CHAPTER 112 — Trial of the Dragon Realm: The Path of Scale and Sunfire
Golden radiance swallowed Lin Xuan whole.
For a split second, he felt weightless—
like drifting through the heart of a star.
He clutched Bai tightly to his chest, feeling the little dragon's trembling scales press against him. Bai's pulse synced with the rhythm of the golden world around them.
Then—
The light vanished.
And Lin found himself standing on a mountain made entirely of crystallized sunlight.
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1. The Realm of Dragons Revealed
Golden wind swept across the land, carrying traces of ancient roars and primordial qi. The sky shimmered with endless auroras—curving rivers of light that danced like living constellations.
Mountains rose like fanged crowns.
Rivers glowed with luminescent fire.
The air thrummed with power older than creation.
Lin inhaled—
And his entire body shuddered.
This qi was different.
Not just richer—
it was alive.
It felt like the qi itself watched him.
Judged him.
Measured him.
Bai stirred weakly in his arms.
"Lin… It feels like home…"
Lin brushed his head lightly. "Rest for now. You used too much of your strength."
The little dragon nodded and slipped into a deep slumber, luminous breath rising and falling gently.
Lin steadied himself.
Then the ground trembled.
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2. The Primordial Dragon Descends
A shadow large enough to blanket a mountain range passed overhead. Lin instinctively activated his battle senses—only to feel the sheer absurdity of the power descending.
Something ancient.
Something sovereign.
Something that could annihilate continents by breathing.
The Primordial Dragon landed before him in a blazing sunburst of golden fire, shaking the realm itself.
Lin stood straight, refusing to cower.
The dragon lowered its titanic head.
> "WELCOME TO THE SOLAR DRAGON REALM."
"ONLY THOSE CHOSEN BY OUR BLOOD OR OUR WILL MAY ENTER."
Lin bowed respectfully.
"I thank Senior for granting me protection."
The dragon chuckled—
a sound like molten gold rolling through the sky.
> "I DID NOT OPEN THE REALM FOR YOU."
"I OPENED IT FOR THE WHELP."
Lin smiled faintly.
"Bai deserves more than the world outside could give him."
The dragon's huge eye narrowed.
> "AND YOU."
"YOU ARE AN ANOMALY THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST."
Lin stiffened.
> "A MORTAL WITH A WORLD SEED—THE MOST HERETICAL FORM OF POWER IN THE UNIVERSE."
"A POWER EVEN DRAGONS FEAR."
Lin exhaled slowly.
"I don't seek to devour worlds. I seek to protect one."
> "I KNOW."
The dragon's voice softened—barely noticeable.
> "THAT IS WHY I WILL NOT KILL YOU."
Lin blinked.
"…Thank you?"
> "DO NOT THANK ME YET, SEED-CHILD."
"FOR YOU MUST SURVIVE THE TRIAL."
Lin straightened.
"What trial?"
---
3. The Trial of Scale and Sunfire
Golden runes ignited beneath Lin's feet.
Mountains rumbled.
Rivers froze mid-flow.
Skyfire converged overhead.
A colossal formation—woven by the realm's laws—materialized around him.
The Primordial Dragon's voice echoed across the realm:
> "TO LEAVE THIS REALM ALIVE…"
"…YOU MUST PROVE YOUR SOUL IS WORTHY OF A DRAGON'S RECOGNITION."
Lin frowned. "I thought I was only here because the Dreadwyrm—"
> "THE DREADWYRM WILL DEVOUR YOU IF YOU LEAVE WITHOUT PASSING THIS TRIAL."
"HE CAN SMELL UNFORGED POTENTIAL."
Lin clenched his fists.
"What must I do?"
The golden fire condensed into a sphere.
Inside it—
A humanoid figure formed.
A man.
A warrior.
A dragon in human form.
Clad in solar armor.
Eyes burning with starfire.
Aura heavier than mountains.
A Dragon Ascendant.
The Primordial Dragon declared:
> "THIS IS SOLARIUS, FIRST OF MY CHILDREN."
"HE WILL BE YOUR JUDGE."
The figure stepped forward, spear made of pure sunlight forming in his hand.
Solarius's voice was calm, devoid of emotion:
> "LIN XUAN."
"TO PROTECT YOUR WORLD, YOU MUST PROVE YOU CAN ENDURE ONE DRAGON."
Lin summoned his spear.
"Then let's begin."
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4. The First Clash — Starfire vs. Solar Spear
Solarius moved first.
He vanished.
Lin's instincts screamed—
he leaned aside just as a spear of condensed solar fire pierced the ground behind him, turning the crystal terrain into vapor.
Lin countered instantly, thrusting his upgraded spear in a sweeping arc.
Solarius blocked it effortlessly with one hand.
The impact sent shockwaves through the realm.
BOOOOOM!
Lin staggered back, arms trembling from the force.
Solarius tilted his head.
> "GOOD REFLEXES."
"BUT NOT ENOUGH."
He flicked his spear—
and a flaming crescent shot toward Lin like a falling star.
Lin activated his lightning affinity—
CRACK!
Tribulation sparks danced around him as he dashed sideways, the attack narrowly missing.
But Solarius was already in front of him.
Already?
Lin swung his spear defensively—
CLANG!
The force blasted Lin backward, smashing him through a golden boulder.
He coughed, wiping blood from his lip.
"…So this is a Dragon Ascendant…"
Solarius did not relent.
> "YOU ARE TOO WEAK."
"AGAIN."
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5. Lin Xuan Unleashes His Solar System
Lin steadied his breathing.
Fine.
If raw strength wasn't enough—
He'd use everything.
He closed his eyes.
And summoned the visualization of his inner world.
The binary suns.
The orbiting planets.
The glowing new sapling.
The awakened dragon egg.
The early life forms forming in his world.
His dantian pulsed—
and the realm trembled as if recognizing its sibling.
Lin opened his eyes—
And starfire blazed within them.
Solarius paused.
> "…A TRUE WORLD SEED."
Lin whispered:
"Star-forged Spear Art—Solar Orbit Form."
Planets rotated behind him like phantom halos.
Tribulation lightning danced between them.
Sword-intent, spear-intent, and alchemical qi merged seamlessly.
Lin dashed forward—
And the world bent around him.
Solarius sighed—almost pleased.
> "GOOD."
"NOW COME AT ME WITH EVERYTHING."
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6. Second Clash — The Realm Trembles
Spears collided.
Starfire vs. Solar fire.
Lightning against flame.
World against world.
The battlefield shook with each exchange.
Lin's strikes grew faster.
His spear-intent sharpened.
His aura surged with every movement.
But Solarius was a dragon.
Every time Lin exceeded his limit—
Solarius exceeded the limit above that.
Finally—
Lin landed a direct hit.
His spear pierced Solarius's shoulder—
A clean strike.
Solarius stepped back.
A quiet moment passed.
Then—
For the first time—
Solarius smiled.
> "YOU BLEW A HOLE IN MY DEFENSES."
Lin exhaled, chest burning.
"So… I passed?"
Solarius's smile vanished instantly.
> "NO."
Lin froze.
Then Solarius's voice thundered:
> "YOU PASSED THE FIRST OUT OF THREE."
Lin stared blankly.
"…Three?"
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7. The Sky Opens — Second Trial Revealed
The Primordial Dragon's voice boomed:
> "THE SECOND TRIAL…"
"IS SURVIVAL."
Golden pillars erupted around the formation—
And thousands of draconic silhouettes materialized.
Not real dragons.
But their wills.
Each one radiating killing intent.
Solarius pointed his spear at Lin.
> "SURVIVE THREE MINUTES."
Lin tightened his grip.
Lightning surged.
His world seed pulsed.
The dragon spirits roared—
and the second trial began.