The next day, Wei Liang stood at the edge of the Spirit Mirror Pool, its crystalline waters rippling faintly under the morning breeze. He had told no one about the System's discovery of the hidden trial. This was his chance to gain a foothold in a world that constantly reminded him of his limitations.
He glanced around to ensure the clearing was empty before stepping closer. The pool shimmered faintly, and the glow seemed to beckon him.
[Activate Hidden Trial?]
Wei Liang took a deep breath and nodded. "Do it."
The moment he agreed, the pool's surface erupted with light. A translucent barrier formed around the clearing, cutting him off from the rest of the world. The System chimed softly.
[Trial Initiated: The Spirit's Reflection. Objective: Face the truth of your spiritual root and overcome its limitations.]
Wei Liang's reflection in the pool began to shift. The faint outline of his spiritual root appeared, a dull, uneven glow—the low-grade Earth Root he had come to resent. But now, the pool revealed more. Subtle fractures ran through the root, disrupting the flow of energy.
The sight made his heart sink. "Even this is flawed," he muttered.
[Analysis Complete: Host's spiritual root suffers from latent instability, limiting Qi absorption and refinement efficiency. Cause: Previous life's spiritual dissonance upon transmigration.]
Wei Liang's jaw tightened. So even my second chance came with a handicap.
A voice echoed through the clearing, low and resonant. "Do you understand now, Wei Liang? Your root is weak, your flaws many. How will you stand against the heavens with such a broken foundation?"
Wei Liang clenched his fists. "I've heard enough of this. Weak or not, I've made it this far."
The voice chuckled. "Very well. Prove it."
The water in the pool began to churn, and a shadowy figure emerged—a perfect replica of Wei Liang, but with sharper features and a blazing, unblemished spiritual root glowing in its chest.
[Objective: Defeat the Reflection.]
---
Facing the Reflection
The Reflection moved first, launching a flurry of strikes with blinding speed. Wei Liang barely managed to block, his arms trembling under the force of the blows. It was like fighting a perfected version of himself—stronger, faster, and relentless.
"Is this the best you can do?" the Reflection sneered. "You're slow, clumsy. You'll never surpass Lin Ziyan like this."
Wei Liang gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. He dodged the next attack and countered with a Qi-infused strike, but the Reflection deflected it with ease.
"You fight like a farmer," it taunted.
Wei Liang's frustration boiled over, but he forced himself to calm down. Anger wouldn't win this fight. He adjusted his stance, recalling Elder Cai's advice about precision and timing.
The next time the Reflection lunged, Wei Liang stepped aside and struck low, sweeping its legs out from under it. The Reflection staggered, giving him an opening to land a solid strike on its chest.
For a moment, its glowing spiritual root flickered, and Wei Liang saw something surprising—a faint web of cracks, just like his own.
"It's not perfect," Wei Liang muttered, realization dawning. "You're just as flawed as I am."
The Reflection's sneer faltered. "What are you talking about?"
Wei Liang pressed the attack, each strike landing with greater force. "You're a projection of my potential, but you're not invincible. My flaws are my own to overcome!"
With a final, Qi-infused strike, Wei Liang shattered the Reflection's blade and sent it crashing into the pool. The water rippled, and the Reflection dissolved into mist.
The barrier around the clearing faded, and the System chimed.
[Trial Complete. Reward Unlocked: Advanced Qi Circulation Technique + Spirit Stabilization Pill.]
Wei Liang dropped to his knees, his chest heaving. His spiritual root still glowed faintly in the pool's surface, but the fractures seemed less pronounced now, as though the trial had begun to mend them.
"I'm not perfect," he murmured, "but I don't need to be."
---
When Wei Liang returned to the dormitories, he found Han Xun and Zhang Fei waiting for him.
"Where were you?" Han Xun asked, frowning. "You missed Elder Cai's sparring session. He looked ready to kill someone."
"Had to clear my head," Wei Liang said, avoiding the full truth.
Zhang Fei tilted her head, studying him. "You're different. Did something happen?"
Wei Liang hesitated but decided against sharing the details. "Just trying to catch up to the rest of you."
Han Xun smirked. "Catch up? You might actually pass me if you keep this up."
Wei Liang grinned but turned the conversation toward them. "What about you two? How are things going with your training?"
Zhang Fei sat straighter. "Elder Lin's meditation exercises are improving my spiritual root. Mid-grade Metal Root has its advantages—sharp focus, strong affinity for precision techniques—but it also makes refining Qi slower than I'd like."
Han Xun sighed dramatically. "And then there's me. Mid-grade Wood Root. Not exactly flashy, but apparently, I've got 'stamina for days,' as Elder Cai puts it. Great for defense, bad for showing off."
Wei Liang raised an eyebrow. "Stamina's not a bad thing. It saved us in the Mistwood."
Han Xun perked up. "True. Maybe I'm underselling myself."
Zhang Fei rolled her eyes. "You always do."
The three of them shared a laugh, but Wei Liang couldn't help but think about their roots. Zhang Fei's Metal Root explained her precision and calm demeanor, while Han Xun's Wood Root suited his durability and persistence. Compared to them, Wei Liang's Earth Root still felt lacking.
But as he looked at his friends, he realized something important: cultivation wasn't just about the root you were born with. It was about how you used it.
---
Later that evening, as the disciples gathered in the courtyard for announcements, Lin Ziyan made his presence known once again. His entourage parted the crowd, allowing him to step forward and address Jin Yue, the inner disciple overseeing the session.
"Senior Jin Yue," Lin Ziyan said, his tone confident, "I request permission to challenge Wei Liang to a formal duel tomorrow."
The courtyard buzzed with excitement. Wei Liang's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly steadied himself.
Jin Yue raised an eyebrow. "A formal duel? You're already far ahead in cultivation. What do you gain from this?"
Lin Ziyan smirked. "A lesson, perhaps—for those who overstep their bounds."
All eyes turned to Wei Liang. Jin Yue sighed, then nodded. "Very well. Wei Liang, do you accept?"
Wei Liang stepped forward, meeting Lin Ziyan's gaze. "I accept."
The crowd erupted into murmurs as Jin Yue clapped his hands. "Then it's settled. Prepare yourselves. The duel will take place tomorrow at noon."
As Lin Ziyan walked away, his smirk unwavering, Wei Liang felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You'll win," Zhang Fei said quietly.
"Yeah," Han Xun added, grinning. "If anyone can take that guy down, it's you."
Wei Liang nodded, his resolve hardening. Tomorrow, he would show Lin Ziyan—and everyone else—that strength wasn't defined by spiritual roots or arrogance.
It was forged in struggle.