeat.
The arrogant cultivator instantly turned pale, sweat rolling down his forehead.
Xiao Dong grinned, rolling his shoulders. "You all look so nervous. Don't tell me you actually believe those little rumors about this place?"
Jiang Chen chuckled, his golden-amber eyes flashing. "Relax. We aren't here for you."
His words were casual, but the sheer confidence in his tone made it clear—
If any of them tried to stop him, they would die.
The crowd stepped back instinctively.
They weren't fools.
These were Heaven Sundering Sect disciples.
And they had come for the temple.
Beyond the gathered cultivators, the Temple of Heaven and Earth loomed.
It was not a normal structure.
It was colossal—a mountain-sized construct of black stone and ancient golden runes, standing as if it had existed before the heavens themselves.
The 100 floors stretched endlessly into the sky, piercing through the clouds, disappearing into the unknown.
At the very front of the temple stood an enormous stone gateway, engraved with thousands of ancient symbols. The aura it exuded was primordial, unfathomable, and absolute.
Jiang Chen, Bai Muchen, and Xiao Dong stopped before the entrance.
The sheer weight of history behind this place was enough to make the air feel heavier.
Xiao Dong whistled. "Well, damn. No wonder they call this place a forbidden realm."
Bai Muchen exhaled, his Titanblood energy stirring. "This temple… it's suppressing my strength."
Jiang Chen remained silent, his Chaos Qi trembling.
Even his Starshadow Body felt the unnatural pull of this place.
Something about this temple was alive.
And it was watching them.
The crowd behind them waited with bated breath.
Would they really step inside?
Would they really challenge the Temple of Heaven and Earth?
Jiang Chen cracked his neck.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
Xiao Dong grinned.
Bai Muchen exhaled sharply.
And then—
Without hesitation—
They stepped forward.