The sky above the Valley of Shifting Stones trembled as disciples from the eight renowned sects gathered for the once-a-decade Trial of Ten Thousand Steps a rigorous challenge hosted by the Mountain Sect to test the greatest rising cultivators of the continent.
At the base of the colossal staircase path, Ethan Cross stood calmly, the Dragon Slayer Sword sheathed at his back but resonating with anticipation. Now at Foundation Phase Level Eight, the power surging through his veins felt sharper than ever tempered, honed, and ready.
Beside him stood Elena, her long hair braided tightly, eyes glinting with purpose. She now radiated power at Foundation Phase Level Nine.
Her breakthrough had occurred during their quiet retreat in the Blue Moon Sect's sacred glade, where she discovered an ancient Frozen Moon Lotus blooming beneath a hidden pool. With Ethan's help, she absorbed its frost essence, which resonated perfectly with her thunder-imbued meridians. The intense cold tempered her qi, while the lotus purified her spiritual pathways. In that moment of deep meditation under moonlight, her core advanced her aura now refined, her lightning stronger and colder.
The trial field buzzed with spiritual energy as the participating sects introduced their top talents from some major sects
Kieran Vale From Sword Sect, Transcendence Phase Level 3,
Wielding the Voidpiercer Blade, known to sever even minor spatial techniques.
Daro Flamehart from
Crimson Sun Sect, Transcendence Phase Level 2
His molten qi enveloped him like a furnace; his fists could break through steel.
Lira and Alira from
Blue Moon Sect, Foundation Phase Level 9
Twin sisters trained in graceful yet devastating frost-moon dual sword techniques.
Miral Shan from Jade Sect, Foundation Phase Level 9
Defensive specialist capable of controlling spiritual stones and forming layered jade armor.
Talon Quay from Pathfinder Sect, Foundation Phase Level 8
Adept in stealth and short-range teleportation through shadow arrays.
Nara Xi from Alchemy Sect, Foundation Phase Level 7,
Talisman prodigy, known for her fusion of healing and poisonous script formations.
And with some minor sects disciples
At the summit podium, Elder Boran of the Mountain Sect, a Golden Core Stage cultivator, raised his voice
Let the Trial of Ten Thousand Steps commence! The one who survives spiritual traps, beast attacks, and rival combatants will earn the
"Ancient Earth Flame's Blessing and gain entry to the Hidden Array Pavilion"
A great bell tolled. Energy surged through the stone-lined path as the challenge began.
A great bell tolled. Energy surged through the stone-lined path as the challenge began.
Ethan and Elena sprang forward. Elena's thunder qi erupted, blasting apart arrow glyphs hidden in the moss. Ethan, using precision footwork, sliced through illusion walls and redirected traps into enemies' paths.
On the second level, Kieran Vale descended from above.
Your sword hums with potential, he said flatly.
The duel that followed was fierce his Void piercer carved through defenses, but Ethan's acupuncture-based defense allowed him to slip inside and land a counter, forcing Kieran to retreat with narrowed eyes.
Meanwhile, Elena faced Lira and Alira, their synchronized movements forming crescents of ice and light. Her thunderstorm aura sparked in rhythmic pulses, eventually overwhelming their defense with a burst of polar lightning.
Miral Shan delayed most challengers with a seven-layer jade barrier, but Ethan used silver needles to identify pressure points in her stone defenses and shattered the array.
Talon Quay ambushed with teleportation techniques, but Elena trapped him using a pulse rune mid-shadow step, freezing him in place.
Then the ground shook a Tier-3 Earthen Chimera burst from beneath, roaring with molten breath. It took a temporary alliance of Ethan, Daro, and Elena to bring it down. Daro stunned it with flame punches, Elena bound it with thunder webs, and Ethan pierced its rocky hide with the Dragon Slayer Sword, striking its inner crystal core.
Only six cultivators ascended to the final platform: Ethan, Elena, Kieran, Daro, Miral, lira and alira
Elder Boran nodded solemnly.
You have endured,
Your names shall be etched into the Stone of Honor. You now qualify to enter the ancient vault The Pavilion of Echoing Fates.
As twilight painted the mountains gold, Ethan and Elena stood side by side. Their blades, their bond, and their destinies now interwoven with something ancient and immense awaited the next trial.