Night had fully settled over the forest, and darkness enveloped the area, leaving no room for light or hope of escape.
Liu Chen and Zhang Ming stood in the middle of this terrifying void, where the spectral spirits still circled around Zhang, waiting for the right moment to invade his soul or submit to his will.
For Liu Chen, this moment was a true test for Zhang, and a test of anyone's ability to endure in the face of absolute power.
Zhang Ming was trembling, not from the cold but from the growing fear creeping into his heart.
The spirits hovering around him, though seemingly calm, radiated an overwhelming energy that made the very air thick and hard to breathe.
"Liu... do we really have to do this?" Zhang asked hesitantly, feeling that these spirits might be more than he could handle.
Liu, with cold, sharp eyes, replied without looking at him,
"Yes. If you want power, this is the price. There's no other way. The world doesn't give power without sacrifice, and Zhang, if you're not ready for this sacrifice, there's no place for you on this path."
Zhang swallowed hard.
He knew Liu was willing to do anything to achieve his goals, and he knew that Liu was merciless, both in dealing with enemies and even with his own followers.
Zhang was no weakling, but he wasn't sure if he could continue down this dark path Liu had chosen.
Liu gestured toward the spirits slowly circling around Zhang and said,
"The spirits are not just tools, Zhang. They're testing you. If you want to control them, you have to prove you're stronger than your fears and stronger than your doubts."
Zhang closed his eyes, trying to gather his scattered thoughts.
He knew this test wouldn't be easy, but he hadn't expected it to be this terrifying.
The spiritual energy from the spirits swirled around him like a powerful vortex, as if it wanted to consume him.
Every time he tried to focus, he felt his mind drifting away from reality.
"Don't fight them," Liu said in a cold tone.
"Welcome them. Let them enter you and become part of you. If you resist them, you'll collapse."
Zhang opened his eyes suddenly and looked
at Liu.
"But... what if I lose control? What if they take over me?"
Liu smiled faintly and said,
"That's the price. Controlling spirits isn't just a technique; it's a will. If you have a strong will, they won't be able to control you. But if your will is weak... they'll devour you."
Liu was speaking clearly about the risks, but Zhang knew he had no other choice.
There was no turning back.
He had to decide now, either face this challenge or retreat forever
Zhang closed his eyes again and began to summon his internal energy.
He started breathing slowly, trying to calm his heart rate and speed up the flow of spiritual energy within his body.
The spirits were still hovering around him, but this time, he could feel them more clearly.
They were no longer just spectral ghosts; they were beings with will and power.
"I'll do it..." Zhang muttered to himself, trying to reassure his soul.
"I'll show them that I can control them."
Zhang began to focus his energy on the spirits surrounding him.
He knew the first step was gaining their trust, not through sheer force, but through willpower. Slowly, the spirits started to approach him more closely.
He could feel them as if they were touching his mind and soul.
"Well done..." Liu said, observing closely.
"You're starting to understand. Power isn't about direct control; it's about allowing the spirits to merge with you."
Zhang felt the spiritual energy rising within him. The spirits were now closer than ever, as if they were searching for something inside his soul.
He knew he was on the verge of success, but at the same time, he felt that something dangerous was about to happen.
Suddenly, the spirits began to change. They were no longer just invisible entities but started to take on strange forms as if they were becoming physical beings.
Zhang felt fear creeping into his heart again.
"What's happening?" Zhang asked nervously.
"They're testing you again," Liu said.
"The spirits want to know if you're worthy of the power you seek. If you hesitate now, they'll devour you entirely."
Zhang felt his body start to tremble. The pressure the spirits were putting on him was immense, and he felt as though his mind was about to explode.
He had to decide now, either continue resisting or surrender to this dark power.
"There's no turning back..." Liu said calmly.
"If you back down now, you won't leave here alive."
At that moment, Zhang decided he wouldn't give up. He knew this power was his only chance to become stronger.
He knew that if he failed here, he wouldn't get another chance. He closed his eyes again and focused all his energy on the spirits.
"I want control..." he said loudly, trying to use his will to draw the spirits toward him.
The spirits began to respond to him slowly, as if they were finally submitting.
They entered his body one by one, and he began to feel immense power coursing through him.
This was what he had been searching for all along.
But suddenly, he felt something different. The spirits weren't merging with him as he had expected.
Instead, they were trying to control him. They were trying to invade his mind and soul entirely.
"Liu... something's wrong!" Zhang shouted.
Liu didn't move; he remained standing, watching.
"You're resisting them. Don't resist. You have to give up part of yourself if you want full control."
Zhang began to feel despair. He was trying hard to control the spirits, but he knew the situation was slipping out of his hands.
The spiritual energy was increasing rapidly, and the spirits were closing in on him from within.
"I won't be able to control them!" Zhang cried out in pain.
Liu stepped forward, his eyes gleaming coldly. "Either you control them, or you die."
At that moment, Zhang felt like he was losing his mind. The spirits had fully overwhelmed him, and they were now in complete control.
His body grew heavier, and his soul was sinking into a deep darkness.
In the end, Zhang began to lose consciousness.
The spirits had completely taken over him. His body became heavy, and his spirit was slipping away into a deep abyss.
…