The moment the words appeared above the palace, the entire First Ruin trembled.
Su Chen stared at the golden words.
Lin Yanyan stood beside him, her crimson phoenix flames quietly burning around her body.
Neither of them spoke.
The crowned man remained at the entrance of the palace, watching them with an unreadable smile.
Mu Xue tightened her grip around her spear.
"What exactly is this trial?"
The man looked toward her.
"Only those chosen by the First Dynasty can enter the palace."
The Sea Sovereign frowned.
"And what happens to those who aren't chosen?"
The man's smile disappeared.
"They die."
The atmosphere instantly became heavy.
Su Chen stepped forward.
"Then I'll take the trial alone."
Lin Yanyan immediately grabbed his arm.
"No."
Su Chen looked at her.
"This place is dangerous."
"So?"
Her expression became serious.
"You think I'll stand outside while you walk into a place where people die?"
Su Chen was silent.
Lin Yanyan stepped closer.
"We are married."
Her voice was calm, but there was determination in her eyes.
"If you're going into danger, I'm going with you."
A faint smile appeared on Su Chen's face.
"You're becoming more stubborn."
"Only because you're more reckless."
The Sea Sovereign laughed.
"I like her."
Mu Xue nodded.
"She has courage."
The Pavilion Master looked toward the two thrones inside the palace.
"Then there is no point arguing."
Su Chen turned toward the crowned man.
"Explain the trial."
The man nodded.
"The trial contains three stages."
"First, the Trial of Strength."
"Second, the Trial of Will."
"Third…"
He paused.
"The Trial of Choice."
Su Chen narrowed his eyes.
"What kind of choice?"
"You'll understand when you reach it."
The crowned man stepped aside.
"The trial begins now."
The palace doors opened.
Su Chen and Lin Yanyan stepped inside.
The moment they crossed the threshold—
BOOM!
The world changed.
Su Chen found himself standing in an endless desert.
Lin Yanyan was gone.
"Yanyan!"
His voice echoed across the desert.
No response.
He immediately released his spiritual sense.
Nothing.
Not even her presence.
Then a voice sounded above him.
TRIAL OF STRENGTH.
The sky darkened.
A gigantic figure descended.
It was covered in black armor and carried a massive sword.
Its aura was terrifying.
Su Chen recognized the pressure immediately.
"Immortal."
The armored figure raised its sword.
The desert exploded.
Su Chen moved.
CLANG!
The Heaven Slaughter Sword collided with the giant blade.
The impact sent sand flying into the sky.
Su Chen's feet slid backward.
He frowned.
"This thing is stronger than an ordinary Immortal."
The figure attacked again.
Su Chen blocked.
Another strike.
Then another.
Each attack became faster.
Su Chen suddenly realized something.
The guardian wasn't trying to kill him immediately.
It was learning.
Every time he used a technique, the guardian adapted.
The Fourth Imperial Seal reacted.
Su Chen's eyes became sharp.
"Then I'll stop using techniques."
He released the Heaven Slaughter Sword.
The weapon remained floating beside him.
The guardian charged.
Su Chen stepped forward.
His fist struck.
BOOM!
The armored guardian's head snapped backward.
Su Chen followed with another punch.
Then another.
The guardian was forced backward.
Su Chen didn't give it time to recover.
His body moved naturally through the battlefield.
No techniques.
No complicated laws.
Just physical strength and combat instincts.
The final punch landed directly on the guardian's chest.
CRACK!
The armor shattered.
The guardian collapsed.
The desert disappeared.
Su Chen found himself standing inside a massive hall.
The crowned man appeared before him.
"You passed."
Su Chen looked around.
"Where is Lin Yanyan?"
"You completed your trial."
Su Chen's expression hardened.
"She hasn't."
The man smiled.
"You worry about her."
"Of course."
"Then you have already begun the second trial."
Su Chen frowned.
The hall suddenly disappeared.
A scene appeared before him.
Lin Yanyan stood alone in darkness.
A voice whispered around her.
"You can become stronger than him."
Another scene appeared.
Su Chen was standing on a throne.
Lin Yanyan stood far below.
"One day, he will stand above you."
Another scene.
Su Chen surrounded by countless women.
Lin Yanyan stood alone.
The voice continued.
"Leave him now."
"You will never be enough."
Lin Yanyan stared at the illusions.
Her fists slowly tightened.
Then she laughed.
"Is that all?"
The illusions froze.
Lin Yanyan's phoenix flames erupted.
"You don't understand him."
The darkness trembled.
"He doesn't need me to be stronger than him."
Her crimson eyes became fierce.
"He needs someone who will stand beside him."
The illusions shattered.
Lin Yanyan walked forward.
"I don't care if he becomes the strongest person in existence."
"I'll walk beside him."
"If he climbs the heavens, I'll climb with him."
"If he falls…"
Her flames became enormous.
"I'll pull him back up."
The darkness completely shattered.
Lin Yanyan appeared in the same hall as Su Chen.
The moment she saw him, she smiled.
"You finished?"
Su Chen nodded.
"You?"
"Obviously."
The crowned man watched them quietly.
Neither had been defeated.
Neither had abandoned the other.
The second trial was complete.
Then the entire palace shook.
The two golden thrones began glowing.
The crowned man became serious.
"Now comes the final trial."
Su Chen looked toward him.
"The Trial of Choice."
The man nodded.
Two doors appeared.
One was golden.
The other was crimson.
"Su Chen must choose one."
He pointed toward the golden door.
"That door will grant him the full inheritance of the First Dynasty."
Then he pointed toward the crimson door.
"That door will grant Lin Yanyan the full inheritance of the Phoenix Sovereign."
Lin Yanyan's eyes widened.
"Both?"
The crowned man nodded.
"But there is a condition."
Su Chen's expression became cold.
"What condition?"
"Only one door can be opened."
Silence filled the hall.
Su Chen looked at Lin Yanyan.
She immediately shook her head.
"No."
The crowned man continued.
"If Su Chen chooses the golden door, he will gain power beyond the Immortal Realm."
"If he chooses the crimson door, Lin Yanyan will receive the Phoenix Sovereign's complete legacy."
Su Chen remained silent.
The crowned man smiled.
"Choose."
Lin Yanyan looked at him.
"Don't choose for me."
Su Chen stared at the two doors.
The golden door represented power.
The crimson door represented Lin Yanyan's future.
The choice appeared simple.
But Su Chen didn't believe the First Dynasty would create such an obvious test.
He walked toward the center.
"Neither."
The crowned man's expression changed.
Su Chen raised his hand.
The Fourth Imperial Seal appeared.
"If this inheritance requires me to sacrifice someone beside me…"
Golden energy erupted.
"…then I don't want it."
Lin Yanyan stared at him.
The crowned man's eyes widened.
"Impossible."
Su Chen smiled.
"You made one mistake."
He looked toward the two doors.
"You assumed I'd choose between power and the person I love."
The Fourth Imperial Seal released an enormous pulse.
"I choose both."
BOOM!
The palace shook violently.
Cracks spread across the two doors.
The crowned man's expression became completely serious.
"That's not possible."
Su Chen's eyes became golden.
"Then watch."
Lin Yanyan's phoenix flames erupted beside him.
The crimson and golden energies intertwined.
The two doors began merging.
The entire palace trembled.
Ancient symbols appeared across the walls.
Then a voice echoed throughout the First Ruin.
UNEXPECTED CHOICE DETECTED.
SUCCESSOR QUALIFICATION: EXCEEDED.
The crowned man slowly stepped backward.
For the first time—
Fear appeared in his eyes.
"That's impossible."
Su Chen looked at him.
"What?"
The man stared at the Fourth Imperial Seal.
"You didn't choose the inheritance."
His voice trembled.
"You challenged the trial itself."
The palace began collapsing.
The two thrones shattered.
And deep beneath the First Ruin, something ancient finally opened its eyes.
The crowned man looked toward the darkness below.
"No…"
Su Chen immediately felt the terrifying presence.
Lin Yanyan moved closer to him.
"What is that?"
The crowned man whispered:
"The First Dynasty's true master."
A gigantic heartbeat echoed beneath the palace.
BOOM.
The entire ruin shook.
BOOM.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
BOOM.
The crowned man's face became pale.
"He's awake."
Su Chen tightened his grip around the Heaven Slaughter Sword.
"Then let's meet him."