Chapter 6 - The Brink of Life and Death
Before the Gates of the Seven Realms, the night was as dark as ink, and a gentle breeze stirred, carrying a hint of coldness. Tianming and his companions stood before the ancient gates, their hearts filled with both anticipation and anxiety. After a long journey, they had finally reached the legendary Gates of the Seven Realms.
"Are we truly ready?" Leiji asked softly, her eyes shifting nervously among her companions.
Tianrong smiled and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. We've come this far together. Whatever lies ahead, we'll face it together."
Bingxi nodded, gripping his icy spear. "Exactly. No matter how tough the trials, we will never back down."
Tianming stood at the forefront, gripping the Sacred Emperor Sword tightly, his gaze resolute as he stared at the Gates. An intense premonition gripped him—this trial would not just test their strength, but perhaps determine the fate of the entire mortal realm.
"Let's go," Tianming said, taking a deep breath and stepping forward, crossing into the Gates of the Seven Realms.
Once inside, the space seemed to warp, and the surroundings blurred. Tianming felt a powerful force pulling at his body, as if it wanted to tear him apart.
Suddenly, the world around them changed in an instant. He and his companions were transported to a completely unfamiliar place. It was a desolate desert, with a grey sky and an oppressive, indescribable feeling in the air.
"Is this the trial of the Seven Realms?" Tianrong asked, his eyes darting around warily.
A voice appeared behind them, calm and steady. "The trial of the Seven Realms tests not only your strength but also your willpower. Each of you will face different challenges. But you must remain clear-headed and hold fast to your beliefs."
It was Shiyan, appearing behind them, her voice grave.
Suddenly, a fierce sandstorm swept through the desert, yellow dust filling the air and blocking out the sun. Tianming felt a surge of powerful energy approaching, a foreboding sense of danger rising in his chest.
"Everyone, be careful!" Tianming shouted, drawing his Sacred Emperor Sword, prepared for whatever came next.
But as the storm intensified, his companions' figures began to blur and vanish from his sight. Soon, he found himself alone in a dark void, a vast emptiness surrounding him with only the crushing weight of darkness pressing in from all sides.
"I must survive this trial," Tianming thought, clutching the Sacred Emperor Sword with renewed determination. This trial was not just for himself, but for the future of the mortal realm.
Just then, a chilling presence appeared behind him. Tianming spun around, alert, to see a figure emerge from the shadows—an entity he both knew and feared—Long Xie.
"Ha! What a coincidence. The reincarnation of Long Tian, you've come too," Long Xie sneered, his eyes filled with disdain and malice. "It seems fate loves to play tricks on us. Our battle has never truly ended."
Tianming's heart skipped a beat. Gripping his sword tightly, he growled, "Long Xie, I won't let you win! Whether in this life or the last, I will never lose to you again!"
Long Xie laughed mockingly, "You, a mere reincarnation, what power could you possibly have? You're nothing but a newly awakened mortal. Today, I'll destroy you once and for all, and Long Tian's soul will vanish forever!"
With a cruel smile, Long Xie swung his dark sword, unleashing a wave of dark energy that shot toward Tianming like a lightning strike in the dead of night.
Tianming immediately blocked with his Sacred Emperor Sword. The clash between the two swords created a deafening roar, the forces of light and darkness colliding fiercely and tearing the surrounding space apart.
"You think you can defeat me with this pathetic power?" Long Xie sneered coldly, his sword relentless as it continued its assault, crackling with dark energy that sought to rip Tianming apart.
Tianming gritted his teeth, pouring all his strength into his defense. The Sacred Emperor Sword's glow grew brighter, its light contrasting sharply with Long Xie's dark power. Each clash of swords sent shockwaves through his arms, nearly overwhelming him.
"You're nothing but a mortal! You can't bear the power of Long Tian!" Long Xie roared, his sword suddenly shifting, unleashing an explosion of dark energy that shattered Tianming's defenses.
Tianming was sent flying, crashing to the ground with a spray of blood. His strength was rapidly draining, but he refused to give in.
"I won't lose… No matter what, I won't lose!" Tianming gritted out, struggling to rise, his eyes burning with unyielding determination. He knew he couldn't fall; the mortal realm and his companions were depending on him.
Seeing Tianming rise, Long Xie's smile twisted into one of contempt. "If you're so stubborn, then I'll make sure you vanish completely."
He raised his sword once more, concentrating all his dark energy into a pitch-black beam of light, shooting straight at Tianming.
In that moment of life and death, Shiyan appeared, standing in front of Tianming. She raised her hand, and a sacred light radiated from her, forming a shield of energy to block Long Xie's deadly attack.
"Teacher, no!" Tianming cried, but it was too late to stop her.
The beam collided with the shield, creating a deafening crash. Shiyan's body trembled violently, blood spilling from her mouth as the light shield began to crack. The dark power was simply too much for her to fully defend against.
"You mortals truly don't know your limits," Long Xie sneered, intensifying his assault. The dark beam pierced through the shield, striking Shiyan directly.
Shiyan let out a pained scream as she was sent flying, her body crashing to the ground, blood staining her clothes.
"Teacher!" Tianming watched in horror as Shiyan fell, his heart filled with rage and sorrow. His body shook violently, a surge of power bubbling up from deep within him, as if something inside him was about to break free.
"Tianming… you are our hope… don't give up…" Shiyan's voice was weak but firm as she raised her head, her eyes filled with longing and determination.
Tianming felt something stirring within him, memories of Long Tian flooding his mind. The battles he had fought, the missions he had left unfinished, all resurfaced in this moment.
"I am... Long Tian..." Tianming whispered, his eyes burning with golden light. "I won't let anyone else be hurt!"
A blinding golden light exploded from his body, the Sacred Emperor Sword vibrating violently in his hand as if responding to his awakening. The hidden power within him had fully awakened, and the will of Long Tian merged completely with Tianming's soul, creating an unstoppable force.
"Long Xie, this time, you can't defeat me!" Tianming's voice became deep and commanding, his eyes shining like the sun itself. He raised the Sacred Emperor Sword, which erupted with brilliant golden light, slicing through the darkness toward Long Xie.
Long Xie staggered back, his dark powers crumbling before the overwhelming light. "This is impossible! How do you have such strength?!"
"You can't comprehend this power, because it is Long Tian's mission!" Tianming roared, the light of his sword blazing like a rising dawn, piercing through the void with unstoppable force.
Long Xie felt an overwhelming pressure, a flicker of fear in his eyes. His dark powers started to crumble, and he cried out, "Impossible! You're just a reincarnated mortal, how can you have such power?!"
But it was too late. The golden light from the Sacred Emperor Sword collided with Long Xie's dark sword in an earth-shattering clash. The golden flames consumed Long Xie's dark power, sending him flying through the air.
"This... this is impossible!" Long Xie crashed to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth. He had never felt such power before, and he could feel death closing in on him.
Tianming walked slowly toward him, the Sacred Emperor Sword glowing with golden light in his hand, signaling the arrival of victory.
"Long Xie, it's over," Tianming said, his voice heavy with finality, but it was more than just Tianming speaking—it was the will of Long Tian returning.
Long Xie looked up at Tianming with growing fear as the finality of his defeat dawned on him. He knew he could not escape, but his hatred and ambition remained.
At that moment, Tianming's gaze was drawn to a faint light in the distance. He turned and saw Shiyan lying on the ground, her body trembling from the earlier attack.
"Teacher!" Tianming rushed to her side, his heart full of worry and guilt as he knelt beside her, gently lifting her up.
Shiyan's breath was shallow, her face pale, but her eyes still shone with unwavering determination. "Tianming… you've done well…" Her voice was faint but full of warmth, offering him encouragement.
Tianming's hand grasped hers, feeling the fading warmth of her life force, his heart aching with sorrow. "Teacher, I'm sorry, I'm too late..."
Shiyan shook her head faintly, offering him a smile. "No, Tianming... you are strong enough now... you've awakened your power..."
Just then, a surge of powerful memories flooded Tianming's mind—memories of Long Tian's past and his connection with Long Yan, flooding his consciousness.
"Long Yan… Teacher, could it be...?" Tianming suddenly realized that Shiyan was none other than Long Tian's past lover, Long Yan.
Shiyan nodded, her eyes softening with affection. "Yes... Tianming, or should I say… Long Tian, I am Long Yan."
As those words left her lips, countless shattered memories exploded in Tianming's mind. He remembered the battles they had fought together in the divine realm, their love, and how Long Yan had sacrificed herself to protect him, only to be torn apart in the end.
"Long Yan… Yan'er..." Tianming's voice cracked with emotion, his eyes welling up with tears. He finally remembered who he truly was and who Shiyan truly was—his beloved from his past life.
Shiyan looked at Tianming, her eyes also glistening with tears. "Long Tian, I knew you would remember everything. I have never regretted it. Just being able to be with you until now, I am already content..."
Tianming took her hand tightly, feeling both immense guilt and deep affection. "Yan'er, this time, I will never let you leave me. We have lost too much already. This time, we will face everything together."
As Tianming's power surged, the Sacred Emperor Sword's golden light enveloped both him and Shiyan. The warmth of his power flowed into her, awakening the dormant energy within her. Her pale face gradually regained color, and the strength sealed within her began to awaken.
"Long Tian... this is your power…" Shiyan felt the familiar energy, warmth filling her heart. She knew this was Long Tian's strength, protecting her and awakening her own dormant power.
"Yan'er, Long Xie won't let us go. We must face him together, to end this once and for all." Tianming's voice was filled with resolve.
Shiyan nodded, her strength returning as she joined with Tianming. Together, they would face the coming storm.
But Long Xie was not done. His hatred only deepened as he saw the two of them regaining their strength. Despite his severe injuries, his ambition and hatred pushed him toward one final strike.
"Long Tian, Long Yan, even if I die, I'll drag you both to hell with me!" Long Xie's voice echoed with rage as his body morphed into dark mist, charging toward Tianming and Shiyan.
"Yan'er, be careful!" Tianming shouted, raising the Sacred Emperor Sword high. Its golden light once again intertwined with Shiyan's power, forming a powerful shield to protect them.
The black mist slammed into the shield with a terrifying shriek, but Tianming and Shiyan's combined strength pushed it back, refusing to give in.
"Long Xie, give it up! Your power can no longer stand against us!" Tianming shouted, his voice resolute.
With one final surge of power, the Sacred Emperor Sword and Long Yan's magic formed a blinding beam, tearing through the dark mist and forcing Long Xie back.
But just as Long Xie seemed to be on the brink of destruction, he suddenly let out a chilling laugh, his form disintegrating into even darker mist, vanishing into the void.
"Long Tian, Long Yan, this time you've won, but we will meet again..." Long Xie's voice echoed through the empty space, full of bitterness
and hatred. "The final battle has yet to come..."
Tianming gritted his teeth, but he knew that this was not the end. Their journey would continue, and the true final battle was still ahead.
"Yan'er, we've come this far," Tianming said, gazing at Shiyan with a newfound determination. "We'll face whatever comes together."
Shiyan nodded, her eyes filled with unwavering resolve.
"The Seven Realms Trial has just begun," she said softly, her voice filled with both sorrow and hope. "The true battle for the fate of the world is only just starting..."