Chapter 71: Echoes in the Shadows of the Central Region
Three days after his advancement to Rank 5, Han Feng was crossing a hidden plain, shrouded in dense mists and dry winds. He was no longer just another presence among many: he was an anomaly, a spark beyond the control of the great forces.
His clothes, now reinforced with spiritual silk fibers and abyssal energy sheaths, flickered gently. The aura around his body oscillated between calm and destructive, a reflection of the new level he had reached.
Not far from there, a watch tent on one of the mountains was quietly occupied by informants of the Sect of the Deep Shadows. They were observing through enchanted mirrors, which reflected images of the desert and Han Feng's spiritual movements.
— He is going to the City of Pedra Azul... — murmured one of the spies, quickly taking notes.
— Where is our executor? We need to stop him before he reaches the Hidden Jade Gate.
— It's on the way, but... I'm afraid it won't be enough.
While the spies feared, Han Feng merely reflected. His destination was the Blue Stone City, the final stop before the ascent to the Central Region. There, rumors said that there was a relic from the Primordial Times: the Tear of the Black Sun. A rare Gu, of the mental-spiritual type, that could amplify understanding and exponentially increase the cultivation rate.
But he knew he wouldn't be the only one looking for him.
Arriving in the city, Han Feng was met with veiled hostility. The local Gu masters felt his presence as an annoyance. No one wanted a powerful outsider in their territories.
He stayed at a simple inn, with a balcony overlooking a stone garden. There, he made contact with an old informant, known only as Old Mo.
— You caused quite a stir, boy — said the old man, laughing with his eyes half-closed. — The Sects know you are coming. The Tear of the Black Sun is guarded in an underground temple... but protected by a barrier that requires more than strength.
— What does she demand?
— A tribute of true memories. The barrier is alive. It feeds on memories... and drains your will if you lie.
Han Feng nodded slowly. That didn't intimidate him. He had already faced his own ghosts more times than he would have liked.
That night, he set off alone to the underground of the Temple of the Whispering Roots. He crossed corridors illuminated by green crystals and faced three guardians of illusory energy. When he reached the central chamber, the black barrier pulsed like a dark heart.
— To enter, reveal a true memory that you would prefer to forget — echoed a feminine, ethereal voice.
Han Feng closed his eyes. Images of his first life appeared. Of his mother, sacrificing herself so that he could escape. Of a friend's betrayal. From the day he killed a child to avoid being captured.
— ... I remember the smell of blood on the floor. Her crying. And of the emptiness that came afterward — he said, his voice firm, but his soul aching.
The barrier trembled... and broke.
Inside, the Tear of the Black Sun floated above a column of purple light. Han Feng captured it carefully, feeling his mind expand. Secrets he had forgotten came to the surface. The paths of cultivation became clearer.
But in the next moment, three figures emerged from the shadows: members of the Deep Shadows Sect.
— Leave Gu. Your journey ends here — growled one of them, a tall man with silver hair.
Han Feng smiled.
— You always show up late.
The battle erupted. The new version of the Gu of the Crimson Whirlwind created vortices that shattered the temple's stone. The Shadow Gu clones misled the opponents. And the Spectral Armor of the Abyssal Shield kept him protected from the most treacherous attacks.
In ten minutes, only ashes remained of the invaders.
Han Feng left the temple, leaving destruction behind.
Now, with the Tear of the Black Sun in his collection, his mental and spiritual power was at a new level. The entrance to the Central Region could already be seen from afar: a gorge shrouded in black clouds and constant lightning.
— The time is coming...
And the shadows, once again, trembled.