The Beginning of the Trial
At the edge of a vast and ancient forest, thousands of disciples gathered.
This was no ordinary forest.
It was known across the five continents as—
The Beast Forest.
A place where danger and opportunity existed side by side.
Towering trees pierced the sky.
Thick mist curled between roots that looked like ancient dragons.
And from deep within—
Low growls echoed faintly.
At the front stood the elders of the five academies.
Dao Realm Academy.
Sovereign Academy.
Transcendent Academy.
Yu Academy.
Pong Academy.
For the first time—
All gathered in one place.
The air itself felt tense.
Mo Tianyu stood with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp as he looked at disciples from other academies.
"So these are the so-called geniuses," he muttered.
"Let's see if they're worth anything."
Not far away—
Several powerful disciples from other academies stood calmly.
Some smiled.
Some ignored everything.
But all of them—
Were strong.
The Rules
An elder stepped forward.
His voice echoed across the forest entrance.
"This is the Beast Forest Trial."
"You will form teams of two."
"You will be teleported randomly into the forest."
"Your goal—survive, hunt, and gather resources."
"Your performance will determine your ranking."
A pause.
Then—
"Remember this."
His tone turned cold.
"This is not a game."
"If you are careless…"
"…you will die."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
A Quiet Pair
Among the thousands—
Yao Chen stood calmly.
Beside him—
Xue Lian.
She looked at the forest.
Then at him.
"…Are you ready?"
Yao Chen nodded.
"There is nothing to fear."
But then—
He added quietly—
"As long as we stay together."
Xue Lian's heart trembled slightly.
She nodded.
"…Yes."
The Teleportation
A massive formation lit up beneath the disciples.
Light erupted.
Space twisted.
And in an instant—
Everyone disappeared.
Into the Unknown
When the light faded—
Yao Chen stood alone in silence.
Mist surrounded him.
The forest here was quieter than expected.
Almost too quiet.
A few seconds later—
A soft voice called—
"Yao Chen…"
He turned.
Xue Lian appeared beside him.
Relief flickered briefly in her eyes.
"We're together."
Yao Chen nodded.
"Good."
He looked around.
Dense trees.
No movement.
But his instincts—
Warned him.
"This place is not safe."
Moving Through the Forest
They moved carefully.
Step by step.
Avoiding unnecessary noise.
Occasionally—
They encountered low-level spirit beasts.
Yao Chen dealt with them effortlessly.
But Xue Lian did not stay behind.
She fought too.
Carefully.
But with determination.
Yao Chen noticed.
But said nothing.
The Hidden Flame
After hours of movement—
Yao Chen suddenly stopped.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Do you feel that?"
Xue Lian closed her eyes briefly.
Then nodded.
"A cold… energy."
Yao Chen changed direction immediately.
"Follow me."
They moved deeper.
The forest became colder.
The air heavier.
Until—
They reached a hidden cave.
Inside—
A faint blue-white glow flickered.
The Frost Yin Flame
They stepped inside slowly.
At the center of the cave—
Floating in the air—
Was a flame.
But unlike ordinary fire—
It was cold.
Beautiful.
Silent.
A blue-white flame that seemed to freeze the air itself.
Xue Lian's breath slowed.
"…What is this?"
Yao Chen stared at it.
His eyes deep.
"…A rare flame."
"The Frost Yin Flame."
Silence.
Then—
Without hesitation—
He stepped back.
"This is yours."
The Choice
Xue Lian froze.
"…Mine?"
Yao Chen nodded.
"It suits you perfectly."
"But—" she hesitated.
"You need it more."
Yao Chen shook his head.
"I already have what I need."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
"No one else is more suitable than you."
Xue Lian looked at the flame.
Then at him.
Her heart—
Became complicated.
Grateful.
But also—
Heavy.
Hiding from Danger
Suddenly—
Yao Chen's expression changed.
"…Someone is nearby."
Without hesitation—
He pulled her deeper into the cave.
"Stay quiet."
They concealed their presence.
Moments later—
Faint footsteps passed outside.
Another team.
Searching.
After a while—
Silence returned.
Xue Lian exhaled softly.
"That was close…"
Yao Chen nodded.
"We stay here tonight."
Night Falls
Darkness covered the forest.
Strange sounds echoed outside.
But inside the cave—
Only the faint glow of the Frost Yin Flame remained.
Xue Lian sat before it.
Her heart steady—
But her thoughts not.
Yao Chen spoke quietly—
"Begin."
She nodded.
Then—
Reached toward the flame.
The Beginning of Change
The moment her hand touched the Frost Yin Flame—
Cold energy surged into her body.
At first—
It was gentle.
Flowing smoothly through her meridians.
Her aura stabilized.
Her breathing steady.
Yao Chen watched silently.
Everything seemed perfect.
Too perfect.
The First Crack
Then—
Suddenly—
The flame flickered violently.
Xue Lian's expression changed.
Her brows furrowed.
"…It's getting stronger…"
Cold spread rapidly.
The cave temperature dropped sharply.
Ice began forming on the walls.
Yao Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Something—
Was wrong.
The Storm Within
The problem was not the flame.
It was her.
Inside Xue Lian's mind—
Thoughts surged uncontrollably.
"I'm too weak…"
"I'm always behind…"
"I can't keep up…"
"I don't want to be protected…"
The flame reacted.
Violently.
The more unstable her emotions became—
The more chaotic the energy grew.
Her aura began collapsing.
The Breaking Point
"Yao… Chen…"
Her voice trembled.
The cold energy spiraled out of control.
Ice spread across the ground.
Even Yao Chen felt the drop in temperature.
But he did not panic.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
Calm.
Focused.
"This is not about power…"
He looked directly at her.
"…It's your heart."
The Truth
He reached out—
Grabbing her hand.
"Look at me."
Xue Lian's trembling eyes met his.
"Stop fighting the flame."
"Understand yourself."
Her breathing was chaotic.
Tears formed.
"…I don't want this…"
"I don't want to always be behind you…"
"I don't want to be someone you protect…"
Her voice broke.
"I want to stand beside you…"
Silence filled the cave.
The Turning Point
For a moment—
Yao Chen said nothing.
Then—
His grip tightened slightly.
His voice—
Calm.
But firm.
"Then stand beside me."
Those words—
Simple.
But absolute.
The Beginning of Resonance
The moment he said that—
Something changed.
The golden flame within Yao Chen stirred.
The Frost Yin Flame responded.
Heat.
Cold.
Opposites.
Yet—
They did not clash.
They began to resonate.
The Moment of Balance
At first, it was subtle.
A faint vibration in the air.
A gentle hum, like two notes aligning into perfect harmony.
Yao Chen's golden flame flickered softly within him, no longer restrained.
At the same time—
The Frost Yin Flame around Xue Lian calmed.
The chaotic cold energy that had once threatened to consume her now slowed… softened… listened.
As if—
It had found its answer.
Yao Chen did not release her hand.
Instead—
He held it more firmly.
Not as support anymore—
But as connection.
The Quiet Truth
Xue Lian's trembling slowly faded.
But her eyes remained locked onto his.
"…What if I fail?" she whispered.
Yao Chen's gaze did not waver.
"Then we rise again."
A pause.
His voice deepened slightly.
"…Together."
That single word—
Carried more weight than anything else.
The Breaking of Distance
Something inside Xue Lian shifted.
Not fear.
Not doubt.
But the distance she had always kept.
It disappeared.
Completely.
The Frost Yin Flame no longer resisted her.
Instead—
It flowed.
Calm.
Pure.
Obedient.
The Birth of the Domain
A ripple spread through the cave.
Soft.
Invisible.
Yet undeniable.
The air changed.
Warm—
Yet cool.
Gentle—
Yet powerful.
Their energies intertwined.
Yao Chen's golden aura and Xue Lian's icy aura circled each other like sun and moon.
Not competing.
Not dominating.
But completing.
And then—
It formed.
The Charm Domain
A quiet field enveloped them.
Like a world separated from reality.
Not created by technique.
Not controlled by will.
But born from something deeper—
Resonance of soul and emotion.
Inside this domain—
Everything became clear.
Within the Domain
Their heartbeats aligned.
Their breathing synchronized.
Their thoughts—
No longer hidden.
Yao Chen could feel her.
Her fears.
Her longing.
Her quiet determination to not be left behind.
And Xue Lian—
Could feel him.
His calm strength.
His silent loneliness.
His burden of walking ahead alone.
There were no barriers.
No misunderstandings.
Only truth.
The Confession Beyond Words
Xue Lian stepped forward.
Closing the final distance between them.
Her hand tightened in his.
Her voice trembled—
But not from fear.
From sincerity.
"I don't want to just stand beside you…"
Her eyes shone with clarity.
"I don't want to just follow behind you…"
The domain pulsed softly.
The two flames shimmered together.
Then—
She spoke.
Words that felt eternal.
"I want to become yours…"
A soft breath escaped her lips.
"And I want…"
She looked directly into his eyes—
"…that we become one."
The Silent Vow
Time seemed to stop.
Yao Chen did not interrupt.
Did not question.
Because he understood.
Not just her words—
But her heart.
Slowly—
He stepped closer.
Their foreheads almost touching.
His voice, calm yet absolute—
"Then from this moment…"
A pause.
"…you are not behind me."
"…you are not beside me."
His hand tightened around hers.
"You are with me."
Not as protection.
Not as responsibility.
But as—
Equal.
Partner.
Bound by fate.
A Bond Like Husband and Wife
The Charm Domain responded.
The moment those words were spoken—
Their connection deepened.
Not as simple affection.
Not as fleeting emotion.
But something far more profound.
A bond that resembled—
A vow.
Unspoken.
Yet undeniable.
Like two lives intertwining.
Like two destinies merging.
At that moment—
Their relationship was no longer that of companions.
Nor just lovers.
But something deeper—
A bond akin to husband and wife.
Not defined by ceremony—
But by soul.
By trust.
By unity.
Dual Flame Unity
The Primordial Flame rose.
The Frost Yin Flame answered.
Heat and cold intertwined.
Not clashing—
But revolving.
Yin and Yang forming perfect balance.
The energies merged seamlessly.
Flowing through both their bodies.
Connecting them.
Strengthening them.
Complete Stabilization
The Frost Yin Flame fully settled within Xue Lian.
No resistance.
No instability.
Only harmony.
Her aura rose sharply.
At the same time—
Yao Chen's energy surged.
Their connection amplified everything.
The Breakthrough
Energy gathered.
Condensed.
Exploded silently.
Bones strengthened.
Meridians expanded.
Bodies refined.
Then—
Breakthrough.
Bone Tempering Realm.
After the Domain
The Charm Domain slowly faded.
The glow disappeared.
But the connection—
Remained.
Xue Lian looked at Yao Chen.
No hesitation.
No distance.
Only warmth.
Only certainty.
Yao Chen looked back.
And for the first time—
There was no separation between them.
A Quiet Promise
He spoke softly.
"From now on…"
"…we walk the same path."
Xue Lian smiled.
Gentle.
Peaceful.
"…Together."
They did not let go of each other's hand immediately.
Because they both knew—
Something had already changed.
Irreversibly.
Outside—
The forest remained silent.
But inside that quiet cave—
Two destinies had intertwined.
Not by chance.
Not by necessity.
But by choice.
And from that moment onward—
Their journey was no longer two separate paths.
But one.
End of Chapter 13