The embers of fire still flickered faintly on Tang Yan's palm, no longer scorching, but pulsing in sync with his heartbeat. His eyelids twitched as he sat in silence, reflecting on what had just transpired.
One element down… eleven to go.
Before his thoughts could settle, the ground shook beneath him, as if the very realm were aware of his progress and hungry for more.
Gu Yuena's voice rang out, cool and commanding like a breeze weaving through glass. "Don't let complacency creep in. The elements may not all welcome you. Some will resent your intrusion, others will test your resolve, and a few might even attempt to destroy your very soul."
Tang Yan took a slow breath. "No pressure."
"Pressure is what shapes diamonds," she replied before turning away and ascending into the skies once more. "Or corpses."
"Ah," the System chirped cheerfully. "We've upgraded from 'light survival trial' to 'maybe-you-live' mode. How lovely!"
"Meh," Tianmeng drawled from his dream-like state. "Corpse or crystal, either way, you're bound to sparkle eventually."
Tang Yan rolled his eyes. "Why do I get the feeling both of you are enjoying this a bit too much?"
"You wound me," the System retorted. "I am deeply invested in your success."
"He's lying," Tianmeng interjected. "He's just here for the dramatic monologues."
**Second Element – Wind**
The next island floated high in the air, surrounded by silver strands of gale-force winds that swirled around it like a protective cocoon. Reaching it wasn't optional—it was a necessity.
Tang Yan eyed the spinning vortex. "Guess I'm flying."
"Nope," the System replied. "Guess you're falling upwards while praying."
"Elegant," Tianmeng mumbled. "Like a suicidal feather."
With a surge of soul power, Tang Yan leapt toward the vortex.
The wind didn't catch him gently; it slammed into him like an invisible hammer of rage. His limbs flailed mid-air as he was tossed around like a leaf caught in a storm. The vortex howled around him, relentless.
The wind didn't seek a partner—it yearned to obliterate.
He fell—again and again.
Each time, Gu Yuena observed without intervening.
Only once did she murmur, "Don't fight it. Understand it."
The System piped up, "Wow, so helpful! Maybe you can even ask the hurricane how its day went."
"Try a dinner date," Tianmeng suggested. "Winds enjoy appetizers."
On the fifth attempt, Tang Yan finally surrendered to the wind. Instead of resisting, he let it take him. His limbs relaxed, his heartbeat slowed, and his aura synced with the storm's rhythm.
He became weightless.
Floating into the eye of the wind, it welcomed him, swirling around him like a gentle whisper.
He was accepted.
**Third Element – Earth**
Tang Yan landed on a cracked plateau.
It was still and silent, yet pulsing with immense weight.
When he placed his hand on the stone, he felt its ancient slowness—time measured in centuries, strength built through stillness. But when he tried to connect?
The ground exploded.
"Yup," the System scoffed. "Good ol' Earth, with its classic 'touch-me-and-die' attitude."
"Try apologizing," Tianmeng suggested. "Or lay flat and pretend to be a rock."
Bloodied and dust-covered, Tang Yan tried again.
This time, he knelt.
Slowing his breathing, he emptied his mind and simply… waited.
Seconds turned into minutes, then hours.
The earth didn't speak. But eventually, it ceased to reject him.
When the stones beneath him stopped trembling, a golden rune glowed softly on his back.
The Earth had acknowledged his presence.
**Fourth Element – Water**
Tang Yan approached a floating, mirror-like lake. It reflected not just his form, but also his memories—his fears, his regrets, his separation from Tang San, and the weight of Gu Yuena's impossible expectations.
As he stepped in, the water swallowed him whole.
But there was no drowning this time—only stillness.
The water seeped into him, not seeking to be tamed but to be felt. To be understood.
Within that abyss of silence, he saw something new.
Himself—without resentment.
He emerged, calm and soaked, but no longer uncertain.
"Wow," the System clapped. "That was deep. Like a fortune cookie, just wetter."
"Ten out of ten for emotional breakdowns," Tianmeng added. "Would recommend."
**Fifth Element – Ice**
This one didn't wait for him.
The moment he stepped near the frozen peak, the temperature plummeted. His breath crystallized mid-air, and ice needles shot toward him without warning.
He braced his trident—only to find it resisted.
Here, weapons meant nothing.
The cold sliced into his skin, forcing him to his knees. The sarcastic remarks faded into the background, overshadowed by the dull throb of freezing pain.
But then… something within him clicked.
He focused—not on the pain, but on the stillness behind it.
The ice wasn't malicious. It was discipline. Clarity. Patience.
As he embraced the frost without fear, it began to fade. A swirl of snow danced around him and sunk into his core.
Ice accepted him.
"Congratulations," said the System. "Five down. Seven to go. You're only half-dead. Progress!"
"Let me know if you lose a toe," Tianmeng added. "I collect them."
**Recovery**
Gu Yuena descended again, this time carrying a pale silver orb that began to restore some of his youthful energy.The embers of fire still flickered faintly on Tang Yan's palm, no longer scorching, but pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. His eyelids twitched as he sat in silence, meditating on what had just happened.
One element down… eleven to go.
But even before his thoughts could settle, the earth trembled beneath him—almost as if the very realm had sensed his progress.
And it was hungry for more.
Gu Yuena's voice echoed like wind threading through crystal, cool and commanding. "Do not become complacent. The elements will not all greet you with curiosity. Some will resent your intrusion. Others will test your resolve… and a few might attempt to destroy your very soul."
Tang Yan exhaled slowly. "No pressure."
"Pressure is how diamonds are made," she replied, turning her back and vanishing into the skies once more. "Or corpses."
"Ah," the System chimed in cheerfully. "We've upgraded from 'light survival trial' to 'maybe-you-live' mode. Wonderful!"
"Meh," drawled Tianmeng from his dream-like stasis. "Corpse or crystal, either way you're going to sparkle eventually."
Tang Yan rolled his eyes. "Why do I get the feeling both of you are enjoying this a little too much?"
"You wound me," said the System. "I'm deeply invested in your success."
"He's lying," Tianmeng added. "He's just here for the dramatic monologues."
Second Element – Wind
The next island floated high in the air, tethered by silver strands of gale-force winds swirling around it like a protective cocoon. Reaching it wasn't optional—it was necessary.
Tang Yan eyed the spinning vortex. "Guess I'm flying."
"Nope," the System said. "Guess you're falling upwards while praying."
"Elegant," Tianmeng mumbled. "Like a suicidal feather."
With a burst of soul power, Tang Yan leapt toward the vortex.
The wind didn't catch him gently—it slammed into him like a hammer of invisible rage. His limbs flailed mid-air as he was tossed like a leaf. The vortex shrieked around him.
The wind didn't want a partner. It wanted to obliterate.
He fell—again. And again.
Each time, Gu Yuena watched without intervention.
Only once did she murmur, "Don't fight it. Understand it."
The System chirped, "Wow, helpful. While you're at it, maybe ask the hurricane how its day went."
"Try a dinner date," Tianmeng suggested. "Winds love appetizers."
On the fifth attempt, Tang Yan finally stopped trying to resist the wind. Instead, he let it take him. His limbs relaxed, his heartbeat slowed, and his aura synced with the storm's rhythm.
He became weightless.
He floated to the eye of the wind, and there, it welcomed him—swirling around him like a whisper.
He was accepted.
Third Element – Earth
Tang Yan landed on a cracked plateau.
It was still. Silent. But it pulsed with immense weight.
When he placed his hand to the stone, he felt ancient slowness—time measured in centuries, strength earned through stillness. But when he tried to connect?
The ground exploded.
"Yup," the System snorted. "Good ol' Earth. Classic 'touch-me-and-die' attitude."
"Try apologizing," Tianmeng offered. "Or lay flat and pretend to be a rock."
Bloodied and covered in dust, Tang Yan tried again.
This time, he knelt.
He slowed his breathing, emptied his thoughts, and simply… waited.
Seconds. Minutes. Hours.
The earth didn't speak. But eventually, it didn't reject him.
When the stones beneath him stopped trembling, a golden rune glowed faintly on his back.
The Earth had acknowledged his presence.
Fourth Element – Water
Tang Yan approached a floating mirror-like lake. It reflected not just his body, but his memories—his fears, his regrets, his separation from Tang San, and the burden of Gu Yuena's impossible expectations.
As he stepped in, the water swallowed him whole.
But there was no drowning this time. Only stillness.
The water seeped into his pores. Not asking to be tamed… but to be felt. To be known.
And within that abyss of silence, he saw something new.
Himself—without resentment.
He emerged, calm and soaked, but no longer uncertain.
"Wow," the System clapped. "That was deep. Like a fortune cookie but wetter."
"Ten out of ten on emotional breakdowns," Tianmeng added. "Would recommend."
Fifth Element – Ice
This one didn't wait for him.
The second he stepped near the frozen peak, the temperature dropped violently. His breath crystalized mid-air. Ice needles shot toward him without warning.
He braced his trident—only to find it resisted.
Here, weapons meant nothing.
The cold carved into his skin, forcing him to his knees. He could barely hear the sarcastic remarks anymore—only the dull throb of freezing pain.
But then… something within him clicked.
He focused—not on the pain, but on the stillness behind it.
The ice wasn't evil. It was discipline. Clarity. Patience.
As he embraced the frost without fear, it faded. A spiral of snow danced around him and sunk into his core.
Ice accepted him.
"Congratulations," said the System. "Five down. Seven to go. You're only half-dead. Progress!"
"Let me know if you lose a toe," Tianmeng added. "I collect them."
Recovery
Gu Yuena descended again, this time with a pale silver orb that restored some of his soul power.
"You are adapting faster than expected," she said quietly. "The elements respond to potential. But the true trial is when they test your will. Not just your endurance."
Tang Yan wiped his brow. "So far, they've just been trying to kill me."
She didn't deny it.
"Next," she said, "comes Light and Darkness. And they will not be so… forgiving."
"Fantastic," the System chimed in. "Because what's a training arc without an identity crisis and a near-death blinding?"
"Also, your right eyebrow is on fire again," Tianmeng noted lazily.
Tang Yan slapped it out.
He looked up at the floating orbs of light and shadow, already pulsing ominously.
The road ahead was long.
But now… he knew how to walk it.
One element at a time.