Chapter 59: Trial of the Ancients

The ground beneath them trembled as the ruins collapsed, dust and debris choking the air. Li Feng led the way, his steps unsteady but determined, as the others followed closely behind. They barely managed to escape the crumbling stone walls when, suddenly, the floor beneath them gave way.

They fell, tumbling through the darkness, until they landed with heavy thuds on an uneven stone floor. Pain shot through Li Feng's limbs, but he forced himself to his feet. A dim, flickering glow illuminated the chamber they had fallen into.

A massive underground temple stretched before them, its walls lined with towering statues of warriors, each carved with expressions of silent judgment. The air was thick with an ancient energy, heavy and suffocating. The symbols of the Coiled Dragon and the Black Phoenix adorned the temple's pillars, their meaning lost to time.

"The energy here…" Mei Lian whispered, clutching the Celestial Mirror as its surface rippled. "This place is ancient—older than the Abyssal Vault."

Yan Shun exhaled sharply, his gaze locked onto the largest statue at the end of the hall. "This is no ordinary temple. It's a trial."

As if answering his words, the Coiled Dragon Ring on Li Feng's hand flared with light, the Black Phoenix Talisman responding in kind. The inscriptions along the walls ignited, bathing the room in an eerie glow.

"The trial begins," a deep, resonant voice echoed through the chamber.

A low rumbling followed. Then, the statues moved.

One by one, the stone warriors stepped forward, eyes glowing like embers in the dark. They raised their weapons, challenging the intruders with silent, unwavering intent. Each of them radiated an aura of power that sent a chill down Li Feng's spine.

"They're testing us," Zheng Wei muttered, struggling to remain upright despite his injuries. "Each of us… individually."

The ground beneath their feet split, and a sudden force wrenched them apart. Each warrior faced their own opponent, drawn into personal battles against manifestations of their deepest fears and regrets.

Li Feng stood alone, his breath shallow as he faced a figure cloaked in swirling black flames. It took a step forward, revealing his own face—only twisted, corrupted, and devoid of humanity. His dark reflection grinned, raising a hand engulfed in black fire.

"This is what you will become," it whispered. "The talisman's power is already changing you. Why resist?"

Li Feng clenched his fists. "I won't be controlled by it."

His reflection laughed. "Won't you? You felt it, didn't you? The rush. The power. The sheer exhilaration of watching your enemies burn."

A surge of anger coursed through him, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to give in. "That's not who I am."

His doppelgänger attacked, moving faster than he expected. Their blades clashed, sparks flying as Li Feng struggled against an opponent who knew every move before he made it. The dark reflection fought without hesitation, without doubt.

"If you can't accept me, you'll never control the talisman," it sneered. "And it will consume you."

Li Feng staggered back. He had to win—but not by fighting fire with fire.

Mei Lian's blood ran cold as she faced the phantom standing before her.

Lady Yuexiang.

The older woman regarded her with a knowing smile, her voice like silk. "Still chasing after Li Feng, I see. How long before he turns on you? Before you become another casualty of his ambition?"

Mei Lian gripped her blades. "You're not real."

Yuexiang took a step closer, tilting her head. "Aren't I? You still hear my voice in your mind, even when I'm not there. You still doubt, don't you?"

Mei Lian clenched her jaw. Doubt was the one thing she couldn't afford. But Yuexiang's voice was insidious, worming into her thoughts like poison.

"You can't save him," the phantom whispered. "And trying will only destroy you."

Mei Lian let out a breath. "Then let me be destroyed. I choose to believe in him."

She swung her blade through the illusion, and Yuexiang's figure dissolved into mist.

Yan Shun's hands trembled as he stared at the figure before him. His brother. Alive, whole, but with a cruel smirk on his face.

"Shocked to see me?" Yan Zhi asked, drawing his blade. "I suppose I should thank you. Your betrayal led me here."

"I never betrayed you," Yan Shun growled.

Yan Zhi's laughter was bitter. "And yet, you left me behind."

Yan Shun's grip tightened on his weapon. He had spent years carrying that guilt, but this wasn't his brother. He knew that. And yet, the pain felt real.

"Fight me," Yan Zhi taunted. "Or do you still hesitate?"

Yan Shun closed his eyes, then exhaled. "No more hesitation."

His blade met his brother's, the sound of clashing steel ringing through the temple.

Zheng Wei barely had the strength to stand, yet he faced the most terrifying sight of all—his fallen sect, their faces twisted in agony, their voices accusing.

"You let us die."

"You weren't strong enough."

"You left us behind."

He gritted his teeth. "I didn't—"

But had he?

His master's voice cut through the others. "Do not carry what is not yours to bear."

Zheng Wei's breath caught. He fell to his knees, clutching his robes. Then, slowly, he whispered an incantation. A prayer.

Light burst from his hands, and the specters vanished into nothingness.

As one, they emerged from their battles—shaken, but standing. The temple trembled, and an inscription appeared on the wall before them:

"When the celestial gate opens, the twin flames shall decide the world's fate."

Li Feng's heart pounded. He knew now. The twin flames weren't just a metaphor.

It was him and Shen Longwei.

The trial had given them answers, but also a chilling truth.

And they were running out of time.

The temple rumbled again, and the stone doors leading out creaked open. But what lay beyond was still unknown.