Chapter 22: The Whispering Abyss

After leaving the temple, Xian Zhen and his companions found themselves standing before a vast chasm. It stretched endlessly in both directions, shrouded in a thick, swirling mist. A narrow stone bridge extended across the abyss, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

Lei Shang peered into the darkness below. "I can't see the bottom… It feels like it's pulling me in."

Jiang Hu let out a nervous laugh. "Great. A bottomless pit. That's exactly what I wanted to see today."

Feng Yu remained silent, her sharp eyes scanning the mist. "Something's not right. I hear whispers… like voices calling out."

Xian Zhen took a deep breath. His connection with the Core of Balance had heightened his senses. Now, he could feel it too—a strange presence lurking within the abyss, unseen but undeniably there.

"The trial isn't over," Xian said. "This bridge… it's testing us."

Without hesitation, he stepped forward, leading the way across. The stone beneath his feet felt unnaturally cold, and with every step, the whispers grew louder.

"Turn back."

"You are not worthy."

"You will fail."

The voices seeped into their minds, not just as words, but as emotions—fear, doubt, despair.

Lei Shang gritted his teeth. "It's trying to break us again."

Jiang Hu shook his head rapidly, gripping his sword. "I know these aren't real, but why do they feel so… personal?"

Suddenly, the mist thickened, and shadowy figures emerged. They were twisted reflections of themselves—Xian saw his own form standing ahead, eyes glowing with cold malice.

"You will never control your power," the shadow-Xian said. "You will lose yourself to chaos."

Feng Yu's shadow-self smirked. "You can't escape your past. No matter how strong you become, you will always be that weak, helpless girl."

One by one, the shadows spoke, whispering their deepest fears back at them. The real Xian clenched his fists. He had faced his fears in the temple. He knew better now.

"Ignore them!" he called out. "They are only illusions! They feed on doubt!"

Easier said than done. The shadows didn't just speak—they moved, attacking with the same skills and abilities as their real counterparts.

Jiang Hu swung at his copy, but the shadow blocked his blade effortlessly, smirking. "Too slow."

Lei Shang's golden fists clashed against his own doppelgänger, but the force sent him skidding back. "Damn it… it's like fighting a mirror!"

Feng Yu leaped through the air, her daggers clashing against her shadow's blades, each movement perfectly mirrored. "They know our every move!"

Xian Zhen's shadow attacked with the same black and white energy he wielded, forcing him on the defensive. He gritted his teeth. Fighting himself—his own weaknesses, his own fears—was the hardest battle yet.

Then he remembered what the Core of Balance had taught him.

"To claim balance, one must let go of control."

Xian stopped holding back. Instead of fighting against the shadow's attacks, he let his energy flow naturally. His movements became fluid, instinctive, rather than forced.

And in that moment, his shadow faltered.

Seeing this, he called out, "Don't fight them as enemies! Accept them! Accept your fears!"

His words struck deep. One by one, the others followed his lead. Lei Shang stopped resisting and let his energy flow. Jiang Hu laughed in the face of his shadow, embracing the chaos of battle. Feng Yu no longer attacked with anger, but with understanding.

The shadows trembled. Their forms wavered. And then, as if the mist itself swallowed them, they vanished.

The whispers faded.

The mist cleared.

And the bridge… was gone.

Instead, they found themselves standing on solid ground, the chasm behind them.

Xian exhaled slowly, looking ahead. A massive stone gate loomed in the distance, marking the true end of the trial.

"We did it," Feng Yu whispered.

Jiang Hu sheathed his sword, grinning. "That was exhausting. Can the next challenge be a nap?"

Lei Shang smirked. "No chance."