Su Huan's feet landed on the first stone step. The flame within the bronze lamp in his hand burned faintly but never extinguished. The steps floated in a chaotic void, surrounded by silence—no wind, no sound, just an endless darkness and a path leading to the unknown.
"As long as the Flame of Fate burns, life and death lie in Heaven's hands."
These eight words etched themselves deeply into Su Huan's mind, like an unrelenting brand. He knew there was no turning back.
The bronze lamp trembled slightly, and its flickering flame illuminated the second step. Gritting his teeth, Su Huan took a step forward. A thunderous crash erupted behind him. Turning back, he saw the first step crumble into ash, vanishing into the void.
"So, there's no going back." Su Huan let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head in self-mockery. "With my life nearly gone, why would I expect a way out?"
He pressed on, each step feeling like walking on the edge of a blade. As the flame lit up more of the staircase, he began to notice symbols engraved on the stone slabs. Some resembled ancient scriptures, while others were intricate like works of art.
Pausing, Su Huan studied the engravings, only to feel a sharp pain in his head. A blinding white light engulfed his vision.
A memory surged into his mind—
A blood-red sky, a torn wasteland, countless fallen corpses. Amidst the chaos stood a man in black robes, holding a bronze lamp, surrounded by raging flames. The man looked directly at Su Huan, his voice cold and unyielding:
"Fated one, there is no escape for you."
Su Huan snapped back to reality, shaking his head violently, sweat dripping from his forehead. He muttered through gritted teeth, "Fate? I've never seen any of this before!"
But there was no time for doubt.
The Trial of the Void
When he reached the tenth step, the void around him suddenly trembled. A deep growl echoed from the distance, causing Su Huan to instinctively freeze in his tracks.