Journey of the Scholar

One day.

Beneath a large, shady tree sat the Raven Master, looking as casual as one could while donning a mysterious raven mask.

He was reclined against the tree trunk, a basket of fruits beside him, plucking them one by one as he chewed lazily.

Beside him, a small book lay open on his lap, and he was skimming through the pages with a raised brow.

He popped a grape into his mouth and muttered to himself, "What in the heavens is this?"

The book in his hands was titled "The Youth's Guide to Cultivation Breakthroughs", but from the look of confusion on his face—or at least what could be seen of it through the raven mask—it was clear the content was far from straightforward.

Flipping another page, he blinked and read aloud, "Step one to cultivating like a modern genius: keep up with the trends." The Raven Master tilted his head slightly, "Trends? In cultivation? Since when did breaking through involve... trends?" He glanced at the next line and his shoulders slumped. "To cultivate your core, try practicing in a place with good fengshui and... a strong Wi-Fi signal?"

He paused, shaking his head, and muttered under his breath, "Wi-Fi signal? Generation gap... this must be the generation gap people talk about."

Sighing deeply, he reached for another piece of fruit, this time a juicy pear, and took a hearty bite as he continued reading. His eyes narrowed as he encountered a new section: "The Best Spiritual Gadgets to Boost Your Power". He chewed slowly, his eyes skimming over phrases like "Spirit Phone," "Qi-Charging Station," and "Mystic Bluetooth Headphones."

"Spiritual gadgets? Qi-Charging Station? Is this book trying to mock me?" he said, flipping the page a little faster now, growing more and more perplexed.

Raven Master grumbled and glanced around the serene field, half-expecting someone to jump out and tell him he was being pranked. When no one did, he continued reading, albeit with a growing sense of exasperation.

"Alright, let's see what's next… 'Influencers in the cultivation world?'" he muttered, eyebrows raised beneath his mask. "Apparently, 'being connected is key to modern breakthroughs. Follow the most popular cultivators on Mystic-Gram and subscribe to their daily livestreams for tips on reaching your next realm.'"

The Raven Master closed the book for a moment, staring blankly into the distance. "Livestreams… Mystic-Gram?" He tilted his head again, as if trying to process it, but all he could muster was a groan of frustration. "How in the realms did we go from sword fights and enlightenment to... Mystic-Gram?"

A bird flew past, cawing loudly, and the Raven Master sighed as if in solidarity with the bird's cry of confusion. He turned another page, now more determined to find something meaningful amidst the absurdity. He began reading once more, this time aloud, almost in disbelief.

"To strengthen your core, you should combine traditional methods like meditation with modern trends. Don't forget to post your progress on Spirit-Chat forums for community support!"

He slammed the book shut, startling a squirrel nearby that scurried up the tree in panic. "Spirit-Chat forums? Community support? What's next, sending energy drinks via carrier pigeon?"

With another heavy sigh, he tossed the book aside, letting it land on the grass with a dull thud. He picked up another piece of fruit, chewing thoughtfully for a moment before muttering, "This generation... they're doomed if they think cultivation's about posting updates and following trends."

Just as he settled back into a moment of peace, he heard a soft rustling from behind. A young disciple appeared, cautiously approaching. The disciple gave a small bow before nervously saying, "Master, are you... reading?"

"Was reading," the Raven Master corrected, pointing at the discarded book. "But clearly, what's written there is not meant for someone of my era." He gestured toward the book with a dramatic wave of his hand.

"They've turned cultivation into a social contest! Rankings on Spirit-Chat, Wi-Fi for better meditation, gadgets for breakthroughs. Tell me, have you ever seen a cultivator reach enlightenment because of... Mystic-Gram?"

The disciple blinked, trying not to smile. "Uh... no, Master. That's... not something I've encountered."

"Exactly!" The Raven Master threw his hands into the air. "In my day, you either survived through sheer will and wisdom, or you perished."

"Now it's all about followers, trends, and hashtags. It's absurd! Do they think spiritual energy cares if you have Mystic-Gram followers?"

The disciple cleared his throat, trying his best to remain respectful. "I'm sure it's just the... younger generation adapting to modern times, Master."

"Adapting?" Raven Master scoffed, grabbing another piece of fruit and biting into it with a little too much force.

"More like they're finding ways to make cultivation easier because they can't handle the real hardships."

The disciple nodded sympathetically. "Perhaps. But they still look up to powerful figures like you, Master."

Raven Master paused mid-bite, his eyes narrowing behind the mask. "Hmm. You're right. They look up to me because I've walked the true path of cultivation. No shortcuts, no gadgets, no Spirit-Chat."

He leaned back against the tree again, seeming a bit more at ease now that his superiority had been reaffirmed.

The disciple suppressed a smile. "Yes, Master. You are a true example of the old ways."

"Damn right I am," Raven Master said, puffing out his chest proudly. "Now, let's hope those brats in the secret realm aren't learning anything from that nonsense in this book. They're in there for real challenges, not some... Wi-Fi-fueled enlightenment."

The disciple bowed again, his lips twitching. "Of course, Master."

Raven Master waved him off with a dismissive hand, picking up the book again, if only out of morbid curiosity.

He skimmed the last few pages, muttering under his breath, "What's this? A section on... 'How to go viral during a breakthrough?' What does that even mean? Is this some kind of... disease?"

He sighed deeply, closed the book again, and tossed it farther away this time. "Generation gap," he said, shaking his head. "The heavens help us all."

He settled back, plucking another fruit from the basket, and for a moment, the world was quiet again. But the confusion from the book lingered in his thoughts. "I swear," he muttered to himself, "if I see a single disciple taking a 'selfie' while ascending, I'm leaving this world entirely."

And with that, the Raven Master leaned back against the tree, closing his eyes in an attempt to forget the bizarre world of modern cultivation.

But somehow, the image of a young disciple with a Spirit-Phone in hand, smiling mid-breakthrough, kept haunting his thoughts.

"Spirit-Chat," he grumbled again, shaking his head. "What nonsense..."

_________

Coming back to trial in secret secret realm.

The maze was a brutal and deceptive obstacle. The cultivators advanced cautiously, navigating through the deadly traps.

As the walls shifted, spiked barriers emerged from the ground, closing in on the cultivators. Each wall was lined with sharp, metallic spikes that glinted menacingly.

Yura shouted, "Watch out!" She used her sword to deflect a wall that was closing in on her, slicing through the spikes. The wall screeched, retracting momentarily.

Shadows from different eras began to manifest as illusions, each one attacking with phantom weapons. The illusions were deceptive and hard to distinguish from real enemies.

Lounge Cultivator laughed, though his expression was strained. "Is this supposed to be a joke? I'm dealing with ghosts!"

He used his casual approach to his advantage, slashing through the illusions with swift, fluid movements. "This is how you handle a bad party!"

Hidden mechanisms in the floor triggered darts and poisonous gas, creating a hazardous environment. The gas clouds thickened, making it hard to see and breathe.

Jiao, breathing heavily, used his internal energy to create a protective barrier around the group. "Stay close! I'll shield us from the gas."

Fan and Li Mei maneuvered carefully through the traps, using their agility to avoid the darts. "We need to move quickly!" Fan urged, his voice urgent.

Amid the chaos, Li Xiang was making his way to a central platform where he intended to complete the trial himself. He had already activated more traps to keep the cultivators at bay.

As Li Xiang reached the platform, he unfurled the glowing scroll. The air crackled with power. He began to chant an ancient incantation, attempting to finalize the sequence of the bells.

"Let's see how you handle this," Li Xiang sneered, his eyes glinting with malevolent satisfaction.

Fan charged toward Li Xiang, dodging through the maze of traps and illusions. He raised his sword, preparing to confront Li Xiang. "Give it up, Li Xiang! This trial belongs to us!"

Li Xiang smirked, his eyes never leaving the scroll. "You're too late. The secrets of this realm will be mine, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Yura joined Fan, her sword blazing with energy. "We're not letting you win!"

Li Xiang conjured a wave of energy from the scroll, creating a force field that repelled their attacks. "You think you can stop me with mere force?"

Fan grit his teeth and used his own energy to counteract the force field. "We have to break through!"

As the cultivators fought against Li Xiang's defenses, the chamber continued to collapse around them. The timer ticked down relentlessly, each second adding to their desperation.

The chamber's structure began to destabilize, and the environment flickered more violently. The walls cracked open, revealing glimpses of other eras and dimensions.

Fan and Yura struggled to keep their footing as the floor shifted beneath them. "The chamber is falling apart!" Yura shouted.

Li Xiang summoned an ancient guardian, a colossal figure made of shimmering energy, to protect the platform. The guardian's massive form loomed over the cultivators, its eyes burning with fierce intensity.

"Deal with this first!" Li Xiang commanded, his voice cold and calculating.

The guardian roared, swinging its enormous weapon in a sweeping arc. The cultivators were forced to dodge and deflect its attacks.

Fan focused on the guardian, using his energy to create a protective shield. "We need to break through its defenses!"

Yura leaped into the fray, her sword crackling with power. "I'll distract it. You focus on Li Xiang!"

She charged at the guardian, her blade slicing through its energy field. The guardian's attacks were powerful, but Yura's speed and agility allowed her to avoid most of them.

With the guardian preoccupied, Li Xiang continued his incantation, his face etched with determination. "Almost there… Just a bit more…"

Fan and Jiao exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. "We have to stop him now!" Fan said, moving toward Li Xiang with renewed vigor.

Jiao used his energy to create a series of blinding light flashes, temporarily disorienting Li Xiang. "This should give us a chance!"

Fan seized the opportunity, charging forward and striking at Li Xiang. "Give up the scroll!"

Li Xiang's eyes widened in surprise as Fan's attack struck him, causing him to drop the scroll. "No! This isn't over!"

The scroll fell to the ground, its energy flaring wildly as it reacted to the turbulence in the chamber. The chamber's timer reached its final seconds, the countdown almost complete. The environment flickered between chaotic states, the walls shaking violently.

Fan, Yura, Jiao, and the others struggled to maintain their balance as the chamber continued to collapse. The ancient guardian roared in frustration, its form dissipating as its energy was disrupted.

Li Xiang, battered and enraged, attempted to retrieve the scroll, but the chamber's instability was reaching its peak. The chamber's final moments were marked by a blinding flash of light, and then…

Everything went dark.

The cultivators were thrown into a void of emptiness, the once-mighty chamber now reduced to a swirling, shifting darkness. The outcome of their trial hung in the balance, the fate of the chamber and its secrets uncertain.

Would they escape the collapsing chamber? Would Li Xiang's betrayal prove to be their final undoing? The final moments of the trial were shrouded in darkness, leaving their ultimate fate hanging by a thread.