The night sky above the Mystical Continent was not like any other. Its stars glimmered brighter, sharper, as though each was a blade of divine light cutting through the heavens. The air itself thrummed with an ancient rhythm, the heartbeat of a land older than kingdoms, older than sects.
Kael arrived just before midnight, his robes still carrying the dust of his travels. As his feet touched the great courtyard of the Mystical Palace, a deep gong sounded, echoing across the continent. The doors of the palace opened, revealing a hall lined with glowing lanterns and guarded by silent figures clad in white armor.
At the far end of the hall stood the Master of the Mystical Continent.
He was tall, his hair pure silver, his presence so heavy that it pressed down on the air like a mountain. Yet there was no hostility in his gaze—only the solemn weight of someone who carried countless lives upon his shoulders.
"Welcome, rising stars of the continents," the Master's voice rolled like thunder, yet each word was clear. "You have come for the Fourth Trial. You seek strength, glory, perhaps even survival itself. But what lies before you is not a test given by men. It is a trial written by the land itself."
Behind Kael, footsteps echoed. More figures entered the hall: the other chosen rising stars. Each one carried the aura of their clans, the pressure of their talents, the arrogance of knowing they were among the top ten of their generation.
And among them was Kael's elder brother.
The moment their eyes met, Kael felt the venomous intent hidden behind his brother's cold smile. His brother's gaze was like a dagger, promising betrayal. So, you've already planned something for me here… Kael thought. He said nothing. He only bowed faintly, as though the venom did not reach him.
The Master raised his hand, and the hall's lanterns dimmed. A great gate of jade appeared behind him, etched with runes so ancient they seemed to predate language itself. The gate pulsed with energy, like a heartbeat—slow, steady, and dangerous.
"This," the Master said, turning toward the gate, "is the entrance to the Secret Land of Mystica."
Gasps spread among the rising stars. The Secret Land was a place spoken of only in whispers—an endless maze of ruins, forests, rivers, and mountains where even Tier Two elders dared not venture. The land itself killed, not only with beasts but with illusions, poisons, and the remnants of divine weapons left behind from forgotten wars.
"You must understand something," the Master continued, his voice colder now. "The Secret Land is not something we control. Even we, the masters of the continents, do not enter it. It devours arrogance. It punishes carelessness. Inside, no one can save you—not your clan, not your sect, not even your bloodline. If you die, your bones will remain there forever."
His eyes swept across them, lingering for a moment on Kael. "Only one command exists: survive at all costs."
The jade gate pulsed again, and a low growl echoed from within, as though something alive waited just beyond. The air filled with the scent of burning qi and rusted steel.
One by one, the rising stars stepped forward. They were proud, but even they could not completely hide the tension on their faces.
Kael's brother leaned close as he passed Kael, whispering just low enough so no one else could hear.
"Little brother," he said, his voice smooth with false warmth. "Do not worry. I will make sure your journey ends quickly in there. After all, it is only fitting that the stronger brother walks out alive."
Kael did not respond. His eyes remained steady, his expression calm. But inside, his aura stirred faintly, the Immortal Book's presence hidden within his soul glowing like a silent warning.
Finally, the ten chosen rising stars stood before the jade gate.
The Master lifted his hand. "Once you step inside, the path closes. Only when the trial ends will the gate open again. Some of you may return. Some may not. That is the price of walking this path."
He pressed his palm against the gate. The jade runes flared, blinding light erupting like a sunrise. The gate split open, revealing a swirling vortex of shadow and light.
"Go," the Master commanded.
---
The rising stars moved as one, stepping into the vortex. The world spun, the air screamed, and then they were inside.
The Secret Land of Mystica was unlike anything Kael had ever seen.
A crimson moon hung in the sky, its light painting the land in shades of blood. Towering trees with silver leaves stretched so high their tops vanished into the clouds. Rivers of fire cut across black soil, and ruins of colossal palaces jutted from the ground, half-buried like the bones of forgotten titans. The air itself was heavy with killing intent—centuries of slaughter etched into every stone, every breeze.
The moment they entered, a suffocating silence fell. No insects chirped, no beasts roared. Only the sound of their own breathing echoed.
One of the rising stars laughed, trying to ease the tension. "So this is it? Doesn't look so—"
Before he finished, the ground beneath him cracked open. A massive vine, thick as a serpent, shot upward, piercing through his chest. His eyes went wide with shock before the vine dragged him screaming into the earth. Blood sprayed, and then silence returned.
The nine remaining stood frozen, the reality crashing down on them.
Kael clenched his fists. This place… truly devours arrogance.
The elder brother's lips curled into a faint smile, but his eyes flickered with calculation. He leaned toward two other rising stars who had ties to his clan. "We stay together. When the chance comes… we eliminate him." His gaze cut to Kael like a blade.
Unaware or uncaring of the plot forming against him, Kael kept his senses sharp. His qi flowed steadily, his aura hidden but ready. He knew better than to trust anyone in this place.
They began moving, deeper into the land. The ruins loomed taller, and the silver trees whispered with voices that weren't quite wind. Their path split into many directions—mazes of stone, bridges of bone, rivers of molten fire.
And above them, the crimson moon seemed to smile.
The Fourth Trial had begun.
The command was simple.
Survive at all costs.