As Zhen Hao and Lian Hua stepped toward the obelisk, the world around them dissolved into a void of infinite blackness. They floated in the emptiness, their only anchor the glowing runes that spiraled around the obelisk, now suspended in the darkness.
Zhen Hao felt a pull at the core of his being, as though the void sought to strip away every layer of his existence. Beside him, Lian Hua shivered, her usual composure giving way to unease.
"What is this place?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"It's not a place," Zhen Hao replied, his voice steady despite the weight pressing on him. "It's a reflection of the Dao. The truth of what lies beyond cultivation."
Before them, the darkness rippled, and a vision began to take shape. It was a world of eternal light and shadow, a realm where time and space held no meaning. At its center stood a radiant figure, her silver robes billowing as if caught in an unseen wind.
The Silver Empress.
Her face was serene, yet her eyes burned with a mixture of hope and despair. She extended a hand toward Zhen Hao, her voice soft but unyielding.
"You walk my path, Zhen Hao," she said. "But do you understand the cost of what you seek?"
Zhen Hao met her gaze. "I've lived for centuries, burdened by the weight of immortality. If there's a way to break free, I will find it."
The Silver Empress's expression darkened. "Freedom is not so simple. The power I sought was meant to unite the mortal and the divine, to create a bridge between life and eternity. But such a power is not without consequence."
The vision shifted, showing the Empress standing before the crystal altar. Her hands glowed with ethereal light as she channeled her cultivation into the artifact. The power surged, but it was too much to contain. The altar cracked, and a wave of destructive energy erupted, consuming the sect and its people.
"It wasn't just my ambition that destroyed my sect," the Empress said. "It was the truth I uncovered. The cycle of life and death exists for a reason. To break it is to defy the natural order, to risk unraveling the very fabric of existence."
The void trembled, and the vision dissolved. The Silver Empress's voice echoed in the darkness.
"Do you still seek this path, knowing what it could cost you?"
Zhen Hao stood silent for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in. He clenched his fists, his resolve unwavering.
"Yes"
"Then you will face the Trial of Eternity. May your resolve prove stronger than mine."
The darkness receded, and Zhen Hao and Lian Hua found themselves back in the chamber. The specters stood silently, their expressions unreadable.
"You have chosen your path," the leading specter said. "The Trial of Eternity lies ahead. Few have dared to face it, and none have succeeded. May the Dao guide you."
The path beyond the obelisk opened, revealing a staircase descending into a deep, glowing abyss.
They descended the staircase, their silhouettes swallowed by the light of the abyss.
The staircase spiraled downward, its steps glowing faintly with runes that pulsed with every footfall. The light seemed alive, responding to their presence as if the path itself was aware of their journey. The air grew colder with each step, and an increasingly oppressive power restricted their movement.
Zhen Hao glanced at Lian Hua, her face set in grim determination. "This is more than just a physical trial," he said. "The Dao is testing our resolve."
She nodded, gripping her staff tightly. "Then we must hold firm. No doubts, no hesitation."
At last, they reached the bottom. A vast cavern stretched before them, its walls shimmering with an eerie, silvery light. At the center of the chamber was a massive crystal altar, similar to the one in the Silver Empress's vision, but this one was intact, its surface flawless and radiant. Surrounding it were five colossal statues, each depicting an ancient cultivator. Their expressions were severe, and their weapons pointed toward the altar as if guarding it.
As they approached, a voice echoed through the cavern, deep and resonant.
"Who dares disturb the Trial of Eternity?"
A shadow materialized above the altar, coalescing into the form of a towering figure clad in dark robes. Its face was obscured, but its presence radiated overwhelming power.
"I am Zhen Hao," he declared, stepping forward. "I seek to understand the truth of the Silver Empress and complete what she could not."
The figure's laughter reverberated through the chamber. "So many have claimed the same, and all have failed. The Trial of Eternity is not for the faint of heart. Are you prepared to face yourself?"
Zhen Hao's jaw tightened. "I am."
The shadow turned its gaze to Lian Hua. "And you, companion of the seeker. Do you have the strength to stand by his side, even when the truth threatens to break him?"
Lian Hua met its gaze without flinching. "I will not falter."
"Then let the Trial begin."
The cavern erupted with light, and the world around them dissolved once more.