The Serpent’s Trial

The serpent lunged with terrifying speed, its massive, coiled body unfurling like a spring. The air seemed to ripple with its power as its gleaming fangs aimed straight for Lin Fan's chest. Instinct took over—Lin Fan dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. The serpent's fangs slammed into the rocky ground, shattering stone and sending shards flying in every direction.

Lin Fan scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding like a war drum. The beast was far more powerful than the wolf he had faced in the Blackthorn Woods. Its coiled muscles rippled with strength, and its glowing eyes radiated a cunning intelligence. This serpent wasn't just a mindless beast—it was a predator.

The serpent hissed, its forked tongue flickering in the air as it turned its head toward him once more. Lin Fan's back pressed against the cold stone wall of the cave. There was no escape, no way to run. The glowing spiritual core hovered above the crystalline pool in the center of the chamber, tantalizingly close yet impossibly far.

"Think, Lin Fan! Think!" he shouted internally, his mind racing for a solution. He had no weapons, no cultivation, and no plan. All he had was the faint ember of hope ignited by the Flame Essence Crystal the night before.

He glanced at his palm, where the warmth of the crystal still lingered. Though its energy had been depleted, he could still feel the faint remnants of its power within him, like a spark waiting to be kindled.

The serpent hissed again, its massive body coiling as it prepared for another strike. Lin Fan gritted his teeth.

"If I die here, I die fighting."

The serpent lunged again, but this time, Lin Fan moved with a purpose. He dodged to the side, his movements faster and more fluid than before. He could feel the faint stirrings of energy coursing through his veins, as if the Flame Essence Crystal had left behind more than just a fleeting burst of power.

The serpent crashed into the wall where Lin Fan had stood, its body slamming into the stone with a deafening impact. Lin Fan seized the moment, darting toward the crystalline pool and the glowing spiritual core.

As he reached the edge of the pool, the serpent roared in fury, its body snapping around to block his path. Its massive tail lashed out, striking the ground and sending shockwaves through the chamber. Lin Fan stumbled, barely keeping his balance.

The serpent loomed over him, its glowing eyes narrowing as it prepared for the killing blow. Lin Fan's mind raced. He had no weapons, no cultivation techniques—but he had something else.

The Wheel of Destiny.

The wheel's voice echoed in his memory: "The Wheel shall turn for you."

Lin Fan clenched his fists and closed his eyes, focusing on the faint energy that still flickered within him. He didn't know if the wheel could help him now, but he had no other choice.

"Wheel of Destiny!" Lin Fan shouted, his voice ringing through the chamber. "If you truly chose me, if my fate can change, then help me now!"

For a moment, there was only silence. The serpent hissed, its body coiling tightly as it prepared to strike.

Then, the air around Lin Fan shifted. A faint light appeared in the center of his chest, growing brighter with each passing second. The serpent hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing as it sensed the sudden surge of energy.

Lin Fan opened his eyes, and they burned with determination. He didn't understand how or why, but he could feel the wheel's power responding to his desperate plea. His body felt lighter, stronger, and the faint warmth of the Flame Essence Crystal began to grow into a roaring heat.

The serpent lunged, its fangs glinting in the dim light. But this time, Lin Fan didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his hand, and the heat within him erupted into a blazing inferno.

A torrent of flame burst forth, engulfing the serpent in a searing wave of fire. The beast howled in pain, its massive body thrashing wildly as the flames consumed it. The heat was so intense that the air shimmered, and the ground beneath the serpent scorched black.

Lin Fan staggered backward, his body trembling from the effort. The flames died down, leaving the serpent's charred body collapsed in a smoldering heap. The chamber was silent once more, save for the faint crackle of burning stone.

Lin Fan fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his hands trembled as he stared at the remains of the serpent. He had done it. Somehow, he had survived.

But there was no time to rest. The spiritual core still hovered above the pool, its glow pulsing faintly. Lin Fan pushed himself to his feet, every muscle in his body protesting, and stepped toward the core.

As he reached out, the core seemed to respond, its light growing brighter as his hand drew closer. When his fingers finally brushed against it, a surge of energy shot through his body, far more intense than anything he had felt before.

Lin Fan cried out as the energy flooded his veins, igniting something deep within him. His body felt as though it were burning from the inside out, but at the same time, he felt stronger, more alive. The spiritual energy of the core merged with his own, breaking through the barriers that had held him back for so long.

When the light finally faded, Lin Fan collapsed to the ground, his body drenched in sweat. But this time, he didn't feel weak. He felt powerful.

He opened his eyes and flexed his fingers, marveling at the energy that now flowed through him. The spiritual core had awakened his cultivation, and the spark of power within him had grown into a flame.

Lin Fan stood, his gaze steady and his resolve unshaken.

"This is only the beginning," he murmured.

With the serpent defeated and the spiritual core absorbed, Lin Fan had taken his first true step on the path of cultivation. The road ahead would be long and fraught with danger, but he was no longer the powerless boy who had been cast out of the Lin family.

The wheel had turned, and Lin Fan's destiny was now his to forge.