Heaven Dominator

Jiang Chen's steps echoed against the jagged cliffs that marked the boundary of the Gate of Origin. The air here was unnervingly still, charged with an energy that made his skin prickle. Ahead, towering spires of crystalline stone jutted into the sky, forming a natural archway veiled by a shimmering barrier of light. The Gate of Origin—a passage whispered of in myths, where ascendants were tested before stepping into the higher realms.

The black crystal pulsed faintly in his satchel, resonating with the barrier. Jiang Chen paused, his gaze narrowing as he studied the path ahead. This was no ordinary trial. Every instinct told him that whatever lay beyond would challenge him in ways he had never imagined.

He stepped forward, his palm brushing against the barrier. The moment he made contact, the world around him shifted. The landscape of jagged cliffs and shimmering light melted away, replaced by an expansive void filled with floating platforms. Each platform shimmered with glyphs, their designs intricate and otherworldly.

A voice echoed through the void, neither male nor female but a blend of both. "To ascend, you must prove your worth. Three trials await: wisdom, strength, and resolve. Fail, and your path ends here."

The Trial of Wisdom

Jiang Chen's surroundings shifted again. He now stood in a grand hall filled with countless doors, each marked with symbols that seemed to change when he tried to focus on them. In the center of the hall stood a stone pedestal, upon which rested a scroll.

Unrolling the scroll, he found a single question written in elegant script: "What defines true power?" Below the question were three options:

Dominance over others.Mastery over oneself.The ability to protect those dear.

Jiang Chen frowned, his thoughts racing. The answer wasn't as simple as it appeared. Dominance could enforce order, but it often bred resentment. Mastery over oneself was a noble pursuit, yet it could isolate one from the world. Protection was meaningful, but without strength, it was an empty promise.

He closed his eyes, centering himself. Memories of his past life and his current journey flashed through his mind. The moments of triumph and failure, the lessons learned from allies and enemies alike.

Finally, he spoke aloud. "True power is a balance. To protect others, one must master oneself. To lead, one must understand strength without succumbing to tyranny."

The scroll vanished, and the doors began to shimmer. One door, marked with a radiant serpent coiled around a staff, opened with a soft creak. Without hesitation, Jiang Chen stepped through.

The Trial of Strength

The door led to a vast battlefield. The ground was cracked and barren, and the sky roiled with dark clouds. Before Jiang Chen stood three figures, each radiating immense power. They were faceless, their forms shrouded in swirling energy, but their intent was clear.

The first figure struck with the force of a hurricane, its blows swift and unrelenting. Jiang Chen parried and dodged, his movements honed by years of battle. Drawing upon the Heavenly Serpent's Core, he countered with bursts of golden energy, forcing the figure to retreat.

The second figure wielded fire, its attacks scorching the air. Jiang Chen's robes singed as he summoned a barrier of light to deflect the flames. With a roar, he unleashed the Golden Serpent's Fang, piercing through the inferno and dissipating the figure into embers.

The final figure was silent, its presence oppressive. It wielded no weapon, yet every step it took caused the ground to tremble. Jiang Chen could feel its power pressing against his mind, testing his will. Gritting his teeth, he summoned every ounce of his strength, channeling it into a single, devastating strike. The figure shattered like glass, its fragments dissolving into the void.

Panting, Jiang Chen fell to one knee, his body trembling. The battlefield dissolved, replaced by a quiet chamber where a single path forward revealed itself.

The Trial of Resolve

The final trial was unlike the others. Jiang Chen found himself standing in a serene meadow, the air filled with the scent of blooming flowers. It was peaceful, almost idyllic. But the moment he tried to move, he realized he was not alone.

Figures from his past began to materialize. Lin Yue stood before him, her eyes filled with accusation. Behind her appeared the countless souls he had faced and defeated, their gazes piercing.

"Your path is paved with blood," Lin Yue said, her voice trembling. "You speak of ascension, but at what cost? How many more will suffer for your ambition?"

Jiang Chen's heart ached at her words. Doubt crept into his mind, weighing heavily on him. He knew the truth in her accusation. His journey had been far from clean.

But then he remembered the countless lives he had saved, the people who looked to him as a beacon of hope. He remembered the promise he made to himself: to control his fate and rise above the chains of destiny.

"I can't change the past," Jiang Chen said, his voice steady. "But I can shape the future. Every life I take weighs on me, but I will bear that burden if it means protecting those who cannot protect themselves. If it means breaking free of the heavens' shackles."

The figures faded, their expressions softening. Lin Yue's image lingered the longest, her gaze unreadable. When she finally vanished, the meadow dissolved, leaving Jiang Chen standing before a massive gate inscribed with ancient runes.

The Ascension

The Gate of Origin loomed before him, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light. The black crystal in his satchel pulsed violently, as though eager to reunite with the gate. Jiang Chen retrieved it, holding it up.

As the crystal neared the gate, it began to dissolve into motes of light, merging with the runes. The gate groaned, its massive doors slowly creaking open to reveal a swirling vortex of energy.

A voice echoed once more, soft but commanding. "You have passed the trials. Step forward, Jiang Chen, and claim your place among the Ascendants."

Jiang Chen took a deep breath, his heart pounding. The path ahead was uncertain, but he had come too far to turn back now. With steady steps, he crossed the threshold, the vortex enveloping him in blinding light.

As the light faded, he found himself standing in a new realm, its skies filled with floating islands and rivers of stars. The air was thick with energy, each breath invigorating his body. He had ascended—but his journey was far from over.