The Bridge

As they made their way across the grasslands, Hal's keen eye caught sight of a distinct group ahead of them, their attire and demeanour setting them apart. He pointed towards the group, drawing the attention of his companions.

"Oh! Would you look at that?" Hal exclaimed, his finger pointing towards the 'elegant' group, "Never thought I'd see a prince here in the Forbidden Land."

The fancy group consisted of ten individuals, their appearances befitting their noble status. The young man at the forefront exuded an air of regality, his robes and demeanour giving off a princely aura. Behind him, the other nine members carried themselves with reverence, their faces filled with respect and admiration.

Curiosity piqued, Ray directed a question towards Hal, "Which prince are you referring to? From where?"

Hal shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes quickly marching past the group. "I don't know his name, to be honest. Not that I care. But he hails from the Highland Kingdom."

Ray raised an eyebrow, "The Highland Kingdom?"

"Ah!" Alia exclaimed and added, "The Highland Kingdom is a powerful force, under the direct supervision and control of the Kingdom of Iwernia."

"Oh." Ray nodded, grateful for the information provided by the siblings.

As they streaked across the serene grasslands, Ray slightly frowned, lost in his thoughts, 'I don't know why, but I've got a bad feeling. This is going to be different than before, and I'm not sure what it is.'

After a few minutes of running across the grassland, the group finally joined amongst the other groups. They stood before the one thing between them and the Holy Land, the majestic bridge in front of them.

The bridge, a marvel of craftsmanship, stretched out before their eyes in all its grandeur. It spanned a vast expanse, connecting the grasslands to the Holy Land with an air of significance.

Made of the finest materials, the bridge seemed to shimmer under the sun's gentle rays, its surface adorned with intricate carvings and embellishments.

Its arches soared towards the heavens, adorned with carvings of celestial beings and mythical creatures, each detail meticulously etched into the weathered stone.

The surface of the bridge bore the marks of time, with cracks and crevices that seemed to hold the memories of countless footsteps that had traversed its expanse. Faded symbols and inscriptions, once vibrant with meaning, hinted at a forgotten language that only the bridge itself understood.

Yet, as the group's eyes were drawn to the other end of the bridge, where the Holy Land was said to lie, they were met with a perplexing sight. Instead of the awe-inspiring place they had anticipated, a thick veil of smog obscured their view, shrouding the promised land in an enigmatic haze.

The smog, a swirling mist of ethereal hues, cast an air of mystery and intrigue over the scene. It seemed to emanate from the Holy Land itself, cloaking it in a veil of uncertainty and veiling its true nature from the eyes of the cultivators.

Despite the obstructed view, the bridge itself retained its allure and beckoned the cultivators forward. Its ancient stones seemed to pulse with a silent invitation, urging them to cross the threshold and venture into the unknown.

"Well, at least that's a cool looking bridge." Ash whispered amongst his new companions, trying not to draw attention from the other groups.

"It is more than that." Vela chimed in, "The bridge holds within its ancient stones the echoes of countless journeys, the whispers of enlightenment, and the dreams of those who sought to transcend their limits. It is a bridge of destinies, and each step upon its sacred path brings us closer to the realm of immortals, where our true potential awaits. Its significance reaches far beyond its physical beauty; it carries the weight of our aspirations and the promise of a new beginning."

As her words settled in, she snapped out of her stupor and looked around at her companions with blinking eyes. They, in turn, looked at her with surprise.

"D-Don't mind me." Vela blushed, her cheeks tinted with a rosy hue as she embarrassedly waved her hands, "I read a lot of a books ever since I was young, and since then, I have been enthralled with the history of our world and witnessing such a magnificent bridge stirred something deep within my heart."

"Haha!" Hal stepped forward and playfully rubbed her head, "Don't be embarrassed, Vela. Take pride in what you do and say, for it may inspire and shape the future."

Bryan nodded in agreement, and encouraged her, "Hal is right. Don't let anyone say otherwise."

Their words resonated deeply within her, as he reminded her not to be ashamed of her love for books and the stories they held. His touch on her head felt like a gentle affirmation, boosting her confidence.

"Speaking of which, I'm hella pumped right now." A burst of excitement radiated from Ash as he rubbed his hands together, his competitive spirit ignited.

The group stepped onto the bridge, their hearts filled with anticipation. They knew that beyond the smog-covered barrier awaited the Holy Land.

Their footsteps echoed through the air, mingling with the murmurs and soft gasps of the other cultivators who had also embarked on to the bridge.

The surface of the bridge felt cool and smooth beneath their feet, its polished texture offering a steady foothold as they ventured further into the unknown. The trio glanced around, taking in the sight of the diverse groups walking alongside them, each adorned in their distinct robes and bearing the marks of their respective affiliations.

After a few seconds, the groups cautiously approached the veiled smog, as a palpable sense of anticipation filled the air.

"Let's wait and see what the others do." Labin said, which his companions agreed to.

The minutes ticked by, and impatience began to stir within some of the cultivators. Ignoring the collective caution, a handful of three individuals stepped forward with hesitant steps.

They extended their hands toward the veiled smog, pushing through its ethereal curtain. A moment of suspense held the onlookers captive as the outcome remained uncertain. Then, in a swift and unexpected turn of events, the veiled smog rippled with undulated energies.

*Woop*

Under the eyes of the bystanders, two of them were pulled in to the veiled smog, disappearing from their sight with a suddenness that sent ripples of gasps through the witnessing cultivators.

But, the third one amongst them, propelled by a repulsive force, was forcefully pushed back into the safety of his group.

*Whispers*

Immediate whispered discussions mingled amongst the other cultivators as they tried to figure out what had happened. It seemed like there was a predetermined requirement for one to enter and go past the veiled smog.

In the face of this unforeseen outcome, Ray and the others exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of caution and interest.

"Hmm…" Ray mused, rubbing his chin as he contemplated the mechanics of the veiled smog, "Two entered and one was pushed back. There must be a discernible pattern or requirement hidden within the smog."

Zara, her eyes glimmering with intrigue, chimed in with a suggestion, "Perhaps it's a test of one's character? A measure of their inner strength and resolve."

Labin, however, shook his head, his eyes narrowing in deep thought, "That's too broad of a requirement and wouldn't make sense in the context of the Gods' Ruin. There must be a more specific criteria we have yet to uncover."

As they continued contemplating, the other cultivators were wrapped up in their own discussions, their own minds racing with different possibilities.

"The person who was pushed back is in the Elemental Fusion Realm." Bryan added, his voice carrying a note of 'don't question me'.

Ray's eyes slowly lit up, his mind racing with newfound understanding. He turned to the rest of the group and hurriedly asked, "Did any of you sense the cultivation of the other two individuals before they were sucked in?"

"I did." Labin replied, "They both were in the late stages of the Shattering Sea Realm."

A spark of realization ignited within Ray as he connected the dots. He smacked his fist against his palm as he explained, "That's it! The two cultivators of the Shattering Sea Realm were granted entry, but the Elemental Fusion cultivator was pushed back instead. So, I think there seems to be a cultivation limit, and only those below the Elemental Fusion Realm can enter the veiled smog."

Labin was in deep thought, as he slowly nodded in agreement, "You may be onto something. Should we put that to the test?"

"Um, I don't think you guys need to test it out. Look over there." Before they could make a decision, Ash suddenly interrupted them, as he pointed towards the Highland Prince's group.

Curiosity piqued, the group followed Ash's gaze, their eyes falling upon the Highland Prince and his group members. They observed the prince issuing quiet orders to two of his loyal followers, to which they bowed in acceptance.

"Look, one of them is in the Shattering Sea Realm, and the other one is in the Elemental Fusion Realm." Hal spoke up, as his senses fished out their cultivation realm.

"It looks like they had the same idea." Alia commented to which the rest of the group nodded. It seemed that the prince's group had come to the same realization as them.

The two members of the Highland Prince's group approached the veiled smog, and they both simultaneously extended their hands towards the veiled screen.

And then it happened again.

*Woop*

As their hands made contact with the veiled smog, a surge of energy rippled through the screen. One of the members was abruptly drawn into the smog, disappearing from sight. Meanwhile, the other member was pushed back, barred from entering the smog.

The observational test had proved that Ray's earlier deduction had been proven true. The veiled smog held a cultivation threshold, permitting entry to those below the Elemental Fusion Realm and denying passage to those who had surpassed it.

Zara's voice resonated with approval. "It seems like you were right, Ray."

Ash couldn't help but chuckle, "He always finds a way, quicker than most."

"..."