The world around Liu Chen shifted once more, dissolving into a dazzling brilliance. The intense heat of the desert and the oppressive darkness vanished, replaced by a soft, glowing light that enveloped his body like a comforting embrace. The air was cool and fresh, and the ground beneath his feet was soft, like walking on clouds. For a moment, he thought he had entered some kind of paradise—a serene world where nothing could touch him.
But deep within his heart, Liu Chen knew this wasn't the end. The Trial of Spirit was unlike the other trials. This was not a test of strength, nor was it one of willpower. It was a test of his very soul.
System:
"The Trial of Spirit will challenge the purity of your heart. It will manifest your deepest desires, your greatest fears, and everything you have ever buried within yourself. Only those with a pure spirit can pass."
Liu Chen took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He had already faced overwhelming obstacles in the Trial of Strength and Trial of Will, but this… this was different. If his heart was not pure, if his spirit was tainted, there would be no escaping this trial. The very essence of his cultivation, everything he had worked for, would be put to the ultimate test.
A soft, melodic sound filled the air, and suddenly, a figure appeared before him—a woman. Her features were soft and ethereal, and she radiated an aura of serenity. She stood before Liu Chen, her eyes kind yet filled with an unmistakable sadness.
"Liu Chen…" her voice was like a gentle breeze, soft and familiar, yet it carried an undertone of sorrow. "Do you remember me?"
Liu Chen blinked, confused. The woman before him looked so familiar, yet he couldn't place her. There was something about her presence that stirred something deep within him, something he had long since buried.
"Who are you?" Liu Chen asked, his voice steady, though a hint of unease lingered in his chest.
The woman smiled softly, but there was a profound sadness in her gaze. "I am a reflection of your past, Liu Chen. I am everything you've lost—your love, your family, your innocence. I am the embodiment of the choices you've made and the people you've left behind."
Liu Chen's heart skipped a beat. The words pierced his soul. The woman before him was a mirror of everything he regretted, everything he had cast aside in his pursuit of power. He had sacrificed so much, had abandoned the ones he loved in search of strength and status.
Her expression grew somber, and she stepped forward, gently taking his hand in hers. "I am the part of you that you've forsaken. You've become so consumed by your desire for power that you've forgotten the things that truly matter."
The weight of her words sank into Liu Chen's chest like a stone. For a brief moment, doubts crept into his mind. Had he truly forgotten what was important? Had his ambition for strength led him to abandon his humanity? The quest for power… the endless cultivation… was it worth it? Was this what he had become—a heartless machine, devoid of warmth and connection?
System:
"The Trial of Spirit has begun, Host. The figure before you is a manifestation of your guilt, of your regrets. This trial will test the purity of your heart. To pass, you must confront the truths you have long buried and accept them."
Liu Chen clenched his fists. He would not falter now. He had walked this path for a reason. His past, with all its pain and mistakes, had shaped who he was today—but it would not define him. He had learned from those mistakes, grown from them. His heart was not pure because of the absence of regrets, but because of the strength to accept them and move forward.
"You're right," Liu Chen said softly, his voice firm now. "I've made mistakes. I've hurt people I care about, and I've sacrificed things I shouldn't have. But I will not let my past control me. I won't be burdened by guilt and sorrow. I have a future to build, a path that lies before me. I will not let the shadows of my past cloud my spirit."
The woman's eyes softened, and she slowly withdrew her hand. Her expression was still filled with sadness, but there was a glimmer of understanding in her gaze. "You've come far, Liu Chen. Farther than you realize. But to truly pass this trial, you must forgive yourself. Only then will your spirit be free."
Liu Chen stood tall, facing the woman before him, and for the first time in his life, he let go of the guilt that had burdened him for so long. He had fought for redemption in his previous life and sought power in this one, but in doing so, he had forgotten one vital thing: the ability to forgive himself. His heart was not perfect, but it was not weak. It was filled with the resolve to rise above, to be better, and to embrace the journey that awaited him.
With a deep breath, Liu Chen closed his eyes and let the guilt, the sorrow, the pain—all of it—flow through him. He did not try to erase the past, but rather accepted it as part of his story. His heart was not without fault, but it was not tainted by it either. He was who he was because of his mistakes, but he was more than them.
When he opened his eyes again, the woman before him was gone, and the serene light surrounding him began to fade, replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace. The trial had ended.
System:
"Congratulations, Host. You have passed the Trial of Spirit. Your heart is pure, not because it is without flaw, but because you have faced your darkness and emerged stronger."
Liu Chen felt the weight in his chest lift. For the first time in a long while, he felt light. His spirit was stronger than ever, not because he had defeated his past, but because he had accepted it and learned from it.
As the light faded completely, the desert reappeared, and Liu Chen found himself standing once more on solid ground. The air was still heavy with spiritual energy, but now it felt welcoming, invigorating. He had passed the three trials, and the path ahead was now open to him.
His journey was far from over, but he had proven something to himself: he was not just a cultivator of power—he was a cultivator of heart and spirit.
System:
"All trials complete. Your cultivation path has been solidified. The true journey begins now, Liu Chen."
With his heart, mind, and spirit in balance, Liu Chen set his gaze on the horizon. A new chapter of his journey awaited—one where he would face greater challenges, but also achieve greatness. And no matter where the road took him, Liu Chen knew that he was ready.