The chamber's glow deepened, the runes etched into the walls throbbing with a rhythm that felt almost alive. Zhao Wei stood still for a moment, his eyes tracing the strange, shifting patterns. Beside him, Xue Yan was already on edge, her sword half-drawn, her sharp eyes scanning the room.
"Welcome, seekers of fate," a voice boomed, ancient and unyielding, filling the chamber. "You stand before the Trial of Judgment. To claim the treasures of this shrine, you must prove your worth in wisdom, skill, and willpower. Succeed, and fortune will be yours. Fail, and you will be erased. Let the trial begin."
Zhao Wei let out a long breath. "Of course. Another life-or-death test. Why can't these ancient cultivators ever just leave a nice note and some treasure?"
"Focus," Xue Yan hissed, her gaze cutting toward him like a blade.
The runes on the walls began to shift, their glow intensifying as they rearranged themselves into a complex web of floating glyphs. The air grew heavy, charged with an energy that made the hairs on the back of Zhao Wei's neck stand on end.
"The first trial: Wisdom. Solve the puzzle, or perish."
The glyphs floated toward them, forming a massive circular array. Within it, smaller symbols spun and aligned, creating a pattern that seemed to taunt them with its complexity.
Xue Yan's brow furrowed. "A glyph puzzle. I've seen something like this in ancient scrolls, but..."
"You don't know how to solve it, do you?" Zhao Wei asked, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Can you?" she shot back, her voice sharp.
Zhao Wei shrugged, activating Heavenly Insight with a thought. His vision blurred for a moment before the array's design snapped into clarity. Symbols representing balance and opposites stood out, their meaning glowing in his mind.
"To move forward, one must know where to stop. Reveal the place where opposites meet, and the path shall open."
The solution clicked into place, but Zhao Wei didn't share it immediately. Where was the fun in that? Instead, he pretended to ponder, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"It's balance," he finally said, stepping forward.
"Balance?" Xue Yan repeated, skepticism dripping from her tone.
Zhao Wei didn't reply. He carefully traced the solution onto the array, his movements deliberate. As the final glyph fell into place, the array flared brightly before dissolving into shimmering particles.
A doorway rumbled open ahead.
"One down," Zhao Wei said, brushing imaginary dust off his hands.
Xue Yan gave him a long, calculating look before following him through.
The second chamber was colder, the air thick and oppressive. The floor was polished to a mirror-like sheen, reflecting their distorted images. As they stepped forward, the walls trembled, and from hidden alcoves, stone guardians emerged. Their forms were crude but menacing, each wielding a weapon—a spear, a sword, or a staff—that glowed faintly.
"The second trial: Skill. Overcome the guardians, or be destroyed."
Xue Yan's grip on her sword tightened. Without hesitation, she lunged forward, engaging the nearest guardian with swift, precise strikes.
Her blade clashed against the guardian's stone staff, sparks flying as they met. She moved with fluid grace, her attacks targeting the joints and weak points.
Zhao Wei hung back, watching as the guardians began to converge on Xue Yan. "Looking good, Miss Xue Yan! Keep it up!"
"Stop standing there and help!" she snapped, parrying a heavy blow that sent her skidding back.
"Alright, alright," Zhao Wei muttered, pulling out a talisman. He sketched a detonation symbol onto it using Heavenly Calligraphy, his strokes quick but precise. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the talisman flying toward one of the guardians.
"Duck!" he shouted.
Xue Yan dropped to the ground just as the talisman exploded, shattering the guardian into rubble.
"A little warning next time!" she barked, glaring at him as she scrambled to her feet.
"Where's the fun in that?" Zhao Wei quipped, already drawing another talisman.
The fight continued—Xue Yan cutting through the guardians with relentless efficiency, while Zhao Wei provided support, alternating between explosive talismans and barriers to shield her from the heavier attacks.
When the last guardian crumbled, the chamber was littered with debris, and both of them were breathing heavily.
"Two down," Zhao Wei said, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow.
Xue Yan shot him a glare but said nothing, too exhausted to argue.
The third chamber was unnervingly quiet. Unlike the previous two, it was empty, its walls smooth and unadorned. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and Zhao Wei felt a creeping unease as he stepped inside.
"This feels wrong," Xue Yan murmured, her grip tightening on her sword.
"The third trial: Willpower. Face your truth, or fall into oblivion."
Before Zhao Wei could react, the world around him warped. The chamber dissolved, and he found himself standing in a cramped, dimly lit office.
"No," he muttered, his stomach sinking.
Before him stood his old boss, the man's face twisted in fury.
"You're worthless, Zhao Wei. A waste of space," the man spat, his voice dripping with disdain.
The scene was all too familiar, a perfect recreation of one of the lowest moments in his life. Zhao Wei clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
But he wasn't that man anymore.
"Yeah," Zhao Wei said, his voice calm and steady. "I was worthless then. But not now."
The illusion wavered, his boss's figure dissolving into mist.
Meanwhile, Xue Yan was trapped in her own nightmare. She stood amidst the ruins of her sect, the cries of her elders and disciples echoing around her. Blood stained the ground, and the lifeless bodies of her comrades lay scattered.
Her chest tightened as guilt threatened to consume her. Tears streamed down her face, but she gripped her sword tightly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "But I won't let your sacrifices be in vain."
Her words shattered the illusion, leaving her kneeling on the cold floor, her breathing ragged but resolute.
As the illusions faded, the chamber reformed around them. Both Zhao Wei and Xue Yan were visibly shaken, but their determination burned brighter than ever.
"You have passed the Trial of Judgment," the voice declared.
Zhao Wei barely registered the words. He glanced at Xue Yan, noting her trembling hands and the unshed tears in her eyes.
"Not bad, Miss Xue Yan," he said softly, offering her a small smile.
She met his gaze, her expression unreadable, but she nodded. For the first time, she didn't snap back at him.
The heavy silence was broken by the sound of grinding stone as a door slid open ahead.
"Let's go," Zhao Wei said, his tone lighter. But deep down, he couldn't shake the weight of what they had just endured.
But then he felt a sensation, his crow--It has been killed.