The beginning of trials (1)

"How quaint! The Pang clan finally has a few talents this century. But really, old Zhao, don't be bitter—it's not my fault your progeny are a pitiful joke, destined to languish in the graveyard of your failures. Your bloodline is a festering wound, and your offspring are the maggots feasting on it."

"Hmph, you act as if those talents are yours to claim. Oh, but how deliciously ironic! Isn't it true your brother couldn't keep his hands off your wife, forgetting to pull out while you stood there like a fool? Your clan forced you to raise those bastards as your own while your wife married your brother. How's that for a legacy? A wretched family, a pathetic farce—no wonder your bloodline is a festering joke!"

"OLD ZHAO ARE YOU COURTING DEATH"

"HAH!!, Don't be sour old pang even the moon's gravity pulls more bitches than you"

Their sharp words sliced through the air at the base of the Ashen Mountains, where a gathering of hopeful practitioners had convened. The tension between the two men drew curious glances from those nearby, but the excitement of the impending trials quickly captured everyone's attention.

This was no ordinary day; it marked the commencement of the trials for entry into the prestigious Imperius Academy. Colorful stalls lined the rocky pathways, vendors shouting their wares—potions, talismans, and cultivation manuals promising to enhance one's abilities. The rich aroma of roasted meats and sweet fruits mingled with the fresh mountain air, inviting participants to indulge before facing the challenges ahead.

Carriages of various designs were parked haphazardly, their occupants mingling with the crowd. Some were adorned with intricate carvings, while others appeared sturdy and practical, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the aspirants. Above, majestic ships floated gracefully, their sails catching the wind, signaling the presence of powerful Factions vying to recruit the best talents from among the gathered crowd.

"Mr that's too expensive... I'll tell you what reduce the price by 80% and you'll have a deal," said Aetheris as he looked at an old man, he was currently near one of the stalls trying to buy different types ores for experimentation

"Little boy, I'm giving you a face by showing such a low price. Dragonite is very rare to find. It may have low Mana conductivity, but its resistance to heat and air pressure makes it sought after by many. 12,000 gold credits—take it or leave it," said the man as he closed the small box containing the Dragonite.

Aetheris looked at the dwarf with annoyance; he only had 15,000 silver credits, and the worst part was that although he had Low-grade Mana stones, the dwarf didn't want them.

'Although this Dragonite is 25g it's worth a lot more than 1000 gold credits even if it's mortal ranked in terms of quality...but not more than 10000cc ' concluded Aetheris as he used [Material forge] to make a 100g corporeal ranked block of Mithril

Aetheris simply offered the block of Mithril in exchange for the Dragonite. Given Mithril's higher rank and value, the dwarf was reasonable enough to offer him six additional ores, which pleased Aetheris greatly. In doing so, they exchanged contacts for future trading opportunities

Aetheris was currently preparing himself for the trials. None of the participants, including him, knew what kind of challenges awaited them, which motivated him to prepare a little more than usual. Yet, deep down, he secretly hoped to be surprised.

*Rumble Rumble Rumble Rumble Rumble*

"YOWH!!! SEEING THE YOUNGER GENERATION MAKES ME HARD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT IS MY HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE..."

"IS THAT BIG MIKE, WE KNOW YOU HAVE A METAL ATTRIBUTE BUT SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT IS SUS IF YOU ASK ME"

"WHO LET THAT PERVERT BE THE COMMENTATOR...NO IN FACT WHO LET HIM OUT OF PRISON "

The crowd roared as they saw an edgy looking man descended from the sky with a small flying ship, the amount of scorn he received made him embarassed despite his flamboyant descent.

"Erghm, as I was saying, welcome to the Trials of the Imperius Academy, the 9th ranked educational institution in the continent, a place where the younger generation... will strive. "As Big Mike continued, his voice filled the air with a new excitement. "Ladies and gentlemen, this year's trials are unlike anything we've seen before! We have millions—yes, millions—of aspirants vying for a chance to enter Imperius Academy. This isn't just any trial; it's a whole new level of challenge!"

Aetheris took in the scene as colorful magical projections flickered into existence above the crowd. They resembled scenes on a massive screen, displaying details of each trial. For the first time, an initial assessment would measure participants' bone age, talent, power, speed, and strength. This was unprecedented, and the crowd murmured with anticipation.

Big Mike continued, "The trials are in three stages. Today, we start with the first trial—a test to reveal your potential and determine if you've got what it takes! And remember, while those of certain higher races can compete up to the age of fifty, others are capped at twenty-five. But no worries—these details will be as clear as Day!"

As the projections shifted, images of the upcoming trials appeared, showing participants navigating through intense challenges. Aetheris watched with an eager glint in his eyes—not because he needed to prove himself, but because he couldn't resist the allure of the unknown.

The trials were a playground for the kind of fun he craved, filled with mysteries to unravel and new magical phenomena to explore. He could hardly wait to dive in and see just how wild things would get.

As Big Mike's voice boomed through the air, stirring the crowd, an unexpected ripple of surprise swept across the mountainside. Out of nowhere, a massive, ornate door materialized at the heart of the gathering, shimmering with an aura of mystique. It stood tall and imposing, its surface etched with ancient runes that seemed to pulse with anticipation. Gasps and whispers quickly spread through the crowd, eyes widening as they took in the spectacle.

Then, Big Mike's voice cut through the noise, laden with smug confidence. "Oh, don't act so surprised! You didn't think I'd leave you with just a regular old trial, did you? After all, you knew you couldn't stay mad at ol' Big Mike for long!" he jeered, causing an eruption of laughter and cheers from the crowd.

As the excitement settled, Big Mike raised his hand, and a list of participant IDs began to appear in mid-air, projected for all to see. "We'll be calling out a hundred thousand of you by your IDs. Once you hear yours, make your way to the door. Don't keep it waiting!" He winked, and the ID numbers started rolling, each one glowing briefly before it faded away.

One by one, participants' IDs were called, a steady stream of numbers until the one-hundred-thousandth ID had been announced. The crowd held its breath as the door began to open. But instead of a single passageway, hundreds, then thousands, of smaller doors unfolded from within, creating an intricate maze of portals that beckoned the chosen participants forward.

For those whose IDs had been called, there was no hesitation. With expressions ranging from sheer determination to barely contained excitement, they surged toward the doors. As each person approached, the door seemed to recognize them, a faint glow surrounding them as they stepped through and disappeared beyond the threshold.

Big Mike's grin widened as he watched the spectacle. "And there they go, folks! Off to face whatever awaits them beyond the door. Will they rise to the challenge? Only time will tell." He let the words hang in the air, the crowd now fully enraptured by the mystery of what lay ahead, and the promise of what might be discovered on the other side.

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Thank you for reading 🙏 😊