The Sacred Chamber of Ascension had fallen quiet, its oppressive energy dissipating into the still air. Lin Feng stood alone in the center, his breath ragged, but his body and soul burning with new resolve. He had overcome the first trial—the darkness of his past—and now the chamber felt like a mere reflection of the world outside. The room seemed almost… disappointed, as if expecting more from him.
But Lin Feng knew better. This trial had been about more than simply defeating an illusion—it had been about embracing his fears and confronting the scars that marked his soul. He had faced his darkness, and in doing so, had made himself stronger. But that strength was only the beginning.
"Is this it?" he muttered to the empty chamber, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "Is this all you have?"
There was no response, only the silence that filled the vast space. Yet Lin Feng didn't feel as though the trial was over. Something lingered in the air—an unseen presence, a weight that wasn't quite gone. He could feel it, like a pulse just beneath the surface, waiting.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the room, and the runes on the walls flickered once more, their light shifting from a calm blue to a fiery red. Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. It was as if the chamber had awakened to something, sensing a change within him.
Before he could react, the ground trembled again. The air grew heavy, and the walls seemed to close in, narrowing around him like a vice. Panic surged in his chest, but he forced himself to remain calm. He had faced darkness before—he could face it again.
And then, from the very air itself, a voice spoke. It was low, distorted, and strangely familiar, as if it were woven into the fabric of his thoughts.
"You have passed the first trial, Lin Feng. But the path ahead is not so simple. The next trial will challenge you in ways that will shake the very foundation of who you are. You must choose—choose whether you will step forward, or remain here, trapped by the echoes of your past."
Lin Feng's eyes widened. The trial? A second one already?
The voice continued, its tone now colder, more foreboding. "The path before you is twisted, filled with obstacles that will make you question your very reason for being. The choices you make will have consequences—some irreversible."
With a snap of his fingers, the room changed once again, shifting like a dream unraveling. The ground beneath Lin Feng's feet vanished, and he fell, plummeting into a chasm that stretched out infinitely beneath him.
But instead of fear, Lin Feng felt something new—a strange sense of peace. As he fell, the sensation wasn't of terror, but of freedom, as though he were shedding a skin that no longer fit. He closed his eyes, embracing the fall, letting go of everything—his fears, his doubts, the weight of expectations.
Suddenly, the fall stopped. Lin Feng opened his eyes to find himself standing on solid ground, though it was unlike anything he had seen before. The landscape stretched out before him, but it wasn't the world of Xuanjie. It was a dark, twisted reflection of it—a place of contradictions where light and shadow bled together, forming an ever-changing canvas of surreal beauty and terrifying chaos.
"What is this place?" Lin Feng whispered.
"This is the Realm of Choices," the voice answered, now clearer and more present. "Here, you will face the most difficult decision of your life."
Lin Feng's heart beat faster. The Realm of Choices? He had heard faint legends about such a place—the mythical realm where even the gods were tested. But he never thought he would be brought here, let alone be tasked with a choice that could affect the very fabric of his existence.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him. It was a woman, draped in shimmering robes that glowed with an otherworldly light. Her face was serene, her eyes soft but piercing, as though she could see through the layers of his soul. Lin Feng's breath caught. This wasn't just any illusion. This woman felt real.
"You are the one who has come," she said, her voice like a melody. "You have walked through the darkness of your past. But now, you must decide your future. The Divine Path you follow will change the world—and yourself."
Lin Feng stepped forward, his instincts urging him to be cautious. "Who are you?"
"I am a guide, one who shows the path," she replied. "But the choice is yours, Lin Feng. You must decide: will you follow the path of power, claiming the Divine Path for yourself, or will you walk a different road, one that leads to something greater?"
His mind spun. What was she asking him? Power. The Divine Path. He had been searching for power ever since he entered this world, but now, faced with the possibility of a different path—one that led away from domination, away from control—it confused him. Could there be something greater than the power he had fought so hard to gain?
"I don't understand," Lin Feng said, his voice strained. "What is this other path? What does it mean?"
The woman's smile was warm, almost sad. "The path of power is simple, straightforward. It is what you have been chasing all along. But power, when gained by force, will always require more. It will consume you. You will become a tool of fate, rather than its master."
She stepped aside, revealing two paths ahead of him. One was lit with fiery light, filled with the promise of unimaginable power. The other was shrouded in mist, its end unclear but calm, almost serene.
"You must choose, Lin Feng," the woman said. "The path of power or the path of wisdom."
Lin Feng felt a heavy weight settle in his chest. Power or wisdom? Wasn't he already seeking power? But wisdom—could it be more than just a mere tool for survival? Could wisdom lead to something beyond himself, something more important than just his own desires?
He looked at the path of power, at the flames licking at the sides, burning with ambition. And then, his gaze shifted to the other path—the one veiled in mist, promising peace and clarity, but with no guarantee of what lay ahead.
The choice was difficult, but Lin Feng understood something deep within himself. Power could be obtained, but it could also be lost. Wisdom, on the other hand, was something eternal—something that would guide him through any darkness, any storm.
With a deep breath, Lin Feng stepped forward, choosing the misty path.
"I choose wisdom," he said quietly, his voice resolute.
The woman nodded, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. "Then you have made the right choice. The path of wisdom will not be easy, Lin Feng. It is fraught with uncertainties, but it will lead you to true power—the power of understanding, the power of connection."
The mist enveloped Lin Feng as he took his first step onto the path of wisdom. He felt his mind expand, his heart lightened. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but he was no longer afraid.
As the mist thickened around him, Lin Feng felt the weight of the world lift off his shoulders. The unseen path had revealed itself. And with it, a new journey had begun.
The storm within him had passed, but the true test was only just beginning.