Chapter 14 : Echoes of the Past

Chapter 14: Echoes of the Past

The weight of the knowledge Bai Yuan had absorbed pressed heavily on his mind. His breathing was steady, but his heart pounded from the sheer intensity of the vision. What he had witnessed was more than mere memories—it was an inheritance, an echo of an ancient path that had long been buried beneath time's relentless march.

The hooded figure studied him in silence. "You glimpsed the truth, didn't you?"

Bai Yuan's gaze sharpened. "What exactly is this place?"

The figure turned slightly, looking toward the vast shelves of ancient scrolls and jade slips. "The Shadowmoon Pavilion was once a sanctuary for those who sought to unravel the mysteries of the Dao. Over countless millennia, sages and warriors alike came here, each leaving behind fragments of their legacies. What you experienced was but a sliver of the Pavilion's vast archive."

Ling Xi crossed her arms. "And why allow us to access this knowledge? There must be a catch."

A dry chuckle escaped the hooded figure. "Naturally. Every gift carries a burden, every boon demands a price." His expression darkened slightly. "The knowledge of the past is not freely given. What you have gained will soon be tested."

Bai Yuan's fingers twitched. The sensation of power coursing through his veins was undeniable, but he knew better than to grow complacent. "Tested by whom?"

The man gestured toward the far end of the chamber. A second door, previously hidden within the shadows, now loomed before them. "Beyond that door lies the next step of your journey. But I will give you a choice—leave now, with what little you have gleaned, or step forward and claim the true inheritance that awaits."

Bai Yuan's lips curled into a smirk. "You should know by now—I don't walk away from challenges."

Ling Xi sighed but didn't object. "If you get us killed, I'm haunting you in the afterlife."

With that, they stepped toward the doorway. As they crossed the threshold, a powerful force enveloped them, pulling them into a new trial.

The world shifted.

Bai Yuan found himself standing atop a vast battlefield, the sky above churning with chaotic energy. Ethereal figures clashed in midair, wielding weapons of immense power. He could feel the remnants of their wills lingering, waiting for the next challenger to prove themselves worthy.

A deep voice echoed through the void. "To wield the knowledge of the ancients, you must withstand the trials of their past. Stand firm, or be consumed by oblivion."

A figure materialized before Bai Yuan—an imposing warrior clad in flowing black robes, his eyes burning with celestial fire. The sheer pressure he exuded was suffocating.

Ling Xi's voice rang out from behind him. "Uh, Bai Yuan… I think we just made a really bad decision."

Bai Yuan grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Too late now."

The warrior unsheathed his blade, the very air around them trembling as his presence filled the battlefield.

"Let's begin."