The clang of the bronze bell echoed across the sect grounds. Its deep, resonant sound marked the beginning of the Punishment Trial, a rarely invoked judgment reserved for those whose alleged crimes carried both sect-wide outrage and hidden political weight.
Kai stood at the center of the vast Punishment Arena, a stone coliseum carved into the mountain itself. The seats above overflowed with disciples, elders, and outer guests. The atmosphere bristled with tension, gossip, and hidden intent.
> [System Notification: New Trial Mode Detected.]
Feature Unlocked — "Endurance Counter." Tracks stamina, focus, and resilience under continuous duress. Progress unlocks hidden potential. Failure results in total collapse.
Kai's breath stilled. Another minor feature. It wasn't a weapon, nor a skill—but something deeper. He understood the meaning immediately: this was a survival challenge not of single fights, but of duration.
"Let it begin," Elder Yanshi's voice boomed, sharp and heavy with disdain. He was one of the tribunal elders, his faction known to be allied with the shadowy elder Kai suspected of orchestrating the ambush.
The ground shifted beneath Kai as the first gate of the arena opened.
Day One: The Gauntlet of Blades
A dozen disciples stepped forward—cultivators of varying rank, chosen not randomly but carefully. Their strengths complemented each other: two formation users, three weapon specialists, and the rest speed-based attackers.
The first clash came like lightning. A spear thrust narrowly missed Kai's chest, and immediately an illusionary field spread across the arena from the formation users.
Kai's mind sharpened.
They're not testing fairness. They're testing how far I can last before breaking.
He gritted his teeth. Energy surged through his meridians, burning bright as he layered his techniques together. His footwork grew sharper, weaving through overlapping attacks. The Endurance Counter in the corner of his vision ticked up—10%, 12%, 15%—every strike dodged and counter delivered added to his growth.
One by one, he turned the chaos against them. A sword user lunged too far, only for Kai to shift, pulling another attacker into the blow. A spear wielder fell screaming as Kai's fist crushed his ribs.
By the time the dust settled, six disciples lay broken on the ground, the rest unconscious or begging for withdrawal.
The crowd buzzed, torn between awe and condemnation.
Kai spat blood into the dirt and stood taller, refusing to show weakness. "Is this all the sect calls justice?" he growled.
Above, Elder Yanshi's expression tightened. "Second wave!"
The arena shook again.
Day Two: The Crushing Weight
The second day began without rest. The tribunal's decree demanded three consecutive days of battle, no pause except for what little recovery he could manage while waiting for new opponents.
This time, not disciples but spirit beasts were released into the arena—fang-backed wolves, shadow panthers, and even a scaled iron boar. The beasts roared, their primal killing intent shaking the weaker spectators.
Kai's body screamed with exhaustion from the previous day, but the Endurance Counter flickered: 42%. His stamina reserves had deepened, each step carrying more weight, each strike more refined.
He fought like a storm.
When a wolf lunged for his throat, Kai seized its jaw and snapped it aside. When the boar charged, he pivoted, channeling his energy into a devastating palm strike that shattered its skull. Blood coated his arms, his breathing ragged, but every kill brought a surge of insight.
His movements grew instinctive—no wasted energy, no blind fury. Even when his legs buckled, he forced himself to stand. The system pulsed softly:
> [Endurance Counter: 58% — Resilience Threshold Reached. Small attribute bonus unlocked: +3 Willpower.]
The crowd gasped as Kai stood atop a mound of corpses, battered yet unbroken.
"Still standing," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. No matter what they throw, I'll endure.
Day Three: The Fated Duel
By the dawn of the third day, Kai was a specter of defiance—his body cut, burned, and bruised, but his eyes burning brighter than ever. The arena floor was stained with blood and ash.
The crowd hushed as the final gate opened. This time, only one figure walked forward.
It was Lian Xue, the sect's ranked third genius and a direct disciple of the very elder whose shadows tugged behind this punishment. He was armed with a gleaming halberd, his aura pressing like a mountain.
"This is where your rebellion ends," Lian Xue said coldly, spinning the halberd with practiced ease.
Kai's body trembled, every muscle threatening collapse. But inside, his spirit surged higher than ever.
The first clash shattered the arena floor. Lian Xue's halberd carved arcs of steel and flame, while Kai ducked, twisted, and countered with fists hardened by days of continuous struggle.
Every blow threatened to break him. Every parry nearly shattered his bones.
But for the first time, Kai noticed something.
I'm keeping up.
Even battered, even bloodied, he matched a top genius for three exchanges… then five… then ten. His growth wasn't linear—it was explosive, his system feeding every ounce of endurance into sharper instincts.
The duel became a spectacle. Lian Xue's halberd roared like thunder; Kai's fists answered like iron bells.
Finally, when the halberd descended in a killing arc, Kai's body moved on its own—sidestepping, his fist crashing into Lian Xue's ribs with a crack that echoed like lightning.
Lian Xue stumbled, blood spurting from his lips. The crowd gasped.
Kai swayed on his feet, vision blurring, but he raised his chin defiantly.
"I will not fall… not to schemes… not to beasts… not even to your chosen genius."
The arena exploded with noise—shock, outrage, admiration.
High above, the elders whispered fiercely, their factions rattled. Elder Yanshi's face was pale with fury, while other elders concealed sparks of interest.
> [System Notification: Endurance Counter Complete. Hidden Pathway Achieved — "Trial Survivor." Temporary buff unlocked: +10% to all resistances under duress.]
Kai exhaled, his body finally collapsing to one knee. But though his flesh faltered, his spirit towered higher than ever.
The Punishment Trial was over. He had survived three days of merciless judgment.
And though enemies still lurked in the shadows, the entire sect had witnessed his defiance.