Chapter 39

Chapter 39: The Weight of Destiny

The winds of the Azure Serpent Sect hummed with a palpable tension. Though the duel had ended, the sense of unease lingered in the air like an unspoken challenge. Xiao Lian could feel it in the way Zi Han's gaze remained fixed on him, sharp and unreadable, like a predator assessing its next move. But the sect had accepted them—at least for now.

Elder Mo Chen's voice broke the silence, deep and resonant. "The trial is complete, but this is only the beginning. To truly understand the power you now seek, you must face your inner storm."

Xiao Lian looked at him, confused. "What do you mean, Elder?"

The elder's gaze softened, as though seeing something far beyond the present. "The Windblade you wield is no ordinary weapon. It is a force of nature, a weapon forged by the winds themselves. But to master it, you must first conquer the wind within you. Your emotions, your doubts, your fear. They are the true enemies."

Yun Mei Lian stepped closer to Xiao Lian, her presence grounding. She had always been the calm to his storm, but even now, she felt the weight of the moment. The sect was no simple place. It wasn't just about learning techniques. It was about understanding the depths of one's own soul.

Zi Han's cold voice cut through the quiet again. "The path to mastery is one of endless testing. The elders here will not hand you power. You must earn it. Prove you are worthy."

Xiao Lian met her gaze, the fire of determination igniting within him once more. "I will."

Mo Chen nodded slowly. "Very well. We shall begin your training tomorrow. But first, you must rest. The trials of the mind and body are not to be taken lightly."

---

The night was unnaturally still as Xiao Lian and Yun Mei Lian made their way to the guest quarters, their footsteps echoing on the stone path. The beauty of the sect was undeniable—the moonlight reflecting off the cloudglass, the gentle sound of distant waterfalls, and the feeling of ancient power hanging in the air. Yet, the unease gnawed at him, a feeling he could not shake.

"You're thinking too much," Yun Mei Lian said, her voice breaking through his thoughts. "You defeated her. That's all that matters for now."

Xiao Lian shook his head, frustration welling inside him. "It's not just about the duel. It's about the power they want me to control. Elder Mo Chen said I must face the wind within me. But how? I don't even know what that means."

Yun Mei Lian studied him for a moment, then spoke softly. "Maybe you don't need to know yet. Maybe it's not about answers, but about growth. The Windblade is part of you now, but it's also a reflection of you. Whatever lies ahead, you don't have to face it alone."

Her words, simple yet profound, settled over him like a warm blanket. He wasn't alone in this. And somehow, that made all the difference.

---

The next day, Xiao Lian stood in the Hall of Currents once more, facing Elder Mo Chen. The air was thick with anticipation, the elder's calm demeanor in stark contrast to the storm that churned within him. Beside him stood Yun Mei Lian, her presence a quiet reassurance.

"Today, you will face the first test of your resolve," Elder Mo Chen said. "It is not one of strength or speed, but of inner clarity. You will enter the Dreaming Pool."

Xiao Lian raised an eyebrow. "The Dreaming Pool?"

Zi Han, who had silently entered the hall, spoke up. "It is a trial of the mind. The Dreaming Pool will show you your greatest fears and desires, your deepest truths. Only by confronting them can you move forward."

Xiao Lian's chest tightened. This was no simple test. He could feel the weight of her words, the burden of whatever lay ahead.

"You will enter the pool," Elder Mo Chen continued, "and face whatever appears before you. Only when you find the truth within yourself will you be ready to truly control the Windblade."

He could hear the thrum of power in the air as the Dreaming Pool was revealed—a vast, serene expanse of water, shimmering like liquid silver. A pool of endless depth, a mirror to the soul.

Xiao Lian stepped forward, heart racing. The calm surface of the water rippled, as if sensing his approach. He could feel the pull of something ancient and powerful beneath the surface.

Yun Mei Lian's voice reached him one last time, soft but firm. "Remember, Xiao Lian. The only thing you must fear is losing yourself."

With that, Xiao Lian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and stepped into the pool.

---

The world around him dissolved as the cold water engulfed him. His body felt weightless, suspended in the vastness of the unknown. When his feet touched the bottom, the world shifted.

It wasn't the serene pool he had entered. Now, he stood in a storm—a raging tempest that tore at him from all sides. The wind howled in his ears, and lightning crackled overhead, illuminating a figure in the distance.

It was himself.

But not the version he knew. This version was darker, consumed by rage, standing tall and proud with the Windblade in his grasp. His eyes burned with a fiery intensity, and his face was twisted into a mask of anger.

"You are weak," the figure growled, raising the Windblade. "You will never master it."

Xiao Lian stepped forward, heart pounding. "I'm not you."

The figure laughed—a cruel, mocking sound. "You are nothing without this power. You're just a boy trying to be something more."

The storm around them grew stronger, but Xiao Lian's resolve only hardened. "I don't need to be something more. I am who I am. And I will master this power—not out of anger, but because I choose to."

The wind howled louder, as if testing him. But in that moment, Xiao Lian felt the surge of his own energy. The Windblade hummed in his grasp, not as a weapon of destruction, but as a part of him. The storm subsided, the figure before him melting into mist.

And then, the water cleared. The tempest was gone. Xiao Lian stood alone in the serene depths of the Dreaming Pool, his heart steady.

He had passed the first test.

---

When Xiao Lian emerged from the pool, the elders were waiting. Elder Mo Chen gave a slow, approving nod.

"You have faced your fears, Xiao Lian. Now, the path forward is yours to walk."

Zi Han stepped forward, her gaze assessing. "You may have won this round, Xiao Lian. But the true test is just beginning."

Xiao Lian met her gaze, his voice steady. "I'm ready."

And so, with the weight of his destiny still pressing down on him, Xiao Lian's journey continued.