Kael walked deeper into the mountain forest.
The battlefield with the Crimson Talon disciples was already far behind him, but his senses had not relaxed.
After reaching Origin Realm Stage 2, the world around him felt sharper, clearer, almost alive.
His Origin Sense stretched outward like invisible threads through the forest.
He could feel everything.
The movement of animals.
The vibration of leaves.
The faint pulse of Aether flowing beneath the ground.
And something else.
A presence.
Very faint.
Very distant.
But real.
Kael stopped walking.
His golden eyes scanned the quiet forest.
"Still watching?" he said calmly.
The wind rustled through the trees.
No response.
Yet Kael knew he wasn't imagining it.
Someone had been observing the battle earlier.
Someone far stronger than the Crimson Talon disciples.
Most likely a cultivator who had already stepped beyond the Mortal Body realm.
Kael relaxed slightly.
If that person had wanted to attack, they would have done it already.
Instead, they had simply watched.
That meant one of two things.
Curiosity.
Or patience.
Kael continued walking.
The deeper he moved into the forest, the more unstable the surrounding energy became.
Soon the trees grew older and thicker.
Massive roots twisted across the ground like ancient serpents.
Even the air felt heavier.
Kael noticed the change immediately.
"This place…"
He crouched slightly and touched the ground.
The soil was warm.
Energy flowed through it in strange patterns.
Natural formations like this only appeared in one type of location.
Ancient ruins.
Kael stood up again.
His eyes slowly followed the direction of the energy flow.
It led deeper into the forest.
Several minutes later the trees suddenly ended.
A wide clearing appeared before him.
In the center stood a massive stone structure half buried beneath the earth.
Cracked pillars surrounded the ruins.
Ancient symbols covered the surface of the stones.
Even though time had eroded most of them, Kael could still feel the power sleeping within.
This place was old.
Very old.
Older than any sect Kael had ever heard of.
He stepped closer.
The moment he crossed the boundary of the ruins.
The ground trembled.
Dust fell from the ancient pillars.
A deep humming sound echoed through the clearing.
Kael instantly became alert.
The energy in the ruins had reacted to his presence.
Golden light faintly flickered around his body as the Origin Core responded.
The symbols carved into the stone pillars suddenly began glowing.
One after another.
Like stars lighting up in the night sky.
Kael stepped back slightly.
Then a deep ancient voice—
echoed throughout the ruins.
Not from any direction.
But directly inside his mind.
"Origin energy detected."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
The voice continued.
"Compatible lifeform recognized."
For a moment, the ruins fell silent again.
Then the ground shook violently.
A large stone platform slowly rose from the center of the ruins.
Ancient patterns covered its surface.
Kael could feel it immediately.
This wasn't just a ruin.
It was a trial ground.
Something left behind by an ancient cultivator.
Or perhaps something even older.
The voice spoke again.
"Trial of Ascension… activated."
Kael stared at the stone platform.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Good timing."
His breakthrough to Origin Realm Stage 2 had only just happened.
If this ruin truly contained a trial…
Then it might hold exactly what he needed.
More power.
More understanding.
And perhaps clues about the mysterious Origin Core growing inside him.
Kael stepped forward and placed his foot on the ancient platform.
The moment he did.
The ruins exploded with light.
And the trial began.