The ground beneath Zhen Hao's feet rumbled as the hooded figure vanished, leaving him and Lian Hua alone. The ruins began to shift again, their form twisting into something unnatural. Stone walls rose around them, creating a vast labyrinth.
"This is your trial," a disembodied voice echoed. "To walk the path of truth, you must confront what binds you—and what threatens to tear you apart."
Zhen Hao exchanged a glance with Lian Hua. "Stay close," he said. "Whatever happens, we face it together."
They entered the labyrinth, the air thick with an oppressive energy. The path twisted and turned, each corner revealing strange and unsettling sights. At one junction, they saw visions of their pasts—Lian Hua as a young girl training under the watchful eyes of her master, Zhen Hao standing over the bodies of those he had killed in his pursuit of power.
"It's testing us," Lian Hua murmured. "But for what purpose?"
Before Zhen Hao could answer, the path ahead opened into a massive chamber. At its center stood a mirror, its surface rippling like water. Around it, shadowy figures prowled—distorted versions of Zhen Hao and Lian Hua, their eyes glowing with malice.
"The trial of unity," the voice intoned. "To claim the truth, you must defeat the shadows of your doubt and fear. Only together can you prevail."
The shadowy figures lunged, their movements unnervingly precise. Zhen Hao and Lian Hua sprang into action, their weapons flashing as they fought side by side.
Zhen Hao's shadow mirrored his every move, its strikes growing more aggressive as the fight wore on. It whispered taunts, each word a dagger aimed at his psyche.
"You think you can escape eternity? You are a coward, Zhen Hao. You run from the very power you sought."
Lian Hua faced her own shadow, its voice laced with scorn. "You follow him blindly, hoping for approval. You are nothing but a pawn in his endless quest."
The words struck deep, but neither Zhen Hao nor Lian Hua faltered. They fought with determination, their movements synchronized.
The shadows seamlessly fought together breaking their defenses.
"This isn't a battle with the shadows," Lian Hua called out, her voice cutting through the chaos. "It's a test of trust. If we doubt ourselves—or each other—we'll lose."
Zhen Hao nodded, her words sparking clarity. He focused not on defeating his shadow, but on strengthening his connection with Lian Hua. He moved to cover her flank, and she did the same for him, their combined efforts overwhelming the shadows.
The final blow came not from force, but from unity. As they struck together, the shadows dissolved into mist, and the mirror's surface stilled.
The disembodied voice returned, its tone softer now. "You have passed the trial. Trust and unity are your greatest strengths, Zhen Hao. Hold fast to them, for the path ahead will only grow darker."
The labyrinth faded, and the ruins returned. At the center of the clearing, a new path revealed itself, leading deeper into the Forgotten Lands.
The newly revealed path before them was unlike any they had seen. It shimmered faintly, as if caught between reality and illusion. The air hummed with energy, and the dense fog that had once cloaked the Forgotten Lands seemed to part, creating a corridor lined with broken statues of long-forgotten cultivators.
Zhen Hao and Lian Hua stepped forward cautiously. Every step felt heavier, as though the path itself resisted their presence. The eerie silence was broken only by the faint whispers that seemed to echo from the statues.
"Do you hear that?" Lian Hua asked, her voice low.
Zhen Hao nodded, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword. The whispers grew louder, forming fragmented words.
"...betrayed us... shattered the balance..."
"...she sought unity, but all she found was ruin..."
The words sent a chill down Zhen Hao's spine. He glanced at the statues, their stone faces twisted in expressions of anguish and fury.
"These are the cultivators of the Silver Empress's sect," Zhen Hao said. "Their spirits linger here, bound by their failure."
As they continued down the path, the whispers grew more coherent. The statues seemed to watch them, their hollow eyes following their every move. Finally, the corridor opened into a vast, circular chamber.
At its center stood a massive obelisk, its surface etched with runes that pulsed with a faint blue light. Surrounding it were spectral figures, their translucent forms flickering like dying flames. Each one carried the weight of centuries of regret, their expressions filled with sorrow and anger.
One of the specters stepped forward, its voice resonating with a haunting echo.
"You dare tread upon this sacred ground?"
Zhen Hao stepped forward, meeting the specter's gaze. "I seek the truth of the Silver Empress and the power she tried to wield. I seek to finish what she could not."
The specters exchanged glances, their forms shifting uneasily.
"She was our leader," the specter said. "Our guide. But her ambition led to our destruction. You walk the same path as her, yet you claim you can succeed where she failed?"
Zhen Hao's eyes hardened. "I don't claim to be her equal. But I will not let her sacrifice be in vain. If her dream was unity, then I will see it fulfilled."
The specter studied him for a long moment before speaking again. "If you truly wish to walk her path, you must confront the truth she discovered—the truth that broke her resolve."
The runes on the obelisk flared, and the chamber began to shift. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the walls seemed to melt away, revealing an infinite expanse of darkness.
"Step forward," the specter commanded. "Face the Truth of Eternity."