Eternal Rebirth: The System's Chosen Exile

After a simple but hearty meal of rice, vegetables, and a strange, glowing fruit that Jiang Feng called "Spirit Apple," Lin Wei felt a renewed sense of energy. The morning's training had been exhausting, but it had also given him a glimpse of what he might be capable of—if he could ever get his glitchy system under control.

"Alright," Jiang Feng said, standing up and stretching. "Time for the next phase of your training."

Lin Wei raised an eyebrow. "Next phase? I thought we were done for the day."

Jiang Feng smirked. "Cultivation isn't a part-time job, Lin Wei. You've got a lot of catching up to do. Follow me."

Lin Wei groaned but followed Jiang Feng out of the village and into the surrounding forest. The trees here were massive, their trunks wider than any he'd ever seen on Earth. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, and the faint hum of Qi seemed to permeate everything.

After a short walk, they reached a small clearing where a stone pedestal stood in the center. On top of the pedestal was a glowing crystal, pulsing with a faint red light.

"What's that?" Lin Wei asked, eyeing the crystal warily.

"This," Jiang Feng said, "is a Trial Crystal. It's used to test a cultivator's abilities and push them to their limits. Today, you're going to face your first trial."

Lin Wei's stomach dropped. "A trial? Already? I've only been here for a day!"

Jiang Feng shrugged. "The sooner you face challenges, the sooner you'll grow. Don't worry—I'll be here to guide you. But the trial itself is something you'll have to face alone."

Lin Wei swallowed hard. "Alright. What do I have to do?"

"Place your hand on the crystal," Jiang Feng instructed. "It will activate the trial. Your goal is to survive and complete the objective it gives you. Ready?"

"Not really," Lin Wei muttered, but he stepped forward and placed his hand on the crystal.

The moment his skin touched the stone, the world around him seemed to dissolve. The forest, Jiang Feng, even the ground beneath his feet—all of it vanished, replaced by a swirling void of darkness. Lin Wei panicked for a moment, but then a new environment began to form around him.

He found himself standing in a vast, fiery landscape. The ground was cracked and glowing with molten lava, and the air was thick with heat and ash. In the distance, he could see towering volcanoes spewing flames into the sky.

A notification appeared in front of him:

**[Trial of Flames: Survive for 10 minutes. Defeat any enemies that appear.]**

"Great," Lin Wei muttered. "Just great."

Before he could even think of a plan, the ground beneath him rumbled. He jumped back just as a fissure opened, spewing flames into the air. From the fissure emerged a creature made entirely of fire—a humanoid figure with glowing eyes and a body that flickered like a living flame.

"Oh, come on!" Lin Wei shouted, backing away. "I just got here!"

The fire creature lunged at him, its movements swift and unpredictable. Lin Wei barely managed to dodge, feeling the heat singe his robes. He scrambled to think of a way to fight back, but his mind was blank.

Then, his system screen flickered to life:

**[Ability Acquired: Frost Palm (Glitch Variant).]**

**[Description: Strike with a palm infused with frost energy. Effectiveness may vary.]**

"Frost Palm? Seriously?" Lin Wei said, staring at the screen. "Alright, let's give it a shot!"

He focused on the ability, feeling a cold energy gather in his hand. As the fire creature lunged at him again, he swung his palm forward, aiming for its chest.

A burst of frost energy shot out, but instead of hitting the creature, it veered off to the side, freezing a patch of molten ground. The fire creature paused, tilting its head as if confused.

"Oh, come on!" Lin Wei shouted, dodging another attack. "Why is everything so glitchy?"

The fire creature swung at him again, and this time, Lin Wei didn't have time to dodge. The creature's flaming fist grazed his arm, searing his skin. He cried out in pain, stumbling backward.

Desperate, he tried the Frost Palm again. This time, the frost energy hit the creature directly, extinguishing part of its fiery body. The creature roared in anger, its form flickering as it tried to regenerate.

"Yes!" Lin Wei shouted, pressing the attack. He struck again and again, each Frost Palm hitting its mark. The creature's form grew weaker, until finally, it collapsed into a pile of ash.

Lin Wei breathed a sigh of relief, but his victory was short-lived. The ground rumbled again, and two more fire creatures emerged from the molten fissures.

"You've got to be kidding me," Lin Wei groaned.

He fought desperately, using his Frost Palm ability to fend off the creatures. But his energy was running low, and the heat was starting to take its toll. His robes were singed, and his skin felt like it was on fire.

Just as he was about to give up, his system screen flickered again:

**[Ability Acquired: Flame Resistance (Glitch Variant).]**

**[Description: Temporarily reduce damage from fire-based attacks. Duration may vary.]**

"Finally, something useful!" Lin Wei said, activating the ability. A faint, shimmering barrier formed around him, reducing the heat and protecting him from the flames.

With renewed determination, he fought off the remaining fire creatures, using his Frost Palm to extinguish them one by one. By the time the last creature fell, he was exhausted but alive.

A notification appeared:

**[Trial of Flames: Complete. Time remaining: 2 minutes.]**

The fiery landscape began to dissolve, and Lin Wei found himself back in the forest clearing, standing in front of the Trial Crystal. Jiang Feng was there, looking impressed.

"Not bad," Jiang Feng said. "For your first trial, you did well."

Lin Wei collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily. "That was… insane. I thought I was going to die."

Jiang Feng chuckled. "But you didn't. And now you're stronger for it. Trials are meant to push you to your limits and help you grow. You faced the flames and survived. That's something to be proud of."

Lin Wei nodded, too tired to argue. As he lay there, catching his breath, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had faced a trial and come out alive—barely, but alive.

"Alright," Jiang Feng said, helping him to his feet. "Let's get you back to the village. You've earned some rest."

As they walked back, Lin Wei couldn't help but wonder what other trials awaited him. His system was still glitchy and unpredictable, but it was also powerful. And if he could survive the Trial of Flames, maybe he could survive whatever came next.