The Trial of Gluttony

In a world far away from the grandeur of the pagoda, Tiān Shén found himself standing at the gates of a vast and majestic kingdom. The skies above shimmered with divine light, and the palace walls glistened with the wealth and power of generations. His mind adjusted to this new illusion, where he was born into a royal family—riches, wealth, and status his by birthright.

He was the son of the second concubine, a boy of supreme talent and promise. As he grew, whispers filled the kingdom about his destiny, the one who would one day elevate their dynasty to unparalleled heights. But all of this was about to change on his fourteenth birthday.

"Tiān'er, today is a momentous day," his mother, the second concubine, spoke with warmth, her gentle hand resting on his shoulder. "You are about to awaken your power. Steady your mind and body."

"Yes, mother," Tiān Shén replied confidently, his eyes filled with determination. "I will awaken my power and start cultivating to make you proud. I will be the greatest this kingdom has ever seen."

His mother chuckled softly. "Hehehe, you make me laugh. It's good to have ambition, but remember, don't let anxiety or sadness overwhelm you, no matter what happens in the awakening hall."

With those words, she led him to the grand hall where the kingdom's elders awaited. In the center stood a black orb, ancient and mystical, designed to measure a person's cultivation talent and elemental affinity.

The room held its breath as Tiān Shén placed his hand upon the orb. Moments later, it flared with a dazzling spiral of colors—red, gold, blue, and green—all swirling together in a cosmic dance. Gasps filled the hall.

"Praise the heavens! Our dynasty has finally awakened a great talent!" one elder exclaimed. "Quickly, inform His Majesty!"

Before Tiān Shén could process the spectacle, he was instructed to return to his courtyard, awaiting the king's summons. Hours later, the king, his father, sent for him, a smile of pride on his face.

"My son," the king said, standing tall in his royal robes, "you are destined for greatness. You will lead this empire to even greater heights. I have ordered the elders to bestow upon you treasures, elixirs, and the finest alchemical pills, so your foundation will be supreme."

The treasures were delivered without delay, and Tiān Shén began cultivating immediately. He was showered with divine pills—each one a marvel of alchemical craftsmanship, created to build a supreme foundation for cultivation. His strength grew rapidly, and his fame spread even faster.

However, there was one pill that stood above the rest: the **Cloud Nirvana Core Formation Pill**. The rarest and most powerful of them all. It was said that a single pill could bring one to the brink of enlightenment, allowing them to merge with the heavens.

When Tiān Shén consumed the pill, he felt as though he was floating among the stars. Power surged through him, filling every pore of his being. The taste of the pill was intoxicating—blissful, heavenly, and overwhelming. For a fleeting moment, he felt as if he could control the very laws of existence.

He became addicted to the sensation.

"Father, I need more of the Cloud Nirvana Core Formation Pill," he requested eagerly.

His father, believing it was to help his cultivation, provided him with more. Tiān Shén consumed them, one after another, reveling in the power they granted. However, unknown to him, the pill had a dangerous side effect. The vast energy it provided was not refined, and while Tiān Shén's cultivation advanced quickly, hidden injuries formed within him—his meridians straining to contain the unrefined power.

Still, he craved more. The allure of quick power clouded his judgment. Why should he spend years cultivating when the pill could provide him the strength he desired in mere days?

But fate has a way of humbling those who seek shortcuts.

One day, as Tiān Shén sat in meditation, attempting to cultivate the excess energy from the pills, his body reached its limit. The hidden injuries he had ignored suddenly erupted. His meridians ruptured, his dantian cracked, and his once-perfect cultivation base crumbled. Unable to withstand the overload of energy, his body shook violently. He felt his core on the verge of exploding.

In a sudden and horrifying moment, Tiān Shén's body collapsed in on itself, the excess energy ripping through him like a raging storm. Darkness engulfed his vision, and all went silent.

When he awoke, he found himself back in the pagoda, standing before the looming structure, his mind cleared from the illusion.

The lesson became clear.

Greed and gluttony, even for power, can lead to one's downfall. There are no shortcuts in cultivation. It was not the pill that had caused his downfall, but his own impatience and lack of control. In his hunger for more, he had forsaken the path of balance.

Standing in the pagoda's sacred halls, Tiān Shén reflected on his mistakes. Cultivation was not just about gaining power quickly; it was about understanding and refining that power, guiding it with wisdom and discipline. Only then could one truly ascend to the highest heights.