Chapter 108 – The First Trials: Flames of Chaos, Ice of Destiny

The sky above Dominion Sky Fortress gleamed with layered spiritual arrays, sealing off an entire region of the Heavenly Pearl World. Floating platforms linked by suspension bridges circled a colossal black coliseum suspended in the sky.

A single banner fluttered at the peak of the tallest tower—etched in fire and chaos:

"The Chaos Sect Has Returned."

For the first time in eons, the sect was opening its gates… to the world.

Scene – The Trial Grounds

The arena known as the Ring of Eternity was carved from obsidian veins and chaos crystal. It floated at the center of a three-tier formation supported by spirit nodes and energy conduits fed from the Earth Realm via the Realm Bridge.

Arya Kapoor stood on a floating platform above the ring, dressed in black-gold battle robes. Her hair danced with phoenix fire. A jade blade rested at her side.

Beside her was Asha Rani, surrounded by translucent frost lotuses, her gaze serene and cold.

Before them floated ten thousand participants—aspiring cultivators, rogue disciples, orphans, nomads, and exiles from across the Heavenly Pearl World.

Each had arrived after decoding a single message that spread across the divine networks like wildfire:

"Those who've been denied a future…

Will be given one.

The path of chaos accepts all."

Scene – Opening Decree

A holographic flame projection appeared above the arena.

Rayan's voice echoed across the sky, reaching every participant, cultivator, elder, and spy.

"Welcome to the First Outer Disciple Trial of the Chaos Sect."

"There will be no tests of bloodline. No tests of origin. No family name or sect status matters here."

"You will be judged by three things alone:

Strength.

Will.

Purpose."

"Earn your place. Or burn."

The flame vanished.

Arya stepped forward.

"Trial One: Survive the Abyss Arena."

The arena rumbled. Black crystal walls shattered. And the entire platform split into thirty fragments—each becoming its own battlefield.

"You will face wave after wave of abyssal beasts… mutated by chaos. Last ten rounds, and you pass."

"Cheat, collaborate, or fight alone. We don't care. But the beasts… will not go easy."

She flicked her wrist—and a divine whistle triggered the gates.

Scene – The Trial Begins

The platforms each morphed into biomechanical cages.

From the shadows emerged Chaos-Touched Beasts:

Iron Fanged Wargs – wolf-beasts with metallic fur and explosive blood. Shadowbone Drakes – flightless dragons with spectral breath. Crimson Howlers – aberrations that screamed psychic chaos, breaking weak wills instantly.

Screams echoed. Blood sprayed. But some fought back.

A few began to shine.

Scene – Rising Talents

Jian Wu, a one-armed orphan wielding a shattered saber, used footwork that mimicked flowing water. He danced through a pack of Shadowbone Drakes, slicing without mercy.

"Swordplay honed on real battlefields," Asha muttered. "Interesting."

Leiya Starwind, an exile from the Cloud Spirit Sect, conjured starlight spears using wind-element harmonics. She hovered mid-air and erased entire waves of Crimson Howlers with a single note.

Arya narrowed her eyes. "A prodigy… disowned for being too chaotic with her style."

Rav – a former slave who didn't use spirit energy at all, only a pair of mechanical gauntlets and vicious instinct. He tore beasts apart with brute strength and iron will.

"He's from Earth," Arya realized. "Must've crossed through the early refugee programs."

Others began to fall.

The weak.

The hesitant.

The arrogant.

The arena did not forgive.

Scene – Spies and Shadows

Amidst the chaos, two figures stood silently atop a ruined pillar: a young man cloaked in flame-thread robes, and a woman with hollowed-out pupils.

They were agents of the Hollow Emperor—sent to infiltrate the trials.

"We mark the strongest," the woman whispered. "Then recruit or destroy."

"The girl with the frost phoenix aura… we should avoid her."

"Agreed. The flame girl is worse."

But before they could vanish, Arya's voice rang out:

"You two—platform eleven."

The spies blinked.

"You were warned. Cheat or hide, and we throw you in."

They appeared mid-arena a second later—teleported forcefully by Arya's spirit mark.

"Fight or die," Asha whispered.

A moment later, a chaos-class variant of the Crimson Howler dropped into their platform.

The agents froze.

Scene – Inner Trials Begin

Ten rounds later, less than 2000 survived.

And only 300 candidates passed with excellence—marked by glowing glyphs that appeared above their hearts.

"You are now provisional Outer Disciples of the Chaos Sect," Arya announced. "But your trial is far from over."

"We don't train sheep."

"You'll now enter the Temple of Flame and Frost—a spiritual crucible created by the Sect Master himself."

"Within are over ten thousand spiritual illusions. Each designed to break your greatest weakness."

"Your fear. Regret. Lust. Arrogance. Greed."

Asha raised her hand. "Each illusion must be conquered mentally and spiritually. If you fail three times, you are banished."

The crowd went silent.

Some backed away.

Only 180 stepped forward.

The rest were branded—softly, with a mark of respect—but removed.

Scene – Inside the Temple of Flame and Frost

The 180 stepped through a glowing gate.

The temperature plummeted and flared. One moment, the surroundings froze. The next, they burned.

Inside, each disciple found themselves alone—in a realm forged from their own fears and regrets.

Jian Wu saw the brother he failed to protect.

Leiya was forced to destroy her own music again and again.

Rav saw chains—always more chains—binding his limbs.

And deep within the core, the Hollow Agents faced a mirror of the Hollow Emperor himself, mocking their borrowed loyalty.

"Serve chaos… or serve nothing at all."

Scene – Arya and Asha Speak in Private

Outside, as the trial unfolded within, Arya and Asha returned to the central tower, watching from above.

"They're growing stronger already," Asha murmured. "Some may even reach Core Disciple tier within a year."

Arya nodded. "And we'll need them."

She pulled out a soul crystal.

"The spies have been identified. But the Hollow Emperor… he's escalating."

Asha's eyes turned cold. "Let him come."

Just then, the flames above the Sky Fortress roared.

A projection formed.

Rayan appeared.

His aura was different—sharper, more complete. His soul energy was vast. Even Arya and Asha stepped back instinctively.

He had fully merged with the Eternal Origin Flame.

"You've done well," he said.

"But now… prepare yourselves."

"In one week—we march into the Divine Eastern Territories."

"Chaos is done waiting."