The Ascension Ritual had left Li Wei teetering on the edge of transcendence, or so he believed. The vision of cosmic fireworks and the voice in the void lingered in his mind, fueling his conviction that his Nascent Soul had touched the divine. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that seemed to affirm his progress, the warmth in his dantian—his nascent Golden Core—pulsing denser than ever. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, remained a loyal companion, curled by the stone altar as Li Wei pored over the scroll, its worn bamboo slats a sacred guide through his trials. Yet, the scroll's next passage cast a shadow of doubt: "Beware False Immortality, where the cultivator mistakes delusion for truth. Test the spirit, lest it stray from the Dao."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, false immortality was a cautionary tale—cultivators who, intoxicated by visions of power, lost themselves to madness or illusion. The scroll's warning was more subtle but equally sobering: "The heart, eager for eternity, may weave dreams that blind. Seek clarity through action, and prove the soul's truth." Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, and countless trials, felt a flicker of unease. His body, ravaged by hunger, alchemical mishaps, and recurring fever, was a fragile vessel, and the visions he'd chased—boars tamed, demons banished, fireworks in the void—might be products of his desperate mind. Yet, the warmth in his dantian felt real, and he clung to it, determined to prove his immortality was no delusion.
The valley, with its mystical aura, seemed the perfect place to test his spirit. The scroll suggested "acts of defiance" to distinguish truth from illusion, so Li Wei devised a physical trial to affirm his progress. He recalled the cultivation novels where ascetics leapt from cliffs or faced perilous heights to prove their qi's strength. Near the valley's cliffs, a rocky outcrop jutted over a shallow ravine, its drop not fatal but daunting—perhaps ten meters to a bed of moss and ferns below. If his qi was real, his Golden Core and Nascent Soul would protect him, granting him the strength to land unharmed. With Azure Dragon watching, head tilted, Li Wei prepared, placing the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet on the altar as a ward against failure.
At dawn, when the valley glowed with golden mist, Li Wei stood on the outcrop, the Star Blade in one hand, the Starstone in the other. His heart pounded, his feverish haze intensifying, but he focused on his dantian, visualizing his qi as a radiant shield. The scroll's incantations flowed from his lips, their rhythmic tones blending with the valley's whispers. "If I am on the path," he whispered, "the heavens will guide me." He leapt, a small, controlled jump, aiming for the soft moss below. The fall was brief, the impact jarring but manageable—his knees buckled, but he landed upright, the Starstone clutched tightly. A surge of triumph washed over him. "I am immortal!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the cliffs.
Emboldened, Li Wei climbed back up, determined to test himself further. He chose a slightly higher ledge, repeating the ritual—chants, visualization, leap. Each jump felt lighter, his qi seeming to cushion his fall, though his body ached and his fever burned hotter. Azure Dragon barked, pacing nervously, but Li Wei saw the jumps as proof of his transcendence. He scribbled in his notebook, hands trembling: "False Immortality tested. Leaps defy mortal limits. Qi protects, soul ascends." The warmth in his dantian pulsed stronger, as if the heavens approved, but a small voice—perhaps his rational mind—whispered of sprained joints and feverish delusions.
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared his trial, describing the leaps as a "dance with the Dao." Zhang Wei, eyes wide, called it a "heroic test," urging him to infuse the Starstone with more qi. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, warned him to stop: "The body is not immortal yet. Don't tempt fate." Chen Xiu and Zhao Feng, inspired, shared their own tests—meditations under waterfalls, fasting in caves—but their debates grew heated, hinting at the sect's fragility. Li Wei nodded, hiding the pain in his knees and the fever's grip, fearing their concern might shake their faith.
As night fell, Li Wei sat by the altar, the Starstone warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll warned that False Immortality could blind the cultivator, but Li Wei chose to believe his leaps were proof of his progress. The valley's whispers seemed to chant in approval, the ancient tree's blossoms glowing brighter. With his sect's support and the scroll's guidance, he felt ready to face the next challenge, his Golden Core pulsing as a beacon of his unyielding pursuit. Yet, as he gazed at the ravine, a faint doubt lingered—was he defying mortality, or merely gravity, one perilous leap at a time?