Chapter 17:the bond of fire

Chapter 17: The Bond of Fire

Li Wei stood in the void, surrounded by an unending sea of darkness. Monsters of all shapes and sizes emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes fixated on him. His heart pounded as he tried to summon a sword, but nothing materialized. Left with no other choice, he unleashed his fire energy, hurling flames toward the advancing creatures.

To his dismay, the monsters absorbed the fire, their bodies growing larger and more menacing. Frustration surged within him as he realized his attacks were only making them stronger. Gritting his teeth, he abandoned the fire and fought with his bare hands, dodging claws and teeth while landing powerful strikes.

After an exhausting struggle, he finally defeated the last of the monsters, but his body felt drained. Breathing heavily, Li Wei collapsed onto the void's cold surface. Just as he closed his eyes to rest, the scene around him shifted.

The darkness melted away, replaced by a serene meadow with a towering, glowing tree at its center. Its golden leaves shimmered in the light, casting a warm glow over the area. Li Wei staggered to his feet, awe-struck by the tree's grandeur.

But his admiration was short-lived. A lion-like creature with a mane of flickering flames emerged from the shadows, its fiery eyes locked onto him. With a deafening roar, it lunged at Li Wei.

The battle was fierce. Li Wei used every ounce of his strength and skill, but the lion was relentless. Each blow he landed seemed to be mirrored by an equally powerful attack. He grew frustrated and weary, realizing he was fighting a losing battle.

Then, an idea struck him. Watching the lion closely, he noticed that it mirrored his every move. Tentatively, he stopped attacking. The lion paused as well, its fiery eyes fixed on him.

Li Wei stood still, staring at the creature, and it stared back. Moments passed in silence before a blazing ember emerged from the lion's forehead. The ember floated toward Li Wei, and as it touched his skin, a searing pain shot through his head. A fiery flower bloomed on his forehead before falling away like ash.

The lion's form shimmered and shifted, transforming into a young man with fiery red hair and golden eyes. He knelt before Li Wei.

"Greetings, Master," the young man said, his voice steady yet reverent.

Li Wei blinked in confusion. "Who… what are you?"

"I am the guardian of the Tree of Life," the young man replied, gesturing toward the massive tree behind him.

Li Wei's gaze shifted to the tree. "That tree… it's the Tree of Life?"

"Yes, Master," the guardian confirmed. "I have been bonded to you."

"Bonded? Why?" Li Wei asked, his tone sharp with suspicion.

The guardian tilted his head. "The shard of my former master's jade must have come into contact with you. Perhaps you stumbled upon his resting place. The bond has chosen you as my new master."

"What am I supposed to do with it?" Li Wei demanded.

"The Tree of Life has the power to rejuvenate and restore," the guardian explained. "But it has been misused in the past. My former master hid it in the Realm of Monsters to protect it. Now, its fate is tied to yours."

Li Wei frowned, his exhaustion replaced by the weight of this revelation. "How do I leave this place?"

The guardian raised a hand, and a path appeared beneath Li Wei's feet, leading back into the void. "Follow this path, and you will return. But remember, Master, the power you now wield comes with great responsibility."

Li Wei nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "I'll figure it out," he said, stepping onto the path.

As the scene dissolved, Li Wei felt a surge of energy coursing through him. The fiery flower on his forehead glowed faintly before fading.

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Meanwhile, in the space...

Lin Yue sat by Li Wei's bedside, her hands trembling as she wiped the sweat from his brow. His body was still, but every so often, he would jerk violently, his face twisted in pain.

Fei Feng perched nearby, his wings drooping in concern. "Lin Yue, you need to rest," he urged softly.

"I can't," she replied, her voice breaking. "What if he doesn't wake up? What if—"

"He will," Fei Feng interrupted. "He's stronger than you think."

Lin Yue sighed, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at Li Wei's pale face. She whispered a silent prayer, hoping he would return to her.

---

Suddenly, Li Wei's eyes fluttered open, a faint glow emanating from his forehead. Lin Yue gasped, leaning closer. "Li Wei? Can you hear me?"

He looked at her, his gaze unfocused but alive. "Lin Yue…" he murmured.

Before she could respond, the space trembled violently, and a deep rumbling sound echoed around them.

Fei Feng leapt into the air, his feathers bristling. "Something's coming!"

Lin Yue's heart sank as she turned to the glowing jade on the table. The fiery symbol on Li Wei's forehead flared again, and a crack appeared on the jade's surface.

"Li Wei!" Lin Yue cried, shaking his shoulders.

He tried to speak, but his voice was drowned out by the growing roar. The air around them grew heavy, and the glow from the jade intensified.

The last thing Lin Yue saw was a blinding flash of light before everything went dark.

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