Chapter 13: The Trial Gate

The glow of the water droplet gradually dimmed, but the lingering presence of the abyss refused to fade. Ye Huang fixed his deep gaze on Liuli.

"How much do you really know?" he asked in a low voice.

Liuli gently waved her folding fan, her expression as calm as still water. "Since you've made it this far, I suppose it's time to tell you—the real challenge is only just beginning."

As her words fell, a path of ethereal blue light extended beneath their feet, forming a bridge that seemed to float in the void.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Huang stepped forward, followed closely by Chitong. Liuli, ever composed, walked with unhurried grace.

The scenery around them shifted ceaselessly—at times a boundless starry sky, at others a roiling ocean of darkness, as if they were traversing the very edge of the world.

Ye Huang felt an invisible force gently tugging at his demon energy, as though it sought to merge him with the very fabric of this space.

Chitong frowned. "This path… it feels like it's testing our will."

Liuli nodded slightly. "Indeed. Only those with unwavering determination can reach the end."

Ye Huang remained silent, simply pressing forward. At the far end of the path, an ancient stone gate gradually came into view.

Towering several meters high, the gate was engraved with intricate demon inscriptions. At its center, a deep blue gemstone pulsed faintly, like an eye silently watching them.

Chitong spoke in a low voice. "Another seal?"

Liuli smiled faintly. "No. This is the Trial Gate. Only by passing the trial can we truly reach the core of the seal."

Without hesitation, Ye Huang stepped forward and placed his hand on the stone gate. Instantly, an icy force surged through his palm, flooding into his body. A foreign will invaded his mind.

—Do you accept the trial of the abyss?—

Ye Huang's eyes narrowed as he felt an unseen force lock onto his very soul. He took a steady breath and answered firmly, "Yes."

The moment his voice fell, the ancient inscriptions on the gate ignited with light. The deep blue gemstone blazed brilliantly, and the entire space trembled as a powerful suction force swallowed them whole.

When Ye Huang opened his eyes again, he found himself in an unfamiliar world.

All around was endless darkness. But within that darkness, wisps of deep blue flames burned quietly, casting an eerie glow upon the space.

Chitong's voice came from nearby. "Where are we?"

Liuli approached with her usual composure. "The Trial Grounds—a realm of the abyss."

Ye Huang scanned his surroundings, his gaze sharp and wary. Suddenly, the flames ahead stirred, and from within them, a figure emerged.

A man clad in pitch-black armor stepped forward. His long, raven hair swayed in an unseen breeze, and his eyes carried a chilling, murderous intent.

Liuli spoke softly. "It seems our trial has begun."

Ye Huang narrowed his eyes, sensing the overwhelming pressure emanating from the armored man.

"Let's see how difficult this abyssal trial truly is."

The armored figure, a manifestation of the abyss itself, moved with an oppressive presence, his form flickering in and out of the flames. The air grew heavy under his suffocating aura.

Chitong clenched his fists. "This guy… he's no ordinary opponent."

The man said nothing. With a slight raise of his hand, a deep blue longsword materialized, its blade etched with strange, glowing runes.

"Trial seeker, face me."

The moment the words left his lips, he vanished like a shadow. In the blink of an eye, his sword was already aimed at Ye Huang's throat!

Ye Huang's pupils shrank. He leaped backward, summoning his Night Phantom power, forming a blade in his grip as he met the attack head-on.

Clang!

The clash of metal rang out, reverberating through the darkness. A numbing force shot through Ye Huang's arm.

The black-armored warrior didn't relent, his figure flickering through the blue flames, each sword strike ruthless and precise.

Ye Huang quickly adjusted his stance, his gaze sharpening as he began to decipher his opponent's attack patterns.

Then, in a sudden burst, he stepped forward, using the flames' force to propel himself. His blade cleaved through the darkness, a streak of midnight slicing toward the warrior's chest.

The black-armored man barely tilted his body, avoiding a fatal strike, but the edge of Ye Huang's blade carved a deep gash into his shoulder armor.

Ye Huang's voice was calm but firm. "You're not invincible."

The warrior fell silent for a moment. Then, his deep blue eyes flickered, and the faintest smirk appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Not bad."

Before Ye Huang could respond, the warrior's form blurred, and an overwhelming sword intent exploded outward like a raging storm, shaking the very fabric of space.

Liuli sighed. "Now he's getting serious."

The warrior raised his sword, the surrounding blue flames surging and condensing into a monstrous wave of energy. A single slash from his blade sent an earth-shattering sword arc tearing through the darkness, aiming straight for Ye Huang!

Ye Huang's gaze sharpened, his demon energy surging to its peak.

"Good!"

He charged forward, his blade gleaming with an eerie glow.

Steel met steel. The clash sent shockwaves rippling through the trial grounds, distorting the air itself.

Ye Huang felt a powerful force surge through his weapon, pushing against him like an unseen mountain. Gritting his teeth, he steadied his grip and twisted his wrist, his blade weaving through the storm of attacks.

The warrior's eyes flashed as he stepped back, evading a strike, but Ye Huang didn't let up—his movements were relentless, pressing forward with precision and speed.

Chitong watched, blood pumping in excitement. "Damn… his battle instincts are insane."

Liuli nodded slightly, her gaze carrying a trace of approval. "He's adapting to the rules of this realm… adjusting his combat style accordingly. His growth rate is intriguing."

The black-armored warrior's expression darkened. The abyssal flames around him flared wildly, their glow reflecting off his dark armor, making him appear even more formidable.

"Enough," he said, his voice like an echo from the depths of the void.

In an instant, the space around them twisted. A massive shadow loomed above, a colossal sword descending like a divine judgment to cleave everything apart.

Ye Huang's breath hitched, but he didn't falter. He raised his blade high, channeling every ounce of his power.

A deafening clash shook the realm, cracks splintering through the space as raw energy erupted outward.

In that instant, Ye Huang sensed something eerily familiar. This wasn't just an enemy's killing intent—it was a force tied to the abyss itself, a force seeking to break his will.

His grip tightened around his blade.

The battle raged on, each strike carving through the darkness, each exchange pushing him closer to the edge.

Then—

The warrior suddenly stepped back. The flames surrounding him flickered, his form slowly fading like mist.

"You pass."

Ye Huang's eyes widened slightly, but before he could speak, the world around him began to collapse. The trial warrior's figure dissolved into nothingness, as if he had never existed.

Liuli's voice drifted through the air. "Congratulations. You've completed the first trial."

Ye Huang sheathed his blade, his eyes steady as they met hers. "What's next?"

Liuli tapped her fan against her palm, smiling. "Next? The true challenge begins."

As she spoke, a new gate of light materialized before them, glowing with an eerie blue radiance.

Ye Huang took a deep breath. He knew his journey was far from over.