Gods' Descent Trials

The sound of water came first.

There was no sea in the Awakening Hall, yet everyone heard the tide.

Water-blue divine light descended, and a gentle voice filled the hall.

"This child has an affinity for water. Enter my Water God Trial, and you may inherit water's gentleness and command the force of a thousand currents."

Yuan Yu's palm felt cool.

The first Water Pattern on the Sun Wheel Blade glimmered.

The next instant, crimson-gold firelight bore down on him.

The Fire God's voice was blunt.

"Water's too soft. A blade is a blade. What good is always yielding? Enter my Fire God Trial. Learn to burn. Learn to cut."

The Water God did not get angry.

"Fire is impatient."

The Fire God snorted.

"Water is slow."

Yuan Yu blinked.

Even gods talk to each other like this?

Lightning cracked.

The Thunder God's Divine Sense descended, his voice crisp.

"One stroke decides the fight. Enter my Thunder God Trial."

A gale swept through the hall doors.

The Wind God laughed lightly.

"You're all so serious. The child is only six. Why not let him have a little freedom? He has a Wind Pattern. He belongs in my Wind God Trial."

Rock-colored light settled over the hall.

The floor trembled faintly.

The Rock God spoke slowly.

"Freedom comes with burdens. A blade must kill enemies, but it must also protect those behind its wielder."

Mist and haze spread.

The God of Mist and Haze sounded both near and far away.

"He grew up in Spirit City. He will encounter much that is real and false. Enter my trial, and first learn to tell them apart."

The Light God's radiance lit the ceiling.

"The Light Pattern can serve as a Sun Pattern. The sun shines on all things and purifies evil. Enter my Light God Trial."

Deep-blue darkness spread after it.

"A sun without a moon? How is that complete? The Darkness Pattern can serve as a Moon Pattern. Night, too, belongs to Myriad Phenomena."

Last came the God of Space.

There was no light, and no sound.

Yet the distance beneath everyone's feet seemed to warp.

The hall doors were clearly far away, but suddenly felt close enough to touch.

The God of Space said evenly, "Each element holds to its own domain. In the end, all must find their place."

Nine gods.

Nine Divine Trials.

All presented to a six-year-old child at once.

Inside the Awakening Hall, the Red Cardinal went pale.

Chrysanthemum Douluo stopped twirling the flower in his hand.

Ghost Douluo said grimly, "Divine Trials."

Qian Daoliu stood in the hall, his expression graver than ever.

He was the guardian of the Angel God's legacy.

Of course he knew what a Divine Trial meant.

Qian Renxue had inherited the Angel God's Divine Trial, and the Worship Hall had prepared for it for years.

But Yuan Yu had not caught the eye of just one god today.

Nine gods had chosen him.

Bibi Dong stepped forward.

"He's only six."

The Water God replied, "Precisely because he is young, his character has yet to be set."

The Fire God said, "We're offering him a choice, not forcing him."

The Thunder God was briefer.

"Choose one."

The nine shafts of divine light narrowed together and fell upon Yuan Yu.

Choose one.

Everyone in the hall understood.

Yuan Yu could enter the trial of any one of the Elemental Gods.

Water, fire, lightning, wind, rock, mist, light, darkness, or space.

Any one of them would be an extraordinary opportunity.

But he could choose only one.

Ling Yuan turned to look at him.

She wanted Yuan Yu to choose the safest path.

The Water God or the Light God.

Qian Daoliu said nothing.

Neither did Bibi Dong.

No one else could make this decision for him.

Holding the Sun Wheel Blade, Yuan Yu looked down at the nine patterns along its edge.

He was silent for a while.

Then he raised his head. "Can I ask a question?"

All nine Divine Senses fell silent.

The Water God said, "Ask."

Yuan Yu raised the blade.

"It has nine patterns."

"Correct."

"And there are nine of you."

"Correct."

"Then why can I only choose one?"

The people in the hall nearly lost their footing.

Ling Yuan's expression changed.

"Yuan Yu."

These were gods.

This was not buying sweets from a street vendor.

He could not haggle with them!

The Red Cardinal no longer dared raise his head.

He feared that if he saw any more, he would not even know how to write the confidential record afterward.

The Fire God laughed.

"Boy, bite off more than you can chew and you'll choke."

Yuan Yu nodded.

"I know."

The Thunder God asked, "Then why ask?"

Yuan Yu tightened his grip on the blade.

"Because I don't think this blade was meant for me to choose just one pattern."

The Sun Wheel Blade trembled softly.

A glimmer rose from all nine patterns at once.

Yuan Yu looked toward the gods.

"Water can save people. Fire can cut down enemies. Lightning can make the decisive strike. Wind can be free. Rock can bear weight. Mist can reveal the truth. The sun can light the day, the moon can light the dark, and space can hold them all together."

He paused.

"If I choose only one, what happens to the other eight?"

The Wind God sounded intrigued.

"So what do you want?"

Yuan Yu smiled.

It was a little childish.

And more than a little audacious.

"I want to try them all."

Bibi Dong's voice turned cold.

"Yuan Yu."

Yuan Yu looked back at her.

"Teacher, I know it sounds ridiculous."

"Then be quiet."

Yuan Yu shook his head.

"But I don't want to cut off every other path before I've even begun."

He looked up at the nine shafts of divine light.

His voice was not loud, but every word rang clear.

"I won't devote myself to a single god."

"I want to take every trial."

The entire Awakening Hall fell silent.

Even the Wind God did not laugh right away.

Of course Yuan Yu was afraid.

He was only six.

Facing nine gods, his palms were slick with sweat.

But fear was one thing.

He liked even less being told he could take only one path.

The Worship Hall was a good place.

So was Spirit City.

But he had always wanted to see the world beyond them.

He did not want to block off eight roads before he had even taken a step.

The Sun Wheel Blade's nine patterns shone a little brighter.

As though it were speaking up for him.

The Fire God burst out laughing.

"You've got nerve, boy."

The Water God sighed.

"A mortal body cannot bear nine trials at once."

The Rock God said, "It would break."

The Darkness God said softly, "Or he might survive."

The Light God remained silent.

The God of Space said, "If the nine patterns serve as seals and the elements are brought into place in stages, it can be done."

The nine shafts of divine light suddenly pressed down.

Yuan Yu's knees buckled.

He nearly fell to them.

Ling Yuan rushed forward, but Azure Luan stopped him.

"Don't."

"He's only six!"

Azure Luan watched Yuan Yu, his voice low.

"This was his choice."

Bibi Dong gripped her Scepter so tightly her knuckles went white.

Golden light gathered in Qian Daoliu's palm as well.

If the divine light truly threatened to crush Yuan Yu, they would not stand by.

Yuan Yu gripped his blade with both hands and braced its tip against the floor.

Pain.

Nine powers burrowed into his body from different directions.

Water wanted to flow, fire to burn, lightning to explode, wind to scatter, rock to sink, light to shine, darkness to draw inward, and space kept folding.

His face went pale.

But he did not let go.

The Fire God asked, "Any regrets?"

Yuan Yu gritted his teeth and forced out a reply.

"Is taking disciples in the Divine Realm always this terrifying?"

The Wind God laughed again.

Yuan Yu caught his breath.

"I don't regret it."

"If I can't withstand all nine at once, I'll withstand one first."

"But don't cut off the path for me before I even start."

The Sun Wheel Blade blazed to life.

The nine patterns stopped clashing and circled the sword guard instead.

A pinprick of platinum light appeared at the center of the guard.

It was tiny.

Yet it brought all nine rays of divine light to a halt.

The God of Space spoke first.

"Return to your places."

The Water God said, "Light them up in stages."

The Rock God said, "Let each trial be a step."

The Fire God said, "Good! Then let's give him that chance!"

Nine Divine Senses descended at once.

"This trial shall be called—"

"The Ten Thousand Manifestations Nine Trials."