Feng Yuntian's body still thrummed with power as he left the pool behind, the surge of energy from the Skycliff Valley humming beneath his skin. The world around him had changed. His senses were sharper, his every breath filled with the spiritual essence he had absorbed. He could hear the faint rustling of leaves far outside the cave, the trickling of distant streams, and even the quiet heartbeat of a tiny rodent nestled somewhere in the cracks of the stone walls.
But the valley wasn't finished with him.
The tunnel before him darkened, and suddenly, the stone walls began to shift, grinding together as if moved by some unseen force. Before he could react, the ground beneath his feet gave way, and he was sent plummeting into a deep abyss.
Feng Yuntian landed hard, rolling instinctively to absorb the impact. The air was thick with dust, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. He stood slowly, surveying his new surroundings. It was a vast underground chamber, larger than the one with the pool, and in the center stood a massive stone altar. Surrounding the altar were ancient statues, their faces twisted into grotesque snarls, each holding a weapon.
His instincts flared. Something was wrong.
A loud, resonating crack echoed through the chamber, and the stone statues began to move. Their eyes flared with a red glow, and one by one, they stepped off their pedestals, weapons at the ready.
"Ah, of course," Feng Yuntian muttered to himself. "It's never just a simple dip in some spiritual pool."
He unsheathed his sword, the cold steel gleaming in the dim light. The statues moved with unnerving speed, their stone limbs grinding as they charged toward him. Feng Yuntian didn't wait for them to strike first. With a burst of energy, he leaped forward, his sword flashing in an arc of deadly light.
The first statue came at him with a stone hammer the size of a small boulder. Feng Yuntian sidestepped the blow just in time, the ground shaking as the hammer crashed into the floor, sending cracks spidering outward. His sword danced through the air, cutting deep into the statue's arm, but the stone only chipped slightly.
"Of course you're tougher than normal stone," he muttered. "Why make it easy?"
The second statue swung a massive axe at him, but this time Feng Yuntian was ready. With a quick flick of his wrist, he deflected the blow, using the force of the impact to propel himself backward into a handspring. He landed gracefully, his sword raised, a smirk playing on his lips. "Alright, let's see how tough you really are."
The next few minutes were a whirlwind of motion. Feng Yuntian's feet barely touched the ground as he danced around the statues, his sword a blur of light and steel. The statues swung at him with crushing blows, but each time, Feng Yuntian was faster—dipping, dodging, and countering with precise strikes. His blade struck true again and again, chipping away at the statues' stony forms.
He vaulted over a low swing from one statue, using the momentum to bring his sword down hard on another's head. The stone cracked, and with a powerful burst of spiritual energy, Feng Yuntian drove his blade straight through its chest. The statue crumbled to the ground, a pile of rubble and dust.
"One down," he breathed, but he didn't have time to celebrate.
Two more statues rushed him from either side, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. Feng Yuntian's eyes narrowed, and he slid into a low stance, his sword held at the ready. When the first statue's sword came crashing down toward him, he raised his blade in a sharp parry, using the momentum to spin away and land a swift kick to the second statue's knee. The stone joint cracked, and the statue staggered.
Taking advantage of the opening, Feng Yuntian drove his sword into the statue's neck, severing its head in one clean motion. But before he could turn, the first statue's hammer swung down hard, catching him in the side and sending him crashing into the altar.
Pain flared through his body, and he coughed, tasting blood. "Okay...that hurt."
As he struggled to his feet, clutching his side, a faint chuckle echoed through the chamber. It wasn't his. Feng Yuntian froze. His eyes darted around the room, but there was no one else there. Yet the laughter continued, growing louder, and suddenly, he felt a presence—an ancient, mocking presence.
"Well, that's just perfect," he muttered. "I'm fighting killer statues, and now I'm hearing voices. Could this day get any better?"
The laughter grew louder, and Feng Yuntian had to focus to drown it out. The final two statues were advancing on him, but his vision blurred slightly from the blow. Shaking his head to clear it, he tightened his grip on his sword. "No time for distractions."
The statues charged again, and Feng Yuntian dug deep, summoning the full force of the spiritual energy from the valley. He could feel it pulsing within him, stronger now after his breakthrough. As the statues raised their weapons, he let out a sharp breath and surged forward with blinding speed.
His sword glowed faintly as he poured spiritual energy into it, and with a single powerful swing, he cleaved through the first statue's torso. The stone warrior crumbled instantly, collapsing into dust before it could even finish its attack.
Feng Yuntian turned to face the final statue, his breath coming in short bursts. "Alright, big guy. Let's finish this."
The last statue let out a low rumble and swung its sword in a wide arc. Feng Yuntian ducked low, his eyes flashing with determination. He moved faster than before, his newfound power pushing him beyond his previous limits. With a swift, decisive strike, he slashed through the statue's weapon arm, sending it crashing to the ground.
The statue stumbled, and Feng Yuntian didn't waste a moment. Channeling all the spiritual energy he had left into his sword, he drove it straight through the statue's chest. The stone warrior let out a final, echoing groan before it crumbled to the ground, joining the others in the dust.
Feng Yuntian stood there for a moment, catching his breath. His body ached from the fight, but the sense of victory was undeniable. He had survived the valley's trial. As the dust settled, he sheathed his sword and looked around the chamber.
"Alright, ancient valley spirit," he called out, "I've passed your little test. Can I get a break now?"
The voice that had laughed earlier responded again, but this time, it was a low, approving hum. "You've done well, young one. But the true trial has only just begun."
Feng Yuntian sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Of course it has."
With that, the chamber shifted again, the walls parting to reveal a path that led deeper into the heart of the valley. Feng Yuntian didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, ready for whatever came next.
"At least I'm not hearing voices and fighting statues anymore," he muttered. "Though I'm sure the next challenge will be just as fun."