Chapter 17 - Trials (IV)

As Bai Ling stepped forward, the atmosphere in the hall shifted subtly. There was a certain weight to her presence, an aura of quiet strength and cold determination that made the other geniuses wary.

Even though she had maintained a relatively low profile until now, the more perceptive among them knew that Bai Ling was not to be underestimated.

She was not just any young genius; she was the pride of the Bai Clan, a cultivator whose talents had already surpassed most of her peers.

The portal before her shimmered with an ethereal light, the gateway to her trial. Unlike the others, Bai Ling did not hesitate for a moment..

When Bai Ling's vision cleared, she found herself in a landscape that was both familiar and alien. The sky above was a deep, unsettling crimson, and the ground beneath her feet was barren, cracked, and lifeless.

Jagged mountains rose in the distance, their peaks shrouded in swirling mists. The air was thick with a foreboding energy, and the faint echo of distant screams filled the silence.

This was not a place of beauty or tranquility it was a realm of suffering, where the weak were crushed and only the strong could survive.

A cold wind swept across the barren landscape, carrying with it a sense of dread that settled deep in Bai Ling's bones. But she remained unfazed, her gaze steady as she surveyed her surroundings.

There was a familiarity to this place, a resonance that stirred something deep within her. It was as if this trial had been crafted specifically for her.

The voice of the ancient expert echoed through the realm, carrying a weight of authority that could not be ignored. "Bai Ling, your trial will test not only your strength but the depths of your resolve. You must walk the Path of Souls, where you will face the shadows of your past, the doubts of your present, and the fears of your future. At the end of this path lies the Mirror of Eternity. Only by confronting the truth within yourself will you obtain the power it holds."

Bai Ling's expression remained unchanged, though her heart tightened slightly at the mention of the Path of Souls. She had heard of such trials before, where cultivators were forced to confront their deepest fears and regrets.

For many, it was a path that led to madness or death. But she had no choice. If she wanted to obtain the inheritance of the ancient expert, she had to succeed where others had failed.

Without hesitation, Bai Ling began her journey down the path that stretched before her. The ground cracked beneath her feet, each step reverberating with an ominous echo.

The further she walked, the more the landscape around her began to change. The once barren land transformed into a dense forest, the trees twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching out like skeletal hands.

The air grew colder, and the faint whispers of voices began to fill her ears.

"Do you think you can escape your past?"

"You are alone, always have been, always will be."

"Everything you've ever done has been for nothing."

The voices were relentless, gnawing at her resolve like a thousand tiny daggers. They were not just random words; they were her own doubts, her own fears given form by the trial. But Bai Ling was not so easily swayed.

She had faced adversity her entire life, had been shaped by the harsh realities of the world. These voices, these shadows, could not break her.

As she continued down the path, the forest around her grew darker, the trees closing in as if trying to suffocate her.

Shadows flitted between the trees, their forms indistinct but their presence menacing. Bai Ling could feel their eyes on her, watching, waiting for her to falter. But she pressed on, her steps unwavering.

The first challenge came suddenly. A figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking her path. It was a young woman, her face hauntingly familiar. Bai Ling's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the figure it was herself, but not as she was now.

This was Bai Ling from years ago, a time when she was still inexperienced, still struggling to find her place in the world.

"Why did you leave me behind?" the younger Bai Ling asked, her voice laced with bitterness. "You abandoned who you were to become what you are now. Was it worth it? Was all the pain and suffering worth it?"

Bai Ling stared at her younger self, the memories of those years rushing back with painful clarity. She had been so full of hope back then, so determined to prove herself.

But the world had been cruel, and she had learned quickly that to survive, she had to harden herself, to cast aside her vulnerabilities. The path she had chosen had been a lonely one, but it was the only path she knew.

"I did what I had to do," Bai Ling replied, her voice steady. "The world does not care about our hopes or dreams. It only cares about strength. I became who I am to protect those I care about, to ensure that I would never be powerless again."

The younger Bai Ling's expression twisted with anger. "But you lost yourself in the process! You became cold, distant. You pushed everyone away. What's the point of all your strength if you're alone?"

Bai Ling's heart ached at those words, but she did not waver. "Strength comes at a cost. I made sacrifices, yes, but I do not regret them. The people I care about are safe because of the choices I made. That is enough for me."

The younger Bai Ling's form began to waver, the shadows around her growing darker. "You will always be alone, no matter how strong you become," she whispered before vanishing into the darkness.

Bai Ling closed her eyes, the weight of those words heavy on her heart. But she knew they were not true. She had chosen her path, and she would walk it without regret.

The Shadows that sought to weaken her would find no purchase in her heart. She continued forward, the path ahead growing steeper as she climbed higher into the mountains.

The second challenge awaited her at the summit. As she reached the peak, she found herself standing before a vast chasm, its depths shrouded in darkness.

On the other side of the chasm stood a figure, one that Bai Ling recognized immediately it was her father, the former Patriarch of the Bai Clan.

His presence was commanding, his gaze stern as he looked at her across the divide. "Bai Ling," he called out, his voice filled with authority, "you have always sought to surpass me, to prove that you are stronger. But tell me, what is strength? Is it merely power, or is it something more?"

Bai Ling's heart clenched at the sight of her father. He had been her greatest mentor, her harshest critic, and her most formidable opponent.

Their relationship had always been complicated, filled with both respect and rivalry. She had spent her entire life trying to live up to his expectations, to surpass him and prove her worth.

"Strength is the ability to protect what matters," Bai Ling replied, her voice resolute. "It is not just about power, but the will to use that power for a greater purpose. I have learned that from you, Father."

Her father's gaze softened slightly, but there was still a challenge in his eyes. "You have indeed grown strong, but strength without purpose is meaningless. Do you truly understand the weight of the power you seek? Are you prepared to bear the responsibilities that come with it?"

Bai Ling nodded, her expression unwavering. "I understand, and I am prepared. I will not waver in my resolve, no matter what trials I face. I will bear the weight of my choices, and I will use my strength to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Her father's form began to fade, his voice lingering in the air. "Remember, Bai Ling, strength is not just a tool it is a burden. But it is a burden you must bear if you are to walk the path you have chosen."

As he vanished, the chasm before Bai Ling began to close, the ground merging until the divide was no more. She took a deep breath, the air around her growing colder as she continued forward. The path was nearly at its end, but she knew the final challenge awaited her.

The last challenge came in the form of a mirror, standing tall and ominous at the end of the path. It was the Mirror of Eternity, the object she had been seeking all along. But as she approached, she saw her reflection in the mirror and it was not what she expected.

The figure in the mirror was not her, but a twisted, monstrous version of herself. Its eyes were hollow, its face gaunt and twisted with pain.

It was a reflection of all her fears, all the darkness that lurked within her soul. The creature in the mirror smiled cruelly, its voice echoing in her mind.

"Do you see now, Bai Ling? This is what you have become. A monster, devoid of warmth, devoid of love. You have sacrificed everything for power, and this is the price you must pay."

Bai Ling's hands clenched into fists as she stared at the creature in the mirror. It was a reflection of her darkest fears, the part of herself that she had always tried to suppress. But she knew that to pass this trial, she could not simply deny it. She had to confront it, to accept it as part of who she was.

"I am not a monster," Bai Ling said quietly, her voice filled with conviction. "I am a cultivator, a warrior, and a protector. I have made sacrifices, yes, but I have not lost myself. The darkness within me is a part of who I am, but it does not define me."

The creature in the mirror snarled, its form flickering as if struggling to maintain its shape. "You are lying to yourself! You cannot escape what you have become!"

Bai Ling stepped closer to the mirror, her gaze unwavering. "I do not need to escape. I accept who I am, both the light and the dark. I will use my strength, my power, to carve my own path. And nothing—nothing—will stand in my way."

With those words, she reached out and touched the mirror. The surface rippled beneath her fingers, and the creature's form shattered, the darkness dispersing into the air.

The mirror glowed with a brilliant light, and Bai Ling felt a surge of power course through her. She had passed the trial, had faced her fears and emerged victorious.

As the light faded, Bai Ling found herself standing back in the hall, the other geniuses watching her with a mixture of awe and respect. She had succeeded where many had failed, had obtained the inheritance of the ancient expert. But more than that, she had proven to herself that she was worthy of the path she had chosen.

Xuanyuan Tian's gaze met hers, a flicker of acknowledgment in his eyes. Bai Ling nodded slightly, her expression calm but resolute. She had passed the trial, but her journey was far from over. There were still many challenges ahead, many battles to be fought. But she was ready.