Chapter 67: Duel of the Self
"This is what you could become," the specter spoke, its voice an exact imitation of his own, laced with something darker. "The power is already inside you. Why resist it?"
Li Feng clenched his fists. He had spent too long battling the weight of his destiny to falter now. Yet, when he stepped forward, so did his reflection, its smirk deepening. It was not just an opponent—it was a manifestation of everything he feared within himself.
The battle began in an instant. The specter lunged, mimicking Li Feng's own techniques with flawless precision. Blade met blade in a blur of steel and fire, each strike sending sparks through the darkened ruins. Every move Li Feng made, his opponent countered, forcing him onto the defensive.
"I am your strength without hesitation," the specter taunted, deflecting another attack. "I am what you must become to win."
A whisper slid through his mind, a voice he had heard before—the talisman.
Embrace it. Let go of restraint.
Li Feng's breath came ragged. He knew the Black Phoenix Talisman's power was dangerous, but what if it was the only way to win? Doubt crawled into his chest as his specter struck, forcing him back. His own hesitation was costing him.
Not far from him, Mei Lian faced her own torment. The trial had thrown her into the past, where the scent of blood filled the air. She stood amidst the ruins of the Silent Orchid Sect, her younger self kneeling in front of Lady Yuexiang. The familiar voice rang in her ears.
"You made the right choice."
Mei Lian's throat tightened. This was a memory—one she had buried long ago. She saw herself, trembling as Yuexiang placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. The Silent Orchid Sect had fallen, and she had been given a choice: follow Yuexiang or perish.
"Did you ever question it?" Yuexiang's voice whispered, now from behind her.
Mei Lian spun, her older self standing within the illusion. "What do you want from me?" she demanded.
"To face what you've always known." Yuexiang's expression remained unreadable. "You chose survival, but survival at what cost?"
Guilt clawed at Mei Lian's chest. She had never allowed herself to answer that question. But as the trial forced her to relive that moment, she realized—she had never truly accepted the price.
Elsewhere, Yan Shun's battle took a different form. He faced Yan Zhi, his younger brother's face frozen in bitter rage. The younger man's sword was already drawn.
"You abandoned me." Yan Zhi's voice was cold. "You ran when you should have fought."
Yan Shun barely had time to react before Yan Zhi attacked, his blade moving with lethal precision. He blocked the first strike, then the second, but the weight of his guilt slowed his movements.
"I had no choice," Yan Shun said through gritted teeth, parrying another attack.
"There is always a choice."
Yan Shun knew this wasn't real. And yet, his heart clenched at the sight of his brother's burning eyes. He had spent years chasing ghosts, seeking redemption through battle. But if he could not face this, then what was the point?
Across the battlefield, Zheng Wei's trial took a cruel turn. He stood amidst the echoes of his past, his fallen sect surrounding him. The whispers of the dead clawed at his ears.
"You failed us."
The faces of those he had once called family turned toward him, eyes hollow, mouths twisted in pain. He felt his knees weaken. His body had already reached its limit—his wounds burned, his limbs ached. And yet, the trial demanded more from him.
He pressed his palms together, drawing on the last reserves of his energy. If he was going to die, he would not let it be in shame.
Meanwhile, Li Feng's battle escalated. His counterpart was relentless, its attacks growing sharper, more ruthless. He was being forced into a corner.
"Face it," the specter sneered. "You need the power."
Li Feng's grip tightened. His strength alone wasn't enough. He couldn't win this fight by following the path he had always walked. He needed something more.
The talisman's energy flared in his chest, dark flames curling around his fingers. Power surged through him, intoxicating and wild. His opponent's smile widened.
"Good," the specter whispered.
A moment of hesitation—then Li Feng let the fire loose. A burst of black flames exploded outward, consuming everything in its path. His reflection stood at the center of the blaze, laughing.
The realization hit him too late.
The talisman's power wasn't an escape. It was a trap.
The specter grins as if this was exactly what it wanted, and the flames surge, threatening to consume Li Feng.