Lian tracked the other disciples and was heading for the mountains to meet up with them when he saw a beam of light coming from the crystal tower. He approached the mountains hoping that he could meet up with them, but he was drawn towards the tower by the beam of light.
Lian approached the tower with caution as the beam of light subsided and faded away. He entered the tower from the top overlooking it. As he entered the tower all he saw was an empty caveat and there was a throne at the other end of the caveat.
The moment his foot crossed the threshold, he felt an unnatural shift in the air. His senses tingled as he sensed the presence of hidden danger. Lian couldn't suppress the tension that gripped his heart.
Step by cautious step, he advanced deeper into the temple. It was a labyrinth of twists and turns, with eerie, moss-covered statues lining the path. He had heard rumors of this place, where cultivators came to test their mettle and confront their inner demons.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath him, and the world around him twisted and contorted. He found himself in an illusionary realm, surrounded by a mirage of demons of his own making. Shadows danced in the dim light, morphing into grotesque figures.
Lian clenched his fists, knowing he was in the midst of a formidable formation, created to extract the truest emotions and fears from within. His inner demons took on the shape that he most despised. The one thought that always haunted his dreams and the nightmare that came to be reality to him.
"You're not strong enough," one whispered, its voice dripping with venom. "You'll never defeat him, you're not strong like him and never will be."
Another chimed in, "You'll never fulfill your dreams. He will have your place and he'll take the woman you like and obsess over."
"I'll be the strongest, stronger than him. Don't tell me what I can't do and can do. I'll prove to everyone that I'm good as him and that I deserve Lucy." Lian frantically responded as he fought them off.
"Hahaha, let us help you and you'll have all the power you need to defeat everyone and rise to be the strongest. Let us in and submit to our power and you'll have all the power." Another voice chimed in his mind as he was being dragged into a mental tuff war.
As the illusions became more vivid, Lian desperately fought to regain control of his mind. He tried to recall how to maintain that fragile balance that was slowly breaking as his mind was being devoured. Their relentless voices chipped away at his resolve, planting seeds of doubt and fear. The illusions whispered promises of untold power if he would only give in to their temptations.
He focused on his breathing, trying to center himself amidst the chaos. With every ounce of his willpower, he summoned his spiritual energy and tried to shatter the illusions, but to no avail as he continued to slowly drift off the edge.
"Yes, let us in and you'll get the power to defeat even your sect leader, you are a cast away, abandoned by your family, Reece took your place in the sect and Lucy too. You are just a waste of talent without us you'll still loose to Reece and your family will never acknowledge you again." the first voice spoke up again as it tried to stir up Lian's focus and let him loose his mind and fall prey to their continuous torment.
Lian's breath quickened as he grappled with the cruel words. The voice of doubt, self-loathing, and resentment threatening to consume him. He knew Reece, his rival, had always been a thorn in his side, and the pressure to prove himself to his family had been a constant weight on his shoulders. Those were the very thoughts that were driving him off the edge. The more he struggled the more torment and doubt, and self-loathing consumed him by the second.
"That's it switch it off let me take the driving seat, I'll give you power, you'll have fame, women and your revenge against Reece. Come on just submit to me and you'll be strong again." The inner demons voice rose as he now pushed Lian to his limit and made him submit to him.
As Lian stood on the precipice of despair, the weight of his inner turmoil pressing down upon him, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The demons that had haunted him for so long whispered their temptations, each voice trying to pull him deeper into the abyss. He could feel himself teetering on the edge of surrender.
But just as he was about to yield, a brilliant light emanated from the crystal tower that loomed above him. The radiant glow cut through the darkness of his thoughts, dispelling the illusions that had held him captive. The formation shattered and the illusions of his inner demons were fading away.
The whispers of temptation grew fainter, drowned out by the tower's radiance. As he regained himself again, he tried to look above him but all he could see was a blurry dark figure looming above him wielding a dark scythe glazed in dark fire. The blurry figure approached him steadily and held Lian by his jaws and the sheer strength it applied as it forced him open his mouth wide was enough to crack them open.
As the illusions shattered and faded into nothingness. The blurry figure spoke out and as it was speaking what seemed to be ancient incantations it stabbed Lian in the guts with the dark scythe.
"With this I pass on this mantle, death is always the door."
"Krethelar aranor, kaltharandor doroth, Melkanor zorathelar, dorathelar orkanoroth orythiuysh shfekuoornm aalkwel. "
Translation:
Through this profane rite, I grant the dominion, To the chosen, the vessel of demonic dominion lord over all that spreads darkness and death.
"This is my inheritance boy, take good care of it and inherit my throne, don't forget every power has a cost and so does mine."
The scythe entered Lian's body, the excruciating pain as he yelled out made him loose consciousness as he saw his guts spilling out like a fountain from his belly. As the scythe disappeared into Lian's body so did the blurry dark ominous figure disappear too.
Lian was left unconscious on the temple floor which was cracking up and submerging him into a pool of blood, which appeared out of nowhere.