Chapter 15: The Realm of Shadows

The chaotic aftershocks of battle gradually faded, leaving the battlefield in eerie silence.

Ye Huang steadied himself, slowly sheathing his blade as his sharp gaze swept over the lingering remnants of the illusionary realm. That battle had not only reinforced his control over "Phantom Crescent Moon" but also awakened a strange sensation—his "Night Phantom Force" seemed to have undergone a subtle transformation.

Chitong strode forward, barely able to hide the astonishment in his eyes. "That last strike of yours... It wasn't just raw power anymore. It was something deeper, a fundamental shift."

Ye Huang frowned slightly. He had sensed it too, but he couldn't fully comprehend it yet.

Liuli approached as well, her eyes locking onto him before she spoke in a hushed tone. "Your 'Night Phantom Force' is evolving. That battle pushed your power further, and perhaps... you've already touched upon the threshold of the 'Realm of Shadows.'"

"The Realm of Shadows?" Ye Huang repeated in a low voice.

Liuli nodded. "It's a higher form of control—allowing you to truly merge with the darkness, to become one with the night, shifting between reality and illusion. But mastering it won't be easy."

Ye Huang fell into contemplation, then slowly lifted his head.

Ahead, a pitch-black rift had silently emerged, as if a tear had been ripped in the fabric of the night. A deep, unfathomable aura seeped from within, carrying a whisper of the unknown.

Liuli's gaze flickered. "It seems the true trial is only beginning."

Ye Huang's lips curled into a faint smirk. He gripped his blade tighter and stepped forward without hesitation.

Ye Huang's silhouette was swallowed by the darkness, and the world around him blurred. It was as if he had entered another dimension entirely.

Looking around, he found himself in an expanse of endless shadow, with only faint streaks of light beneath his feet, guiding him forward.

"So this... is the Realm of Shadows?" he murmured, feeling the strange energy that permeated the air.

Suddenly, a deep voice echoed from the abyss. "Intruder, are you prepared to face the trials of the shadows?"

Ye Huang's grip on his blade tightened. His voice was firm. "Since I have come, I will not turn back."

A massive figure slowly emerged from the darkness—a warrior clad in obsidian armor, his eyes like endless voids, radiating an overwhelming pressure.

"Trial challenger, prove that you are worthy of the darkness."

As the words fell, the shadow warrior raised a pitch-black blade, slashing forward with terrifying speed. The strike tore through the space between them, cutting toward Ye Huang with an unstoppable force.

Ye Huang's eyes sharpened. With a swift step, he vanished into the darkness, his own blade sweeping out in a sharp, crescent arc to meet the attack head-on.

Clang—!

The clash sent shockwaves rippling through the void. A powerful force surged through Ye Huang's arm—his opponent's strength was unfathomable!

He quickly withdrew, steadying his breath as a fierce glint flickered in his gaze.

"Looks like I can't afford to hold back…"

With that thought, he disappeared once more, diving into the shadows as battle erupted.

Ye Huang moved like a specter in the darkness, each step leaving behind shifting afterimages, making it nearly impossible to track his true position.

Meanwhile, the shadow warrior's attacks grew fiercer, his dark blade slicing through the void with unpredictable trajectories, forcing Ye Huang to remain on high alert.

He took a deep breath, sensing the surging power within him. His "Phantom Crescent Moon" alone wouldn't be enough to counter this enemy.

"If that's the case… let's see what this new power can do."

Ye Huang suddenly halted. The surrounding darkness stirred, drawn to him like ink seeping into water. The Night Phantom Force within him condensed, forming a faint shadowy figure that moved in perfect sync with him—like a second self.

The shadow warrior's gaze flickered. "Interesting… You grasped a new ability in the middle of battle?"

Ye Huang didn't answer. Instead, his blade flashed as he slashed forward. The shadow behind him mirrored his every movement, delivering a simultaneous strike.

"Phantom Duality."

Two crescent arcs of light intertwined—one an illusion, the other carrying the full destructive force of his power.

The shadow warrior's eyes narrowed. He shifted in an instant, narrowly dodging the frontal strike. However—

Swish!

A silent afterimage materialized behind him, its blade descending without warning!

"What—?!" The warrior's expression shifted as he barely managed to intercept the attack with his sword.

Boom!

The impact forced him back several steps. A faint crack appeared on the surface of his armor.

Ye Huang slowly lowered his blade, his eyes filled with clarity. He could feel it—this power was only beginning to reveal its true potential.

The shadow warrior examined the thin fracture on his armor before breaking into a low, amused chuckle. "It seems your 'Night Phantom Force' has finally taken its first true step."

Ye Huang said nothing. He simply tightened his grip on his weapon, feeling the darkness gradually merge with him, becoming an extension of his very being.

The air around him grew heavier, charged with unseen energy. He could now sense it clearly—the essence of "Phantom Duality." It wasn't just an illusion; it was a shift in perception, a trick of reality itself. Before the real strike landed, the shadow had already planted a deceptive "premonition" into his opponent's mind, causing a minute miscalculation.

And that minor misstep was enough to determine victory.

The rhythm of the battle was shifting.

A renewed intensity burned in Ye Huang's gaze. This time, he would fully master this newfound power.

The shadow warrior stood at a distance, silent and watchful. Though his demeanor remained unreadable, the faint mark on his armor told the truth—he had been affected.

"Not bad…" he muttered, voice as deep as the abyss. "But far from enough."

Without another word, his figure vanished, reappearing in a blur of motion—faster, more unpredictable than before.

Ye Huang's pupils contracted. Instinctively, his blade slashed outward. But at the last moment, he sensed something different—his opponent wasn't just attacking.

He was adapting.

"His power… is evolving to counter mine?"

The realization hit in an instant. This wasn't just a battle of strength—it was a battle of adaptation, of breaking past limits in real time.

If he wanted to win—

"Phantom Duality!"

With a low growl, Ye Huang called upon his power once more. The shadows surged, his afterimage emerging in tandem with him. Two blades sliced through the void at once!

"Useless."

The shadow warrior shifted, expertly weaving through the attacks. But—

Slice!

A thin cut appeared on his shoulder.

He stilled, lowering his gaze to the barely visible mark.

"This power…"

Ye Huang remained silent. He could feel it. That strike had been more than just an attack—it had been a test, a glimpse into something greater.

The battle was no longer about proving his worth.

It was about grasping his true potential.