Ascension
The battlefield still trembled from Jiang Chen's final attack. The remnants of shattered stone, scorched ground, and lingering Qi storms were all that remained of what had once been a fierce war zone.
Jiang Chen stood tall in the center, his Chaos Qi still flickering in the air, his Force Domain slowly dissipating. His body was strained, but his posture never wavered.
The temple spirit's voice resonated across the ruins.
"You have proven your dominance over all competitors."
A deep, ethereal voice echoed throughout the battlefield. It was neither male nor female, its presence omniscient, ancient, and undeniable.
"And yet… the trial has not concluded."
Jiang Chen's golden-amber eyes flickered with a sharp light. His lips curved into a smirk, but he said nothing.
Bai Muchen let out a low chuckle from the sidelines. "I figured it wouldn't be that easy."
Xiao Dong, still recovering from his own earlier rampage, snorted. "Hah! What else do they want? We already crushed everyone."
The temple spirit continued.
"The battlefield is but the first challenge. The true test of supremacy lies ahead."
BOOOOM!
A ripple of light spread across the sky, and in the blink of an eye, the battlefield reconstructed itself. The ruins were swept away, the ground became whole again, and before them—a grand staircase of ethereal gold emerged, leading upward into the heavens.
"The remaining trials will test not just your strength, but your adaptability, leadership, and strategy. Prepare yourselves."
Jiang Chen exhaled slowly. His fists clenched at his sides, his gaze unwavering.
"Then let's finish this."
The next few trials were a blur of dominance.
The Maze of Spirits.
A battlefield of illusions and deadly specters. Jiang Chen's Force Domain crushed the distortions, while Qin Tian and Bai Muchen tore through the spirits like they were nothing. The Sundering Legion barely slowed down.
The Mountain of Annihilation.
A brutal survival test where warriors were pitted against a never-ending army of elemental beasts. Jiang Chen led the charge, his Heaven Sundering Chaos Palm obliterating everything in his path. Bai Muchen and Xiao Dong shattered anything in their way. The trial that was supposed to last three days? They cleared it in less than five hours.
The Celestial Arena.
Another tournament-style clash where the strongest warriors from each remaining faction had a chance to challenge Jiang Chen and his warriors.
The result?
No one could stop them.
Jiang Chen fought battle after battle, never faltering. His Force Domain grew stronger, his Chaos Qi more refined. Every challenge they threw at him—he conquered.
The other factions? Eliminated.
Finally, the temple spirit acknowledged the undeniable supremacy of the Sundering Legion.
No one else remained standing.
Jiang Chen had led them to absolute victory.
"Damn Jiang Chen, I don't want to admit it, but you carried us straight through this trial," Xiao Dong said with a smile on his face.
"Not like those fools could've beaten us anyway," Bai Muchen laughed.
Then, that voice appeared once again.
"You have surpassed all expectations."
The voice echoed as the final golden inscription flared to life.
"The Sundering Legion is victorious."
BOOOOOOOM!
A gateway of divine radiance erupted before them.
Jiang Chen turned to his faction.
"This is it." His voice was calm but filled with anticipation. "The 30th floor. The reward floor."
Bai Muchen cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Hope it's something good."
Xiao Dong laughed. "After all this? It better be legendary."
Qin Tian smirked, gripping his spear. "Let's find out."
With steady steps, the Sundering Legion ascended the staircase of golden light.
The battlefield was behind them.
The 30th floor, the next great reward, awaited.
As Jiang Chen stepped forward, the heavens parted.
What awaited them on the next floor?
They were about to find out.
The moment Jiang Chen and the Sundering Legion stepped onto the 30th floor, the air shifted.
Gone were the ruins of the battlefield. Gone were the lingering echoes of combat.
Instead, a golden radiance filled the sky. The very air hummed with divine energy, dense and overwhelming, pressing down on them with an invisible weight.
Before them, the grand staircase of heaven seemingly stretched into infinity. Each step was wide enough to fit a dozen people, yet it narrowed as it climbed higher and higher, disappearing into the clouds.
Jiang Chen's golden-amber eyes flickered as he took in the sight. His senses sharpened—there was no illusion here, no deception. This was real.
Xiao Dong let out a low whistle, resting his hands behind his head. "That's… a lot of stairs."
Qin Tian narrowed his eyes. "I don't think it's just for show."
Bai Muchen clenched his fists, his Titanblood Physique reacting instinctively to the overwhelming pressure radiating from above. "This isn't just a staircase. It's a trial."
And they were right.
A booming voice echoed from above, vast and ancient, as if spoken by the very heavens themselves.
"The Trial of Ascension begins."
BOOOOOOM!
A terrifying force surged downward from the staircase, slamming into them like an ocean crashing against the shore.
The Sundering Legion staggered for just a moment, their bodies instinctively bracing against the pressure.
But Jiang Chen…
He stood firm.
The voice continued.
"The higher you climb, the greater your reward."
"The weak will falter. The strong will rise."
"Ascend."
"There are 100 steps, each 10th step brings a great change. Be wary."
Jiang Chen took the first step.
BOOM!
The air thickened around him, an invisible weight pressing onto his shoulders. He felt his Chaos Qi ripple, instinctively counteracting the pressure.
Bai Muchen followed, stepping onto the first stair. His Titanblood aura roared to life, his body hardening against the force.
Xiao Dong grinned. "Guess we're doing this." He took a step forward.
Qin Tian and his posse, silent as ever, climbed alongside them.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
At first, the pressure was noticeable, but nothing overwhelming. The Sundering Legion, monsters among monsters, barely slowed down.
But then—
Step 10.
BOOOOOOM!
A second wave of force crashed down upon them. The gravity increased, pressing onto their bones, their muscles, their very Qi.
Xiao Dong let out a low whistle, shaking his arms. "Alright, now it's getting fun."
Step 20.
CRACK!
The stone beneath them rumbled as a new layer of pressure descended. It wasn't just physical—it was spiritual.
Jiang Chen felt his Force Domain stirring instinctively, his body adapting, his Chaos Qi flexing against the pressure.
Qin Tian's breathing became sharper, his spear vibrating in his grip. He felt something—an unseen force attempting to suppress his killing intent.
Bai Muchen grinned, rolling his shoulders. "This is nothing."
They continued.
By Step 30, the staircase revealed its true nature.
Not only was the pressure increasing, but illusions began to appear—visions of their greatest doubts, their greatest fears.
A voice whispered in Jiang Chen's ears.
"You are strong now, but how long will it last?"
"You walk the path of Chaos, but Chaos only leads to destruction."
"In the end… you will stand alone."
Jiang Chen's eyes flickered. He ignored it.
The illusion shattered.
BOOM!
His Chaos Qi surged, repelling the mental assault.
Xia Qingren, standing right next to Qin Tian, was visibly shaking and was suddenly repelled of the staircase.
Soon after, Huo Xingren followed with a grunt, "Bastard!"
Beside him, Bai Muchen let out a low growl, his Titanblood Physique surging to counteract his own illusion.
Xiao Dong, usually carefree, clenched his fists, his battle-hungry aura flaring as he laughed. "Pfft. This is nothing compared to the fights I've had."
Qin Tian remained silent, his sword-like willpower cutting through the hallucinations.
One step after another, they continued.
Step 50.
By now, the air was so dense that even breathing required effort. Every heartbeat felt like lifting a mountain.
This… was where lesser warriors would collapse.
The staircase was not just a reward—it was a separator.
Those unworthy would never reach the true prizes at the top.
Jiang Chen exhaled. He wasn't even at his limit yet.
"Let's keep going."
BOOOOOOM!
When they reached Step 70, the very fabric of the staircase changed.
The world around them warped—space itself felt twisted, condensed.
Here, Qi could barely flow properly.
Jiang Chen immediately felt the difference. His Chaos Qi flickered under the weight, his Force Domain bending against it.
Bai Muchen's muscles tensed. His Titanblood Physique fought against the pressure, but it was clear—this was getting serious.
Xiao Dong exhaled, his knuckles cracking. "Alright, I'll admit it. This is rough."
Qin Tian's grip tightened on his spear. His willpower alone kept him moving.
But none of them stopped.
By now, even the Sundering Legion felt the weight.
Their bones creaked. Their Qi flickered. Their spirits wavered.
But Jiang Chen…
His golden-amber eyes shone with defiance.
This trial wasn't meant to break him.
It was meant to temper him.
At this point, he wasn't focused on anyone else.
All that remained was him, and this staircase.
He pushed forward. Step 80. Step 90.
He heard a shout and turned around for the first time.
Xiao Dong and Bai Muchen were both right behind him on the 90th step.
Beads of sweat trickled down their foreheads as they resisted the pressure with all of their might.
Suddenly.
FWOOSH!
They both disappeared.
Jiang Chen glanced to the left and saw that Qin Tian had also made it to the 91st step, but was struggling immensely.
One second later, with a sound like a gust of wind, he too, disappeared.
A solemn look appeared on Jiang Chen's face.
He was alone.
But he was not afraid.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The staircase shook violently. The final steps loomed ahead.
And then—
Step.
Step.
Step.
On the 99th step, he raised his foot to finally complete this ascension.
He was met with great resistance. It felt like the heavens themselves were barring him from reaching this step.
"Damn it all!" He shouted.
"If I can't even ascend some god forsaken staircase, what business do I have wanting to find my origin, and the origin of this blasted seed!"
In that moment, all of his power rushed forth.
He converged every scrap of energy he could.
"PUSH!" He roared.
BOOOOOM!
The entire Temple seemed as if it was trembling.
He reached Step 100.
The moment Jiang Chen stepped onto the 100th step, the pressure vanished.
Instead, an ethereal glow surrounded them. The staircase no longer looked real—it looked divine.
A golden gate appeared before them, filled with ancient inscriptions, pulsing with untold power.
A voice—stronger than before, clearer than before—echoed from the heavens.
"You have climbed higher than all before you."
"You have reached the Pinnacle of the Reward Trial."
"Step forward, and claim your prize."
Jiang Chen exhaled.
The 30th-floor reward had finally been reached.
They had conquered the staircase.
But what lay beyond this gate?