"Welcome to my trial, mortals." A majestic and proud voice rang in the ears of the two as they entered the cave, and before them, a pair of fierce azure eyes were revealed.
"..." Xichen stared into the eyes of the Dragon God's soul shard and felt a familiar sensation, for they seemed to contain an entire universe within them, much like the Phoenix's eyes.
As for Zhuyun, she was staring dazedly into the eyes of the Dragon God's soul shard, feeling as though he could see everything about her. It was a deeply uncomfortable feeling, and on top of that, she felt her soul tremble when her eyes met that fierce pair of azure orbs.
"This is the Dragon God's Trial Ground, and here, you can obtain the Dragon God's blood," the Dragon God's voice announced. "And this is something you should know, Heir of the Phoenix."
"However, unlike the Phoenix, my trial is far more difficult and harsh, for I am not as merciful as they are."
"And knowing this, do you wish to enter my trial and attempt to obtain my bloodline?"
As soon as the Dragon God finished speaking, silence filled the dark cave as the entity concerned awaited their response.
"I will do it," Xichen said after a long silence. "But I do not wish to obtain just a few drops of your blood. I desire to obtain your complete inheritance. Do you agree?"
A thick silence descended upon the cave following Xichen's words, as if the very walls themselves were eagerly awaiting the response.
Then, a deep, terrifying, and majestic laugh boomed, shaking the rocks and causing ancient dust to fall from the cave ceiling, before the Dragon God's voice rang out again, filled with disdain and curiosity:
"You dare... to ask for my complete inheritance?" – His words were like the roar of a dying star – "How long has it been since anyone uttered such words? Perhaps since the Three Realms fell into chaos..."
The fierce azure eyes blazed once more, emitting tremendous spiritual sparks that nearly forced Zhuyun to her knees.
"My complete inheritance... is more than any mortal can bear, even if you are the Phoenix's Heir!" – the Dragon God mused – "Do you even know what you ask? Can you keep your consciousness intact when you see who I was, and what I have become?"
Xichen stepped forward, his face devoid of fear, his eyes gleaming with unwavering determination.
"If my soul is to shatter, then let it shatter... If I cannot withstand your inheritance, then it means I am unworthy of it." – He spoke calmly, as if stating an undeniable truth.
"Hahahaha... Very well, very well!" – The voice boomed, this time not as a threat, but with a grim admiration.
"Your boldness and madness suit me perfectly," the Dragon God's voice was thoroughly amused, as this was the first time he had seen such a bold mortal. "Alright, if you can pass my trial, I will grant you my complete inheritance, not just a few drops of blood."
"That suits me perfectly," Xichen nodded, for he was extremely eager to obtain the Dragon God's Soul and Bone Marrow. With the Soul, he would strengthen his own spirit and gain a terrifying spiritual defense. As for the Bone Marrow, it would make his body so strong that it would become incredibly difficult to even cut a single strand of his hair, and he would gain the True Dragon Body from it.
These were all incredibly powerful cheats that would allow anyone to reach the peak of this world with relative ease.
"Good. Let the first trial begin," the Dragon God's majestic voice resonated as the dark cave around them transformed into a dimly lit hall, and statues of half-dragon, half-human beings began to emerge from the ground. "To complete the first trial, you must defeat waves of the Stone Dragon Generals, who are at the same cultivation level as you."
"As for the woman with you, her power has been suppressed to your level. You must overcome my trials together, but this will increase the difficulty threefold from the original," the Dragon God added as his fierce eyes vanished from before the two.
Soon, ten Stone Dragon Generals materialized before them, each armed with a different type of weapon – swords, spears, axes, chisels... and so on.
Each Stone General possessed a unique aura, bearing an imprint of the dragon's primordial spirit. From the moment they touched the ground, the spiritual pressure roared like a storm, and the very earth beneath their feet began to crack from the sheer spiritual weight emanating from the enemies.
"These aren't just stone puppets..." Zhuyun muttered, stepping back, a cold sweat trickling down her neck. "They possess a partial consciousness... Spirits that were killed and trapped inside the statues."
"Just as I expected from the Dragon God," Xichen said calmly, then drew a random sword from his storage ring and enveloped it in golden Phoenix flames, a grim smile playing on his lips.
"Are you ready?"
"Do we have a choice?" Zhuyun retorted, drawing her short sword as lightning enveloped both her body and the blade, her eyes blazing with determination no less than his.
The Stone Dragon Generals did not wait for them to prepare and charged forward, each brandishing their weapon with the intent to end the lives of Xichen and Zhuyun.
Although Xichen could have used the World Ode of the Phoenix to end the fight in an instant, he did not. He intended to shed his weak mentality and be truly reborn in this trial, as it was the perfect opportunity to strengthen his will and mind.
Even though Xichen had planned to act and kill many people since the beginning of his journey, he had never actually killed anyone before and doubted his ability to do so with his weak mentality. Therefore, he intended to use this trial to sharpen his mind and will, and he did not care how long it would take. As long as he could emerge from there as a person of strong will whom nothing could ever stop, he would not be too late.
...
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