Xiao Tian stood in the stabilized dimension, the air now calm but thick with the faint remnants of chaotic energy. His silver eyes scanned the surroundings, lingering on the spot where the hooded figure had disappeared. The warning echoed in his mind: "This is only the beginning."
The Void Compass hovered beside him, its runes glowing faintly. The artifact pulsed with a subtle rhythm, almost as if urging Xiao Tian onward.
"Elder Taixu," Xiao Tian said aloud, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "Whoever that was—they knew about the Void Compass."
Taixu's spectral form materialized, his expression grim. "It's no surprise. The Void Compass is one of the most ancient artifacts of the Void. Those who seek ultimate power will stop at nothing to claim it, and you, as its wielder, will always be a target."
Xiao Tian's silver eyes narrowed. "If they think I'll give it up, they're mistaken. Let them come."
Taixu hesitated. "Arrogance is dangerous, Xiao Tian. The deeper you delve into the Void's mysteries, the more enemies you'll attract. Prepare yourself."
---
Returning to the Void Temple
The portal shimmered to life, and Xiao Tian stepped through, emerging once again in the Void Temple. The familiar hum of the ancient structure greeted him, but the weight of the hooded figure's warning lingered in his mind.
Xiao Tian walked to the central chamber, where the Void Compass floated above its pedestal. He placed a hand on it, feeling its energy resonate with his own. "What's next?" he murmured, as if speaking to the artifact itself.
The Compass flared briefly, its runes spinning rapidly. Taixu's spectral form appeared once more.
"It seems the Compass has aligned with another realm," Taixu said. "But this one is… peculiar. It's not a collapsing dimension or a simple trial. This realm, known as the Veil of Secrets, is said to hold knowledge of the Void's origin. Many have sought its wisdom, but few have returned."
Xiao Tian's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Knowledge is the key to power. If this realm holds answers, I'll claim them."
Taixu's expression darkened. "Be warned: the Veil of Secrets tests more than your strength. It probes your mind, your past, and your deepest fears. The truths it reveals may be more than you're prepared to face."
"I've faced chaos, betrayal, and death," Xiao Tian replied, his voice steady. "Whatever the Veil has to show me, I'll endure it."
---
Entering the Veil of Secrets
The portal opened, its energy swirling with an ethereal light. Xiao Tian stepped through, emerging into a realm unlike any he had seen before. The air was thick with an oppressive stillness, and the sky above was a swirling void of silver and black.
The ground beneath his feet was smooth and reflective, like a vast mirror stretching endlessly in all directions. As Xiao Tian moved forward, faint images began to appear in the reflective surface—fragmented memories of his past.
He saw his parents, their faces blurred but their voices clear as they whispered words of love and sacrifice. He saw himself as an infant, drifting through the Void, alone and untouched by time.
"This realm knows me," Xiao Tian thought, his silver eyes narrowing.
---
The First Revelation
As Xiao Tian continued, the images grew clearer, more vivid. He saw the battle where his parents had been betrayed and slain, their power burning brightly as they sacrificed themselves to protect him. The pain of their loss washed over him anew, but Xiao Tian clenched his fists, refusing to be swayed.
"You can't distract me," he said aloud. "I've moved beyond this."
A voice echoed around him, cold and calculating. "Have you? Or have you buried your pain beneath ambition and vengeance?"
Xiao Tian stopped, his blade appearing in his hand. "Who are you?"
The voice laughed softly. "I am the Veil. I am the truth you hide from, the fear you refuse to face. And I am your test."
---
The Trial of the Veil
The ground shifted beneath Xiao Tian, and a figure emerged from the reflective surface. It was a mirror image of himself, but darker, its silver eyes filled with malice. The doppelgänger smirked, raising a Void Qi blade identical to Xiao Tian's.
"Can you conquer yourself?" the Veil's voice asked.
The doppelgänger attacked without warning, its movements swift and precise. Xiao Tian activated Void Steps, flickering away from the first strike before countering with his own. Their blades clashed in a burst of light, the force sending ripples through the reflective ground.
The fight was brutal, each strike matched perfectly by the other. Xiao Tian realized quickly that this wasn't a simple test of skill—the doppelgänger anticipated his every move, countering with flawless precision.
"You know me," Xiao Tian said, his voice calm despite the intensity of the battle. "But I know you too."
He activated Void Chains, binding the doppelgänger's movements briefly. Using the opening, Xiao Tian delivered a precise slash, striking the core of his opponent's form.
The doppelgänger shattered into fragments of light, and the Veil's voice echoed once more. "Impressive. But the truth has many layers. Will you peel them all, or will you turn away?"
---
Deeper into the Veil
The reflective surface shifted again, and Xiao Tian saw a vision of his future—himself standing atop a mountain of corpses, his silver eyes glowing cold and distant. The power radiating from him was immense, but the loneliness in his gaze was unmistakable.
"This is what awaits you," the Veil said. "A path of destruction, where power consumes all else. Do you still wish to continue?"
Xiao Tian's jaw tightened, his resolve unwavering. "I won't be bound by fate. I'll carve my own path."
The Veil fell silent, and the portal back to the Void Temple opened before him. Xiao Tian stepped through, his mind racing with the truths he had faced.