Chapter 69: The Trial of the Northern Mountains

The air in the chamber grew heavier, the atmosphere thick with tension. Tang Xiu could feel the power in the room pressing down on him, as if the very walls were alive and watching his every move. He stood tall, unwavering, his eyes fixed on the glowing orb before him.

The ancient voice echoed again, deeper this time, resonating through the chamber like a distant thunderclap. "You claim what is not yours. Do you believe you can bear the weight of the trial?"

Tang Xiu's lips curled into a confident smile. "I do not fear trials," he said, his voice steady and filled with conviction. "I have faced death itself and walked through the flames of countless battles. This challenge is no different."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the voice responded, this time with a hint of amusement. "Very well. If you truly believe you are worthy, then prove it."

With those words, the ground beneath Tang Xiu's feet cracked open, and a surge of energy filled the room. Shadows swirled around him, taking shape as dark figures that appeared to be formed from pure energy. They moved with unnatural speed, their eyes glowing with a faint, eerie light.

Lei Xian, who had been standing at the entrance, drew his sword, ready to fight. "Boss, what is this? Are these… monsters?"

Tang Xiu's expression remained unchanged. "No. They are the manifestations of the trial. Defeat them, and the orb will be yours."

Before Lei Xian could respond, the first shadow lunged forward, its body shifting like smoke as it attacked with a swipe of its shadowy claws. Tang Xiu didn't hesitate. In a flash, he moved, his body blurring with speed.

With a single strike, his palm collided with the shadow. The force of his blow shattered the figure into a thousand fragments, which dissipated into the air like dust.

"Is that all?" Tang Xiu muttered under his breath, his confidence growing with each passing second.

But the shadows were relentless. More figures began to materialize, surrounding Tang Xiu in a tight circle. Each one was faster than the last, and they attacked in waves, their claws reaching for him like hungry beasts.

Lei Xian watched from the sidelines, unable to help but amazed at how effortlessly Tang Xiu dodged and struck down the enemies with ease. The shadows seemed to be no match for his speed and strength.

One by one, the shadows fell to the ground, dissolving into nothingness as Tang Xiu's attacks landed. It was clear that his cultivation far surpassed the strength of these mere manifestations. But even as they fell, new shadows appeared to take their place.

The ancient voice spoke again, its tone now more serious. "You are strong, Immortal. But strength alone will not win the trial. You must prove your heart and mind are worthy as well."

Tang Xiu's eyes narrowed. He had expected as much. He had been through countless trials in his past life, each one testing his will and character. This trial would be no different.

Suddenly, the shadows vanished, and the room fell silent once more. The temperature dropped even further, and the orb on the pedestal began to glow brighter, casting an eerie light on the chamber's walls.

"You will face the true trial now," the voice announced, its presence growing more powerful. "You must choose. Power… or sacrifice."

Tang Xiu's brows furrowed. The choice seemed simple—power was everything. But he knew better than to trust such an offer. In his previous life, he had encountered many tests that promised one thing but delivered another.

Before he could process the meaning of the voice's words, a vision flashed before his eyes. He saw a familiar face—someone from his past life. It was his family, the people he had sworn to protect. His mother, father, and younger sister all appeared before him, their faces full of worry, pleading for him to return to them.

"Do not abandon us, Tang Xiu," his mother's voice echoed in his mind. "We need you. The world needs you."

His heart tightened as the images of his loved ones swirled around him. But then, the vision shifted. The faces of his family twisted into expressions of anger and betrayal. His younger sister, the one he had vowed to protect above all else, looked at him with cold eyes.

"You left us, Tang Xiu," she spat. "You abandoned us when we needed you most."

The vision shifted again, showing him a battlefield, one where his family and friends were caught in the middle of a brutal war. Their bodies lay scattered across the ground, the blood soaking into the earth. And in the center of it all, stood a figure—someone he recognized.

It was him. His past self.

"Your choices brought this upon them," the voice whispered. "Your thirst for power cost them everything."

Tang Xiu's breath caught in his throat. The vision shattered, and he was left standing in the dark, surrounded by the weight of the past. The trial had shown him the consequences of his actions—the price of his ambition. But was it enough to make him question his path?

"No," Tang Xiu said, his voice firm as steel. "I will not be swayed. I've seen the price of weakness, and I will not return to that path."

With that, the chamber erupted into light. The shadows dissolved, and the air cleared. The orb on the pedestal began to shine with an intense brilliance, its power now fully unlocked.

"You have passed the trial," the ancient voice declared, now filled with respect. "You have proven your strength, your heart, and your resolve."

Tang Xiu stepped forward, his hand reaching for the orb. As soon as his fingers touched it, a surge of energy flooded through his body. His cultivation, his power—everything began to flow back into him at an unimaginable rate. The strength of the orb filled him with the knowledge and skills of a thousand lifetimes.

The trial was over, but Tang Xiu knew this was only the beginning. The true challenges lay ahead, and he was more prepared than ever to face them.

He looked over at Lei Xian, who was still stunned by the events that had just unfolded. "Let's go," Tang Xiu said, his voice calm but filled with a newfound power.

Together, they turned and walked out of the chamber, ready to face whatever awaited them next.