Chapter Ten: The First Trial

Watching Yaoye as he underwent the fusion, his brows were tightly furrowed from the pain, yet he gritted his teeth and endured in silence, not uttering a single sound. The Elder Ding nodded approvingly and said, "Not bad. Unafraid of hardship and suffering—commendable. You possess the heart of a true strong one."

As the fusion gradually drew to a close, Yaoye's body radiated with unusual brilliance, and his skin began to shed, much like a serpent casting off its old skin…

With the fusion nearing its end, Yaoye’s furrowed brows slowly relaxed. He exhaled deeply, opened his eyes, and looked at his own skin, murmuring, "At last, it’s over. This… is this really my body?" He could not help but marvel, for the body he once had was riddled with scars. After fusing with the Heavenly Demon Wolf Emperor, however, his flesh had become refined and smooth as a newborn’s, with not a single scar remaining.

His body brimming with explosive strength, Yaoye could feel the tremendous transformation within himself, and his heart swelled with gratification; all the suffering had been worth it.

"You’re awake!" A sudden voice interrupted his thoughts. Yaoye looked up, expecting to see Yang Xiaotian, but found instead an old man he did not recognize. "Who are you? Where is Senior Yang?" he asked.

"I am the spirit of the Creation Cauldron. You may call me Elder Ding. As for Xiaotian, his soul could not endure and has dissipated; he no longer exists. Before he vanished, he entrusted me to commence your master-recognition trial ahead of time. But frankly, I doubt you’re ready. You’ve experienced too little, your state of mind remains immature and untested. At the very least, you need the divine sense of the Unfettered Realm to have any chance of success. Though your physical body has reached that stage, it won’t help you in the trial. For the Creation Cauldron, there is but one chance to become its master. If you fail, you will never again have the opportunity.

"Moreover, your mind will suffer severe trauma. At best, you will be forever stunted, unable to make any further progress in cultivation. At worst, you may lose yourself completely, never to awaken again. Though I promised Xiaotian to begin the master-recognition trial for you, it must still be your decision. Think carefully! There’s no need to rush; until you’re ready, I will remain by your side. When your mind is clear, simply summon me with your divine sense to the Creation Cauldron." With these words, Elder Ding returned to the cauldron…

Yaoye stood up and left the main hall, entering the rear chamber. There, gazing upon the Heaven's Scar Greatsword, he recalled the legendary deeds of the God of War, Yang Xiaotian, and the silent sacrifices the elder had made for him these past days. An ache of sorrow welled up in his heart.

In the rear chamber, he erected a cenotaph for Yang Xiaotian, and after performing a solemn tribute, Yaoye said, "Senior, may your journey be smooth. I will not let you down. I will do everything in my power to eradicate the Demon Clan. Even if I perish, I will have no regrets!" With that, Yaoye sat beside the cenotaph and summoned Elder Ding with his divine sense.

"Have you made your decision? What is it? Even if you choose to give up now, it matters little—time is on your side, there’s no need to take undue risks," Elder Ding said gently, standing beside him.

"Yes, my mind is made up! Senior Yang, as the former master of the Creation Cauldron, must have had his reasons for bestowing this trial upon me now. I trust him! I will not let him down. Even if I fail, I will have no regrets. If I lack the resolve to face death or defeat, how can I ever hope to fight the Demon Clan in the days to come?" Yaoye answered with firm resolve.

Elder Ding stroked his beard, his eyes full of approval. "Well said! Boy, true strength lies in never fearing failure or death. Without such resolve, you will never achieve greatness. Let me remind you: in the Cauldron's trial of heart, you must act with sincerity and remain true to your origin. Do not be deceived by illusions; only by staying true to yourself and your actions can you succeed."

Once more, Yaoye bowed before Yang Xiaotian’s cenotaph. "Senior, please bear witness to this miracle with me! I will ensure that the Phoenix Dance Continent will never again suffer the ravages of the Demon Clan. This shall be my crucial first step toward rising! Elder Ding, let us begin…"

Elder Ding watched as Yaoye’s spirit was drawn into the Creation Cauldron, and spoke to his physical body, "Boy, treasure well the opportunity that Xiaotian worked so hard to win for you. This is vital for your future—if you miss it, there will be no second chance." With those words, Elder Ding returned to the world within the cauldron, his attention fixed upon Yaoye’s every move…