The Observer

Far beyond the mystic realm, in a world where the skies shimmered with constellations and the air hummed with the resonance of countless cultivation techniques, a young man sat cross-legged atop a floating island. His eyes were closed, his breathing steady, but his mind was anything but calm. Before him, a holographic screen flickered with data streams, each line of text a report from a system user scattered across the multiverse.

The young man's name was Lin Feng, and he was no ordinary cultivator. He was an Observer—a chosen user of the Celestial System, tasked with monitoring and guiding other system users across dimensions. His role was to ensure balance, to intervene when necessary, and to report anomalies to the higher powers that governed the multiverse.

Lin Feng's brow furrowed as he focused on a particular data stream. It was from a user named Zhao Wei, currently trapped within a mystic realm. The system logs showed unusual activity—rapid advancements in cultivation, the summoning of a True Qi realm crow, and the activation of a trial that should have been dormant for centuries.

"Interesting," Lin Feng murmured, his voice barely audible over the hum of the floating island's energy. "A user with no prior cultivation experience, yet he's already pushing the boundaries of the system's capabilities."

He leaned forward, his fingers dancing across the holographic screen as he pulled up more detailed logs. Zhao Wei's actions were reckless, bordering on suicidal, but they were also… effective. The man had a knack for turning impossible situations to his advantage, even if it meant bending the rules of the system.

Lin Feng's lips curled into a faint smile. "You're either a genius or a madman, Zhao Wei. Maybe both."

As he continued to monitor the data, a notification pinged on his screen. It was from the higher powers—a directive to investigate an anomaly in the mystic realm Zhao Wei was currently exploring. The message was brief but ominous:

Anomaly Detected: Unauthorized activation of the Trial of Judgment. Investigate and neutralize if necessary.

Lin Feng's smile faded. The Trial of Judgment was no ordinary test. It was a relic from an ancient era, designed to weed out the unworthy and reward only the most exceptional cultivators. Its activation was supposed to be tightly controlled, yet here it was, triggered by a novice system user.

"This complicates things," Lin Feng muttered, rising to his feet. He stretched, his joints cracking softly, and then reached for a small, ornate talisman hanging from his belt. With a flick of his wrist, the talisman activated, enveloping him in a shimmering light.

When the light faded, Lin Feng was no longer on the floating island. He stood in a dense forest, the air thick with the scent of pine and the faint hum of spiritual energy. In the distance, he could see the entrance to the mystic realm, its towering statues casting long shadows in the fading light.

Lin Feng's expression was calm, but his mind was racing. He needed to assess the situation quickly. If the Trial of Judgment had been activated, it meant the mystic realm's defenses were compromised. And if Zhao Wei was at the center of it all, Lin Feng needed to determine whether the man was a threat or an asset.

He moved swiftly through the forest, his steps silent despite the thick underbrush. As he approached the shrine's entrance, he noticed the remnants of a battle—scorched earth, shattered stone, and the faint traces of qi lingering in the air. The Emerald Sky Sect's disciples were nowhere to be seen, but their presence was unmistakable.

Lin Feng paused, his sharp eyes scanning the area. He could feel the oppressive aura of the crow Zhao Wei had summoned, its power lingering like a shadow. It was a remarkable feat for someone so inexperienced, but it also raised questions. How had Zhao Wei managed to summon a True Qi realm creature? And more importantly, what was his connection to the Trial of Judgment?

As Lin Feng stepped into the shrine, the air grew heavier, the weight of ancient qi pressing down on him. He activated his system's scanning function, mapping the shrine's layout and identifying the energy signatures within. Zhao Wei and Xue Yan were deep inside, their qi signatures flickering like candles in the wind.

Lin Feng's lips tightened. They were in the final chamber, facing the Trial of Judgment's last test. He needed to intervene before things spiraled out of control.

But as he moved deeper into the shrine, a voice echoed in his mind—a voice that was not his own.

"You are not welcome here, Observer."

Lin Feng froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. The voice was cold and ancient, resonating with a power that made his skin crawl. It was the voice of the shrine itself, the consciousness that governed the Trial of Judgment.

"I mean no harm," Lin Feng said, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest. "I am here to ensure balance."

"Balance?" the voice sneered. "You meddle in affairs beyond your understanding. This trial is not yours to control."

Lin Feng's grip on his sword tightened. "The activation of this trial was unauthorized. I am here to investigate."

The voice laughed, a sound that echoed through the shrine like thunder. "Unauthorized? You speak as if your petty systems hold sway over the ancient laws. This trial was awakened by one who bears the mark of fate. His destiny is his own, and your interference will not be tolerated."

Before Lin Feng could respond, the air around him shifted, the walls of the shrine closing in as the voice's power surged. He was being expelled, his presence rejected by the shrine's consciousness.

"Wait!" Lin Feng shouted, but it was too late. The world around him blurred, and he was forcibly ejected from the mystic realm, landing back on the floating island with a jolt.

For a moment, he sat in stunned silence, his mind reeling from the encounter. The shrine's consciousness had spoken of a "mark of fate," a term that sent a chill down his spine. It was a concept he had only encountered in ancient texts, a symbol of those chosen by the heavens themselves.

Lin Feng's mind raced. What exactly was the mark of fate? He had read about it in passing—a rare and enigmatic designation said to be bestowed upon individuals destined to shape the course of history. But the details were vague, shrouded in myth and speculation. Some texts claimed it was a blessing, while others warned it was a curse. And now, Zhao Wei, a novice system user, seemed to bear this mark.

Lin Feng exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the holographic screen before him. The higher powers had issued a new directive:

Priority Shift: Monitor Zhao Wei. Do not interfere unless absolutely necessary.

The message was clear, but it left Lin Feng with more questions than answers. Zhao Wei was no ordinary system user. He was a variable, a wildcard in the grand scheme of the multiverse. And if the shrine's consciousness was to be believed, his destiny was tied to forces far beyond Lin Feng's understanding.

"Well, Zhao Wei," Lin Feng murmured, his voice tinged with both curiosity and caution. "Let's see where fate takes you."