Pool of Remembrance

 Li wandered deeper into the sanctuary, the compass tucked safely within his robes. His steps echoed in the cavernous halls, each one a reminder of how far he'd ventured into this mysterious place. Yet, as he approached the next chamber, an odd scent filled the air—metallic and thick. His nose crinkled as he stepped into the vast room before him.

The chamber was unlike anything he had seen before. At its centre lay a vast pool filled with a dark, crimson liquid that rippled despite the absence of any breeze. The surface gleamed faintly, reflecting the golden glow of the chamber's walls, which were adorned with runes pulsing in time with the ripples. The air was heavy, dense with an energy that seemed to press against Li's skin.

"What is this place?" Li murmured, stepping closer to the edge of the pool. His eyes darted to the strange liquid, it looked thick, viscous, like blood.

A familiar voice answered from behind him. "This, young one, is the Bloodforge Pool."

Li turned to see Xianlong, the dragon's form shimmering faintly as it materialized from the golden light. The ancient guardian's golden eyes glimmered with a rare seriousness.

"The Bloodforge Pool?" Li echoed, his voice tinged with hesitation. "It looks... ominous."

Xianlong chuckled softly, the sound reverberating like distant thunder. "Ominous, yes. Dangerous, certainly. But also powerful. This pool is not ordinary, Li. It is steeped in the essence of warriors who came before you, their sacrifices, their triumphs, their struggles. The liquid you see is not blood in the mortal sense but a manifestation of pure energy and will, condensed over millennia."

Li swallowed hard, gazing down at the pool again. "And why am I here?"

Xianlong's tone grew grave. "To grow stronger. The trials of the sanctuary are not mere tests, they are catalysts. Each trial shapes you, molds you, and prepares you for the destiny that awaits. This pool will allow you to cultivate your strength, to venture deeper into the essence of who you are. But..." He paused, his gaze sharp. "It will not be easy."

"What do I need to do?" Li asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his chest.

"You must enter the pool," Xianlong replied simply.

Li blinked, his mind racing. "Enter? As in... submerge myself?"

"Yes. Every drop of this liquid will challenge you, forcing you to confront the depths of your soul. It will draw upon your willpower, your determination, and your essence. Those who are unworthy will be consumed by it. And if found worthy, the pool will bless you with its entire essence."

"Consumed?" Li's voice wavered slightly.

Xianlong nodded, his expression unreadable. "The pool does not discriminate. It cares not for your lineage, your titles, or your ambitions. It is the essence of warriors of old, mighty cultivators of valour who changed history. But it is only meant for the worthy. If you falter, it will devour you."

Li hesitated, staring at the rippling crimson liquid. The weight of Xianlong's words pressed heavily on his shoulders. He thought of his friends, the looming threat of the red-lit region, and the destiny that seemed to pull him forward like an unyielding tide.

"I have no choice, do I?" he finally said, looking up at Xianlong.

"There is always a choice," the dragon said softly. "But if you wish to fulfill your destiny and be who you are meant to be, if you wish to stand against the darkness that is out to devour your friends, your sect and this world, this is the path you must take."

Li took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "Then I'll do it."

Xianlong stepped aside, gesturing toward the pool. "When you are ready."

Li removed his outer robes, leaving only his inner tunic and trousers. The air felt colder now, or perhaps it was the energy radiating from the pool. With a final glance at Xianlong, he stepped to the edge and lowered one foot into the crimson liquid.

The sensation was immediate. The liquid was warm—almost unbearably so—but beneath that warmth was a strange pull, like it was trying to draw something out of him. Li gritted his teeth and stepped in fully, the liquid rising to his knees, then his waist. By the time it reached his chest, he could feel the energy surging through him, an overwhelming tide of power and emotion.

"Do not resist it," Xianlong's voice echoed from the edge of the chamber. "Let it take you where it must."

Li nodded, though his body trembled as the liquid rose to his neck. With one final breath, he plunged beneath the surface.

The moment Li submerged, the world around him disappeared. He felt weightless yet heavy, as if he were floating in an endless void. The liquid no longer felt warm but instead radiated a myriad of sensations—cold, heat, pain, and pleasure, all at once.

Images began to flood his mind. Memories, visions, and emotions swirled around him like a storm. He saw his mother, her face blurred but their warmth unmistakable. He saw Zhang Wei, Mei Ming, Lei Chen, and Lei Yun, their laughter and determination filling him with a sense of belonging. But then, the visions darkened. Shadows crept in, and he saw himself standing alone against a tide of faceless enemies, Frostbane glowing in his hand.

A voice whispered through the void, low and haunting. "Are you strong enough, Li? Are you worthy?"

"I am," Li whispered, though his voice sounded small in the vast emptiness.

The liquid around him surged, and the visions shifted again. This time, he saw himself consumed by power, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light as he struck down friend and foe alike. The image filled him with dread.

"No!" he shouted, his voice echoing. "That's not who I am!"

The storm of visions intensified, testing his resolve. Li clenched his fists, focusing on the warmth he felt when he thought of his friends, the purpose that drove him forward. Slowly, the storm began to calm, the darkness receding as a faint light appeared in the distance.

He reached for it, the liquid around him growing heavier with every step. His lungs burned, his body screamed for relief, but he pushed forward, his willpower the only thing keeping him upright.

Back in the chamber, Xianlong watched the pool with a sombre expression. The liquid churned violently, the energy within it reacting to Li's struggle.

"He is strong," the dragon murmured to himself. "But strength alone is not enough."

Xianlong's golden eyes flicked to the carvings on the walls, which seemed to shimmer faintly as if bearing witness to the trial. "In this state, only his destiny will see him through. May the heavens favour you, young one."

With a heavy sigh, Xianlong turned and walked away, leaving the chamber silent save for the restless ripples of the Bloodforge Pool.

Li stood on the battlefield of his own imagination, yet it felt horrifyingly real. The sky was ablaze with streaks of crimson and gold, as though the heavens themselves were at war. Towering over the battlefield was a figure wreathed in an aura so blinding it seemed to tear the very fabric of reality.

Li recognized him instantly. The Sovereign of Eternity. Dreams and nightmares of his prowess had been haunting him since he awakened his powers. The Sovereign's presence was suffocating, his golden armour gleaming like molten sunlight. Every swing of his blade caused the earth to quake, tearing apart armies as if they were nothing more than dried leaves in a storm.

Li tried to move, tried to speak, but his body was frozen, his feet anchored to the ground. All he could do was watch as the Sovereign unleashed destruction on his enemies. Those who had ganged up against him in an effort to snatch his bloodline. With a deafening roar, the Sovereign transformed. His human form melted away, and in his place emerged a massive golden dragon, its scales shimmering with an ethereal brilliance.

The dragon's roar shattered the skies, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. Mountains crumbled in its wake, rivers boiled to steam, and armies scattered like insects. The creature's eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity, each gaze a reminder of his dominance over the mortal and celestial realms alike.

"No..." Li whispered his voice lost in the chaos. "Stop this!"

But the Sovereign's dragon form only grew more terrifying. It spewed golden flames that engulfed entire cities in an instant, leaving behind only ash and silence. His enemies entrapped him and having no means of escape, he self-destructed after placing a curse on his descendants if they do not exterminate the descendants of his enemies.

The vision shifted abruptly, the dragon fading into darkness. Li found himself standing amidst another battle, a different figure now dominated the scene.

Where the Sovereign radiated celestial brilliance, the flame Emperor exuded raw, unyielding ferocity. Clad in blood-red armour and wielding twin blades, one forged from some infernal fire, and the other forged in ice, the flame Emperor cut through hordes of enemies with devastating precision. Each strike of his blades left trails of scarlet flames that consumed everything in their path.

Li could see the exhaustion on the Flame Emperor's face, yet he fought on with a determination that bordered on madness. Around him, his warriors fell, one by one, their blood soaking the earth.

As the battle raged, Li felt a pang of admiration and terror. The Crimson Emperor fought like a man possessed, his every move a testament to his willpower. But no matter how many enemies he felled, more rose to take their place. The ground beneath him cracked, and the Emperor fell to his knees, bloodied and battered.

"This... this is the price of power," Li thought, his chest tightening.

The scene shifted again. This time, Li was back in the Qinxu Forest, the familiar sight of his sect's main courtyard offering a fleeting sense of comfort. But that comfort was shattered as screams filled the air.

He turned to see his friends, Zhang Wei, Mei Ming, Lei Chen, and Lei Yun, locked in desperate battle. Around them, dark, shadowy figures advanced relentlessly, their forms flickering like living nightmares.

Li tried to rush forward, to help his friends, but his legs refused to move. He screamed their names, his voice raw with desperation, but they couldn't hear him.

Zhang Wei, ever the stalwart leader, was the first to fall. A shadowy blade pierced his chest, and he collapsed with a grimace of pain. Mei Ming screamed, her usually calm demeanour shattered as she fought to reach him, only to be surrounded and overwhelmed by the same shadowy figures.

"No! Stop!" Li shouted, tears streaming down his face.

Lei Chen and Lei Yun stood back to back, their twin blades whirling as they fought valiantly. But it was hopeless. Strange figures swarmed them, their laughter echoing like a cruel mockery of hope. One by one, they too fell, their lifeless bodies crumpling to the bloodstained ground.

Li fell to his knees, his fists clenched so tightly they drew blood. Around him, the sect burned, its once-proud halls reduced to smouldering rubble.

"You're weak," a voice sneered.

Li's head snapped up, and he saw a figure standing amidst the carnage a twisted version of himself. This doppelgänger wore a cold smirk, his eyes glowing with the same ominous red light that had dominated the map.

 "You let them die," the figure taunted. "You let it all happen because you weren't strong enough."

"No..." Li whispered, shaking his head. "No, this isn't real. This can't be real."

The vision darkened further, strange figures closing in from every direction. Li's breaths came in short, panicked gasps as the weight of his failures pressed down on him.

Somewhere deep in the void, a faint light flickered. It was small, almost imperceptible, but it called to him.

Li clenched his fists, his tears falling freely. "I won't let this be my reality. I'll protect them. I'll protect everyone."

The light grew brighter, pushing back the encroaching darkness. The Sovereign's dragon form, the Flame Emperor's battles, the destruction of his sect—they all faded, replaced by a calm, golden glow.

"Your resolve will be tested," a voice whispered—a voice he didn't recognize but felt as if it had always been with him. "The path ahead is treacherous, but you must endure. Only then will you find the strength to rewrite fate."

Li reached out toward the light, his body trembling from the effort. The crimson liquid around him pulsed violently, as if resisting his resolve, but he refused to give in.

Back in the chamber, the surface of the Bloodforge Pool roiled violently, its energy threatening to spill over. Xianlong stood at the edge, his golden eyes narrowed in concern.