Quantum Immortal

As the two-hour break came to an end, the participants slowly made their way back to the arena, their faces filled with both excitement and apprehension. The anticipation for the combat test hung in the air like a thick fog. Wuji, feeling rested but still uncertain, joined the flow of bodies heading toward the center of the arena. The physical trials had been grueling, but this—combat—was different. It would demand something more, something deeper.

The arena's torches flickered in the soft evening light, casting long shadows across the stone ground. The moon, now fully risen, shone brightly, giving the night a sharp clarity. Soon, the murmuring among the participants quieted as an elder approached the raised platform, his robe flowing gracefully in the cool night breeze. His eyes, keen and observing, scanned the crowd of hopeful cultivators before him.

"The combat test will begin now," the elder's deep voice echoed through the arena.

The participants straightened their backs, their attention fixed on him. "But before we proceed," the elder continued, his tone calm and measured, "let me make something clear: this test is not a competition among yourselves. It is a challenge of self-mastery. You will not be fighting each other. Instead, you will be competing against yourselves."

His words hung in the air, confusing many of the participants. Wuji furrowed his brow, his mind already whirring as he tried to make sense of it. 'Competing against ourselves?' he thought. What could that mean? He tried to dissect the elder's words, wondering if this would be a mental challenge rather than a physical one.

Around him, some participants exchanged puzzled glances, while others whispered quietly. But the elder offered no further explanation. Instead, he raised his hand, and a small artifact appeared on his palm. It was a pagoda, no larger than a toy, made of what looked like red wood. Dragons and phoenixes were intricately carved into its surface, each detail impossibly fine. The artifact radiated a faint glow, and the air around it seemed to hum with energy.

The elder gave a slight wave of his hand, and the pagoda lifted into the air. With a fluid motion, he placed it on the ground before him. As soon as the small pagoda touched the earth, it began to expand rapidly. The participants gasped as the pagoda grew taller and wider, its red wood shimmering under the moonlight. In moments, it had transformed into a towering structure, reaching a height of 100 feet. The carvings of dragons and phoenixes now appeared majestic, as if they might come to life at any moment.

Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd. Whispers broke out as participants marveled at the pagoda’s grandeur.

“What kind of artifact is this?”

“It must be ancient… Look at the carvings!”

The pagoda was unlike anything they had ever seen, and its sudden transformation left them in awe. Wuji's curiosity surged as he studied the structure, noting the delicate craftsmanship and the energy it radiated. 'What kind of formation is this?' he wondered. 'Could it be related to space manipulation? Or perhaps it's an illusion?'

The elder's voice cut through the murmur of voices. "This pagoda will be the stage for your combat test. The objective will become clear once you enter. Now, step forward."

Without any further instructions, the elder gestured toward the towering pagoda, signaling for the participants to enter. The crowd hesitated only for a moment before they began to move, stepping toward the massive wooden doors at the base of the structure. Wuji followed, his mind racing with speculation. What sort of challenge awaited inside? And what did the elder mean by competing against themselves?

As he stepped through the doorway of the pagoda, a strange sensation overtook him. His vision blurred, and his body felt light, as though he were floating. A dizzying force wrapped around him, twisting and pulling him through space. For a brief moment, Wuji felt weightless, disoriented, and then—just as suddenly as it had begun—the sensation stopped.

When Wuji regained his senses, he found himself standing in a vast hall. The walls were made of red and black wood, lit softly by lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The air was still, almost eerily so, and the hall was empty, save for Wuji himself. He glanced around, his brow furrowed in both wonder and wariness.

'I entered with the others… so why am I alone now?' he thought, feeling an unsettling quiet settle over him. 'Could this be some sort of spatial manipulation? Or perhaps an illusion technique?'

His mind raced through possibilities, considering the nature of the power that had brought him here. He had read about such techniques in books back on Earth—ideas of teleportation, folding space, or even virtual realities. But the fact that this was happening in real life, in this cultivation world, made it all the more fascinating—and terrifying.

Before he could explore the hall further, a cold, authoritative voice suddenly echoed in his mind, startling him. It was emotionless, almost mechanical in nature, but clear and direct.

"You are now inside the Combat Pagoda. The objective of the test is simple: you must face yourself. You will battle a replica of yourself, in the first round you will battle one replica of yourself, and as you defeat the replica one more will be added in the next round. The score for the combat test will be based on your ability to defeat these replicas. The more rounds you last, the higher your score. Each replica will mirror your abilities so that the test will be fair, regardless of cultivation or age. Prepare yourself."

Wuji stood frozen for a moment as the voice faded away, the weight of its instructions sinking in. 'Facing myself?' he thought, his pulse quickening. This test was not about fighting others—it was about confronting his own weaknesses, his own strengths. 'A perfect challenge,' he realized, 'especially for those like me who haven't started cultivating yet. Everyone will be tested based on their own ability, not on their cultivation level or age.'

The fairness of the test surprised him. It was unlike the previous trials, where those with more cultivation or physical prowess had a clear advantage. Here, each participant would be pitted against their own strength, their own skills. It was a challenge of self-awareness, of overcoming oneself.

Wuji tightened his fists, determination burning in his chest. 'If this is truly a fair test, then I have a chance.' He wasn't about to back down now. He had come too far, and this was yet another step in his journey of growth. If anything, this was an opportunity to prove to himself just how far he could go without cultivation.

As the silence in the hall deepened, Wuji's senses sharpened, his mind focusing on the task ahead. He couldn't see his opponent yet, but he knew it was only a matter of time before the battle began. He braced himself, standing tall, his mind racing through the strategies he would use.

'I will overcome this challenge,' he thought. 'Even if my greatest opponent is myself.'