Zhen Hao didn't know how much time had passed since the Ancient disappeared, but he stood there for a long time, his thoughts a swirling storm of confusion and anger.
The path to the Soul Rebirth was supposed to offer him freedom. It was supposed to give him an escape from the endless cycle of immortality, to bring him peace at long last. But now, he wasn't so sure. The very nature of the Soul Rebirth seemed to be tainted, offering not salvation, but something far more insidious.
And yet, the alternative—the acceptance of death—felt like an impossible choice. He had lived too long, seen too much, to willingly surrender himself to the grave.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice.
"Zhen Hao."
He turned sharply, his hand already going to his sword. Standing before him was a familiar figure—Lian Hua. Her appearance was unexpected, and yet, somehow, it felt right. She was wearing a simple robe, but the confidence she exuded was unmistakable.
"You…" Zhen Hao said, his voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here? This place is dangerous."
"I know," she replied, stepping forward. "But you're not alone in this. I came to find you."
Zhen Hao shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips. "I'm beyond saving, Lian Hua. This place—this curse—it's too much for anyone to bear. You should leave."
But Lian Hua's gaze was unwavering. She had always been stubborn, and Zhen Hao had known that since the day they met. He had trained her, guided her, but he had never truly understood the depth of her loyalty. She was no longer the naive, hopeful cultivator who had followed him blindly. She had grown stronger, both in body and spirit.
"I'm not leaving," she said firmly. "I know what you're trying to do, and I won't let you carry this burden alone. Whatever choice you make, I'll be by your side."
Zhen Hao stared at her, his heart heavy with the weight of her words. The sense of guilt that had plagued him for so long only deepened. She was putting herself at risk for him, for a cause that might not even be worth pursuing.
"I don't know what's right anymore," he confessed. "The path ahead is unclear. The Soul Rebirth may not give me the peace I seek. And yet…" He trailed off, uncertainty hanging in the air.
Lian Hua stepped closer, her expression softening. "Then don't make this decision alone. Whatever the price, we'll face it together."
"Then let's find the true path together," he said, his voice steady.
The Forgotten Lands were vast, and the trials ahead would be unforgiving. But Zhen Hao had made his choice. He would seek the truth—and face whatever consequences came with it. Together with Lian Hua, he would walk this dark path.
The path ahead was obscured by a dense mist that clung to the air like a living thing, wrapping around Zhen Hao and Lian Hua with an almost suffocating embrace. The Forgotten Lands had never been forgiving, but now, as they ventured deeper into its heart, Zhen Hao could feel the weight of the ancient energies that lay dormant here, waiting to be awakened.
Lian Hua walked beside him, her presence a comforting constant in the eerie silence that enveloped them. Though her expression remained calm, Zhen Hao could see the faint traces of unease in her eyes. She, too, could feel the palpable pressure in the air, as though the land itself was watching them, judging them.
"What do you think lies ahead?" Lian Hua asked, her voice breaking the heavy silence.
Zhen Hao frowned, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the mist. "I don't know. But whatever it is, I'm certain it won't be kind. The Forgotten Lands have a way of twisting things, showing you what you fear most."
Lian Hua glanced at him, her brow furrowing. "And what do you fear, Zhen Hao? You've lived for centuries. What could possibly scare you now?"
He didn't answer immediately, but his gaze softened. It was true—he had lived longer than any mortal, seen more than most could ever comprehend. But what he feared wasn't the battles he had fought or the enemies he had vanquished. What he feared was something far more insidious: the endless spiral of time, the loneliness of immortality, and the haunting truth that no matter how many lifetimes he lived, he would never truly be free of his past.
He simply replied, "I fear the unknown. And this place is full of it."
The mist thickened as they moved forward, and the ground beneath them began to tremble. The air shifted, and Zhen Hao felt the familiar prickling sensation of a powerful force gathering nearby. He stopped, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword.
Lian Hua also froze, her senses alert as she scanned their surroundings. "Do you feel that?"
Before Zhen Hao could respond, a low, guttural growl echoed through the mist. A shadow darted in and out of view, moving too quickly for his eyes to follow. The air itself seemed to warp with an unnatural energy, and Zhen Hao's instincts screamed at him to be ready.
A massive form lunged from the fog, its body a grotesque mixture of shadow and flesh, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light. It was a beast unlike anything Zhen Hao had encountered in his long life—its form shifting and morphing as it advanced, an embodiment of darkness and chaos.
Without a word, Zhen Hao drew his sword, the steel gleaming in the dim light. Lian Hua, ever the skilled fighter, was already beside him, her own weapon ready.
The creature roared, a sound that reverberated through the very air around them. It lunged at Zhen Hao with terrifying speed, its claws slashing through the mist. He barely managed to deflect its strike, his sword ringing as it met the creature's monstrous talons.
"We need to take it down quickly!" Lian Hua shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Zhen Hao nodded, his focus sharp. He could feel the power radiating from the creature—it was no ordinary beast. This was a manifestation of the darkness within the Forgotten Lands, a creature born of fear and despair. It was both a physical threat and a spiritual one.
With a swift motion, Zhen Hao summoned his cultivation, the power of the Dao flowing through him like a tidal wave. The beast recoiled, momentarily stunned by the force of his attack, but it quickly recovered, its eyes burning with a malicious light.
The battle raged on, each strike echoing through the mist. Zhen Hao and Lian Hua fought in tandem, their movements fluid and coordinated, but the creature was relentless. It was not just a beast—it was a test, a manifestation of the trials that awaited them.
Zhen Hao's mind raced as he parried another brutal strike. This wasn't just about defeating the creature. This was a trial, designed to break their resolve, to push them to the brink of despair. The more they fought, the more the creature seemed to grow, its form shifting and multiplying with every blow they landed.
It was as though the very essence of the Forgotten Lands was feeding the beast, empowering it.
"We need to end this now!" Zhen Hao shouted, his voice strained. He could feel his strength waning, the weight of the battle pressing down on him.
Lian Hua nodded, understanding the urgency. She gathered her energy, her cultivation surging with a brilliant, golden light. Together, they launched a final, coordinated attack—Zhen Hao's sword cutting through the creature's dark form while Lian Hua's strike landed with precision.
With a final, resounding roar, the creature disintegrated into a cloud of shadow and mist, leaving only silence in its wake. The pressure in the air lifted, and the mist seemed to recede, revealing the path ahead.
Zhen Hao exhaled heavily, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That... was not what I expected."
Lian Hua, though tired, gave him a wry smile. "I think the Forgotten Lands has a lot more in store for us."
He nodded, his expression serious. "We've only just begun."