Chapter 68: Shadows and Sacrifice
"You see?" the specter murmured, stepping forward, its form flickering like a dying ember. "This power is yours. You only needed to embrace it."
A wave of heat pulsed through Li Feng's chest, his body trembling as the Black Phoenix Talisman responded to his moment of weakness. He felt the fire gnawing at his veins, clawing its way into his mind. The power was intoxicating, but somewhere within him, a distant voice screamed in protest.
No. He had seen where this path led. If he gave in now, there would be no turning back.
With a sharp inhale, he forced his hands together, summoning his internal energy in a desperate attempt to suppress the talisman's influence. The dark flames flickered, hesitated—but the specter only laughed, its voice laced with triumph.
"You cannot fight what is already inside you." The specter lifted a hand, and from the fire, chains of black energy erupted, racing toward Li Feng.
Before he could react, they coiled around his wrists and ankles, yanking him to his knees. The talisman pulsed again, answering the call of his reflection. His breath came ragged as the darkness within him stirred, threatening to rise.
Across the chasm, Mei Lian and the others barely managed to regroup. The floating platforms beneath them groaned with an unnatural force, shifting with every step they took. Yan Shun was the first to recover, his breath heavy, his blade slick with phantom blood. He didn't speak of what he had seen in his trial, but his expression was grim.
"We have to keep moving," he said tightly, his gaze flickering toward Mei Lian, who knelt beside Zheng Wei. The older warrior's face was pale, his hands trembling as he struggled to keep himself upright.
Mei Lian pressed a palm against his forehead, concern tightening her lips. "He won't last if we don't find a way out soon."
Yan Shun frowned, scanning the ruins ahead. "We don't have a choice. We need to—"
He froze. The air had shifted.
A ripple of unease crawled up his spine as a shadow stretched across the final platform. A figure stood there, waiting—elegant, poised, and utterly unreadable.
Lady Yuexiang.
Mei Lian's breath hitched at the sight of her. For a moment, the world around them faded, the past colliding with the present in a single heartbeat.
Yuexiang inclined her head slightly, her gaze flicking between them. "You've come far," she said, her voice smooth, devoid of urgency. "But the next step requires something more."
Yan Shun's grip tightened on his sword. "What do you want?"
Yuexiang smiled faintly. "To see whether you are worthy."
The platform beneath them trembled violently. The whispers from the abyss grew louder, more insidious. The second trial had already begun.
Back within the heart of the trial, Li Feng's struggle reached its peak. The chains of black energy twisted tighter, digging into his flesh. His specter loomed closer, golden eyes gleaming with wicked amusement.
"This is what you were always meant to be," the dark reflection whispered. "A warrior unburdened by weakness. A master of power, not a slave to restraint."
Li Feng's pulse pounded in his ears. The talisman's whispers curled around his thoughts, tempting him to surrender.
But then—
A voice cut through the chaos.
"Li Feng!"
It was Mei Lian.
Somewhere beyond the fire and shadows, she was calling for him. The weight of her voice, raw and unwavering, anchored him. His heartbeat steadied, the haze of corruption thinning just enough for clarity to return.
With a roar, he wrenched free from the chains, summoning his inner energy. The flames surrounding him recoiled, their grasp weakening.
His specter's smirk faltered. "No," it hissed. "You cannot deny me forever."
Li Feng's eyes burned, but this time, not with darkness—with defiance. He surged forward, his blade cutting through the abyss. His reflection let out a final, distorted cry before shattering into embers.
The trial was over.
As the last of the dark flames vanished, Li Feng staggered, his breath ragged. The talisman still pulsed against his chest, but its whispers had faded—for now.
The ground beneath him trembled. The world around him shifted.
He had passed the first trial. But the second had already begun.
And Lady Yuexiang was waiting.