The mist hadn't fully dispersed before Shadow noticed it—etched into the very floor of the second trial's chamber, revealed only after the final strike. A glowing formation emerged beneath his feet, radiant with strands of jade-colored lightning. Its design was ancient—more intricate than anything he had seen before—yet instinctively familiar, like a name he had once forgotten.
He knelt, pressing his palm against the sigils.
A silent hum vibrated through his bones.
> *"Tri-Link Formation."*
Three interlocking circles pulsed in synchronization, forming a trinity of power. Three points. Three hearts. Three channels of Qi.
This formation wasn't for one. It was meant for three cultivators working in perfect rhythm—two supporting, one ascending.
Shadow studied it, reading between the runes. It was more than a battle formation. It was a test of harmony. Power could only be unleashed through shared burden.
"Like directing a thunderstorm through a single sword," he muttered.
He etched the sequence into a jade slip, storing it carefully. "Not for now. But someday… this might turn the tide."
Then the tomb pulsed.
The next gate opened—a silver doorway shimmering with runes of cohesion and conflict.
Shadow stepped through.
---
When the light faded, Shadow found himself standing atop a circular platform suspended in nothingness. The skies were black, but veins of slow-drifting lightning moved like serpents in the void below. Jagged pillars floated in concentric rings around them, crackling with arcs of storm Qi.
He wasn't alone.
Across the platform stood three figures—each from a rival sect. Each watching him with wary eyes.
The first, to his left, stood like a rooted oak—tall, muscular, and grounded. His robes were deep green, lined with bark-like patterns, and a heavy staff rested across his back.
> **Name:** Kaien of Green Spear Sect
> **Realm:** Foundation Level 8
The second was a woman in pale robes of white and violet silk. She held two short blades at her hips and moved like a feather in the wind—measured, serene, and precise. A misty aura cloaked her like a veil.
> **Name:** li Rong of White Stone Sect
> **Realm:** Foundation Level 7
The third stood motionless, crimson patterns etched along his sleeves. His hair was tied back, his glaive gleaming across his back like a coiled serpent. His gaze was storm-dark, and his silence made the air around him heavier.
> **Name:** Wang Shi of Crimson Fog Sect
> **Realm:** Foundation Level 7
Shadow studied them—and they studied him.
Then a voice rumbled through the void, deeper than thunder, older than time:
> *"Trial Three: The Pillars of Storm Unity. Survive and ascend."*
Pillars in the distance crackled with new light.
> *"Alone, you fall. Together, you rise. Unite—or perish beneath the storm."*
For a heartbeat, all four cultivators were locked in place by invisible pressure. The message was clear.
The platform shook. Lightning flashed between the distant monoliths.
Li Rong broke the silence first, her voice sharp. "A forced cooperative trial. We've all heard of these."
Kaien grunted, arms crossed. "Storm tombs used to be warzones. These tests were designed to prevent pointless killing… and to test our egos."
Wang Shi cracked his neck. "So who's leading this band of orphans?"
Three sets of eyes turned to Shadow.
He blinked. "Why me?"
Kaien gestured at Shadow's tattered robe, still stained with drying blood. "You survived a duel with a Mist Sect assassin and still walked through the gate first. That says something."
Li Rong nodded slowly. "I saw your fight with Fan Shu. You're reckless—but effective."
Wang Shi didn't nod. He just watched.
Shadow sighed. "Fine. I'll take point. But we move as a storm—not a parade."
Li Rong smirked. "Poetic."
Kaien slammed the butt of his staff to the ground. "Let's move, leader."
Lightning surged in the distance.
And with no more words, the four stepped forward.
Together.
---
Each time they jumped to a floating pillar, it sparked to life.
Runes activated beneath their feet. Challenges began. Spirit beasts formed from compressed lightning attacked in waves. Coordinated defenses became vital.
Shadow called out formations. Kaien anchored their position, his staff turning beast strikes into tremors. Li Rong darted through the gaps like wind, cutting silently. Wang Shi struck like a falling star—every blow decisive.
When they cleared the fourth pillar, lightning above them roared.
The tomb approved.
---
On the eighth pillar, a thunderstorm broke across the platform. Shadow raised a wall of Qi as Wang Shi covered li Rong's back.
A voice echoed once more:
> *"Resonance achieved. Step forward."*
A new path opened.
Three platforms.
Three doors.
Each carved with the sigil of a different sect.
Shadow turned to them. "This is where we part."
Kaien clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You're strange. I like that."
Li Rong gave him a small nod. "Don't die. You're too interesting to forget."
Wang Shi said nothing. But before turning, he spoke one word:
"…worthy."
And just like that—they split.
Shadow stepped through the middle door—marked with a single thunderbolt rune.
The next trial awaited.
And the storm watched, waiting to be challenged.
---