Trial by Stone

The ground trembled as the statues advanced, their massive stone bodies grinding against the earth with a sound that made Xu Tian's teeth ache. The air grew heavy, crackling with an unseen energy as the guardians' fiery eyes bore into the group.

"I told you we should have taken the scenic route!" Xu Tian yelled, ducking behind a boulder.

Wei Ling spun his coin in one hand, grinning. "Relax! It's just a warm-up. Let's see what they're made of!"

"Stone, Wei Ling!" Xu Tian shot back. "They're literally made of stone!"

One of the statues raised a colossal hand, pointing directly at Shen Feng. "The bearer of the seal must prove their worth. Three trials await: strength, wisdom, and spirit. Fail, and you shall perish."

Xu Tian peeked out from behind the boulder. "Wait, wait, wait! What about the rest of us? Do we just…watch?"

"Support is permitted," the statue intoned, "but the bearer must lead."

Shen Feng tightened his grip on the talisman and nodded. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

The first statue stepped forward, its stone fists glowing with an ominous red light. "Trial of Strength: overcome me in battle."

Wei Ling cracked his knuckles. "Finally, something straightforward."

"Straightforward?!" Xu Tian yelped. "That thing is three stories tall!"

Shen Feng charged forward, his sword gleaming as he struck at the statue's leg. Sparks flew, but the blade barely scratched the surface.

"Of course it's tough as a mountain," Yue Lin muttered, joining the fray. Her strikes were precise, targeting the statue's joints, but the guardian moved with surprising agility, swatting at them like a giant annoyed by flies.

Wei Ling leaped onto the statue's arm, driving his fists into the stone. "Come on, big guy! Show me what you've got!"

The statue swung its arm, sending Wei Ling flying into a tree. He groaned but quickly got back up. "Okay, that was…a warm-up."

Xu Tian, still hiding, muttered to himself. "Yeah, real inspiring, everyone. Meanwhile, I'll just be here…not dying."

As the battle raged on, it became clear that brute force wasn't enough. Shen Feng glanced at the talisman, its glow pulsating rhythmically. An idea began to form.

"Distract it!" he shouted. "I think the talisman is the key!"

Yue Lin nodded, charging at the statue to draw its attention. Wei Ling followed suit, his attacks becoming more aggressive.

Shen Feng held up the talisman, its light growing brighter as he approached the statue. The guardian hesitated, its fiery eyes flickering.

"You carry the seal of passage," it rumbled. "Prove your strength not with force, but with resolve."

Shen Feng gritted his teeth. "Resolve, huh? Fine. Let's see how you like this!"

He slammed the talisman against the statue's chest. A shockwave erupted, and the statue froze, its glowing eyes dimming.

Before they could catch their breath, the second statue stepped forward. "Trial of Wisdom: solve the riddle, or be consumed by the flames of ignorance."

Xu Tian groaned. "Riddles? Great. Just great. My brain isn't exactly battle-ready right now."

The statue's voice boomed.

"I am not alive, but I can grow. I do not have lungs, but I need air. What am I?"

Wei Ling scratched his head. "A really needy rock?"

Xu Tian smacked his forehead. "It's fire! The answer is fire!"

The statue's eyes flared briefly before it stepped back. "Correct. The trial is passed."

Wei Ling shrugged. "I was close."

"No, you weren't!" Xu Tian snapped.

The final statue stepped forward, radiating a calm yet overwhelming aura. "Trial of Spirit: face your greatest fear, and prove your heart is steadfast."

Xu Tian froze. "Wait…our greatest fear? That sounds way too personal!"

The guardian raised its hand, and a swirling mist enveloped the group. Within the fog, each of them saw their deepest fears come to life.

Xu Tian found himself back in his clan's hall, surrounded by disapproving elders. Their voices echoed in his mind. "You'll never amount to anything. You're nothing but a burden."

Wei Ling faced a shadowy figure that matched his every move, a reminder of a past he'd tried to bury.

Yue Lin stood before an endless void, her sword shattering in her hands as she fell into the abyss.

Shen Feng, however, gripped the talisman tightly. His vision was of the group—his newfound family—scattered and lifeless. He took a deep breath, grounding himself.

"This isn't real," Shen Feng said firmly. "Fear is an illusion. We are stronger together."

The mist dissipated, and the statue stepped back. "Your spirit is unbroken. The trial is passed."

The three statues knelt, their eyes extinguished. The ground shook one final time as a hidden passage revealed itself beyond them.

"Congratulations," the first statue said, its voice fading. "You may proceed."

Xu Tian slumped to the ground. "We're alive. Somehow, we're alive."

Wei Ling helped him up. "And now we're one step closer to the summit."

Yue Lin sheathed her sword. "Let's not celebrate just yet. If this was the welcome party, I can't imagine what's waiting for us at the Gathering."

Shen Feng looked ahead, his grip on the talisman tightening. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."