Within the Sirius Titan Realm, on the Grand Sirius Planet - the world of trials, there was a door. This door was ordinary and had a standard size that could accommodate the passage of a single person at a time. It was a mixture of gold and silver, as if representing the heavens and the earth. It connected to nothing but stood upright as it held the sky itself.
Surrounding this door, for thousands of li, there was no one. Beyond that distance, there was a countless number of people dressed in multi-colored outfits and radiating auras that would seem like the gathering of gods for mortals.
These people belonged to various forces within the Sirius Titan Realm. If one looked closely, they could see gigantic foxes and wolves, even humans, idling about. It was a grand sight.
Whoosh!
A spatial rift appeared within these crowds of cultivators. From this spatial rift, five men exited. They were Yan Zaizen, Zhou Xiuhei, Shi Yan, Tao, and Bai Lufeng. When they arrived, many eyes shifted to their direction. Some had a yearning, some had an unfathomable calmness, and the rare few held urging impatience.
Seeing these crowds of experts, Yan Zaizen couldn't help but be startled. However, this lasted temporarily. His gaze focused on that ordinary, lone door that stood like it held up the sky and guarded the earth.
"Is this the trial?" Asking, he saw people walk into the thousands of li zone of emptiness. They walked proudly, their gazes filled with determination and calm. To them, they were both excited and nervous. This held their dreams for the future.
"Yes. The Earthly Beginning and Heavenly End Trials are two in one. You'll be classified by your token type for rewards and benefits, but the three sections of the trial will be the same." Zhou Xiuhei calmly explained.
"...then why call it two trials if it's the same?" He was truly curious. It didn't make much sense.
Shi Yan smiled, "Zhou Xiuhei may say its the same, and he isn't wrong, but the way to complete it is different. For the Earthly Beginning and Heavenly End trial, the deviation is in the last two trials. Your goals will be different but the trial will be the same." After explaining, he glanced around and saw the many individuals looking their way.
"Go. This trial, do well." Shi Yan said, but his words didn't seem to contain that smiling tone. Instead, it was suffused with a solemnity that was quite rare for him.
Yan Zaizen was a little shocked why they didn't inform him deeply about the two trials and what he'll have to achieve.
Via soul transmission, Tao sent, "the two trials have countless variations and goals. Besides the main differences between the two tokens, there's not much else to be said. However, the first tests your talent, but you'll do well there."
Yan Zaizen was enlightened. They didn't say anything because it wasn't possible to know of it. He took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, the image of himself became remarkably clearer. A trace of determination suffused in his eyes. Not for the trial, he could care less about it, but towards his future.
He must become strong enough to find out who he is. He had to. This trial was just a step towards that.
Just as he was about to take a step forward, his eyes flickered. He looked towards Zhou Xiuhei, "Grandpa Xiu…"
"Hm? What is it, young one?"
"Where's my money?" He asked innocently.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The crowd was shocked and Tao bitterly smiled. Bai Lufeng nodded silently, confirming that their Young Lord had yet to change.
It was only when Yan Zaizen brought it up did Zhou Xiuhei come to a sudden realization. Yan Zaizen had won the battle against Yun Xuli. With that, he waved his hand to send the ten heavenly crystals within a heavenly dimensional box.
Grabbing it, Yan Zaizen frowned a little. Witnessing this frown, Zhou Xiuhei didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "The entire ten heavenly crystals are there."
"..." Yan Zaizen's brows twitched. Was this gramps trying to cheat him? "I was a Guest Elder for...three thousand years."
"..." Now, Zhou Xiuhei truly didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He sent a golden bottle into the heavenly dimensional box. "Three hundred thousand heavenly drops added. Satisfied? Now, go. Go." It was as if he was shoo'ing Yan Zaizen away, trying to not be taken for more wealth.
Yan Zaizen frowned once more. Shi Yan chuckled off to the side. Tao felt pity when he looked at Zhou Xiuhei, but he didn't dare show it.
"When I get back, we'll settle other things." Putting the heavenly box into his Meteor Ring, Yan Zaizen departed. With the 'Xiuhei - Heaven' token in hand, he entered the range of the door.
There were thirty-nine other people near the door when he arrived. He recognized most of them from the banquet, but a few were new. It's possible that, with three thousand years to prepare, a few challenged others for the right to the token. Likely, his slumber allowed for them to grasp this opportunity.
Looking around, he found a familiar figure. She was a picture of beauty, standing calmly with a cyan dress embroidered with various types of flowers. Her cherry lips and soft skin looked as if they were made from silk.
When Yan Zaizen recalled the kiss from earlier, he couldn't help but smile. When Ma Xiuren saw Yan Zaizen, she had mixed feelings. Mostly because she was essentially mind-controlled into ruining her reputation, and also because she was happy he was alright.
Yan Zaizen was the question mark on her life. They had met and interacted for a short period of time, about under a year. However, he had come here to meet her from a vast distance, gave her back the token, and even stole her first kiss. He was talented, handsome, and his personality wasn't horrendous.
Despite this, she didn't know how she felt romantically. After all, she had far too many responsibilities on her shoulders and even people she felt better inclined to romantically. They may not have been as outstanding as Yan Zaizen, but they were a part of her life for longer.
She silently waved towards him, a slight smile carrying a hint of awkwardness appeared.
While she was thinking all this, Yan Zaizen was conversing about other things with Pinaka. "I wonder if I can get Grandpa Xiu to throw me an expensive feast, a very expensive one. I should have Palace Lord Yan and Grandpa Xiu do it together, maybe a trifecta celebration of Guest Elder and Awakening? I can even throw in three thousand birthdays into the mix. The amount of wealth I can get from this realm, it would be...hehe."
If he threw a party where the top figures were invited and had to present a present, he could gain so much wealth as a result. His devious mind was churning with ideas.
"..." Pinaka was silent, but she nodded in agreement.