The crisp morning air was filled with tension as participants gathered around a wide, circular stone arena built into the middle of the trial grounds. The massive stage, engraved with glowing silver lines, pulsed faintly as a low spiritual hum echoed from within.
A giant banner fluttered above:
"First Trial – Spiritual Pressure Assessment: Face the Will of Heaven!"
Su Yang stood calmly beside Jin Hao, observing the platform. He silently noted the intricate runes inscribed on the floor. These aren't ordinary formations… they amplify spiritual suppression by simulating the will of heaven. Not everyone will pass this.
"Bro, this is the hardest test for low-level cultivators," Jin Hao whispered. "If your soul isn't steady, you'll collapse in seconds."
"I'll be fine," Su Yang replied with a calm smile, eyes locked on the platform.
Just then, the trial overseer — a white-robed elder with an Earth-level cultivation base — stepped forward and spoke clearly, "All participants, step forward one by one! The formation will suppress your soul and force. Those who can last a full ten breaths will qualify. Those who last twenty breaths will be ranked highly."
The crowd stirred. Only a few from the smaller sects could endure twenty breaths. The elites from major sects, like the Thunderclap Sect, Flowing Wind Pavilion, and Ice Serpent Valley, were confident. As they stood in their groups, Su Yang noticed something.
A young woman dressed in pale blue robes from the Ice Serpent Valley stepped onto the platform. Her presence was ethereal — cold but serene, her long silver hair tied back, eyes calm like a still winter lake.
Su Yang recognized her instantly.
That's the girl who's been secretly watching me since I arrived in Lu City.
He narrowed his eyes. She's strong — at least at peak Vein Tempering, and her soul is stable. But why is she interested in me? Is it because of Max? Or… my ice body?
As she stepped into the circle, the formation glowed, and waves of invisible pressure burst outward.
"Begin!" the elder shouted.
All eyes locked onto her. As the pressure bore down, she stood like an ice sculpture, unaffected.
Three breaths… five… ten…
Even the elders raised their brows. At fifteen breaths, her brows knit slightly.
At twenty, a faint mist swirled around her, and she gracefully stepped off.
"She passed with flying colors," Jin Hao said in awe.
"She's from Ice Serpent Valley," someone whispered. "Probably has a special constitution."
Then came the turn of a bulky youth from the Mountain Iron Sect. He lasted seven breaths before falling to his knees.
One by one, disciples were either crushed or humiliated.
The elder called, "Begin! Jin Hao of Lu City — step forward!"
Jin Hao froze. "Me? Already?"
Su Yang gave him a slight nod. "Just walk in. Don't resist it forcefully — stabilize your breathing. Remember what I told you during practice."
Jin Hao took a deep breath and stepped onto the platform.
The moment he entered the formation, a deep humming sound resonated. The air grew heavier, and a silver glow enveloped him.
Boom!
A spiritual force slammed into his chest. His legs trembled, but he didn't fall. He clenched his fists and braced his soul.
One breath… two… three…
The crowd murmured.
"Isn't that the commoner from Lu City?"
"Not bad for a Bone Tempering cultivator."
Jin Hao gritted his teeth as sweat dripped down his face.
Seven… eight…
His eyes nearly rolled back, but Su Yang's voice echoed in his memory: "You don't need brute strength. Just anchor your thoughts. Let the pressure pass through you."
With one final breath, he lasted ten full breaths before dropping to one knee and stepping out.
"Ten breaths! Qualified!" the elder declared.
Jin Hao stumbled back beside Su Yang, panting. "Bro… that was the most terrifying thing I've ever felt."
"You did well," Su Yang replied with a smile. "You've improved a lot."
Jin Hao grinned weakly. "Still nothing compared to you, I bet."
Finally, the elder called out, "Su Yang of Lu City — step forward!"
Whispers rippled across the arena.
"That's the boy with the strange beast."
"He's only at Bone Tempering realm. He won't last more than five breaths."
"Sun Xiyan plans to challenge him later. Let's see how weak he really is."
Unbothered by the chatter, Su Yang calmly stepped into the formation.
The runes lit up with intense silver light.
Suddenly — BOOM!
An invisible force slammed down on Su Yang's soul, like the heavens themselves were watching him.
The pressure was immense.
Su Yang's eyes, however, remained steady. Within his mind, he heard his system's voice:
> [Spiritual Pressure Detected: Initiating automatic resistance using soul stability protocols.]
> [Host's soul is partially strengthened by Karma Fire Body. Resistance enhanced.]
Su Yang smirked inwardly.
The world around him slowed.
So this is spiritual pressure? It's heavy, but… compared to that Ice Blood pressure when I was saving Lu Ying? This is child's play.
One breath.
Two.
Three.
The crowd began murmuring in surprise.
"He's still standing?"
"No tremble in his knees…"
Five… Seven… Ten breaths.
Now, even the elders were watching closely.
From the stands, the silver-haired girl from Ice Serpent Valley blinked. Her calm expression shifted slightly. His soul is stable… too stable for his realm.
Su Yang's robe fluttered from the swirling pressure, but he remained perfectly still — hands behind his back.
Fifteen… Seventeen… Twenty.
Only then did he step back.
Complete silence.
Even Jin Hao had his jaw open. "Bro… what the hell?"
"Is this guy really Bone Tempering?"
A few sect elders started exchanging whispers.
The trial overseer cleared his throat. "Su Yang — twenty breaths. High rank."
The moment he stepped down, Su Yang noticed several sect leaders looking at him.
And from the Ice Serpent Valley group, the silver-haired girl looked away quickly… but not before Su Yang caught the corner of her lips lift in amusement.
She's smiling at me?
Jin Hao leaned in. "You… you monster. You lasted as long as the top disciples of the Four Sects!"
Su Yang looked ahead, his voice calm. "That was just the first stage."
But inside, he thought: So far, no one knows the true nature of my body or power. Let's keep it that way.
In the distance, someone else watched grimly.
Sun Xiyan clenched his fists.
"Hmph. So he passed the first stage. No matter. In the duel round, I'll crush him."
Behind him, his elder's earlier words echoed in his mind:
"If you defeat him openly, no one can question us. The beast will be ours."
Sun Xiyan smirked.
He won't pass the second stage anyway. But if he does… he'll fall before me.