The eerie stillness of the landscape dissolved around Wu Qian as he stood in the aftermath of his first trial. His heart still pounded, a steady reminder of the self-doubt he had just confronted. Yet, despite the shaking remnants of that trial, there was a newfound clarity within him—a resolve that had strengthened with every moment of self-reflection.
But as the world around him began to shift, he knew that this was far from over. The next trial awaited.
Before him, the environment warped and twisted, transforming into a vast expanse of blackened, charred earth. The sky above was dark and brooding, clouds swirling in ominous patterns. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and decay, as though this land had been ravaged by an eternal storm of destruction.
Wu Qian stood still, his breath slow but measured. He had no illusions about what this trial would test. The Keeper's words had been clear: this was the trial of the heart. His emotions—his deepest fears, regrets, and desires—would be brought to the forefront.
And with a low rumble, it began.
From the far distance, a figure emerged—a person Wu Qian knew all too well. It was his younger sister, Wu Mei, her figure silhouetted against the swirling backdrop of dark clouds. Her appearance was like a beacon, drawing his attention and filling his chest with a rush of emotions—longing, guilt, fear.
"Mei!" Wu Qian shouted, taking a step toward her, his voice hoarse with urgency. "What are you doing here? This place isn't real."
Wu Mei remained silent, her gaze fixed on him, a sorrowful expression clouding her face. The wind howled around her, but she remained unmoving, her form rooted to the spot as if anchored by some unseen force.
"Wu Qian," her voice echoed back to him, but it was cold, distant, and filled with an unmistakable sorrow. "Why didn't you save me?"
The words hit him like a hammer, knocking the wind out of his lungs. His chest tightened, a sharp pang of guilt washing over him. He remembered the day he had lost her—how he had been too late, how he hadn't been strong enough, how he had failed her.
"I... I couldn't…" Wu Qian choked out. He felt the weight of his own failure pressing down on him, the memory of that helplessness flooding back with unrelenting clarity. "I tried, Mei. I tried to save you. But I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't save everyone."
Her figure seemed to flicker, the edges of her form blurring like smoke. The landscape around her shifted, forming into scenes of their past—their childhood together, the times they had shared. But each scene was tainted, distorted by a sense of loss and failure.
"You could have saved me," Wu Mei's voice rang out, sharp and accusatory. "You could have done more, but you chose your own path. You chose to become strong, to abandon those you loved. And I was left behind."
Wu Qian staggered back, his knees weak. The words cut deeper than any blade could. The guilt of his past choices, his relentless pursuit of strength, his decision to leave his family behind in the name of a greater cause—everything crashed down upon him in an overwhelming wave.
"No… I never wanted to abandon you," Wu Qian muttered, his voice breaking. "I wanted to protect you. I wanted to make sure you'd be safe. But I wasn't enough. I failed you."
The shadow of Wu Mei before him began to change again, twisting and contorting into a monstrous form—a dark reflection of the person he had failed to save. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural light, her expression twisted into one of eternal anguish.
"You failed me," the creature hissed, its voice a warped echo of her own. "You chose power over love. You were too blind to see that you needed to protect those who mattered most. You are nothing but a coward, running from your guilt."
Wu Qian's heart sank. This was no longer a mere test. This was his own guilt and regret brought to life, and the image before him was the embodiment of that inner turmoil. His greatest fear—his fear of failure, of not being able to protect those he loved—was now standing before him, taking shape as his deepest self-loathing.
"Fight me," the dark reflection of Wu Mei demanded, her voice seeping with venom. "Face your failure head-on. Fight me, and prove you're not the coward I know you are."
Wu Qian's mind raced. How could he fight his own guilt, his own failures? Could he even stand a chance against this monstrous version of himself?
"Fighting you won't bring her back," Wu Qian whispered to himself, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow. "I can't undo what I've done. I can't change the past. But I won't let this guilt consume me anymore. I won't let it define who I am."
With a sudden surge of resolve, Wu Qian summoned the power of the Bloodstone. The crimson light flared to life, illuminating the surrounding darkness. His connection with the stone was stronger than ever, its power filling him with warmth and clarity, washing away the fear and doubt that had plagued him for so long.
"I can't change the past," Wu Qian said firmly, his voice steady. "But I can shape my future. I won't run from my mistakes, and I won't let them control me. You're not real. You're just a reflection of my own doubts."
The dark reflection of Wu Mei roared in fury, its form distorting even further. "You think you can overcome me? You can never outrun your guilt!"
But Wu Qian was resolute. "No. I won't be defined by my past mistakes anymore. I'll move forward, and I'll make things right. That's the path I choose."
With that, Wu Qian's power surged once more, and the shadow of Wu Mei shattered, crumbling to dust as the landscape around him shifted once again.
---
The world around Wu Qian blurred, and he found himself back in the heart of the Eternal Cycle, standing in the midst of the swirling chaos that had once been a calm and quiet realm. His heart still pounded from the trial he had just faced, the weight of his emotions lingering, but he felt lighter, freer.
Lian Yuxi and Yan Rui appeared beside him, their faces etched with similar expressions of exhaustion and determination.
"You made it," Lian Yuxi said quietly, her eyes filled with understanding. "How do you feel?"
Wu Qian nodded slowly, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Stronger. I've faced what I needed to face, and now I'm ready for whatever comes next."
Yan Rui gave him a sharp nod. "Then let's keep moving. We're not done yet."
As the trio pressed forward, the landscape continued to shift, the trials growing more intense with each step. But Wu Qian no longer doubted himself. The road ahead was unclear, but he was no longer afraid of the darkness that lay ahead. He had faced his past and come out stronger for it. Now, he would face whatever the Eternal Cycle threw at him.
The true test was not just physical strength or raw power—it was the strength of the heart. And with that newfound resolve, Wu Qian was ready for whatever trials awaited him.
---