On a lush lunar planet, home to strange flora and creatures that knew only the night sky, two great elders of the Death Knights stood on the grounds of a teleportation formation. One, a muscular middle-aged man with red hair pulsing with energy, stood next to a handsome man with a set of illusory tails behind him. The number of tails constantly changed, from one to nine in random sequences.
Sensing fluctuations from above, the handsome man spoke. "Elder Bai, it seems they're finally ready to send those brats over."
Elder Bai pondered for a moment before saying, "It's a shame that our Death Knights made an oath all those years ago. Otherwise, with this realm's resources, how could we not rise in this great collapse? In the end, we're stuck training other powers' younger generations, forced to search among the trash to find great talents. Elder Feng, I can't help but wonder if longevity is worth our boring lifestyles right now."
Elder Feng shook his head. "Such is the life of the defeated."
A breath later, one by one, people started appearing. Before long, over 400 cultivators, all in the Flesh and Bone Forging realms, were there. Viewing their surroundings, loud chatter soon followed. "Where are we?" "The Qi in this place is so dense, even my Death Arms are responding."
Talks like this were made throughout the crowd. Hei Xiu distanced himself from the crowd, then commanded, "All Obsidian Shadow Empire's geniuses to me!" Shortly after, experts started gathering around him, releasing their void and obsidian aura over the area.
Right after, Feng Lieren found a small clearing and released his great Bamboo Domain ability from his Death Arms. Three gigantic bamboos appeared, followed by over 30 slightly shorter ones. Feng Lieren, Skylar Verdant, and Sylas Verdant appeared on the three tallest ones, then Feng Lieren said in a mighty voice, "To me, my druids!" The druids then used their cultivation to make a lush forest appear beneath the bamboos as they all jumped on top of the shorter ones.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Cry Empire's geniuses waited. Raikai, impatient, muttered, "What's she waiting on to summon us to her?"
Shortly after, Xue Mor appeared from the crowd. After walking to a nearby clearing, she formed hand seals, which released a gigantic web made of ice, after which flames covered it in the form of a gigantic lotus. After the lotus opened with steps coming down to the ground, she walked. After being atop the web-lotus opening, she said softly, "It's your time to show off."
Raikai replied, "Finally. I hope Shinryu doesn't screw this up." He clapped his hands together, summoning his lightning aura, making a lightning-coiled dragon surround the edges of the ice webbing. He then used his movement technique to appear like a lightning strike behind Xue Mor's right side, his eyes glowing bright blue with small sparks striking around them.
Shinryu, who was busy thinking, then opened his eyes, saying, "This should work." He clapped his hands together, and an illusory three-eyed white tiger appeared, its golden stripes illuminating the night. It ran around the web in the opposite direction that the lightning dragon was coiling. Then, with his flashiest movement technique, he flashed in three horizontal points before appearing on Xue Mor's left, behind her, his eyes a bright glowing white.
Xue Mor smiled then said out loud, "Let the Phoenix cry!" Suddenly from three points, crowned beams shot into the sky overhead. Hou Jian, Hou Ren, and Hou Lian merged their energy to form a Phoenix illusion. The three hopped on the gigantic figure, which became solid the moment they landed on it. Hou Jian and Hou Lian shouted, "Phoenix, cry to us!" Suddenly all the figures of the alliance jumped toward the Phoenix once it flew near them while circling the experts. After the Phoenix started to glow brighter when a member of the Phoenix Clan landed, they arrived overhead the lotus. One by one, their group gathered behind Xue Mor. The dragon wrapped around the web, its head stopping on the right, and the tiger stood on the left, and suddenly the two beasts roared. Shinryu then used his gravity field to add to the pressure. Silence followed, after which claps could be heard from the remaining experts. The Sentinel leaders looked at each other, a look of guilt for not putting on a show for their fellow Sentinels who were also taking part in the trials.
A low whistle came from the Obsidian Shadow group. "Damn. Did you see that? The Phoenix Cry Empire's brats put on a real show. Didn't think they had that much flair," Hei Xiu muttered, his eyes narrowed. He looked over at his own gathered geniuses, a glint of annoyance in his eyes. "Looks like we have some competition."
Beside him, a younger member of the Obsidian Shadow group, his face a mask of cold pride, scoffed. "Flashy, sure. But we'll see how far that 'flair' gets them when a beast tears their pretty formations apart. It's a trial of survival, not a parade."
A few feet away, the "druids" of the Great Bamboo Clan were already at ease. Skylar Verdant clapped Feng Lieren on the back. "A little showboating, Feng? Not like you."
Feng Lieren's expression remained calm, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Practicality is key, Skylar. A strong foundation saves lives. We've established a secure gathering point and shown our allies our strength. The Obsidian Shadow group relied on intimidation, but we gave our people a safe place to land. And besides," he glanced over at the Phoenix Cry group, a flicker of admiration in his eyes, "it's always good to let the others know who the real players are. That was a truly magnificent display."
Sylas Verdant, ever the pragmatist, leaned against a bamboo stalk. "They're not just showing off, brother. That's a warning. They're telling us their main trio operates on a different level. That lightning and tiger combo from Raikai and Shinryu, combined with Xue Mor's ice-fire fusion... that's not just for show. That's a unique cultivation technique, and they've perfected it."
The three main members of the Phoenix Cry group stood together, the powerful auras of the dragon and tiger now subdued. Shinryu let out a long breath, a hint of a proud grin on his face. "Told you I wouldn't screw it up."
Raikai grunted, running a hand through his hair. "Barely. You were standing there thinking for too long. If we're going to survive ten years here, we need to be quicker than that."
Xue Mor turned to them, her smile serene but with a touch of steel. "He's right. The show is over. Now the real trial begins. The elders weren't lying—we're not at the top of the food chain here. Not even close. Those beasts they mentioned... we can't afford a single mistake."
"Then we'll have to get stronger," Shinryu said, his three eyes closed for a moment as if in meditation. "I feel like I'm a step away from a breakthrough just from being in this realm. Imagine what ten years here will do for us."
Raikai's serpent-like eyes glowed. "This place is a meat grinder. The law of the jungle. Perfect. I'll get the power I need here, even if I have to grind my way to the top."
Xue Mor's smile softened. "You both will. But remember their final words. We're here because the outside world is too dangerous. Even the elders, those two powerhouses, fear what's out there. We need to stay united and keep a clear head. And above all," her voice dropped to a whisper, "we need to survive. Don't let this place corrupt you into something you're not."
Suddenly, all the experts felt the pressure from the two elders above.
Elder Feng's voice boomed. "Impressive displays from you youngsters, but it's time you listened up."
All the experts powered down their auras and started listening. Elder Bai then began to speak, his thundering voice echoing in all directions. "These are the trial grounds of my mighty Death Knights. For those of you wondering where you are, this is the Death Night realm—a planet that synchronized with our planet from across realms. On this planet, we control the training areas through formations and set up several trial areas for different levels of cultivation, all across this planet we have formations for Flesh and Bone Fortification to all the way to cultivation realms of us elders. Within these formations, the wildlife are left unchecked within two cultivation realms. For example, the formation you all will be entering will have beasts and plants from the Flesh and Bone Fortification to the peak of the Qi Fusion Refinement realm. Now, once your cultivation level breaches this, the formations will teleport you out and you won't be able to re-enter. This also applies to us elders as well, so don't expect us to intervene. The rules of these trials are to advance by the law of the jungle. Form whatever faction or powers you want to. This planet is full of undiscovered treasures and herbs. Anything you find will be yours if you have the requirements to keep it. When you leave these formations, you are free to continue on to the others or return to the Death Knights domains and leave this place. Although this is unrecommended—the cultivation world is no longer safe for the younger generations. With the Great Collapse started, this world will be chaotic, with empires all aiming for the top, and they are willing to destroy an enemy powers' younger generations. As we speak, plenty of noble powers are sending their younger generations to secret realms and hidden planets in hopes they won't be assassinated by someone from the older generation to cripple their powers. So even if you leave before 10 years here, I doubt you will have much impact on the world outside since there won't be many persons in your cultivation realms anyway. Plus, the dangers here will require your full attention anyways; this planet has beings that even us elders don't dare to disturb. While you are free to kill in these formations, just remember the formation records everything within. So as long an empire wishes to see how someone dies, the Death Knights will provide it as proof that all deaths took place within the trial grounds. Now we wish you good fortune."