The gates of the Immortal Arena didn't just open— they roared into existence with a cosmic scream that echoed across dimensions. Celestial winds howled as golden pillars rose from the clouds, and the floating marble island shimmered like a dream forged by the gods… or at least someone with a flair for overly dramatic entrances.
Yueli stood at the edge of the arena with a hand on her hip, her robes whipping in the wind. " Subtle," she muttered.
Beside her, Di Yan adjusted his armor,
silver and obsidian with streaks of light.
" It's an ancient battleground, not a garden party."
" Could've fooled me," she said, nodding toward a glowing archway where competitors from all realms were arriving— some on phoenixes, others via glowing lotus petals or literal lightning bolts. One guy rolled in on a boulder like he was late to a rock concert.
Yueli pointed. " I want an entrance like that next time."
" No," Di Yan said flatly.
The baby, secured in a floating orb
beside them and guarded by a very serious spirit wolf, burbled happily. She had a tiny crown made of wildflowers and was aggressively chewing on it.
" Are we… late?" a breathless voice squeaked behind them.
They turned.
It was Su Yanyan, Yueli's half-sister,
dramatically recovered from her earlier defeat and now trailing after them in glittering golden robes and too much perfume.
" You weren't invited," Yueli said.
" I followed your aura," Yanyan replied,
dramatically flipping her sleeves. " And besides, someone has to keep score when you crash and burn."
Yueli raised a brow. " You sure you're not here to apply for background dancer to my greatness?"
Di Yan chuckled under his breath,
pretending to cough.
Before the siblings could escalate into a full- on hair- pulling match, a booming voice echoed through the arena:
" Let the Trials of Eternity begin!"
A heavenly figure descended from above, draped in cosmic silks and adorned with galaxies in her eyes. She looked over the crowd and paused when she saw the baby. Her lips twitched into a barely concealed smirk.
" To the bearers of the Starborn Child— step forward."
Yueli and Di Yan walked to the center,
the floating orb with the baby following
behind like a royal jellybean.
The goddess addressed the crowd.
" This child represents a new celestial era. But power must prove itself. Her guardians will face trials: strength, unity, wisdom… and maybe a little chaos."
Yueli leaned toward Di Yan. " She said ' chaos' like it's not our default."
" Shh," he whispered.
The first trial began.
The ground trembled as two massive stone beasts emerged— lion- serpent hybrids with glowing runes across their scales.
" Trial One: Defend the child. No
weapons. No help. Just heart and
spirit."
Yueli cracked her knuckles. " Heart and spirit? So dramatic."
Then she drop-kicked one of the beasts.
It stumbled back, surprised.
Di Yan followed suit, ducking under the second creature's tail and leaping onto its back with pure speed and force. His silver hair trailed like a comet as he drove a punch laced with spiritual energy into its skull.
Yueli ran up the first beast's leg like a gymnastic banshee, flipping onto its head and yelling, " Try biting me, lizard cat, I dare you!"
The crowd gasped. Even the goddess looked mildly impressed.
With a roar, Yueli and Di Yan combined their spiritual auras, releasing a burst of silver and red light that knocked both beasts down like sacks of enchanted potatoes.
The arena thundered with applause.
" Was that heart enough for you?" Yueli called to the sky.
The goddess raised a brow. " Pass."
Trial Two: Unity.
They were locked in a massive glass maze that changed shape every ten seconds, filled with illusions, traps, and confusingly attractive mirages of each other.
Yueli walked straight past a seductive
version of Di Yan lounging shirtless against a crystal wall.
" Nice try, fake hot Di Yan. The real one looks smug after brushing his hair."
Di Yan also passed a copy of Yueli batting her lashes.
" Tempting," he admitted, " but the real Yueli threatens to stab me at least twice a day."
They met at the center in five minutes
flat- back to back, smirking.
The goddess nodded. " Pass."
Trial Three: Wisdom.
A massive chessboard appeared. Their opponent? A smug immortal in robes,
humming and sipping tea as he summoned puzzle after puzzle that made lesser minds explode into sparkles.
Yueli stared him down. " I play mahjong. I've got this."
Di Yan leaned in. " Are you sure?"
" No. But I'm amazing at bluffing."
Thirty minutes later, the immortal opponent was on the floor weeping while Yueli danced a victory jig on the chessboard.
" Your logic is absurd!" the immortal wailed.
" It's called ' creative reasoning,'" Yueli declared.
The goddess didn't even wait. " Pass."
Later, in their private chamber, Di Yan flopped onto a floating bed. " That was insane."
" I know," Yueli said, pulling the baby
from her orb. The child yawned and immediately summoned a tiny spark of fire that lit Yanyan's extra sleeve on fire in the corner of the room.
Yanyan screamed. " She did it again!
That baby has a grudge!"
" She doesn't like glitter," Yueli replied.
Di Yan leaned back, watching the fire get up out by a sighing spirit wolf. " So, three trials passed."
" Yeah," Yueli said, settling next to him.
" What do you think is next?"
The baby burped— lightning cracked outside.
Di Yan blinked. "… Probably that."