053 : The Trial Was Not Over.

The fifth year came faster than Lin Tian had expected. It felt like just yesterday he had stood in the ruins of Zhou Minghai's empire, holding Su Yun's hand, believing that his trial in this world had come to an end. But as the final night approached, he began to feel it—a pull deep in his soul, an undeniable force dragging him toward something beyond this world.

And then, just as it had five years ago—the Light appeared.

It was not harsh nor blinding, but vast and infinite, stretching beyond comprehension. Lin Tian stood beneath it, his golden eyes calm, yet something in his chest twisted with unease. He had done everything, hadn't he? He had lived as a human, he had loved, he had experienced peace. Why wasn't it enough?

A voice, ancient and absolute, echoed through the empty void.

"Lin Tian."

His fists clenched. "You again."

The Light pulsed softly. "You have grown. You have loved. You have lived. But you still do not understand."

Lin Tian's jaw tightened. "Understand what?"

"The depths of the human heart."

A flicker of something foreign surged through him—frustration. He had done everything asked of him. He had given up battle, given up power, chosen a life of love over conquest. What more did they want from him?

His voice was lower now, almost dangerous. "I have given you five years. I have lived a life without power, without war, without destruction. I have learned love, I have learned peace. And yet, you say it is not enough?"

The Light remained silent for a moment, then spoke once more. "Love is but one piece of the puzzle. A heart is not made of love alone. There are emotions you still do not comprehend. To truly ascend, to truly reach the end of your journey, you must face them all."

Lin Tian narrowed his eyes. "And how do you expect me to do that?"

"By climbing the Tower."

And then—everything vanished.

Lin Tian's consciousness snapped back violently.

One moment, he had been standing in the light. The next—he was falling.

Wind howled past him as he plummeted through a vast, endless sky. The air burned against his skin, but his body refused to move. He could see the world below him, stretching out endlessly—a massive, sprawling city built around a single structure.

A Tower.

It rose from the center of the world, piercing the heavens, its peak lost beyond the clouds. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, a structure so massive it made mountains look like mere hills. Ancient. Powerful. Unyielding.

And then—he crashed.

Pain exploded through his body as he slammed into solid ground, dust and debris rising around him. His vision blurred, his head pounding, but instinct forced him to move. He pushed himself up, breathing heavily, his fingers digging into the dirt beneath him.

Where was he?

Before he could even gather his thoughts, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

[Welcome to the Tower.]

Lin Tian's golden eyes widened slightly. A system?

The voice continued, emotionless yet absolute.

[All who enter the Tower shall receive the System, a guide to their ascent.]

[You must climb to the 100th floor to complete your journey.]

[Every five floors, you may return to your world for one week.]

[If you die in the Tower, you die in reality.]

Lin Tian's breathing slowed. So this was it.

This was his next trial.

He was no longer in a world of simple humans. This was a world of climbers, warriors, survivors. And he was one of them now.

A new challenge. A new battlefield.

Lin Tian exhaled, his lips curling into a slow smirk.

"Fine."

"If this is the path I must take—then I will climb to the very top."

"No matter what stands in my way."

Lin Tian's first step into the city surrounding the Tower was met with chaos. All around him, climbers gathered, their voices filled with excitement, fear, and raw ambition. The Tower loomed above them, its entrance glowing with an ethereal light, a gate to another world hidden within itself.

The System's voice echoed once more.

[First Floor: The Trial of Entry.]

[All climbers must pass a test to prove their worth.]

[Failure means death.]

Lin Tian's golden eyes flickered. So they weed out the weak immediately.

He watched as dozens of climbers stepped forward, disappearing through the Tower's gates. Some were filled with confidence, others with hesitation. The rules were clear—this was a world where only the strong survived.

A voice beside him caught his attention. "First time?"

Lin Tian turned. A young man with sharp blue eyes and a confident smirk stood next to him, arms crossed. He looked experienced, but not arrogant. "You don't look like a newbie, but you've got that 'just dropped into hell' look in your eyes."

Lin Tian smirked slightly. "Something like that."

The man chuckled. "Name's Yan Shi. Veteran climber, but still stuck on the lower floors. The Tower's not as easy as people think."

Lin Tian glanced toward the massive gates. "What's the first test?"

Yan Shi exhaled. "Something different for everyone. The Tower judges you, throws a challenge based on who you are. No one gets the same trial."

Lin Tian's smirk widened. Interesting.

The Tower would judge him, would decide what kind of trial he deserved?

Then let it try.

He had already defied fate itself.

A mere Tower would not stop him.

Without hesitation, Lin Tian stepped forward. The light of the entrance engulfed him, and the world shifted once more.

The climb had begun.

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