The Final Trial Begins
Chapter 16: The Final Trial Begins
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"Victory doesn't start in the arena. It starts in the heart."
—Qin Feng
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Storm Cliffs Medical Pavilion – Nightfall
The soft crackle of spiritual torches filled the still air. Ziyue stirred beneath layers of sacred silk and runes.
She blinked slowly, pain dancing along her spine. But her eyes were sharp. Alive.
Her gaze drifted to the side table — where a folded scroll glowed faintly with streaks of lightning.
She reached for it.
Her fingers trembled. The scroll pulsed, reacting only to her touch.
She unraveled it.
To Ziyue.
"Don't be reckless again. You're more than thunder. You're the storm itself. Rest. I'll win this — not just for us, but for the future I saw in your eyes."
—Qin Feng
Tears welled up — then vanished in a spark of static.
She sat up, grit tightening her jaw.
"You're not winning this alone, idiot."
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Courtyard – A Few Hours Later
Snow fell softly as Qin Feng stood beneath a frost-covered tree. The moon painted everything silver.
Footsteps crunched behind him.
"You're not asleep," Zihan's voice teased, softer than usual.
Qin Feng turned.
She wore a blue robe trimmed in white fur. Her breath was visible in the cold, but her eyes burned.
"I couldn't. Too much noise inside my head."
She stepped beside him, silent for a while.
Then: "Can I ask you something selfish?"
He nodded.
Zihan's eyes searched his. "If you win… if you become King of the Crown… will you still have space in your heart for me?"
Qin Feng blinked. "You were already there before I started climbing."
She stepped forward — close. Their breath mingled.
And then, without another word, she kissed him.
Soft. Cold lips. Fierce heart.
He kissed her back.
The snow kept falling.
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Frozen North Encampment – Edge of the City
A horse-drawn carriage arrived quietly. The guards didn't stop it.
Inside, Mei Xue sat in meditation. But her breath caught when the curtain moved.
A young man entered. Pale hair, white robes, and a jade crest bearing a broken crown.
"Long time, Mei."
She opened her eyes slowly. "You shouldn't be here, Wushen."
He smiled. "I came to see what kind of man dares aim for your heart."
She didn't reply.
He sat across from her. "You know the prophecy, don't you?"
Mei Xue said nothing.
He sighed. "The one born with cursed lightning will either unify the sects… or tear open the gate to the Divine Realm prematurely."
She clenched her fists. "He's not a danger. He's the answer."
"That's what makes him dangerous."
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Temple of Echoes – Midnight
Qin Feng sat cross-legged inside an ancient shrine long buried beneath Storm Cliffs.
The walls shimmered with runes older than time.
A soft voice echoed.
"Son of lightning. Bearer of cursed fate. Why do you chase power?"
He didn't flinch.
"To protect. To love. To live free."
"Then rise. For the gods now watch you."
The temple shuddered. A sigil burned into his chest.
Qin Feng grunted. His system went haywire.
[New Trait Acquired: Divine Resistance (Locked)]
[Prerequisite: Face a god and survive]
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Day of the Grand Finals – Morning
The entire sect valley was alight with banners, spirit beasts parading, and disciples cheering.
On the highest stage, the final platform awaited — carved from Celestial Jade, floating between three peaks.
Qin Feng stepped forward, his robes billowing in a wind not of this world.
On the opposite side appeared a man dressed in pure white. His hair shimmered like frost. Eyes silver like mirrors.
[Opponent Identified: Jian Wushen – Crown Candidate of the Frozen North] [Cultivation: Peak Qi Core Awakening] [Bloodline: Saintborn (Divine Fragment Detected)]
The crowd fell silent.
Wushen raised a hand.
"Before we begin, tell me — is she worth it? All this pain. This war."
Qin Feng didn't hesitate.
"They're all worth it."
He cracked his neck.
"Now shut up and fight."
Lightning sparked at his feet. Snow howled from above.
The final trial… had begun.
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"You want to wear the crown? Then prove you can carry the storm."
—Qin Feng
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To be continued...
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Preview – Chapter 17: Crown Duel
The Grand Finals begin.
Qin Feng faces Jian Wushen in a battle that shakes the heavens — lightning against divine frost.
Every move reveals secrets neither man expected.
Meanwhile, Lian Ruo makes her choice… and it could change the fate of the entire continent.
By the end of this chapter, a crown will rise — and a heart might fall.