The moment Ao Longtian stepped into the ocean of eyes, the world went silent.
There was no wind.
No water.
No movement.
Only eyes.
They floated in the darkness around him—thousands at first, then millions, each one watching.
Some were human.
Some belonged to beasts.
Others were ancient and strange, with vertical pupils, multiple irises, or no visible pupils at all.
Longtian stood perfectly still.
"This is unpleasant."
Mo Chen floated several steps ahead of him.
"You haven't seen anything yet."
Longtian glanced at him.
"You've been here before."
"Yes."
"And you failed."
"Yes."
"Then why are you helping me?"
Mo Chen smiled.
"I'm not."
He pointed toward the darkness.
"I'm warning you."
Longtian looked forward.
One eye opened.
Then another.
Then another.
Soon the entire darkness was filled with eyes.
The treasure spoke.
"Eighth trial."
Longtian waited.
"Truth cannot be destroyed."
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"Witness."
Longtian frowned.
"That's it?"
"Witness."
He sighed.
"I preferred the battlefield."
The first eye moved toward him.
It stopped inches from his face.
Then—
Longtian saw himself.
Not his current self.
His childhood.
A young Ao Longtian stood in the Ao Clan courtyard.
He was perhaps eight years old.
A group of older children surrounded him.
One pushed him.
Another laughed.
"You think you're special?"
Young Longtian stood back up.
He didn't cry.
He attacked.
The memory shifted.
His father watched from a distant balcony.
His expression was cold.
Then another memory.
Longtian sitting alone.
Another.
His first cultivation breakthrough.
Another.
His first real defeat.
Another.
His first betrayal.
The memories accelerated.
Childhood.
Youth.
Training.
Ambition.
Failure.
Anger.
Pride.
Everything.
The eye showed him things he had forgotten.
Things he had deliberately buried.
Longtian clenched his fists.
"Enough."
The eye remained.
The memory changed again.
This time—
his newborn child.
Longtian froze.
The child was small.
Weak.
Barely able to open its eyes.
Then the demon blood appeared.
Longtian watched helplessly as the corruption spread.
The child's body twisted.
The demon blood consumed it.
Then came the fusion.
The pain.
The struggle.
The moment the child's spirit broke apart.
Longtian's expression became completely empty.
He watched himself survive.
He watched his child's remaining spirit disappear into him.
The eye showed every second.
Every detail.
Longtian didn't look away.
When the memory ended, he whispered:
"I remember."
The eye closed.
Another opened.
This one showed his sister.
Ao Lian.
She stood alone inside her room.
Her expression was furious.
Then afraid.
Then confused.
Longtian watched her slowly adapt to the strange changes happening around her.
He watched the moment she realized her brother was becoming something different.
The moment she decided to follow him anyway.
Longtian looked away.
"That's enough."
The eye remained.
"You don't get to judge her."
The eye closed.
Another opened.
This one showed the maid.
The pink fog.
The extraction.
The moment Longtian killed her.
Longtian stared.
He felt nothing.
That frightened him more than the memory itself.
Mo Chen watched from a distance.
"You've changed."
Longtian looked at him.
"Everyone changes."
"No."
Mo Chen shook his head.
"Most people become better at hiding what they were."
Longtian smiled.
"And you?"
"I became honest."
"Did it help?"
"No."
Mo Chen laughed.
"Not even slightly."
The eyes began changing.
They no longer showed Longtian's past.
They showed possible futures.
Ao Longtian standing before a million corpses.
Ao Longtian sitting on a throne.
Ao Longtian kneeling before an unknown being.
Ao Longtian surrounded by twelve leaders.
Ao Longtian dying alone.
Ao Longtian standing beside Ao Lian.
Ao Longtian standing against her.
Ao Longtian surrounded by enemies.
Ao Longtian surrounded by followers.
Ao Longtian old.
Ao Longtian young.
Ao Longtian—
alone.
The images became faster.
Longtian closed his eyes.
"Those aren't truths."
Mo Chen smiled.
"Good."
Longtian opened his eyes.
"They're possibilities."
"Exactly."
"So why show them?"
"Because people become slaves to futures they haven't lived."
Longtian looked at him.
"That's surprisingly wise."
"I have my moments."
"Don't get used to compliments."
Mo Chen laughed.
Then the eyes stopped.
All of them.
Every single one turned toward Mo Chen.
His smile disappeared.
Longtian noticed.
"You look nervous."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Mo Chen took a step backward.
The eyes moved with him.
Longtian frowned.
"They're showing you something."
Mo Chen didn't answer.
One massive eye appeared above them.
It opened.
Mo Chen's face went pale.
"No."
Longtian looked upward.
The eye showed a battlefield.
Mo Chen stood at the center.
Thousands of people surrounded him.
They were all kneeling.
A crown rested on his head.
Then the image changed.
The people stood.
They attacked him.
Mo Chen fought.
One by one, they died.
Then the final person approached.
A little girl.
Mo Chen dropped his sword.
He couldn't kill her.
The girl stabbed him.
Mo Chen fell.
The vision ended.
Longtian stared at him.
"You were betrayed."
Mo Chen said nothing.
"By your own people."
Still nothing.
"You couldn't kill the last one."
Mo Chen's jaw tightened.
Longtian understood.
"She was your daughter."
Mo Chen looked at him.
For the first time, there was no smile.
"Don't."
Longtian nodded.
"I won't."
The eye closed.
Mo Chen breathed out.
Then the treasure spoke.
"Truth witnessed."
The ocean began disappearing.
Mo Chen looked toward Longtian.
"Don't become me."
Longtian smiled.
"I wasn't planning to."
"You say that now."
"Then I'll say it again later."
The world vanished.
Longtian found himself standing before the ninth gate.
Only three remained.
The ninth gate was covered in images of people laughing.
Music echoed from behind it.
Mo Chen stood beside him.
"You made it."
Longtian looked at him.
"What happens to you?"
Mo Chen smiled.
"I stay."
"Forever?"
"Perhaps."
"Can you leave?"
"No."
Longtian studied him.
"Then why are you smiling?"
Mo Chen looked toward the empty horizon.
"Because someone finally came."
Longtian understood.
"You were waiting."
"For someone who could reach the ninth gate."
"Why?"
Mo Chen's smile became mysterious.
"You'll understand soon."
He began fading.
Longtian frowned.
"Mo Chen."
The man looked back.
"Yes?"
"Are you real?"
Mo Chen laughed.
"That's the wrong question."
Then he disappeared.
Longtian stood alone.
The treasure spoke.
"Eighth stage complete."
Longtian looked at the place where Mo Chen had stood.
"Was he a previous candidate?"
"Yes."
"Did he fail?"
"Yes."
"Is he dead?"
Silence.
Longtian narrowed his eyes.
"That's not a yes."
"Continue."
Longtian smiled.
"Fine."
He approached the ninth gate.
The gate opened.
Music poured through.
Warm golden light filled the darkness.
Longtian stepped inside.
He found himself standing in an enormous city.
Unlike the previous trials, this one was beautiful.
People filled the streets.
Restaurants overflowed with customers.
Theaters performed plays.
Musicians played on every corner.
Markets stayed open throughout the night.
People laughed.
Danced.
Drank.
Gambled.
Fought.
Loved.
The city was alive.
Longtian smiled.
"Entertainment."
The treasure spoke.
"Ninth trial."
Longtian walked forward.
A young man suddenly bumped into him.
"Watch where you're going."
Longtian looked at him.
The young man wore expensive clothes.
Several guards followed him.
He looked like a classic spoiled noble.
Longtian stepped aside.
"My apologies."
The noble smiled.
"You should be."
One guard laughed.
The noble looked Longtian up and down.
"You look poor."
Longtian glanced at his own clothes.
"They're comfortable."
"Comfortable?"
The noble laughed.
"Do you know who I am?"
Longtian sighed.
"Here we go."
The noble stepped forward.
"I'm the son of Lord Han."
"Congratulations."
"You should bow."
"No."
The noble's smile disappeared.
"What?"
"I said no."
The guards drew their weapons.
Longtian looked at them.
"You know this is a terrible place to start a fight."
The noble sneered.
"Why?"
Longtian smiled.
"Because I haven't figured out the rules yet."
The noble attacked.
Longtian moved.
One punch.
The noble flew across the street.
The crowd gasped.
Longtian looked at his hand.
"Interesting."
The guards attacked.
Longtian defeated them quickly.
Then he looked toward the noble.
"Are you finished?"
The noble scrambled backward.
"You'll regret this!"
Longtian smiled.
"I probably will."
The noble ran.
Longtian continued walking.
A woman watching from a balcony laughed.
"You've been here five minutes and already started a fight."
Longtian looked up.
She had short black hair and wore a green merchant's robe.
She was holding a ledger.
"Who are you?"
She smiled.
"Han Meiyu."
"Related to the man I just hit?"
"Unfortunately."
Longtian raised an eyebrow.
"His sister?"
"Older sister."
She leaned against the balcony.
"And unlike my brother, I know when I've met someone dangerous."
Longtian smiled.
"That's useful."
"Very."
She closed her ledger.
"Which is why I'd like to make you an offer."
Longtian looked at her.
"What kind?"
"A business one."
"Now?"
"Why wait?"
Longtian laughed.
"I like you."
"I hear that often."
"From people you threaten?"
"Usually."
She tossed a small jade token down.
Longtian caught it.
"If you ever build something worth trading with," she said, "find me."
Then she turned.
"And try not to destroy my family before then."
Longtian looked at the token.
A merchant's seal.
A new name.
A potential future ally.
He smiled.
"Han Meiyu."
The treasure spoke.
"Character interaction recorded."
Longtian looked upward.
"Are you keeping track?"
"Everything is recorded."
"Good."
Longtian tucked the token away.
"Then remember her."
The ninth trial continued.
Longtian discovered the true challenge wasn't entertainment.
It was influence.
People gathered around whoever could make them laugh.
Whoever could give them stories.
Whoever could give them an escape from hardship.
Longtian learned that entertainment could unite people.
It could distract them.
It could manipulate them.
It could even control public opinion.
By the end of the trial, Longtian had created theaters, storytellers, traveling performers, public festivals, competitive games, and information networks disguised as entertainment.
The ninth gate disappeared.
Two remained.
Agriculture.
And the unknown gate.
Longtian stood before them.
The agricultural gate opened.
But before he stepped through, the merchant's jade token in his pocket suddenly cracked.
Longtian froze.
A tiny voice whispered from inside it.
"Longtian."
He recognized Han Meiyu's voice.
"Help."
The message ended.
Longtian's expression hardened.
He looked toward the gate.
Then toward the empty space where the message had appeared.
The treasure spoke.
"You cannot leave the trial."
Longtian smiled coldly.
"Then whoever attacked her made a mistake."
"What mistake?"
Longtian stepped through the agricultural gate.
"They gave me a reason to finish faster."
Far above the mortal world, the heavenly guards watched another seal ignite.
The oldest guard looked toward the mortal realm.
"The merchant has been found."
Another guard frowned.
"Should we intervene?"
The old man shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because she's one of the people the treasure wanted him to meet."
The guard looked confused.
"Then what happens if she dies?"
The old man stared at the glowing seals.
"Then the trial changes."
In a distant city outside the treasure's realm, Han Meiyu sat inside a locked room.
Blood ran down her cheek.
Three men stood before her.
The man Longtian had punched earlier was among them.
His face was swollen.
He smiled.
"You should have listened to me."
Han Meiyu wiped the blood away.
"You've always been stupid."
The noble's smile vanished.
"You think your family's wealth can protect you?"
"No."
She smiled.
"I think you're too stupid to realize what you've started."
A man behind him laughed.
"Who exactly is going to save you?"
Han Meiyu looked toward the window.
Her eyes were calm.
"Someone much worse than you."
The men laughed.
But Han Meiyu didn't.
Because she had already sent the message.
And somewhere beyond reality—
Ao Longtian had received it.
The ninth seal began glowing.
The tenth gate trembled.
And for the first time since the trial began, Longtian wasn't thinking about passing.
He was thinking about returning.
Because someone had touched one of the people the treasure had placed in his path.
And Ao Longtian had never been particularly forgiving.