Chapter 11: The Path to Divinity

Lin Mu stood in the aftermath of the battle, his breath still heavy, though his heart had begun to slow. The battlefield where the guardians of the Trial of the Gods had fallen lay in ruins around him, but the air was now clear. No more oppressive divine power, no more crushing weight of judgment. Instead, a strange sense of peace washed over the golden plains of Elysium.

He looked down at his hands, still shaking slightly from the adrenaline. His body ached from the toll of the battle, but the system's notifications echoed in his mind—Blessing of Immortality Unlocked. It was hard to believe. Had he truly taken another step toward godhood? The Blessing of Immortality felt like an abstract concept, but as he stood there, his body still healing rapidly thanks to Abyssal Healing, he knew something within him had changed.

System Notification:

New Mission: Ascend to the Divine Realm.

Objective: Unlock the Divine Gate and ascend to the realm of the gods.

The Divine Realm. Even in a world as fantastical as Elysium, the mere thought of stepping into a realm where gods resided made Lin Mu pause. What awaited him beyond the mortal realms? If the trials in Elysium had pushed him to his limits, what kind of challenges would he face in the Divine Realm?

His gaze swept over the battlefield one last time, taking in the remnants of the guardians. The final guardian, shattered and scattered across the golden fields, was a reminder of the power he had confronted and overcome. But the sense of victory was fleeting. He had passed the trial, yes, but there was no time for celebration. There was still so much he didn't know about the system, about why he had been chosen.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Mu glanced toward the horizon, where the towering mountains of Elysium rose into the sky, their peaks disappearing into the clouds. Somewhere, hidden in those mountains, was the Divine Gate. That was his next destination.

System Notification:

Blessing of Immortality: Your body can now withstand injuries that would be fatal to mortals. Regeneration is accelerated, and your lifespan has been extended indefinitely. You are immune to mortal diseases and curses.

A surge of energy flowed through Lin Mu's body as the system processed the effects of the blessing. He could feel his wounds closing faster than ever, his body becoming stronger, more resilient. It wasn't just physical, though—there was something deeper, something that went beyond mere power. The Blessing of Immortality had granted him more than just strength. It was as if he had been unshackled from the limitations of mortality.

But as exhilarating as it felt, it came with a new weight—responsibility. Immortality wasn't something he had ever sought, but now that he had it, he couldn't help but wonder what the cost might be. What did it mean to live forever? What would happen to him as the years stretched into centuries, then millennia?

The thought was unsettling, but Lin Mu pushed it aside. There would be time to ponder such things later. Right now, his focus was on the Divine Gate.

He began walking toward the distant mountains, his steps more confident now that the trials were behind him. The path ahead was still shrouded in mystery, but with each step, he felt the pull of the system guiding him forward.

As he crossed the golden plains, Lin Mu's Divine Senses flared. He could feel the faint hum of divine energy in the distance, the presence of something ancient and powerful. The Divine Gate was near.

The landscape around him shifted as he climbed higher into the mountains. The air grew colder, thinner, but Lin Mu pressed on, his enhanced endurance allowing him to move without tiring. The golden fields gave way to rocky cliffs and jagged peaks, the serenity of Elysium replaced by a harsh, unforgiving terrain.

And then, after what felt like hours of climbing, he saw it.

The Divine Gate.

It was massive, towering over the mountain peak like a monument to the gods themselves. The gate was made of shimmering gold, its surface etched with intricate runes and symbols that pulsed with divine energy. Beyond the gate, Lin Mu could see nothing but a swirling vortex of light, the portal to the Divine Realm.

His heart pounded in his chest as he approached the gate, his Divine Senses alert for any sign of danger. The air crackled with power, and the sheer magnitude of the gate's presence made him feel small, insignificant in comparison.

But he didn't hesitate.

This was his path, the one the system had laid before him. He had survived the trials, earned the Blessing of Immortality, and now it was time to take the next step.

System Notification:

Objective: Unlock the Divine Gate using the Blessing of Immortality.

Lin Mu stepped closer to the gate, feeling the divine energy radiating from it. He extended his hand, the Blessing of Immortality pulsing within him as he touched the surface of the gate.

The runes on the gate flared with light, and the ground beneath him trembled as the gate slowly began to open.

The swirling vortex of light beyond the gate beckoned to him, and Lin Mu knew there was no turning back. Whatever awaited him in the Divine Realm, he would face it head-on.

With a deep breath, he stepped through the gate.

The sensation of stepping through the Divine Gate was unlike anything Lin Mu had experienced before. It was as if he was being pulled through space and time itself, the world around him dissolving into pure light and energy. His body felt weightless, his mind spinning as the system processed the transition.

When the light finally faded, Lin Mu found himself standing in a realm that defied all logic and reason.

The Divine Realm.

It was a place of impossible beauty, where the sky shifted between hues of gold, silver, and deep azure, where the air shimmered with energy and the ground beneath his feet pulsed with life. Colossal structures, built from materials that seemed to glow with their own inner light, stretched into the heavens. Rivers of light flowed through the air like streams of pure energy, and in the distance, Lin Mu could see what looked like entire cities suspended in the sky, their spires gleaming in the divine light.

This was the home of the gods.

Lin Mu's heart raced as he took it all in. The sheer scale of the realm was overwhelming, and the power that radiated from every corner of it made the trials in Elysium feel like mere warm-ups. He could feel the presence of divine beings all around him, their power so vast that it was like standing in the midst of a storm.

System Notification:

Welcome to the Divine Realm.

Mission: Begin the Trial of Ascension.

Lin Mu's pulse quickened. The Trial of Ascension. Whatever he had faced so far, this would be the true test.

He squared his shoulders, the weight of the Blessing of Immortality still fresh in his mind. The gods had set these challenges for a reason, and he was ready to meet them.

With one final glance at the ethereal beauty of the Divine Realm, Lin Mu took his first step toward the next trial.

The path to godhood had only just begun.