Xu Yan and Mei Qing approached the glowing sword cautiously, its brilliance casting long shadows across the walls of the chamber. The hum of energy grew louder as they neared, resonating with an almost tangible weight that pressed against their senses. Xu Yan's sharp eyes scanned the intricate runes etched into the altar, his mind racing with possibilities.
Mei Qing hesitated, her gaze flickering between the sword and Xu Yan. "What is this place…?" she murmured, her voice uncharacteristically soft.
Xu Yan didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered on the glowing blade, his instincts warning him of unseen dangers. "An inheritance," he whispered.
As if in response, a deep, resonant voice echoed in his ears, powerful yet calm. "If you can pass the trials, great fortune awaits you."
Xu Yan's expression hardened, his thoughts racing. Was this some elaborate trap? A trick to lure him into complacency? He quickly dismissed the notion. 'I don't have the strength to question this right now,' he thought.
Without warning, the sword emitted a blinding light that enveloped them both. Xu Yan shielded his eyes, feeling an overwhelming force pulling him away. When the light faded, he found himself alone in a small chamber, the air heavy with silence.
The air around Xu Yan was deathly still as he stepped into the chamber. It was an unsettling stillness, pressing against his senses like an invisible weight. The room was stark and featureless, its walls fading into shadow. Only the faint glow of runes etched into the floor offered light, casting eerie reflections on the smooth stone.
He took a cautious step forward, his shadow stretching unnaturally in the dim glow. As he moved, the runes beneath him flared brightly, and an icy chill swept through the air. Xu Yan's breath misted in front of him, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness.
Then it began.
From the shadows came a low growl. Xu Yan froze, his gaze snapping toward the sound. Slowly, the shadows began to coalesce, forming the shape of a massive beast. Its indistinct, writhing body glimmered faintly with traces of energy, and its glowing red eyes locked onto him with predatory intent.
The beast lunged without warning, its claws slicing through the air with blinding speed. Xu Yan twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered with a punch infused with shadow qi. His fist connected with the beast's form, shattering it into wisps that dissolved into the air.
Before Xu Yan could regain his footing, another growl echoed through the chamber, followed by another. Shadows gathered once more, forming not one but two beasts. Their glowing eyes glared at him as they moved in tandem, circling like hunters closing in on prey.
Xu Yan didn't hesitate. He dodged the first beast's strike, his movements fluid and precise, before delivering a sharp kick that dispersed its form. The second lunged from behind, and Xu Yan's fist lit up.. He hit the beast in its chest. The force of the blow disintegrated it instantly, its remnants scattering like ash.
The glow of his fist dimmed as Xu Yan exhaled slowly, his eyes scanning the shifting shadows. His instincts screamed at him to stay alert, and the reason became clear as the chamber erupted into chaos. Dozens of glowing eyes emerged from the darkness, their snarls and howls filling the air as the beasts charged in unison.
Xu Yan fought fiercely, his fists striking with precision. Each punch, each kick shattered a beast, but for every one he destroyed, more seemed to take its place. Sweat drenched his brow as exhaustion gnawed at the edges of his mind.
Minutes turned into what felt like hours. The relentless assault pushed him to his limits, the beasts' claws tearing at his defenses. His shadow qi flickered faintly, his reserves running dangerously low.
A claw slashed across his shoulder, tearing through his robes and drawing blood. Xu Yan staggered back, his breathing ragged as his vision blurred.
'How much longer can I last?' he thought grimly, his fists trembling as the beasts closed in. For a brief moment, doubt flickered in his mind, his resolve wavering.
Then, a memory surged forward in his mind.
He saw the betrayal, the faces of those who had turned on him, the pain that had driven him to this path. The trust he had once placed in others shattered in an instant, the resulting wounds pushing him toward a life he never imagined for himself. The righteous ideals he once believed in felt hollow, their hypocrisy laid bare. The road of a demonic cultivator, though perilous and maligned, had been his only refuge—a path he had chosen not out of desire but out of necessity, fueled by the need to survive and grow stronger.
And then he saw Grandpa Chen.
He could still picture the old man's face, the youth-like enthusiasm he always carried despite his years. Memories of their time together surfaced—sitting by the river, tossing stones, the warmth of companionship in a world that often felt cold. Grandpa Chen had taught him resilience, had shown him that even in the harshest storms, there was strength in enduring.
Xu Yan's chest burned with the weight of it all.
'This is nothing,' he thought, his eyes narrowing. 'Compared to what I've been through, this is nothing!'
With a roar that echoed through the chamber, Xu Yan surged forward, his shadow qi flaring around him like a dark flame. The beasts lunged, but he didn't falter. Blow after blow, he met their attacks head-on, his fists glowing faintly with crimson energy as he pushed back against the tide.
As the last wave of beasts emerged, Xu Yan steadied his breathing, his focus sharpening. His shadow qi coiled around his arm like a serpent, its energy pulsing. The glow intensified as he channeled every ounce of his remaining strength into a single strike.
The beasts charged as one, their glowing eyes locked on him, but Xu Yan didn't flinch. "Blood Crushing Fist!" he roared, his voice filled with defiance as his fist crashed into the ground.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, the energy tearing through the beasts like a hurricane. Shadows scattered in every direction, the snarls silenced as the creatures dissolved into nothingness.
The room fell deathly silent, the oppressive energy lifting as the glowing runes beneath Xu Yan's feet flared brightly once more.
Panting heavily, Xu Yan dropped to one knee, his body trembling from the effort. Blood dripped from the wound on his shoulder, but his gaze was steady.
The runes on the wall shimmered, revealing a path to the next chamber. Xu Yan pushed himself to his feet, his sharp eyes locking onto the opening.