Chapter 61: The Shifting Labyrinth

The moment Jin Long and Yue Lan stepped into the Labyrinth of Stars, the atmosphere shifted. The very air seemed to pulse with a life of its own, the walls shimmering as if made of liquid light. The labyrinth stretched endlessly in every direction, its paths winding, twisting, and folding over one another in ways that defied logic.

Yue Lan tightened her grip on Jin Long's hand. "Stay close," she said, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "This place... it feels like it's alive."

Jin Long nodded, feeling the Starbound Crystal resonate within him. The labyrinth was not merely a physical maze—it was a spiritual trial, designed to test both their resolve and their bond.

Ahead, the path split into three separate corridors. Each corridor pulsed with a different color—red, blue, and gold.

"Which path do we take?" Yue Lan asked, glancing nervously at Jin Long.

Before he could answer, a voice echoed through the labyrinth. It was hauntingly familiar, filled with both malice and mockery.

"Jin Long... Yue Lan... you dare to enter the Labyrinth of Stars?"

Jin Long's jaw clenched. He recognized that voice. It was Zhan Wuhen. But how? Had the dark overlord somehow infiltrated the labyrinth?

"Show yourself!" Jin Long shouted, drawing his sword, its blade gleaming with celestial light.

The shadows ahead coalesced, forming a dark mist that took the shape of Zhan Wuhen. But this version of him was translucent, his eyes glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light.

"You may have sealed the rift, but the Void is infinite," Zhan Wuhen said, his gaze fixed on Jin Long. "The Genesis Core will be mine, and you... you will lose everything."

Jin Long gritted his teeth. "You're just an illusion. A mere shadow of the real Zhan Wuhen."

"An illusion, am I?" Zhan Wuhen sneered, raising a hand. The labyrinth around them trembled, the walls distorting as the three corridors merged into one. From the darkness, shadowy figures emerged—monstrous creatures with eyes like burning coals and claws that gleamed like black glass.

Jin Long stepped forward, sword raised. "Yue Lan, stay close. We're getting through this together."

Yue Lan summoned her celestial whip, the weapon crackling with light. "I'm ready."

The shadow creatures lunged forward, their claws slicing through the air with deadly speed. Jin Long swung his sword, the blade slicing through the first creature, its form dissipating into black mist. But for every shadow they destroyed, two more appeared, each stronger and faster than the last.

"They keep multiplying!" Yue Lan shouted, striking one of the creatures with her whip.

Jin Long's mind raced. The labyrinth was feeding off their fear, manifesting their deepest anxieties. If they continued fighting like this, they would be overwhelmed.

"Yue Lan!" Jin Long called out, parrying another attack. "Remember what the Celestial Guardian said. The labyrinth tests our minds, not just our strength. We can't just keep fighting—there has to be another way."

Yue Lan's eyes widened in realization. "You're right! The labyrinth is a trial of the soul."

Together, they closed their eyes, blocking out the shadow creatures and the echoing taunts of Zhan Wuhen. Jin Long focused on the Starbound Crystal, feeling its warmth spread through his body. He could feel the labyrinth's energy, the ebb and flow of its power.

The shadow creatures roared, closing in on them, but Jin Long and Yue Lan remained still, their minds centered.

"You are not real," Jin Long said firmly, his voice echoing through the labyrinth. "You are only a reflection of our fears."

The shadow creatures hesitated, their forms flickering. The image of Zhan Wuhen snarled, his features distorting like a cracked mirror.

"No!" he shouted. "You will never escape me!"

But Jin Long stood firm, his resolve unwavering. "You are nothing but an illusion. Begone!"

A wave of light surged from the Starbound Crystal, washing over the shadows. The creatures screamed as they dissolved into mist, and Zhan Wuhen's form shattered, his mocking laughter fading into nothingness.

The labyrinth settled, the walls solidifying once more. The three paths reappeared, but this time, only one corridor remained—the golden path, shining with a warm, inviting glow.

Yue Lan released a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing. "We did it."

Jin Long nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That was just the beginning. The labyrinth will keep testing us, probing our fears, our doubts. We need to stay focused."

Yue Lan squeezed his hand. "We will. Together."

They stepped onto the golden path, the light beneath their feet guiding them forward. But as they moved deeper into the labyrinth, a new feeling stirred within Jin Long—a sense of foreboding.

The deeper they went, the stronger the Starbound Crystal pulsed, as if trying to warn him of a greater danger yet to come.

And somewhere in the depths of the labyrinth, a pair of crimson eyes watched their every move, a sinister smile forming in the darkness.