The shimmering field of lotus flowers seemed calm, serene.
Qin Chen knew better.
He stood at the edge of the clearing, sword still in hand, while the breeze whispered through the multicolored petals. Each flower gave off a gentle pulse of light—some violet, others white, blue, red. From afar, it looked like a celestial celebration.
From up close… It felt like the border between sanity and madness.
Ding!
[Trial Site 1: Path of Thousand Bloom Illusions]
[Warning: This trial targets your mind, soul, and emotional foundation. Physical attacks are ineffective.]
[To proceed, walk into the field.]
Qin Chen took a breath.
A trial of illusions? Good. At least nothing was trying to bite his head off this time.
He stepped in.
The moment his foot touched the first glowing flower—
The world broke.
BOOOOOOOOM!
Qin Chen's surroundings shattered like glass. The garden, the field, the air—gone.
In its place?
Darkness.
No, not darkness—emptiness.
A pitch-black void with no floor, no ceiling, no direction. He floated… or fell… or stood—it was impossible to tell.
Then—
Whispers.
At first, faint. Then louder.
"You'll never surpass the monsters of the Grade 1 sects."
"You were just lucky, Qin Chen. A worm with a system."
"You left your parents behind. Forgot your clan."
"You think you're strong? You haven't seen real power yet."
The voices clawed at him.
Each one layered with truth, or some twisted version of it.
And then—
A figure emerged from the shadows.
It was… him.
Qin Chen stared at the version of himself walking toward him—cloaked in darker colors, eyes glowing with indifference, and carrying the same sword he did.
"You climbed too fast," the dark version said. "You didn't build a foundation. You stole power. You don't deserve it."
Qin Chen narrowed his eyes. "Is that so?"
The dark version raised the sword. "Let's see if your soul is truly worthy."
Without another word, it lunged.
SHIIIIING!
Swords clashed in the void.
It wasn't just a physical battle—it was soul against soul. Every swing of the blade was laced with doubt, fear, regret.
Memories surged to the surface.
—His mother's worried smile when he left the Qin Clan.
—The feeling of standing alone in the outer sect.
—The helplessness of being weak in a world ruled by strength.
The illusions tried to twist those memories into chains.
But—
Qin Chen's golden-purple eyes burned brighter.
"Enough."
He raised his sword.
A pulse of soul force surged from his body—golden and pure. His Zenith Sword Soul gleamed behind him like a second sun. His Fire Sovereign Dao Body roared in tandem.
"I climbed because I had to."
He stepped forward.
"I stole nothing."
He slashed.
"I earned this."
BOOOOOOOM!!!
His sword bisected the illusion—cleaving not just the dark version of himself, but the chains of doubt holding him back.
The void cracked.
And shattered.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the center of the field. The lotuses no longer shimmered—they bowed.
Ding!
[Trial Completed.]
[You have resisted the Blooming Illusions.]
[+5000 SP. +1 Soul-Forging Bloom. +1 Immortal Garden Favor.]
A glowing lotus petal floated into his palm—shimmering with rainbow colors, pulsing with faint soul energy.
Qin Chen crushed it, letting it absorb into his chest.
His soul foundation grew stronger. His connection to the garden… deepened.
But he didn't smile.
His gaze turned ahead—deeper into the garden.
If this was the first trial…
What came next would be worse.
He turned away from the clearing, sword still humming faintly.
"I'll take whatever this place throws at me."
And he walked forward.
Toward the next trial.
Toward greater strength.
And toward the truth of the Immortal Garden.