The room still felt cold after Ling Xiao had returned from the vision. The True Stone sat silently on its pedestal, a pale light radiating from it, as though it were waiting for something—or someone—to make the next move. Ling Xiao stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the Stone. He could still feel its **presence**, its power, a weight that pressed against his chest like a thousand stones.
Xiao He stood at his side, his expression unreadable, but the tension in the air was palpable. Jian Zhen, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke.
"You've seen what could happen, Ling Xiao," Jian Zhen said, his tone calm but heavy with the significance of the moment. "The future you saw is not inevitable, but it is real. It is one path among many. Your choices will shape what happens next."
Ling Xiao nodded slowly, his thoughts a whirlwind. The visions had been clear—too clear. The power of the Stone, if left unchecked, could destroy everything he cared about. It was a temptation, a dangerous lure. The more he thought about it, the more he realized just how easy it would be to fall into that trap.
"I've seen the price of power," Ling Xiao murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. "But what other choice do we have? If the True Stone is not used, if we let the darkness consume everything, we will lose it all anyway."
"You've seen the consequences," Xiao He spoke up, his voice firm, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "But there are always other ways, Ling Xiao. There is **always** a choice. The True Stone is powerful, but it's not the only way to protect the world."
Ling Xiao glanced at Xiao He, a flicker of doubt passing through his mind. Could there really be another way? Or was Xiao He merely clinging to hope, just like everyone else? It was easy to say that there was always a choice. But the more Ling Xiao pondered, the more he came to realize how **small** their options seemed in the face of what was coming. The darkness that had been stirring at the edges of the world was not something they could ignore, no matter how hard they tried.
"And what do you propose we do, Xiao He?" Ling Xiao asked, his voice edged with frustration. "We can't hide from the storm. It's coming for us, and we have nothing to stop it. Nothing except the True Stone."
Xiao He's gaze softened, but he did not waver. "Then we fight. We stand together, just as we always have. And we **find** a way to stop it without giving in to the power of the Stone. If the Stone controls us, then it's no better than the darkness we fight against."
Ling Xiao felt the weight of Xiao He's words, but the shadows of doubt still clung to him. His gaze returned to the Stone. Its light seemed to pulse, as though it were aware of his internal conflict, urging him to make a decision. There was something **irresistible** about its power, something that gnawed at the edges of his mind, whispering to him to **take control**.
But something else stirred in his heart, a whisper that said he couldn't let the Stone become his master. **Not again**.
As Ling Xiao's mind continued to wrestle with the enormity of his choices, a sudden disturbance broke the tension in the air. The ground beneath their feet **shuddered**, and the walls of the chamber trembled as if some ancient force had stirred. A deep, rumbling sound echoed through the stone hallways, the very earth seeming to **quake** with the force of something immense moving beneath the surface.
Xiao He immediately reached for his sword, his expression sharp and alert. Jian Zhen's face remained calm, but his eyes darkened, as if he could sense the danger approaching.
"It's here," Jian Zhen said, his voice grim. "The Hollow One is not far."
Ling Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He had heard the stories, the legends of the Hollow One—an ancient being of darkness and destruction, a force that consumed entire realms. If it had awakened… there would be no stopping it.
Xiao He's grip tightened around his sword's hilt, and he gave Ling Xiao a sideways glance. "We need to act fast. If the Hollow One is this close, it's already too late to run."
Ling Xiao nodded, his mind sharpening as the adrenaline of battle surged through him. This was no longer about the True Stone. This was about survival, about protecting the people he cared about, and making sure the world didn't fall to **nothingness**. He turned to Jian Zhen.
"Where is it coming from? How do we stop it?"
Jian Zhen didn't hesitate. "There is only one way to stop the Hollow One: you must **seal** its path before it reaches the heart of this land. The True Stone is the only tool powerful enough to hold it back."
Ling Xiao turned toward the pedestal where the Stone rested, the temptation gnawing at him again. Could he really use it? The very thing that had caused so much destruction in the future he had seen? The power that could destroy entire civilizations in the blink of an eye?
"You said it yourself," Ling Xiao said, his eyes locked on Jian Zhen. "The Stone is not meant to be wielded by one such as me. What makes you think I can use it to stop the Hollow One?"
"Because you are the only one who can," Jian Zhen replied, his tone unwavering. "The True Stone recognizes its wielder. If it chooses you, it will give you the power to command it. But that power comes with a price. The question is whether you can afford it."
Ling Xiao's hand hovered over the Stone, the pull of its power **unbearable**. The weight of his decision pressed down on him like a physical force. He could feel the Stone's energy **calling** to him, a whisper in the back of his mind. This was the moment—the moment where he either seized control of his destiny, or lost himself to the very power that threatened to consume the world.
"You have no time left," Jian Zhen's voice was low, but it carried an undeniable urgency. "If you don't act now, it will be too late."
Ling Xiao's fingers tightened around the Stone. He had no choice. Not anymore.
The moment his skin made contact with the True Stone, a surge of energy **exploded** through Ling Xiao's body. It was as if every atom in his being was being pulled apart and then **reformed**, reshaped into something greater, something more powerful. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he might collapse under the sheer intensity of the force. But then, something within him steadied. The power no longer felt like it was trying to **destroy** him. Instead, it felt like it was syncing with him, flowing through him as though it had always been a part of him.
He could feel the **world around him**. The Stone had opened his senses to a deeper understanding of reality—he could feel the flow of energy beneath the earth, the whispers of the elements in the air. The Hollow One was near, its dark power radiating like a black hole, swallowing everything in its path. It was drawing closer, its hunger insatiable.
Ling Xiao's heart beat with a new rhythm, one that matched the pulsing of the True Stone. He raised his hand, feeling the raw power of the Stone respond to his command. The air itself seemed to bend around him, and the walls of the chamber began to **crack** under the weight of the Stone's energy.
"I am not your slave," Ling Xiao whispered to the Stone, his voice steady despite the torrent of energy that surged through him. "I will control you. Not the other way around."
With a roar, Ling Xiao slammed his hand down on the Stone, channeling its energy outward. The ground beneath their feet erupted in **light**, a blinding flash that sent shockwaves through the entire estate. For a brief moment, the **Hollow One's presence** seemed to falter, as if the Stone itself had **pushed back** against it.
But Ling Xiao knew that this was only the beginning. He had only bought himself a few precious moments. He needed to act fast. The Hollow One would not be easily defeated. The True Stone had given him a glimpse of its power, but that power was nothing without purpose. Ling Xiao could feel it now—the **cost** of using such power. The Stone wanted to take him, to absorb him into its will, to make him a **vessel** for its endless hunger.
But Ling Xiao was determined. He would not become a tool of the Stone.
End of Chapter 20
In Chapter 20, Ling Xiao faces the growing threat of the Hollow One, an ancient and destructive force threatening the world. Despite his reservations, Ling Xiao decides to wield the True Stone, the only power capable of stopping the Hollow One. As he touches the Stone, he is overwhelmed by its raw energy, but he manages to control it if only for a moment. The chapter ends with Ling Xiao ready to confront the Hollow One head-on, but he knows that using the Stone comes with a tremendous cost. The battle for the world is about to begin, and the true nature of Ling Xiao's struggle is only just starting to unfold.
If you'd like more chapters, I can continue to build the story step by step, expanding on Ling Xiao's journey, his growing power, and the world he seeks to reshape.