Veil of the Shattered Heavens

The peak of Heavenly Abyss Mountain had turned into a battlefield of survival, with Xuan Li at its center. The ground was dyed red with his blood, the air thick with chaotic energy and the remnants of the heavens' wrath. The once vibrant summit now resembled a wasteland of devastation.

Xuan Li sat cross-legged, his body broken and battered. His screams had subsided, not because the pain had lessened, but because his strength had all but abandoned him. His blood-soaked figure was surrounded by an oppressive stillness, broken only by the faint glow of the Ethereal Starvine hovering before him, its chaotic black-and-white aura swirling ominously.

In the distance, Mei Xue struggled toward the peak, her body wrapped in the protective cocoon of cosmic energy provided by Verdris. But the closer she got, the heavier the pressure became. Her breathing grew ragged, her vision blurred, and her heavenly aura flickered like a dying flame.

"Xuan... Li..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

When she finally reached the summit, her eyes widened in horror. Xuan Li was a mess of torn flesh and broken bones, his body trembling as he tried to endure the torment of the chaotic energy coursing through him. Tears fell unbidden from Mei Xue's eyes as she rushed to him, desperation overriding her fear.

But just as she approached, an invisible weight slammed down on her, forcing her to the ground.

"Ugh!" Mei Xue coughed, her body wracked with pain as blood spilled from her lips. She looked around wildly, trying to understand what was happening.

The pressure grew heavier, unbearable, as if the mountain itself sought to crush her. Mei Xue's vision darkened, and with a final gasp, she lost consciousness, her body collapsing mere feet from Xuan Li.

Hovering in the air, Verdris gazed down at Mei Xue's prone figure with a sigh. His expression was calm, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of sorrow.

"Disciple, this is your trial," he thought. "If you rely on me too much, you will never surpass the limits imposed upon you. A warrior who seeks to stand at the pinnacle must carve their path through life-threatening tribulations."

He glanced at Xuan Li, whose body was trembling like a candle in a storm. Blood pooled beneath him, and his skin was pale. Yet, there was still a flicker of determination in the young man's eyes.

"Disciple... today, you either create history or become history. It is up to you."

Xuan Li's breathing was shallow, each inhale a struggle. His mind was clouded with pain, his body battered beyond recognition.

Maybe I should just... take a nap. A small one... he thought, his eyes slowly closing.

Verdris's gaze hardened as he watched his disciple falter. He turned away, as though he were staring at a lifeless corpse.

But as Xuan Li drifted into unconsciousness, his mind was transported to a void of endless darkness. He floated weightlessly, suspended in the emptiness.

"Where... am I?" he muttered, his voice echoing. "Am I... dead? Damn it... am I really just a loser? Always a loser..."

Suddenly, a soft light appeared, casting a faint glow in the void. A voice, calm yet firm, resonated in the darkness.

"That's right. You'll always be a loser... if you don't believe in yourself."

Xuan Li turned sharply toward the voice, his eyes widening in shock. Before him stood a child—a younger version of himself. The child radiated a faint cosmic glow, his small figure exuding both innocence and immense power.

"Who... are you?" Xuan Li stammered.

The child smiled warmly. "Why are you so surprised? I'm you. Don't you recognize yourself?"

Xuan Li's confusion turned to frustration. "Stop playing tricks! Tell me who you are! Where am I? Am I dead? Why is this happening to me?"

The child tilted his head, his gaze piercing. "Let me ask you something, Xuan Li. Why are you living? To become the strongest? To prove yourself in battle? Why are you alive?"

Xuan Li fell silent, unable to answer.

The child sighed softly, shaking his head. "Just as I thought. You don't know your purpose. You're wandering without direction. But hear me, Xuan Li—you are the one blessed by the Cosmic Origin. You are destined to shake the very fabric of existence itself. Believe in yourself. Believe in the cosmos."

The child extended his hand toward Xuan Li, his cosmic glow intensifying.

Xuan Li hesitated for a moment, then reached out and grasped the child's hand. "You're right... I am chosen. I have to believe in myself and the cosmos."

The child smiled as his form shattered into countless stars, merging with Xuan Li's body.

Back in reality, a sudden pillar of starry blue light erupted from Xuan Li's body, piercing the heavens. The oppressive dark clouds above the mountain shattered, and the thunderous wrath of the heavens dissipated into nothingness.

The mountain trembled violently, its chaotic energy swirling in a frenzy around the young warrior.

Hovering above, Verdris's eyes opened, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Well done, disciple."

Xuan Li opened his eyes slowly, his gaze calm and resolute. The chaotic energy of the Ethereal Starvine, which had been tearing through his body, seemed to sense the change in him. The black-and-white aura surged outward, as if trying to escape.

"You gave me such a hard time," Xuan Li muttered, his voice low but steady. "And now you want to leave? You're not qualified."

He stretched out his hand, and the chaotic energy was drawn back into his body, this time willingly. Directing it toward his Primordial Core, he felt the shattered foundation within him beginning to repair itself. The black-and-white aura merged seamlessly with his core, strengthening and stabilizing it.

The pillar of blue starlight gradually faded, leaving behind a quiet stillness on the peak.

Nearby, Mei Xue stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She glanced around, confused, until her gaze landed on Xuan Li. Relief flooded her as she saw him sitting cross-legged, his aura calm and steady.

A sigh escaped her lips as she sat beside him, closing her eyes to meditate. The residual cosmic energy from Verdris's barrier still surrounded her, soothing her frayed nerves.

Above them, Verdris watched the scene with a faint smile. "You pulled it off, disciple. Good... very good."

He raised his hand, summoning the swirling chaotic energy of the mountain. The energy condensed into a massive vortex, forming a whirlpool above him.

"I suppose it's time for me to restore a little of my own strength," Verdris murmured.

With a single motion, he absorbed the chaotic energy into his being. His form brightened slightly, though his expression remained as unreadable as ever.

"This is only the beginning, disciple. The path ahead will only grow more treacherous. But today, you've taken your first step toward destiny."