The wall rumbled and split open, revealing the final chamber.
Shen Hao stepped forward with the two golems, Mo Han's spirit close behind and Lingfeng floating beside him. The moment the door fully opened, a wave of heat rushed into their faces like a firestorm.
The floor ahead wasn't stone.
It was lava.
A glowing sea of molten fire stretched across the entire chamber, bubbling and swirling with slow, dangerous power. The heat was almost unbearable. Shen Hao covered his mouth with his sleeve, sweat already forming on his brow.
Even Lingfeng stopped joking for a moment.
"Okay... wow. That's not decor — that's real lava. Why is it always lava?"
Shen Hao looked down into the fiery pool. It was deep — far deeper than any normal lava bed.
The elder golem stepped forward, his voice steady. "This is not ordinary lava. It comes straight from the Earth's core. Only our old master ever dared to enter it — and even he could not reach the core itself."
Shen Hao's eyes widened. "Wait, the core of the Earth?!"
The younger golem nodded. "Yes. And even though he did not break through during that dive… he became stronger than most peak-level Beginning Realm cultivators because of the rare techniques he created. The one sealed here today is one of his most dangerous and powerful."
Lingfeng let out a low whistle.
"That's one way to take a hot bath. Respect."
Shen Hao looked at the lava again, then forward — and there it was.
A narrow, shining path stretched across the lava field. It was about 3 kilometers long, made of a black-silver material Shen Hao didn't recognize. It shimmered faintly, resisting the intense heat.
Shen Hao took a breath.
Then stepped onto it.
The golems stayed behind.
"The path is your trial," the elder golem said. "We cannot help you. The tests are for you alone."
Mo Han gave a small nod. "Go with focus. But do not lose yourself."
"And try not to die, okay?" Lingfeng added. "We've made it too far to get roasted now."
Shen Hao walked forward — carefully at first. But it didn't take long before the first trap revealed itself.
A burst of flame shot from beneath the metal, nearly hitting his legs.
Then a massive spike launched sideways.
Another step — and the gravity shifted violently, slamming him into the path like he weighed a mountain.
The further he went, the more violent and clever the traps became.
Blades made of light.
Invisible walls that pushed and pulled.
Hallucinations of people he loved screaming his name.
Shen Hao gritted his teeth and pushed through. His robe was torn. His arms were burned. His legs ached from dodging, running, leaping. But still — he moved forward.
"You can do it, Master!" Lingfeng shouted from afar. "Just don't fall in or I'll have to become a soup spoon!"
After what felt like forever, Shen Hao reached the final platform — a circular stone slab surrounded by lava, with a crystal pedestal in the middle.
On that pedestal floated a scroll sealed in layers of energy.
Shen Hao reached toward it slowly, his hand glowing with Qi.
The moment his fingers touched it—
BOOOOOM!
A massive explosion of lightning tore across the platform.
Shen Hao was thrown back, shielding his body with a Qi barrier just in time.
The blast rocked the entire chamber.
Smoke filled the air.
"Master?!" Lingfeng shouted, worried now. "You alive?!"
Shen Hao coughed, pulling himself up.
The smoke began to clear.
And then he saw it.
A figure.
Human in shape — but made entirely of crackling, white-blue lightning.
Its body flickered like a storm barely held together, and its glowing eyes stared at Shen Hao without blinking.
It didn't speak.
It didn't need to.
Shen Hao slowly stood tall, breathing hard.
The real trial had just begun.