The Secret of the Ancestral Altar

Chapter 46: The Secret of the Ancestral Altar

 The darkness within the rift was as dense as death, but Han Feng advanced with steady steps, guided by the strange call that echoed in his mind. The runes on the walls vibrated in response to his presence, emitting a bluish light that flickered like spectral flames. The jade altar in the center of the room seemed to absorb his attention, as if it were a beacon in the midst of an ocean of shadows. The Call of the Celestial Diagram Han Feng felt his chest burn. The Celestial Diagram scroll, kept close to his body, seemed to respond to the environment, releasing subtle waves of energy. He touched the surface of the altar cautiously, and in the next instant, his vision darkened. In his mind, images began to form. He saw a vast expanse of land, covered in golden mist, and a solitary figure standing on a mountain, looking up at the skies. Lightning fell around him, but the figure remained motionless, absorbing the fury of the very sky. — The Heir must prove their worth. — The voice sounded again, coming from all directions. Before he could react, Han Feng felt the ground beneath his feet disappear. He was sucked into the altar and, when he opened his eyes again, he was in a completely different world. The Guardian's Trial Han Feng found himself on an ancient battlefield. Destroyed mountains rose in the distance, and the air was thick with residual Qi. In front of him, a hooded figure floated in the air, their face hidden by swirling shadows. — To carry the Celestial Diagram, you must prove your strength. — The Guardian declared, raising his hand. — If you are not worthy, you will be destroyed here and now. Without hesitation, the figure attacked. Han Feng barely had time to react. A palm made of black flames came towards him, burning the surrounding space. He spun in the air and activated the Art of the Celestial Veil, disappearing momentarily. But the Guardian just smiled. — Hide? This won't work here. Han Feng felt an invisible force grab him and pull him back to reality. The Guardian fired an energy spear that tore through space, heading directly towards his chest. With a swift movement, Han Feng condensed his Dual Chaos Larva into a protective barrier, absorbing part of the impact, but he was violently thrown back. — Strong... — Han Feng spat out some blood, but his eyes shone with determination. He quickly got up and attacked. The Awakening of the Celestial Mark Han Feng couldn't fully contain his power. If he wanted to survive, he needed to go beyond his own limits. He activated the Qi of his Dual Chaos Larva to the maximum, causing his aura to grow exponentially. — Interesting... — The Guardian murmured. The sky above split open, revealing a vast golden diagram shining down on them. Han Feng felt a strange connection with that symbol. As if it had been waiting for him since the beginning of time. He roared and attacked again, using all his strength. The impact of the collision between the two made the space distort, and fissures appeared around. In the end, the Guardian stopped his attack and smiled. — You are worthy. — He extended his hand, and the Celestial Diagram above descended upon Han Feng, merging with his body. An intense pain coursed through his being, but he endured. When the light disappeared, a golden mark shone on his forehead. The Return to the Real World Han Feng opened his eyes and realized he was back at the ancestral altar. Time seemed to have stood still, but he knew that something inside him had changed. He now bore the Celestial Mark. But he didn't have time to process everything. The energy of the tracking barrier began to tighten the crack, and the elders were approaching. Han Feng took a deep breath. — It's time to disappear again. He activated his new mark and felt the space around him fold. In the next instant, his body disappeared, leaving only a trace of Qi in the air. Continua...