The Trial of Domains

The cold night air lingered over the open field, carrying the weight of expectation and uncertainty. The gathered elites of the Twin Soul Sect stood in a wide semicircle around Shen Yuan, their eyes filled with curiosity, doubt, and, for some, hidden defiance.

The flickering torchlight cast long shadows across the ground, illuminating the tension in the disciples' stiff postures. Though none spoke, many carried a similar question in their hearts—why were they even here, listening to him?

They knew of Shen Yuan's strength, but strength alone did not make a leader. He wasn't even the strongest among them. Yet, he stood there, arms lazily crossed, his presence alone commanding their attention.

Then, he finally spoke.

"I'm sure most of you are wondering why I brought you here." Shen Yuan's voice was calm, indifferent, yet it carried an undeniable authority. "I'll make it simple. I need a team for the competition. But I won't be choosing the strongest."

His words sent a ripple through the crowd. Whispers began circulating among the disciples.

"Not the strongest?"

"Then what is he choosing us based on?"

"Is he just picking random people?"

A few disciples exchanged looks, but one among them took a step forward. He was a tall man with broad shoulders, his expression one of barely concealed skepticism. His name was Liu Cheng, being at the 8th layer of Nirvana Realm, one of the strongest disciples in the group. His voice was firm, laced with suspicion.

"And why should we follow you?" Liu Cheng asked. "Who gave you the right to decide who's worthy?"

A few murmurs of agreement followed his words. The elites here had their own pride—many of them had fought their way up the rankings and earned their strength through blood and sweat. The idea of simply accepting Shen Yuan's leadership without question didn't sit well with them.

Shen Yuan, however, didn't react with anger. He simply tilted his head, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Follow me?" He chuckled. "You seem to be misunderstanding something. You don't have a choice."

Liu Cheng's expression darkened. "What did you say?"

Shen Yuan raised a single finger. "In two months, the competition will begin. Can any of you become significantly stronger in that time?"

No one spoke.

Shen Yuan's smile widened. "Exactly. You need me. I'm the only choice you have left."

Liu Cheng opened his mouth to argue but quickly shut it again. He wasn't a fool. He knew the truth in those words. None of them, not even the most talented, could significantly increase their strength in such a short time. If Shen Yuan really had a method...

The weight of realization settled over the crowd. Even those who still doubted him found themselves unable to argue. Slowly, some of the more hesitant disciples looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze.

Shen Yuan let out a short chuckle. "Good. Now that we've settled that in a civilized manner, let's get to the actual test."

He reached into his sleeve and, with a casual flick of his wrist, retrieved three scrolls.

The moment the scrolls appeared, a faint hum resonated through the air, as if the very world recognized their presence. The golden patterns etched into the parchment shimmered under the torchlight, shifting and rearranging themselves like living entities.

The mere sight of them sent a shiver through the gathered elites.

Tang Jiyan, standing near the front, narrowed his eyes as recognition flickered across his face. His fingers unconsciously twitched.

"Wait a second..." he muttered. "Are those—?"

Shen Yuan's lips curled. "Bingo."

Gasps erupted among the disciples.

"Domain-type arrays?!" someone exclaimed.

"Aren't those at least grade five formations?!"

"How the hell does he have something like that?!"

"Even a peak Nirvana Realm formation master would struggle with those!"

For the first time, fear mixed with awe in the eyes of the disciples.

Tang Jiyan clenched his fists. He had always known Shen Yuan was a monster when it came to arrays, but this... this was beyond anything he had imagined.

Domain-type arrays were leagues above standard formations. Attack-type arrays focused on launching deadly strikes. Defensive arrays primarily created barriers or fortresses. But domain arrays?

They created miniature worlds.

Inside them, the creator dictated the rules. Attack, defense, survival—everything could be manipulated within the domain. They were nearly impossible to control, let alone master.

Yet Shen Yuan had just casually pulled out three of them.

Xiang Xiaoli swallowed, gripping the hem of her robe. Her mind raced as she stared at Shen Yuan. "Just what kind of monster is he...?"

Unbothered by their reactions, Shen Yuan gestured toward the scrolls.

"The rules are simple," he said. "Each of these scrolls creates a different domain. You will enter and survive. That's it."

The scrolls trembled, and suddenly, the designs leapt from the parchment, forming three swirling portals before them. Each one pulsed with a distinct aura.

Green. Yellow. Black.

Shen Yuan pointed to the green portal first. "This is the easiest. It contains only defensive-type formations. If you just want to test your endurance and strength, go ahead."

Then, he gestured to the yellow portal. "This one's harder. It has both attack and defensive arrays, plus spiritual beasts. If you go in, be prepared to fight."

Finally, he turned to the black portal. His smirk grew sharper. "And this one? This is hell. Everything the yellow one has, plus death traps. The only way to get out is to last until an incense stick of time... or die."

Silence.

Then—

"Are you insane?!" one of the disciples shouted.

"The black one sounds like a death sentence!"

"No one will survive that!"

"Even the yellow one seems too much—!"

Shen Yuan's expression remained indifferent. "You can enter whichever one you want. But if you want to be on my team, you must clear the black portal. So don't shout like a kid, you have been given a choice, so zip it."

The reactions were immediate.

"Impossible!"

"Even the top disciples wouldn't dare!"

"He's just trying to kill us!"

But before the fear could take root, a voice cut through the noise.

"I'll do it."

A muscular figure stepped forward. Liu Cheng.

The crowd stilled. Shocked whispers followed.

"He's actually going for it?"

"Is he insane, or just desperate?"

Shen Yuan didn't even blink sensing the overconfidence. "Go ahead."

Liu Cheng stepped into the black portal.

For a moment, silence.

Then—

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

A bloodcurdling scream.

The sound of flesh being torn apart.

Then... nothing.

The crowd stood frozen, their faces pale.

A heavy silence fell over the crowd. A few disciples turned pale, their bodies trembling as they realized the brutal reality of Shen Yuan's challenge.

Shen Yuan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tsk, too impatient. Oh well." He then turned back to the rest. "So? Anyone else want to prove how 'strong' they are?"

Most disciples immediately lowered their heads, unwilling to meet his gaze. Some outright turned and left.

By the time the initial fear settled, only about fifty elites remained.

Shen Yuan smirked. "Good. At least some of you have guts."

The trials began.

By the end of the first week, the results were clear:

20 people had cleared the yellow portal.

30 had cleared the green portal.

Zero had cleared the black portal.

No one dared to even attempt it after the first man's brutal failure.

Yet, just as the week was coming to an end—

"I want to enter the black portal."

A soft, yet determined voice cut through the training ground.

Shen Yuan blinked in surprise. He turned, as did everyone else, to see the person who had spoken.

Xiang Xiaoli.

The weakest among them.

The girl who had been dismissed as merely a talented cultivator, who got lucky.

The entire training ground went silent.

Tang Jiyan, who had been standing nearby, turned to her with a bewildered expression. "Xiang Xiaoli, are you serious?!"

Even Shen Yuan was momentarily caught off guard. But then, his lips curled into a grin.

"Interesting." He crossed his arms, looking at her carefully. "Tell me, why? Why do you want to enter the most dangerous portal when even stronger people didn't dare to?"

Xiang Xiaoli met his gaze without fear. "Because strength isn't just about cultivation level or talent. It's about surpassing limits."

A glint of amusement flickered in Shen Yuan's eyes.

He chuckled. "Alright then. Go ahead."

The crowd held its breath as Xiang Xiaoli took a deep breath—then, without hesitation, stepped into the black portal.

The swirling darkness swallowed her whole.

And for the first time in days, Shen Yuan felt genuinely intrigued.