When the light started shining from the realm tree, those outside the realm could see it from the void of space. But within the realm tree, a Realm-wide vibration occurred. From within the vibration, a message was sent to every transcendent up to the level of a sovereign in each of its 100,000 active planes of existence.
This message is from the Realm tree, from mother High Heaven herself. It is a short, succinct message just like her personality. You could also find the blinking message at the bottom of every status. She said to them, “In 800 years, the Trial of Heaven shall start”.
Short as it may be, this message set off a storm within every active plane. Plans were made and discarded, truces were called or broken. Different emotions abound in the heart of every transcendent organism and above within High Heaven. There was dread, expectation, worry, delight, intent to battle, and also sorrow.
The Trial of heaven occurs 800 years after every Origin cycle for about 200 years. As soon as the call went out, every one of the children of High Heaven that is willing will go to the ancient battlefield, specifically at its center. Even if they might die, they will go. Even if the records show a one in five chance of dying, they will go. Because within the tower are wondrous treasures, artifacts, and spells that can change the life of anyone. From divinity to divine shards, from lord crystals to godheads.
The rewards also include the rare Origin essence. An object that sovereigns and Grand gods fight for, even Origin gods don’t have enough of origin essence. It is for these rewards that men of power and dreams come to fight for, and lose their lives for.
You see, a sovereign is nigh immortal, but thousands of them die every Origin cycle within the trial of Heaven. What is it about the trial that makes such exalted beings perish? They die for the chance to become true immortals. There is a huge difference between nigh immortality and true immortality.
The opportunity to make the transformation from nigh immortality to true immortality is apparently enough to die for. The trial makes you or break you. As long as you can survive, you will have something to show for it, either good or bad. In the case of Sovereigns, they get to become eternal.
So the journey began, for some, it would take a year at most to make it to the tower from anywhere they are in High Heaven, and for others, it could take 100 years. One will reduce to transverse their plane, and reach the ancient battlefield through the plane portal. Then one will have to reach the tower of heaven at the center of the ancient battlefield.
The distance from a planar portal to the center of the ancient battlefield isn’t a jogging distance by any means. The ancient battlefield is a large space, more than 1000 the size of a plane.
There has been a debate about where it is in the realm tree since the ancient battlefield is not like other planes of existence that reside on the leaves of the realm tree. Some believe it is at the top of the realm tree or within the trunk.
Regardless of the differing opinions, it can be agreed that the ancient battlefield is large and durable. It is the only place within the realm tree where sovereigns can duke it out without holding back. So yeah, it is durable. Most planes if not all, can only withstand the transcendent level of power.
If you take a survey of the current atmosphere of High Heaven, you will find out that the most talked about topic is the Trial of heaven. Let’s take a look at the home plane of the battle sage monkeys, a divine race proficient in battle arts and techniques, the connoisseurs of battle.
This race possesses incredible eyes that can see ahead into time and predict the actions of an opponent. This ability depends on the inherent power of its wielder, it is also not infallible and without weakness, but it is the cornerstone of their race’s supremacy.
In the western part of this plane, is a jungle approximately a quarter of the total surface area of the plane. That is about 20 billion square kilometers of giant trees. This jungle has been claimed exclusively by the battle sages, as they like to be called. If we zoom in on the capital of the Bloody Sun Empire, we can see a bustling and prosperous society.
You can also hear the jubilations and celebrations all around. The battle sages like to battle, and they think they are the best at it, which is why you aren’t fully grown if you haven’t been to the trial of heaven in their race. Because how can you be considered anything but a child if you haven’t been through the blood-curdling, bone-breaking, Soul chilling experience of battling in the tower of heaven?
So in 100 years, there is going to be a race send-off at this capital. Every child at the transcendent level and above that wants to go through this rite of passage must make their way back to this plane from wherever they are and receive a send-off.
They will also receive a battle totem that will record their achievements in the trial. And 900 years later when they return, they will present each of their battle totems for inspection, receive an increase in their social level, and the right to become an adult.
This isn’t a rare occurrence in the entirety of High Heaven. The Trial of heaven is a source of challenge to some, a trial to others, and even an excursion to some people. But regardless of the reason for partaking in it, it will become the graveyard to the majority.
After a while, the initial hubbub about the trial of heaven will die down across the plane. But for now, and for the nearest thousand years, the trial will be what is up.