The Origin Shard pulsed inside Jalen's core, its rhythm steady yet insistent. He felt it tugging him, pulling his steps toward a place he had not visited in years. The others followed close behind—Zakai, Nate, Calen, Jael, Tyrian, and Ameer—each moving with the speed of cultivators whose realms made distance meaningless. In less than a minute, they crossed valleys and ridges, arriving at the Spirit Ridge.
Jalen slowed, his gaze sweeping across the familiar terrain. He remembered this place. It's deep within the wild Spirit Verge, the place where the origin shard had first merged with him, piercing his dantian and rewriting his body. Back then, it had seemed unremarkable—a hollow beneath roots, a scar in the land. But now, standing once more at its edge, he felt something deeper that he would never have been able to sense with his strength back then. The ridge hummed faintly, as if the earth itself remembered what had happened. He couldn't help but wonder what mysteries it still held.
A silver-blue light bled from his body, rising like mist before condensing into a spear of brilliance. The air fractured, folding into a spiral, and then—like a wound opening—the light forced a portal into existence. It shimmered, unstable yet undeniable, a doorway carved from pure qi.
The shard's voice echoed in his mind. Go in before the rapture closes.
Jalen hesitated only a moment before obeying. He turned to his companions, his tone firm. "Follow me."
One by one, they stepped through. The portal swallowed them whole, and the world shifted.
—
The realm they entered was unlike anything they had ever known. Qi surged in waves so dense it felt like stone grinding against bone. For Jalen, the strongest among them, the pressure was immense, pressing into his very marrow. Zakai, second in strength, endured beneath that same crushing weight, his aura straining but unbroken. Ameer, however—the weakest of the group—stood untouched. Instead of being crushed, his dantian and metal qi core blazed with brilliance, resonating as though this place had been forged as a paradise for metal cultivators.
The landscape stretched vast and alien. Mountains rose like jagged teeth, rivers glowed with liquid light, and the air itself shimmered with threads of energy. Every breath carried power. Every step felt like trespass. It was a realm designed not for mortals, but for transformation.
They all shared the same thought: Where are we? What is this place?
Their gazes turned to Jalen. But he himself was as clueless as they were. He reached inward, questioning the shard. I brought them here. Now what?
The shard's reply was immediate. Allow the Origin Shard to take over.
Jalen's jaw tightened. He did not like surrendering control. But he knew whatever this place is, he cannot accomplish their goal here without the shard's help. Slowly, he consented.
His eyes flared blue. The aura around him shifted, heavier, sharper. The others felt it instantly—the difference in his presence. It was no longer just Jalen standing before them. It was Jalen infused with something older, something vast.
The shard spoke through him, its voice resonating in the air. "Now listen up, you striplings. This realm is known as the Realm of Transformation. As its name suggests, it is designed to transform cultivators. Of course, some of you would have died upon entering here—were it not for your Eternal-grade spirit tools."
The shard's gaze swept across them through Jalen's eyes. "Except for you two. Jael, you endure not only because of your bond with the master through the Origin Shard's energy but also because of your unique Dragon King bloodline. And you, Emperor Ameer—this realm does not weaken you; it empowers you. Your metal physique resonates with the very foundation of this place. The one from the Upper Realm who carved and sealed this dimension stood at a level beyond your comprehension. His affinity was with metal, and he left behind a legacy meant for one who shares that affinity. The Origin Shard brought you here for that legacy."
Ameer's breath caught, his eyes wide. "A legacy… for me?"
The shard ignored his awe and continued. "As for the rest of you, your Eternal‑grade spirit tools will guide you toward energies aligned with your affinity. But the trials ahead must be faced alone—without their aid—if you wish to grow. You have twenty days in the Origin World's time to succeed. Within this realm, that is two thousand years. Fail to claim your prize, and you will be expelled. The Origin Shard does not forgive failure. Do you understand?"
Jalen's aura pressed down on them, making them all tense, and they nodded quickly.
"Good. Go—each of you has your path." The shard's voice rang like steel striking stone. "Dragon heir, young emperor—you will remain with the master."
Nate's wind orb pulsed, guiding him toward a mountainous range where a violent lightning storm raged.
Calen's Eternal-grade tool shimmered, a faint green light rising from his chest. Ria's guidance manifested as a spectral figure, leading him toward a distant valley where vines glowed with emerald fire. Calen bowed to Jalen once more before departing, determination etched into his face. He vanished into the mist, chasing the legacy that awaited him.
Tyrian's aura flared, his Eternal-grade spirit tool pulling him toward a mountain wreathed in flame. He grinned, eager, and without hesitation followed the path laid before him. His figure disappeared into the horizon, swallowed by firelight.
Zakia's spirit tool, Light, appeared beside him, radiance folding around his form. "Come," Light said simply, and together they vanished into a corridor of brilliance, leaving only echoes behind.
Now only Jael and Ameer remained with Jalen. The shard's influence still guided his steps, and he led them deeper into the realm.
—
Their first stop was a temple carved from black stone, its walls etched with sigils that pulsed faintly. The air around it was heavy and metallic, resonating with Ameer's physique. Jalen turned to him. "Go forward."
Ameer swallowed hard, his fists clenched. He stepped toward the temple, each stride heavier than the last. The shard's voice added coldly, "If you live or die, it is your luck. But know this—you are not permitted to die."
Ameer froze, his heart pounding. But then he nodded, determination burning in his eyes. He entered the temple, the doors closing behind him with a thunderous echo. His trial had begun.
—
Jalen turned next to Jael. The shard guided him to an ancient site, its ruins cloaked in mist. The air here was different—older, heavier, filled with echoes of dragons. Jael's breath caught. He felt it immediately. The place called to him.
The shard spoke. "This site belonged to your ancestors before they were wiped out—the Dragon Kings. There is something useful here for you."
Jael's eyes burned with resolve. He stepped forward, his bloodline resonating with the ruins. The mist parted, revealing a path only he could walk. He vanished into it, leaving Jalen alone.
—
The shard did not pause. It pulled Jalen deeper still, guiding him to a small realm hidden within the larger one. The air here was different—dense, relentless, filled with nonstop energy. Jalen staggered, his body trembling under the weight. He recognized it instantly. He had felt this energy before.
It was another portion of the Origin Orb.
The shard pulsed inside him, resonating with the fragment. Jalen's breath caught. Another piece… here?
The energy surged, pressing against him, threatening to overwhelm.
"For the next two thousand years you will submit to this energy and let it transform you. Do not resist and prevent Luminal Heart and your second spirit core from interfering, or you will miss this fortune."
This is not a trick to absorb my other Eternal‑grade spirit tools, is it?
You think so little of the Origin Shard.
Oh, I wonder why.
The shard guarantees you—no foul play will take place here.
That remains to be seen.
Jalen then did as the shard instructed. He found a quiet place and seated himself, allowing the energy to invade his body. It tampered with flesh and spirit alike, carving into marrow and qi channels. The pain was unbearable—searing, relentless, as though every bone was being reforged on an anvil of light.