The air in the Sacred Grounds felt thick with ancient power, like a living, breathing entity. The night sky above was clear, filled with stars that seemed to shimmer with secrets, and the ground beneath Lei Zhen's feet seemed to pulse with the same rhythm as his own heartbeat. He stood at the edge of a vast chasm, a massive rift that stretched into the distance, where the earth seemed to split in two as if to reveal the world's hidden depths.
This place—this strange and sacred land—had come alive in the wake of his victory over the darkness within himself. The Celestial Flame burned stronger now, a constant, comforting heat in his chest. But the path ahead was no clearer than it had been when he first stepped foot into this world. The woman's warning echoed in his mind: "Do not falter."
A voice broke through his thoughts, deep and resonant, like a distant thunderclap.
"Lei Zhen."
He turned sharply, his sword instinctively at the ready, but there was no immediate threat. Instead, an old man stood before him, garbed in simple robes, his long white hair flowing like a river of snow down his back. His eyes were piercing, yet calm—wise eyes that seemed to hold the weight of countless lifetimes.
"Who are you?" Lei Zhen asked, his voice wary but respectful. The presence of this old man, standing as if he had always been here, was as imposing as it was serene.
The old man smiled, though there was little warmth in it. "I am a keeper of the trials," he said, his voice like the rustle of leaves in a storm. "I have seen many who walked this path before you. And now, it is your turn to face the greatest trial of all."
Lei Zhen felt his heart pound in his chest. The greatest trial of all? He had barely recovered from the first, and now there was more to come. The weight of his journey, his destiny, pressed down on him like an unrelenting force.
"What do you mean?" Lei Zhen asked, stepping closer. He didn't want to show his uncertainty, but it was hard to mask the unease gnawing at him.
The old man gestured toward the chasm, his finger tracing the darkened edge. "This is the Path of Sacrifice, the second trial. You must cross this rift, but it is not the crossing that is difficult—it is the price you must pay to do so."
Lei Zhen looked down into the abyss below. The rift seemed endless, the depths beyond a void of shadows, as though something ancient and untold resided there. "What do you mean by 'price'?" Lei Zhen asked, his voice quieter now, suspicion and dread rising within him.
The old man's eyes softened, but there was no comfort in his gaze. "The path before you requires a sacrifice. A true sacrifice. To cross, you must give up something of yourself—something that you hold dear."
Lei Zhen's mind raced. A sacrifice? He didn't know what he could afford to lose. His past life had already taken so much from him. His memories were broken, his sense of self uncertain, and the weight of his rebirth was a constant burden.
"What kind of sacrifice?" Lei Zhen demanded. "I've already given up everything! What more do you want from me?"
The old man's gaze grew stern, and he took a step forward, as if he could sense the desperation rising in Lei Zhen. "The price will not be material. It will be something more—something integral to who you are now. Something you cannot avoid."
Lei Zhen clenched his fists. He knew what this meant. Whatever was waiting for him on the other side of this rift would not be easy. He would have to let go of something—something that mattered to him, something irreplaceable. But what? What could he give up when everything he had known was already lost?
Without another word, the old man raised his hand, and the rift before them shimmered. A bridge of light formed, stretching across the abyss. But the bridge was not solid. It wavered like a mirage, shifting and flickering as if it were fragile, ready to collapse at any moment.
"Go," the old man urged, his voice gentle but firm. "The sacrifice awaits."
Lei Zhen took a deep breath. His heart raced, the weight of the decision pressing on him. He stepped forward, his boots tapping softly on the bridge of light. But each step felt heavier than the last, as if the very air was pulling him back, urging him to stop.
Halfway across, the bridge shimmered violently. The air itself seemed to bend around him, and suddenly, his vision blurred. In the distance, figures began to materialize—familiar faces from his past life. His parents, his closest friends, those he had loved. They appeared before him, their faces full of smiles, beckoning him forward.
"You've come so far, Lei Zhen," his father's voice called from the distance. "We've been waiting for you."
"Don't go any further," his mother's voice whispered, her eyes filled with worry. "You don't have to do this."
Lei Zhen faltered. His heart ached with the sight of them, the faces he could barely remember, the faces he had lost. Could he give up everything he had fought for just to be with them again? The temptation was real—so real that it almost pulled him to the edge of the rift, toward the figures he once loved.
But then the cold voice of the old man echoed in his mind: "A true sacrifice."
Lei Zhen clenched his fists, trying to focus. He had already chosen this path. He had already embraced his rebirth, his purpose. The people in front of him weren't real—they were nothing but memories, illusions meant to test him.
He turned away from them, taking another step forward. The figures began to fade, their voices growing silent. The bridge seemed to solidify beneath his feet, and the oppressive weight lifted, leaving only the feeling of resolve.
He reached the other side, breathing heavily, but his heart was clearer now. He had faced the temptation, the pull of his past, and had made his choice. He had given up something—the illusion of what could have been. And in doing so, he had gained something far more powerful: the clarity of his path.
The old man stood waiting for him, his expression unreadable. "You have passed the Path of Sacrifice, Lei Zhen. You are stronger now, more prepared for what lies ahead."
Lei Zhen nodded, feeling the weight of the trials settling into his bones. His journey was far from over. But he was ready for whatever came next.
Cliffhanger:
Lei Zhen's heart raced as the massive creature's eyes glowed with an unholy intensity. Before he could react, the creature lunged forward, its claws tearing through the air toward him. Everything went black in that instant.