Liu Erlong demanded, "Who are you? Why did you bring us here?"
"This is a divine secret realm for testing true love. Those who pass the trial shall receive a divine reward," the voice answered.
Flender adjusted his glasses and said,
"So we complete the test and we get the rewards, right?"
"Correct.
If Yu Xiaogang completes the trial, he will receive the Golden Dragon Nourishment Fruit and his martial soul will evolve into the Golden Sacred Dragon.
If Liu Erlong succeeds, she will gain the Phoenix Sunflower, granting her martial soul the Ultimate Fire attribute.
If Flender succeeds, he shall receive the Fire Elemental Source Crystal, evolving his martial soul into the Flame Owl."
Yu Xiaogang, upon hearing this, could barely contain his excitement.
"What is the trial? When do we start?!"
He was desperate to shed the title of trash and finally rise above.
"This trial consists of two rounds: the first is the Trial of Love's Truth, and the second is the Trial of Love's Test."
"In the first round, the Eternal Abyss of Love will question your heart. Only those who answer sincerely and truthfully from the depths of their heart may pass. Those who truly love another will be eligible for the reward of this trial. Liars and deceivers shall suffer the punishment of the Great Trial."
"In the second round, the person you love will decide whether to grant you the trial's reward."
The space imprinted these rules into the minds of all three participants as though branded into their souls.
"You have time to reflect. The trial will only begin once all three of you declare aloud to the space: 'Begin the trial.'"
The ethereal voice fell silent. The three individuals' appearances became clear once more, and they could hear each other again.
"True love and truthful answers... So this trial is to test our love?" Flender murmured, instinctively looking toward Liu Erlong.
Unfortunately, the gaze of the goddess did not fall upon him but instead turned to Yu Xiaogang.
"If Xiaogang can obtain the Golden Dragon Fruit, he might be able to solve the problem with his mutated spirit. Xiaogang loves me. Once we reach the second round, I'll be the one deciding whether he receives the reward. He'll surely be grateful," Liu Erlong said.
Yu Xiaogang wasn't paying attention to Flender or Liu Erlong. Instead, he was frowning as he considered the rules.
Only those who truly love and answer sincerely can pass and receive the reward.
"Who do I love?" he asked himself. Surprisingly, he couldn't answer.
There were two women in his life with whom he had had relationships: Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong.
But did he truly love either of them? Probably not. He got close to Bibi Dong to exploit her talent for personal gain. He got close to Liu Erlong to use her in a revenge plot against Yu Luomian.
Was he lustful toward them? Yes. Both were beautiful and powerful soul masters. It's not surprising he desired them. He even pretended not to know that Liu Erlong was his cousin so he could marry her.
But... is that love? No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't convince himself.
So... if he didn't truly love either of them, then who did he love?
Yu Xiaogang realized with horror that he might not love anyone. And that would mean he was ineligible for the Golden Dragon Fruit.
"Will I once again have to watch the Golden Dragon Fruit slip through my fingers?" he thought in pain. But then his eyes grew firm: "No. I refuse to lose it again. I was born to stand at the top of this continent, above all others. I will not be a worthless man. I must love—no matter what—it has to be real!"
He quickly chose Liu Erlong. Though he believed Bibi Dong still had feelings for him, he'd hurt her recently. Liu Erlong, meanwhile, still loved him dearly.
He closed his eyes and began to hypnotize himself:
"I love Liu Erlong, I love Liu Erlong, I love Liu Erlong..."
Finally, he opened his eyes, full of fake affection, and declared to the trial space:
"Begin the trial."
Hearing his signal, Flender and Liu Erlong also shouted:
"Begin the trial."
"The trial officially begins," the ethereal voice echoed.
A mist enveloped the three, obscuring vision and sound.
Flender's Trial Begins
A green pillar of light rose from the Yin-Yang symbol beneath Flender, making him the center of attention.
"First question: Do you have a lover?"
He looked sadly toward Liu Erlong's direction and shook his head.
"No."
"Second question: Do you love someone? If yes, who?"
Flender answered with deep emotion:
"Yes. I love Liu Erlong."
The mist around Liu Erlong vanished, revealing her. A fiery red light now shone under her. They could see and hear each other.
"Hearing his answer, do you love him?" the voice asked Liu Erlong.
She looked apologetically at Flender, then shook her head.
"No."
Flender's expression dimmed.
"Would you make any sacrifice for the one you love?" the voice asked him.
"Yes," he said without hesitation.
"The trial will now sever your beloved's arm. You can prevent this, but only by taking the blow in her place. Do you accept?"
As the voice finished, a blade of divine energy appeared at Liu Erlong's shoulder.
"What?!" both Flender and Liu Erlong shouted.
Enraged, she screamed:
"You can't force us like this! Flender, don't listen! If a limb must be severed, let it be mine!"
Flender looked at her, warmth in his eyes, and declared:
"I accept."
The blade turned and severed Flender's arm.
"Aaaaahhh!" he screamed in agony, clutching his wound and collapsing.
"Flender!" Liu Erlong shouted, furious.
"You coward hiding behind the scenes! Come out! If you have guts, strike me directly! I'm not afraid!"
Immediately, a thick lightning serpent struck her from above, leaving her charred and smoking.
"Erlong..." Flender, bleeding out, still worried about her.
"I'm sorry, Flender," she whispered. She knew how he felt, but couldn't erase her feelings for the short-haired man—Yu Xiaogang.
"You have defied the Trial Space. One strike of lightning administered. Three strikes total result in obliteration."
Yu Xiaogang, still unaware, remained in the fog.
Liu Erlong's Trial Begins
Mist separated her from Flender again.
The divine light restored her burnt appearance, though not her internal injuries.
"First question: Do you have a lover?"
"Yes. Yu Xiaogang."
Mist cleared to reveal Yu Xiaogang, who looked at her with eyes full of forced affection (self-hypnosis).
"Second question: Does he love you?"
Liu Erlong, trusting in her love, believed it mutual.
"Yes."
"Would you make any sacrifice for the one you love?"
Liu Erlong remembered Flender's pain and said quickly:
"Yes! Just please don't hurt Xiaogang!"
Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang's spirit beast Luo Sanpao was forcibly extracted. Two yellow rings surrounded it.
Yu Xiaogang panicked—he could no longer command it.
"The trial will now strip 20 levels of spirit power from your beloved. You can prevent this by taking the penalty yourself. Do you accept?"
"No! Don't take my power!" Yu Xiaogang cried.
"I worked 200 times harder than others for every level! Erlong, save me!"
Liu Erlong said with determination:
"Take mine instead! If I lose spirit levels, I'll train again. But Xiaogang's power came from hardship. He can't lose it."
Immediately, Luo Sanpao returned to Yu Xiaogang.
He looked up, relieved—until he saw the horrifying scene.
Liu Erlong's Fire Dragon Spirit was being forcibly ripped out. Five soul rings glowed around it.
The fifth black ring cracked and shattered. Her aura dropped 10 levels.
The fourth ring shattered next. Another 10-level drop.
From Spirit King (Level 51) to Spirit Elder (Level 31) in an instant.
The Fire Dragon returned to her. She smiled weakly:
"Xiaogang, I'm fine. Just lost 20 levels. It's nothing."
Mist rose again and separated them.
Yu Xiaogang began to sweat profusely. If it's my turn next... can I handle it? Should I quit?
But looking up at the Golden Dragon Fruit, he clenched his teeth.
"No. I can't give up. This is my only chance to evolve my spirit into the Golden Saint Dragon. I must seize it—at all costs."
Yu Xiaogang's Trial Begins
A dung-yellow light, matching Luo Sanpao's stink, enveloped him.
"First question: Do you have a lover?"
With closed eyes, he hypnotized himself again:
"I love Liu Erlong..."
"Yes. Liu Erlong."
Mist parted. He and Liu Erlong saw each other again. She was moved.
"Second question: Do you love her?"
"Yes!" he lied with fake conviction.
"Would you sacrifice anything for her?"
Yu Xiaogang braced himself. He knew what was coming.
"Yes," he said, teeth clenched.
Liu Erlong's gaze turned soft and dreamy.
Then, once again, her Fire Dragon Spirit was forcibly extracted and locked mid-air.
Three soul rings floated around it—yellow, yellow, purple. They seemed on the verge of shattering.
"The trial will now strip 29 levels of spirit power from your beloved. You can prevent this by giving up 29 levels yourself. Do you accept?"
Yu Xiaogang nearly spat blood.
"29 levels?! I only have 29!!"
He had hypnotized himself to fake love, and now the trial demanded his entire power to prove it?
Was this really what love meant?
Now, he was stuck—give up the fruit, or give up everything.
Liu Erlong roared angrily into the void.
"You bastard! Xiaogang, don't agree to this! I don't need you to prove yourself this way. If soul power must be stripped, take mine! Come on! At worst, I, Liu Erlong, will stop being a Soul Master!"
"Erlong, you…" Yu Xiaogang appeared deeply moved.
This should be the part where the trial space removes her level-29 soul power, allowing me to get through unscathed, Yu Xiaogang thought.
But unexpectedly, the trial space prompted again:
"Please make your choice!"
Damn it! I really have to make the decision myself? Yu Xiaogang cursed in his heart.
There was no way he would choose to have his own level-29 soul power stripped. He needed a way to preserve his soul power and still appear sincere in his feelings toward Liu Erlong. After wracking his brain, he looked at Liu Erlong with feigned sincerity and asked,
"Erlong, have you truly made up your mind?"
Looking at Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong felt a sudden ache in her heart. She realized what he was trying to say, but still couldn't bring herself to refuse him. She turned firmly to the trial space and declared,
"Stop forcing Xiaogang to choose. If soul power must be taken, then take mine!"
"You see, this is my beloved's decision," Yu Xiaogang said with a look of deep affection. "As her partner, I must fully support all her decisions. This is how I express my love for her. Therefore—"
"This is your final opportunity. Answer: are you willing or not?" the trial space demanded, leaving no room for negotiation.
Now, Yu Xiaogang had no way out. He knew he couldn't avoid the question any longer. Lowering his head and unable to look at Liu Erlong, he said,
"…I'm not willing."
Then he looked up and added,
"If I could, I would say yes. But I love Liu Erlong deeply. This is a decision made by my beloved, and I will always support her choices."
However, the trial space ignored his explanation. At the moment he said "not willing," it acted immediately.
Liu Erlong's aura rapidly plummeted. Her three soul rings shattered one by one. The rank-31 Soul Elder was instantly reduced to a rank-2 Soul Trainee. Her aura became utterly feeble. The fiery red dragon that had been menacing moments ago shrank to the size of a red loach and slithered back into her body.
Pale-faced and barely alive, Liu Erlong collapsed onto the platform. She looked at Yu Xiaogang and moved her lips slightly, but didn't even have the strength to speak.
Seeing her in such a miserable state, Yu Xiaogang secretly rejoiced at his decision.
Erlong, don't blame me. You only lost 29 levels of soul power—you still have some left, and your talent remains. You can still cultivate. But if I had lost mine, I would've become a useless person, not even a Soul Trainee. So you have to understand me.
As Yu Xiaogang's trial ended, the surrounding fog dissipated. The three people on their platforms could now see each other.
Flender had lost an arm. Liu Erlong lay weakly on the ground, soul power drained. Only Yu Xiaogang stood unscathed.
"Erlong! Erlong, what happened to you?" Seeing her lying there, Flender wanted desperately to rush to her side. But an invisible barrier blocked him. He turned to Yu Xiaogang,
"Xiaogang! Tell me what happened to Erlong!"
Yu Xiaogang turned his head away,
"I—I don't know."
"Now announcing the results of the first trial. First, Flender."
The supreme voice of the trial space rang out.
A yin-yang fish symbol beneath Flender glowed green. His severed arm was lifted and reattached seamlessly, as though it had never been cut off.
"You have no lover, but you love someone deeply. Even though she does not love you in return, you are willing to sacrifice everything for her. Your feelings are genuine and have been recognized by the trial space. You have passed the first round. Congratulations on advancing."
"Next, Liu Erlong."
The yin-yang fish under Liu Erlong glowed red. Bathed in the light, her soul power surged upward. In mere breaths, she rose from level 2 to level 10. A yellow soul ring formed, then she leapt to level 20.
Eventually, her soul power stabilized at level 51.
This divine space had displayed a miracle to the trio:
With one thought, your power can be stripped. With another, it can be restored.
"You have a lover, and are willing to sacrifice everything for him. Your feelings are genuine and have been recognized by the trial space. You have passed the first round. Congratulations on advancing."
Liu Erlong stood up, gazing at Yu Xiaogang with a complicated expression, but said nothing.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang felt a pang of regret.
If I had known soul power would be restored at the end, I should have chosen to be stripped instead. That would've better shown my love for Liu Erlong and increased my chances of getting the Golden Dragonfruit!
"Lastly, Yu Xiaogang."
The yin-yang fish beneath him emitted a murky yellow glow, enveloping him.
His heart pounded anxiously. He kept reassuring himself:
I love Liu Erlong so deeply. The trial space should feel that… right? I should be able to pass… right?
"You have deceived the trial space. In your heart, you do not truly love Liu Erlong. You merely sought to trick yourself in order to gain the final reward. As a result, you have failed the first trial. As punishment for deceiving the trial space, the Eternal Trial Abyss shall deliver judgment. You will be sent to a special space to carry out a punishment adventure."
That ethereal voice was like the final judgment.
The coveted Golden Dragonfruit vanished before Yu Xiaogang's eyes. He had lost all chance of obtaining it.
"No! You're wrong! She's the only woman I've ever loved in this world! My love for Liu Erlong is witnessed by heaven and earth, sun and moon alike! You can't judge me so rashly—"
But before he could finish, the yin-yang fish beneath his feet opened. A dark abyss yawned below, and Yu Xiaogang plummeted into it.
Liu Erlong's legs gave out. Her face turned pale. She had been shaken by the trial's final verdict.
Xiaogang doesn't love me?