Chapter 10: The guardian's trial
I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the unknown figure. The mysterious woman had called him the Guardian, a spirit that tested all new cultivators in the realm.
The Guardian stepped forward, his presence radiating an aura of power and authority. He was tall and imposing, with eyes that seemed to see right through me.
"Elvis Kain, you have been brought to this realm to cultivate," the Guardian declared, his voice like thunder. "But before you can begin, you must prove yourself worthy."
I swallowed hard, my heart racing with anticipation. I had heard rumors of the Guardian's trial, but I had never thought I would be facing it so soon.
"What do I need to do?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
The Guardian smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You must face your own fears and doubts," he said. "If you can overcome them, you will be granted a free pass to the realm. But if you fail, your cultivation will be crippled."
I nodded, determination burning within me. I was not going to let my fears and doubts hold me back.
The Guardian raised his hand, and the air around me began to distort. A vision appeared before me, a manifestation of my deepest fears and doubts.
I saw myself failing, unable to cultivate, and being rejected by the realm. I saw myself being tormented by the mysterious woman, forced to endure endless suffering.
But I refused to give in. I focused my mind, using the techniques the mysterious woman had taught me to calm my thoughts and steady my nerves.
I began to breathe deeply, feeling my body relax and my mind clear. I visualized myself succeeding, overcoming my fears and doubts and emerging victorious.
But the Guardian was not going to make it easy for me. He summoned a wave of dark energy, sending it crashing down on me.
I raised my hands, summoning a shield of Qi to protect myself. The dark energy slammed into the shield, causing it to shudder and tremble.
I gritted my teeth, pouring more Qi into the shield. The dark energy continued to batter it, but I held firm.
Suddenly, the Guardian appeared before me, his eyes blazing with fury. He summoned a massive sword, its blade shining with an otherworldly light.
I drew my own sword, its blade humming with Qi. The Guardian charged at me, his sword flashing in the dim light.
I met him head-on, our swords clashing in a shower of sparks. The Guardian was powerful, but I was determined to defeat him.
We fought on, our swords dancing across the battlefield. I could feel my Qi flowing through me, powering my movements and guiding my strikes.
The Guardian was a formidable opponent, but I was gaining ground. I could feel my strength and speed increasing, my sword strikes becoming more precise and deadly.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I saw my chance. The Guardian left himself open for a split second, and I took advantage of it.
I struck with all my might, my sword slicing through the Guardian's defenses and striking true. The Guardian stumbled back, his eyes wide with surprise.
I stood tall, my chest heaving with exhaustion. I had done it. I had defeated the Guardian.
The Guardian nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "Well done, Elvis Kain," he said. "You have passed the trial. You are granted a free pass to the realm."
I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. I had faced my fears and doubts, and I had emerged victorious.
The Guardian turned to leave, but not before handing me a small, intricately carved stone. "This is a Realm Stone," he explained. "It will allow you to move freely between the Earth Realm and the Cultivation Realm. Use it wisely."
I took the stone, feeling its weight and power in my hand. I knew that this was just the beginning of my journey, and that there would be many more challenges ahead.
But I was ready. I was determined to become a powerful cultivator, to unlock the secrets of the realm and to achieve my dreams.
And with that, I set off on my journey, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
---
Elvis's Current Cultivation Level:
- Body Cultivation: Mortal Tier, Break Shell Stage (Level 5)
- Qi Cultivation: Mortal Tier, Qi Flow Realm (Level 3)
- Blood & Soul: None
- Spirit Cultivation: None