Chapter 76: Confronting the Past

As the mist lifted, Xiao Tian found himself standing once again in the central chamber, the glowing orb pulsating in front of him. He had faced the younger version of himself, confronted the innocence and ideals he had left behind, and for the first time, he felt a sense of clarity. But the trials were not over yet. He could feel it in his bones.

The voice, deep and omnipresent, echoed through the chamber again. "You have faced your past, Xiao Tian. Now, it is time to confront the future."

Before Xiao Tian could process what was happening, a wave of energy surged through the room, and the air around him shimmered with an otherworldly glow. He felt his surroundings shift, the ground beneath his feet warping and twisting. In the blink of an eye, he was transported once again.

This time, he found himself standing on a high cliff, the wind howling around him. The sky above was dark, filled with storm clouds, and below him, a vast, endless sea stretched into the horizon. But what caught his attention was the figure standing at the edge of the cliff, looking out toward the storm.

It was a future version of himself—older, battle-worn, and with eyes that seemed to carry the weight of the world. His expression was unreadable, as if he had seen too much, experienced too many losses.

"You've come to face me," the future Xiao Tian said, his voice cold and distant.

Xiao Tian swallowed, his heart pounding. "What… What are you?"

"I am what you will become," the future version of himself replied. "The man who has given up everything in pursuit of power. The man who has sacrificed everything and everyone around him for the sake of his own goals."

Xiao Tian's breath caught in his throat. This was the future that haunted him, the person he feared he might become if he kept walking down the path he was on. The ruthless, cold figure standing before him was everything he had sworn not to become. The pain, the sacrifices, the loneliness—it was all there, etched into the very soul of the man who stood before him.

"You think you can change your fate?" the future Xiao Tian scoffed, turning to face him fully. "It's too late for that. You've already made your choices. Power is the only thing that matters now. The rest is just collateral damage."

"No…" Xiao Tian whispered, taking a step forward. "This isn't who I want to be. I've seen the cost of power. I don't want to lose everything."

The future Xiao Tian's eyes hardened. "You already have. Look around you. Your friends, your family—everyone you've ever cared about—how long do you think they'll stand by you when you're consumed by your own ambition? How many more will fall before you realize that power doesn't come without a price?"

The words struck Xiao Tian like a blow to the chest. He could feel the weight of them, the truth buried in the future's words. How much had he already sacrificed in the name of power? How many innocent lives had been lost along the way?

He clenched his fists, his emotions a whirlwind inside him. "I'll never become like you. I refuse to."

The future Xiao Tian chuckled, a hollow, cruel sound. "You can refuse all you want, but the path is set. You're already on it, and it's only a matter of time before you become me."

Xiao Tian's heart thudded painfully in his chest, but he refused to back down. "I'm not afraid of you. I will change. I will find a way to break free of this path."

"You think you can just change your fate?" The future version of him sneered. "There is no escaping it. You will always be bound to your choices, bound to the hunger for power. It will consume you. Just like it consumed me."

Xiao Tian took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "I may have walked this path, but I still have control over my future. I'll make my own choices. And I won't let power be my only goal."

The future version of Xiao Tian stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke, his voice softer than before. "You are stubborn, just like I was. But in the end, you will see the truth. Power is all that matters."

Xiao Tian shook his head. "No, it's not. It's the people we care about, the bonds we form, the sacrifices we make for others. That's what matters."

For the first time, a flicker of something—regret, perhaps—crossed the future Xiao Tian's face. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by the cold mask once more.

"You may be different, but remember this: Time waits for no one. You will make the same choices. You will become me."

With those final words, the future version of Xiao Tian faded into the wind, leaving Xiao Tian standing alone on the cliff, the storm raging around him.

Xiao Tian closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath as the winds howled. The weight of the vision—the future that awaited him—was heavy on his shoulders. But he wouldn't let it define him. He had faced his fears, his past, and now, he had faced the future that he feared most. And despite everything, he refused to be bound by it.

The voice echoed in his mind once again. "The trial of the future is complete. You have passed the final test."

Xiao Tian opened his eyes, the storm slowly fading away as the world around him began to shift. The chamber once again came into view, and he found himself back in the center of the room, the glowing orb still pulsating with energy.

Yue'er and Lian'er stood beside him, both of them watching him with concern in their eyes. "Xiao Tian…" Lian'er said softly. "Are you okay?"

Xiao Tian nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "I'm fine. I've… I've learned something important."

Yue'er stepped forward, her voice gentle. "What did you learn?"

Xiao Tian smiled faintly, his gaze unwavering. "I learned that the future isn't set in stone. We can shape our own destiny. And no matter how hard the path gets, I won't give up on the things that truly matter."

Lian'er and Yue'er exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. They both knew that Xiao Tian had emerged from the trial stronger, not just in power, but in heart.

The voice echoed once again. "You have proven yourselves worthy. The Blessings of the Ancients are yours."

A surge of energy filled the room, and the orb erupted in a burst of light. Xiao Tian, Yue'er, and Lian'er felt the power flow into their bodies, a surge of strength and wisdom unlike anything they had ever experienced.

The trials were over, and their journey had only just begun.

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[End of Chapter 76]