Chapter 69: Yuexiang’s Warning

The moment Lady Yuexiang appeared on the final platform, an unnatural stillness swept through the abyss. The whispers that had tormented them moments ago faded into silence, and even the air felt thick, as if the shadows themselves were waiting for her next words.

She stood with her hands folded before her, her robes untouched by the chaos of the trials they had endured. Her gaze swept over them, lingering a moment longer on Mei Lian.

"You've come far," Yuexiang said, her voice neither warm nor cruel, simply stating a fact. "But did you ever wonder why the path was so perfectly set before you? Why the Abyss opened its doors so easily?"

Li Feng tightened his grip on his blade. "You speak in riddles, Yuexiang. If you have something to say, say it."

Yuexiang gave a small, enigmatic smile. "You are so eager to believe that this is a simple battle of power. That if you defeat Shen Longwei, the world will be safe." Her eyes flickered toward the darkened chasm beyond. "But what if I told you that the celestial alignment is not about granting power to one individual? It is about something much greater—who controls the Abyss itself."

A chill ran through Mei Lian. "What are you saying?"

Yuexiang took a step forward, her presence unwavering. "The Abyss was never meant to be opened, yet here you stand, unlocking its doors." She looked at Li Feng with something almost resembling pity. "You believe Longwei is your enemy? He is merely a piece of the board. The true danger lies in what has been waiting beneath this realm for centuries."

Yan Shun scoffed, stepping forward with barely restrained fury. "Enough of your manipulations. You have pulled strings from the beginning, but for what? You claim Longwei is just a pawn—what does that make you?"

Yuexiang's expression did not change. "A witness," she answered. "And a fool, perhaps. As are we all."

The weight of her words settled heavily upon them. Zheng Wei, who had remained silent, finally found the strength to speak. "You knew this was coming," he rasped, barely managing to stay upright. "You knew what the alignment truly meant."

Yuexiang exhaled softly. "I suspected. And when I did, I chose my side. That is why I stand before you now, rather than aiding Shen Longwei."

Li Feng's patience frayed. "Then why let this happen? If you wanted to stop the Abyss from being opened, why not fight alongside us?"

Yuexiang's gaze darkened. "Because you are too late. The last trial is not one you can run from. Whoever survives will not simply claim victory—they will be chosen. And what they are chosen for…" She trailed off, her meaning clear in the way her fingers twitched at her side. "It is not a fate I would wish on any of you."

A deep, rumbling tremor shook the ground beneath them, and Yuexiang's eyes flicked toward the far end of the chamber. "And so, the moment arrives."

With those final words, she turned and stepped backward into the shadows, vanishing as if she had never been there.

As the silence settled over them, a new sound rose—a metallic groan, followed by the sudden flare of ghostly light illuminating the abyss. Before them, the final gate began to shift and open, revealing the last trial.

A labyrinth of mirrors stretched endlessly beyond the threshold, warping the space around them in ways that defied reality. Some mirrors reflected distorted versions of their own faces, while others showed visions of places they had never been. The air pulsed with unnatural energy.

Li Feng swallowed hard, glancing at his companions.

"No turning back now," he muttered.

The final trial had begun.

Yuexiang vanishes, and the last gate opens, revealing the labyrinth of mirrors where time and space itself seem to warp.