The morning passed with slow, steady progress as Zhao continued his meditation under Yun Xia's guidance. By now, he had developed a deeper sensitivity to his Qi, though his control over it remained tenuous. The Celestial Flame Medallion had not pulsed as violently as before, but it was always there, a lingering presence, testing his resolve.
Yun Xia observed him carefully, offering minimal instructions but watching his every movement, noting each flinch or moment of hesitation. Zhao could feel her eyes on him, and though he was grateful for her guidance, he couldn't shake the feeling that she was withholding something—some crucial piece of knowledge he wasn't yet ready to receive.
When they broke for a meal, Zhao sat across from her, his mind still buzzing with questions. As they ate in silence, he finally summoned the courage to ask, "Yun Xia, you've trained in the Dao for years, haven't you? Who trained you?"
Yun Xia didn't meet his gaze immediately. She took her time, carefully chewing her food before answering. "I was trained by someone who believed in the old ways, the true path of cultivation. But that path is dangerous and filled with trials you're not yet prepared for."
Zhao's curiosity piqued, but he could sense the tension in her voice. "What kind of trials?"
Yun Xia finally looked up, her eyes piercing. "The medallion is only the beginning of your challenges. If you continue on this path, the Dao will test you. Not everyone survives the trials."
Zhao swallowed, unsure if he was ready to hear more. "What happens if I fail?"
Yun Xia's expression softened, but only slightly. "Failure means losing yourself. Either to the medallion's power or to the darker forces that seek it."
A chill ran down Zhao's spine, but before he could ask anything more, Yun Xia stood and gestured toward the forest. "We'll continue training now, but there's something you need to see. Follow me."
Zhao hurried after her as she led him deeper into the woods. The trees grew taller and denser the further they walked, their trunks twisting in strange, unnatural ways. Zhao felt a shift in the air, a pressure that weighed on him the closer they got to their destination. It was as though the forest itself was alive, watching them.
After what felt like hours, they emerged into another clearing, this one much larger than the first. In the center stood a stone platform, ancient and worn, covered in intricate carvings that glowed faintly in the fading daylight.
"What is this place?" Zhao asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"This," Yun Xia said, stepping toward the platform, "is one of the ancient Trial Stones. It's a remnant of the old world, used by cultivators to test their strength, their resolve, and their connection to the Dao."
Zhao approached the platform cautiously. The carvings seemed to pulse with a life of their own, and as he drew closer, he felt the same hum of energy that he had felt in his meditations—but stronger. Much stronger.
Yun Xia turned to face him. "If you're serious about mastering the Celestial Flame, you'll need to undergo this trial. It will push you to your limits. But be warned—if you fail, the consequences will be severe."
Zhao's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the platform. "What do I have to do?"
"The Trial Stone will reveal your greatest weakness," Yun Xia explained. "It will force you to confront the fears, doubts, and desires that hold you back. Only by overcoming them will you be able to proceed on the path of cultivation."
Zhao took a deep breath, steeling himself. He couldn't afford to hesitate now. He had already come too far, and the medallion had marked him for something far greater than he could fully understand. "I'll do it," he said, his voice firm.
Yun Xia nodded, though there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. "Step onto the platform."
Zhao moved toward the stone, his steps feeling heavier with each passing moment. As he set foot on the platform, the carvings beneath him flared to life, glowing brightly as the energy from the Trial Stone surged through him. The air around him seemed to thicken, and Zhao felt an immense pressure pressing down on his chest, as if the weight of the entire forest was bearing down on him.
For a moment, everything was still. Then, the world around him shifted.
Zhao blinked, and suddenly, he was no longer in the forest. He stood at the edge of his village, the familiar sight of his home looming before him. But something was wrong—terribly wrong. The sky above was dark and filled with swirling clouds, and the air was thick with the stench of smoke.
"No," Zhao whispered, his heart racing as he realized what he was seeing. This was the night of the attack, the night his village had been destroyed.
Figures moved in the shadows—raiders, their faces twisted with malice as they tore through the homes of the villagers. And there, in the distance, he saw his mother and father, standing at the entrance to their home, trying to fend off the attackers.
"Mom! Dad!" Zhao cried out, running toward them, but no matter how fast he moved, they always seemed just out of reach. His feet felt like they were sinking into the ground, as though the earth itself was trying to hold him back.
He watched in horror as the raiders descended on his parents, and no matter how much he screamed or fought, he couldn't save them. The scene played out again and again, the pain of his helplessness growing with each repetition.
"Zhao," a voice whispered in his ear, soft but cold. "You couldn't save them. And you never will."
Zhao spun around, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but there was no one there. Just the swirling shadows and the echo of his own failures.
As he stood there, on the verge of despair, a single thought pierced through the darkness: This is a test. This isn't real.
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to breathe, to calm his racing heart. The Trial Stone was testing him, showing him his greatest fear—his failure to protect those he loved. But it wasn't real. Not anymore.
When Zhao opened his eyes again, the scene had changed. The village was gone, the raiders and his parents nowhere to be seen. He was back in the forest, standing on the stone platform, with Yun Xia watching him from the edge of the clearing.
"You passed," she said, her voice low. "But that was only the first trial."
Zhao wiped the sweat from his brow, his body trembling from the intensity of the experience. "What's next?"
Yun Xia gave him a small, approving nod. "Now, we begin the real training."