Several kilometers away from the base, Zao Li stood atop a tree, his expression calm. Bathed in the light of the full moon, his coal-black hair gave him a striking, ethereal appearance.
"Let's wrap up this phase and move on to the next," he said, his tone cold, his eyes glowing with a chilling radiance.
With that, he vanished, employing instantaneous movement.
Upon arriving at the base, his pupils contracted to the size of pinpricks as he sensed a familiar presence—an overwhelming aura radiating both sanctity and a sense of profound comfort. It was the presence of Alessandra, seated upon her throne, exuding that same commanding, majestic essence.
He cast his gaze over the base, which had undergone a complete transformation; it had evolved from a simple, utilitarian structure into a place of exquisite, sophisticated design.
"Heh... it seems there's a game being played that we weren't even aware of, Alessandra!" he let out a cold, emotionless laugh.
Alessandra's expression remained sharp and impassive as she watched him. Meanwhile, Zao Li moved toward his own throne—a seat of deep, coal-black hue, from which a complex, dark-violet aura flowed. An overwhelming presence, radiating immense power and authority, emanated from the throne, lending Zao Li an air of supreme majesty—as if he were the very ruler of existence itself. And, in truth, he was; for he was the creator of this entire fictional world.
As for Alessandra, seated upon her own throne, she presented a striking, almost complete contrast— A white throne, from which an intricate golden aura flowed, radiated an overwhelming presence—one imbued with immense power and authority. It mirrored the very essence of Zhao Li, appearing as the final beacon of light and hope for a world teetering on the brink of total annihilation.
Their gazes met, sharp as sword blades, and a profound silence descended upon the space for several minutes.
Breaking the quiet, Zhao Li spoke—his tone unusually calm for a conversation with Alessandra, which caught her off guard: "Life is truly beautiful, yet it is also incredibly difficult. It is much like a black hole: from a distance, it presents a breathtaking sight, but draw too near, and it will extinguish your existence. That is life—beautiful, yet dangerous; it conceals its poisons within its own splendor."
As he spoke, Zhao Li's eyes were fixed on the ceiling of the base, a faint smile playing upon his lips. Life was indeed beautiful; though he had lived only eight hundred years, it had taught him a great deal.
He turned his gaze toward Alessandra, who was watching him intently, her expression complex and difficult to decipher. She let out a deep, heavy sigh. "And death, too, is beautiful—terrifying as it may be. It is not because one ends up alone or must face judgment in solitude; rather, it is because, deep down, people know they are unprepared—burdened by their own malicious deeds, filth, and transgressions. That is why they fear the torment, forgetting the bliss that might otherwise await."
Her tone carried a subtle, mocking edge directed at the world at large.
Both let out a deep sigh, locking eyes for several long seconds, before a table—laden with an array of food and drink—materialized out of thin air in the center of the hall. Three chairs were arranged around her:
The first chair (charcoal black) emanated a complex, dark, purplish-black aura; it belonged to Zhao Li.
The second chair (white) radiated a complex golden aura; it belonged to Alessandra.
The third chair remained neutral, emitting neither color nor aura; it belonged to the spirit of Ji Yao Li—an entity of unknown origin.
A few seconds passed before the third chair began to glow with an aura that blended Alessandra's golden energy with Zhao Li's dark, purplish-black energy. The spirit of Ji Yao Li appeared, her gaze steady, exuding an overwhelming presence—one far more potent than that of Alessandra and Zhao Li combined, even at the height of their own power. Consequently, both remained silent, neither daring to utter a single word.
The spirit of Ji Yao Li was an ethereal fusion, glowing with golden energy—representing creation—and dark, purplish-black energy—representing destruction.
"Eat; it is time for lunch. Afterward, we shall discuss the matter for which we have gathered."
The spirit's tone was as cold and sharp as a sword's blade, imbued with an absolute, unquestionable authority. Zhao Li and Alessandra understood perfectly: there were two inescapable realities—first, that the spirit of Ji Yao Li would remain for only two hours; and second, that she was not making a request, but issuing a command: finish the meal first, then resolve the issue at hand. Although the meal consisted of the rarest and most exquisite delicacies this fantasy world had to offer, it remained entirely tasteless to Zhao Li and Alessandra. In contrast, the spirit of Ji Yao Li appeared to thoroughly enjoy the feast—a fact that drew their gazes toward him time and again.
"Would you two stop staring at me like that? It's becoming rather ridiculous," Ji Yao Li remarked, his eyes remaining fixed on his plate. His voice was as cold as frost, laced with utter indifference.
The two immediately averted their eyes. About fifteen minutes later, the table—previously laden with food—was left completely empty.
With a snap of his fingers, Ji Yao Li's spirit caused the plates and wine bottles to vanish. In their place appeared three crystal-red teacups, a teapot, and a selection of delectable sweets—all crafted from the same crystalline material. The cups, plates, and teapot had been fashioned from the branches of the "Crystal World Tree," while the tea itself was brewed from the blossoms of the "Sacred Tree of Existence"—a plant that blooms only once every trillion years—imparting a unique flavor that defied description. Ji Yao Li's spirit let out a deep sigh, his gaze calm as he looked at Zhao Li and Alessandra. "So... why are you both here? It can't be to merge again—I don't even have a body yet... By the way, the name of that body is Tom Fragelson..."
Ji Yao Li's spirit fell silent for a few seconds before bursting into a hysterical, joyless laugh: "Hahahahahahahahaha! Who are we kidding? We are Tom Fragelson, and we are Ji Yao Li!"
A faint smile appeared on the faces of all three simultaneously.
Dark-violet energy began to rise from Zhao Li's body like tongues of flame, while golden-white energy surged from Alessandra's body like the sea crashing against an island shore—and Ji Yao Li's spirit stood as the ultimate synthesis of the two.
"You're right. It's time to finish this stage of the trial and move on to the third level."
Alessandra spoke in a calm tone, gazing at Zhao Li and the spirit of Ji Yao Li.
"Yes, you are absolutely right, Alessandra. This farce must come to an end, and it is time to move forward," Zhao Li replied, his voice tinged with a hint of astonishment—he was actually in agreement with her after centuries of mutual disregard. Throughout those long ages, the only point of understanding they had ever reached was the construction of the 'Versalkin' Palace of Knowledge and the creation of its replicas across the ordinary realms.
Transition to the Third Trial
Moments later, the world around them began to crumble, piece by piece, until it dissolved into an absolute void—a space devoid of any laws or concepts.
Within this nothingness stood a young man with hair a blend of coal-black and pale white. It was Tom Fragelsen, appearing in a spiritual form composed of a fusion of golden-white and deep, violet-black energy.
He slowly opened his eyes—which had taken on the shape of the Yin-Yang symbol—to find himself in total darkness; yet, he could see everything with perfect clarity. A look of joy and relief spread across his face.
"It seems the second trial has finally come to an end!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with delight after such a long journey.
A few minutes later, the voice of the mysterious entity resonated once more: "Well done, Tom Fragelsen! You have successfully completed the second examination. You brought Zhao Li and Alessandra to an understanding, thereby restoring peace to the human race... Hahaha!"
The entity's voice was beautiful and serene, evoking an overwhelming sense of happiness. Although Tom could not see the face or appearance of this mysterious entity, he felt a profound sense of familiarity, as if he had known it since the dawn of time.
"Very well—let us head to the next round!" Tom declared, his tone brimming with enthusiasm, authority, and determination.
The mysterious entity let out a soft laugh, gazing toward Tom. "Good luck, my dear, with the trials to come. And heed my words well: autumn always follows summer, and winter follows autumn. So it is with power—it comes only to those who have earned it. He who does not know himself has no right to aspire to absolute power!"
A brilliant light began to flood the dark realm. Despite a flicker of bewilderment, Tom remained prepared for anything. Deep down, he knew that the decisive battle between Alessandra and Zhao Li would inevitably come to pass, and that the spirit of Ji Yao Li would be watching from afar—waiting for the moment she might fully manifest once more.