The First Trial Ends – The Last 10 Stand

The battlefield still smoldered with residual Qi, the scent of blood thick in the air. The crimson-stained earth bore the scars of war, shattered weapons littered across the battlefield like remnants of forgotten warriors.

Jiang Chen stood tall, his Starshadow Body fading, yet the aura of his dominance still lingered. The Blooddragon Brotherhood was no more. The ruins of their ambition lay broken beneath his feet.

But they were not the only ones fighting.

All across the battlefield, factions clashed in brutal skirmishes, each desperate to claim one of the remaining battle shrines before elimination.

In the northern section of the battlefield, a massive explosion of phoenix flames erupted into the sky.

Feng Yuechan's faction had just crushed another challenger.

Her golden-red flames roared across the battlefield, engulfing several warriors in an inferno that burned even their Qi defenses.

A dying cultivator screamed as he collapsed into ashen embers.

"She's a monster!" someone gasped.

Feng Yuechan stood at the center of the chaos, her crimson hair billowing behind her, her golden eyes cold and unforgiving. Her Phoenix Nirvana Flames had decimated an entire faction in minutes.

Behind her, her subordinates stood unscathed, watching in silent admiration.

With a slow exhale, Feng Yuechan stepped into the battle shrine, claiming it without another word.

In the eastern battlefield, a storm of thunder and wind ripped through the air.

The Skyshatter Blades, a faction composed of elite sword cultivators, fought with terrifying efficiency.

At their head was Wei Tian, a dual-sword-wielding prodigy from the Azure Sky Province. His blade danced like a hurricane, his movements like the howling wind, cutting down enemies before they could even react.

Facing overwhelming odds, the opposing faction collapsed—their warriors falling one after another.

Wei Tian raised his bloodied sword, his aura pulsing with raw energy.

"Victory is ours."

And with that, the Skyshatter Blades claimed their shrine.

In the southern battlefield, an eerie silence settled.

A faction had won. But there were no screams, no battle cries, no corpses left behind.

Just an empty field, devoid of life.

At the center of it all, a young man with jet-black hair and piercing silver eyes stood alone.

The Silent Veil Sect.

Unlike the other factions, they had eliminated their opponents through pure illusion and precision.

No wasted energy. No unnecessary brutality.

Just absolute, cold efficiency.

The young leader's silver gaze swept across the battlefield, as if searching for his next opponent.

Then, without a word, he stepped into his shrine, securing his faction's advancement.

The Final Ten Stand

One by one, the final ten factions secured their shrines.

As the last faction claimed victory, a deafening gong echoed through the battlefield, shaking the heavens themselves.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The skies trembled.

The battlefield froze.

The celestial voice returned.

"The first trial has ended."

"The weak have been eliminated. The strong remain."

"The next trial will begin shortly. Prepare yourselves."

BOOOOOOOM!

A massive burst of light erupted from each battle shrine, and suddenly—

The battlefield disappeared.

Everything shifted.

Jiang Chen's vision blurred, his body weightless for a brief moment.

Then—

He and his faction reappeared in an entirely different world.

When Jiang Chen opened his eyes, he found himself standing atop a floating island.

The battlefield was gone.

In its place was a vast, fragmented world—floating landmasses, suspended high above an endless void.

Rivers of pure energy flowed through the sky, forming bridges of light between the islands.

In the distance, he saw other factions appearing, each standing on their own isolated floating platforms.

The sky was a swirling mix of storm clouds and starlight, exuding an eerie, otherworldly aura.

A single massive platform stood at the center of this floating expanse. The Trial Arena.

Jiang Chen's golden-amber eyes flickered with intrigue.

"So, what now?" Xiao Dong muttered, looking around.

Bai Muchen cracked his knuckles. "Something tells me this trial won't be as simple as killing each other."

And then—

The celestial voice spoke once more.

"The second trial is a test of strength, endurance, and control."

"In the first trial, you conquered battle through slaughter. Now, you must conquer battle through survival."

"Each faction will send warriors to the Trial Arena."

"Defend your position. The longer you last, the better."

"Let the second trial begin."

BOOOOOOM!

The Trial Arena trembled.

Jiang Chen's smirk widened.

"Now this… this is getting interesting."