Transmigrating into a dragon clan experimental subject, is that even possible?

The cloaked figure stepped forward, his tone cold: "Clear? Your goals have never truly been clear. Do you pursue power to prove your abilities, or to satisfy your vanity? Do you pursue glory for the future of your family, or merely to live up to the expectations of others?"

Caesar's smile faded, his eyes hardening. He set his glass aside, his tone icy: "A trial is a trial. Don't pretend you understand me."

“Perhaps I don’t understand you.” The cloaked figure waved his hand. “But I can give you a choice. As long as you are willing to let go of those unnecessary responsibilities, all this glory will be yours forever. No trials, no battles, you can enjoy eternal praise and adoration here.”

Caesar paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the guests below, taking in their beaming smiles and admiring expressions. He sighed softly, then shook his head and chuckled, “Eternal glory? How amusing. But I, Caesar Gattuso, have never needed to rely on illusions to prove myself.”

He raised a finger and lightly touched the air in front of him. The entire illusion trembled; cracks began to appear in the walls of the banquet hall, the magnificent chandeliers swayed and fell, and the figures of the guests vanished one by one. The cloaked figure paused for a moment, then coldly asked, "Why did you refuse? Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

Caesar's smile was cold, his gaze tinged with mockery: "Power and glory are certainly important, but if there are no risks and challenges, then it's nothing but a boring game. And—" He took a step forward, looking directly at the cloaked figure, "my glory has never been bestowed upon me by you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the cloaked figure and the entire banquet hall collapsed completely, and Caesar's body suddenly felt light, standing once again in the empty trial ground. He looked at his palms, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"Romance? It's nothing but poison wrapped in sugar." He said, straightening his collar and walking forward.

Behind him, the lingering illusions vanished, and the path ahead became clearer. He was filled with certainty that every step of this path would be paved by his own hands, Caesar Gattuso.

Chu Zihang stood in a desolate battlefield, his feet paved with shattered armor and broken weapons, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood. He gripped the Dragon Cutter tightly, his gaze sweeping coldly over his surroundings. This space seemed endless, the horizon stretching beyond his sight, littered with countless corpses, as if all living beings in the world had perished here.

Just as he was about to take a step, a familiar figure appeared at the other end of the battlefield. The person was dressed in a pure white dress, with long hair flowing over their shoulders, and a warm smile on their face. It was Xia Mi.

Chu Zihang's gaze froze instantly, his knuckles turning slightly white as he gripped the Dragon Cutter. His breath hitched, but he quickly regained his composure and whispered, "Illusion."

Xia Mi's smile remained unchanged. She took a few steps forward and stood in front of Chu Zihang. Her voice was as gentle as a breeze whispering in his ear: "Illusion? Zihang, this is not an illusion. I am right here."

Chu Zihang's eyes were icy, and he slightly raised the Dragon Cutter in his hand. He said in a low voice, "Xia Mi is already dead. This is a trial, don't waste time."

“Yes, I’m dead.” Xia Mi’s gaze didn’t waver, but her voice held a hint of a sigh. “But what about you? You’re alive, but like a walking corpse. You fight every day, but never for yourself. Have you ever asked yourself, what’s the point of living like this?”

Chu Zihang was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "Meaning is not important. Responsibility is the meaning."

"Responsibility?" Xia Mi's smile held a hint of complexity. "You're always like this, carrying responsibility on your shoulders without ever considering yourself. But who will consider you? Me? Or those who have already left?"

She stepped forward, reached out and grabbed Chu Zihang's wrist, her voice tinged with sadness: "Put down your sword, Zihang. There are no enemies here, no trials, and no world that needs your protection. Stay here with me and live a peaceful life you've never had before."

Chu Zihang looked down at her hand gripping his wrist, feeling its familiar warmth. His gaze wavered slightly, his throat tightened, but he remained silent.

"You've already tried your best." Xia Mi's voice softened, tinged with a hint of pleading. "Don't push yourself anymore. This is my last request, Zihang... please stay here with me."

Chu Zihang closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His body trembled slightly, but when he opened his eyes, his gaze had returned to its cold and stern expression.

“You are not Xia Mi,” he said, his voice low and firm. “Xia Mi will not let me put down my sword. She knows that the moment I put down my sword, I will no longer be myself.”

Xia Mi's smile gradually faded, and her gaze turned icy: "Are you really that stubborn? You can't even accept a moment of peace? Do you really think this sword can solve everything?"

"No." Chu Zihang's voice remained calm. "But if I give up even this sword, nothing will be solved."

As soon as he finished speaking, he swung the Dragon Cutter with a mighty roar, the blade cleaving through the air and the illusion before him. Xia Mi's figure dissipated into countless specks of light, and the surrounding battlefield instantly collapsed, revealing the empty training ground.

Chu Zihang stood still, his grip on the Dragon Cutter tightening, his gaze complex as he watched the fading illusion fade away. He whispered, "I'm sorry, Xia Mi. If one day I can truly lay down the sword, it will be because the world no longer needs it."

As he stepped forward again, the mist over the training grounds dissipated once more, and the path ahead became clearer. Chu Zihang's figure appeared exceptionally resolute in the dim light, the responsibility on his shoulders as heavy as a mountain, yet his steps never faltered.

The four of them gradually broke free from their respective illusions and regrouped in the center of the trial arena. Each of them wore a somber expression, as if the trials they had just endured had touched the most tender parts of their hearts. The air was filled with the lingering scent of the trials, a mixture of faint floral fragrance and cold metal, both warm and chilling.

“This trial has been quite troublesome.” Caesar broke the silence first, straightening his collar, his tone still somewhat relaxed. “However, I quite like this kind of challenge that makes me think more.”

"Come on, don't be ridiculous." Lu Mingfei leaned against a stone pillar, arms crossed, looking helpless. "This is practically pushing people into an abyss. I almost believed those lies, I almost..." He didn't finish his sentence, but just sighed.

Chu Zihang looked down at the blade of the Dragon Cutter, his voice cold but firm: "Trials are tests of will, romance is just a seductive disguise. Once it's over, don't dwell on it."

Tian remained silent, his gaze fixed on the training ground ahead. A new path appeared on the ground, straighter than before, yet also more sinister. There were no decorations on either side of the path, only a smooth obsidian floor reflecting a faint light.

"The next trial lies ahead," Tian finally spoke, his voice calm and deep. "This time, the theme is 'rationality,' involving a test of wisdom and knowledge."

Caesar raised an eyebrow: "Rationality? Sounds like your home turf, my God."

"It's not your home turf, it's a trap." Tian didn't turn around, but just stared ahead. "The more obvious the trial seems, the more likely it is to hide the most complex rules. Prepare to face the most difficult logical puzzles."

The four stepped onto the newly appeared path, the air growing increasingly cold, as if carrying a biting chill. They entered a vast domed hall, in the center of which was a giant chessboard. The chessboard consisted of alternating black and white squares, each square holding a chess piece with shimmering runes. These pieces varied in shape; some were humanoid, some were monsters, and others were intricate structures completely unrecognizable.

The hall was surrounded by towering bookshelves filled with various ancient books, their spines inscribed with faded characters, as if each book held endless knowledge. A huge pendulum hung from the dome, each swing emitting a deep hum, as if reminding people of the passage of time.

"Welcome, challengers." A deep voice echoed in the hall. "This trial will test your wisdom, knowledge, and logic. The chessboard before you is the only path to the next stage. Your task is to use the correct strategy to move the pieces on the board to their designated positions in order to unlock the runes."

Lu Mingfei's eyes widened: "Play chess? Are you kidding me? I'm a complete novice who can't even beat a game of Gomoku!"

“This is no ordinary chess game.” Tian carefully observed the chessboard, his brow furrowing slightly. “These pieces are engraved with complex runes, and each move will trigger a different effect. We need to find the correct solution without causing things to get out of control.”