Chapter 5: The Abyss of Spirits
The second challenge was nothing like the first. Where the first test had been a straightforward display of power, this was something far more insidious. The atmosphere of the new chamber pressed in on Li Yan like a suffocating weight, the very air thick with oppressive energy. The walls were lined with shifting shadows, and strange, whispering voices seemed to emanate from the darkness, their language foreign and ancient.
Li Yan stepped forward, his eyes scanning the surroundings with the same casual indifference as before. "So, this is the 'spiritual' challenge you guys were talking about, huh? I'll admit, it's a little more... mysterious. But nothing I can't handle."
The cloaked figure, who had remained silent since the trial began, stepped cautiously into the chamber after him. "Do not underestimate this place. The creatures here are born of pure spiritual energy. They do not care about your power—they only seek to unravel your very soul."
Li Yan chuckled, stretching lazily. "A little soul-unraveling? No biggie. I've faced worse before. This feels more like a haunted house than anything else."
The figure's eyes narrowed. "You don't understand. These are not mere illusions. They are manifestations of your deepest fears, your regrets, your unresolved emotions. They can warp reality to your weakest point. The more you resist them, the stronger they become."
Li Yan's grin widened, his carefree demeanor never faltering. "Fear, regrets, unresolved emotions? Oh, please. I'm an open book with no hidden chapters. I'm basically unshakable."
With those words, the ground beneath him trembled, and the shadows that lined the walls began to twist and swirl. Figures emerged from the darkness, their forms shifting and flickering, their faces ever-changing as they drew closer. Some were monstrous, others were human-shaped, but all exuded a terrifying aura of malice and dread.
The first figure that appeared was a towering, shadowy beast with six red eyes and massive claws that scraped the ground with each step. It growled low, and from its mouth, a voice emerged—one that sounded eerily familiar.
"You cannot escape your past, Li Yan. You are nothing but a failure. The world you left behind will never forgive you. You can't run from it forever."
Li Yan froze for a brief moment, his expression flickering. His carefree smile faltered just for a split second, but before the creature could press its advantage, he snapped back to his usual self. "Ah, yes. That old chestnut. A little guilt trip, huh? Good one, but it's not going to work on me."
The beast roared, slashing at him with its claws, but Li Yan simply sidestepped with a lazy grin. He could feel the faint sting of something—a brief, nagging feeling—brush against his soul, but it was already fading. The trial sought to plant doubt, but Li Yan's indomitable spirit had no room for it.
With a snap of his fingers, the beast was engulfed in a wave of energy, disappearing in a puff of smoke. "No one's got time for that kind of nonsense."
As the creature dissipated, another shadow approached—this time, a figure that appeared human. Its face was a perfect mirror of Li Yan's own, but the expression on the face twisted into one of bitterness and regret. It opened its mouth, and its voice rang out, hauntingly familiar.
"You abandoned everyone. You ran away from your responsibilities. You are nothing but a coward."
Li Yan's brow twitched, his expression darkening momentarily as the figure spoke his inner thoughts aloud. "Really? You're going to bring this up now? At least come up with something new!"
But the figure didn't relent. It stepped closer, its face distorting with anger, and the air around it shimmered with a malevolent energy. "You can never undo the harm you've caused. You'll always be alone."
For a moment, Li Yan's heart skipped a beat. The words dug into a place inside him that he had long since buried. The weight of guilt, the regret of abandoning his home, the responsibility of all that he left behind—they all surged back to the surface.
The cloaked figure, watching from the distance, seemed to notice the brief change in Li Yan's demeanor. "This is the trial's power. It shows you your greatest weaknesses and uses them to break you."
But before the figure could finish, Li Yan's eyes blazed with a renewed intensity. "Hah! You think I'm scared of a few harsh words? I'm not some helpless child anymore. I've been to the depths of the worlds, fought gods and monsters, and built my own path. There's no room for regret in my life anymore."
With a flick of his wrist, Li Yan's energy exploded outward, obliterating the figure with a single burst of pure will. The darkness around him parted, and the oppressive atmosphere began to recede, but not entirely.
"See? That wasn't so bad," Li Yan muttered to himself. "A little mental gymnastics never hurt anyone. What's next?"
But the darkness still lingered, and more figures emerged from the shadows—creatures of fear, regret, and unresolved guilt, all designed to weaken his resolve. With each one, Li Yan grew more irritated.
"Seriously? How many times do I have to destroy the same thing?" He threw his hands up in the air. "At least try something new!"
The air around him shimmered with an explosion of energy, and all the figures in the chamber were wiped out in an instant. With a deep sigh, Li Yan crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the emptiness around him.
"Alright, I get it. You want to show me the stuff I've buried deep down, huh? Well, newsflash—nothing you can bring up is going to bother me anymore. I've made peace with it all. I'm not defined by my past."
The cloaked figure watched in stunned silence as Li Yan's aura surged with an unshakable confidence. For a brief moment, the figure's hooded eyes narrowed, perhaps in understanding or perhaps in disbelief.
"You truly are different from what I expected. Most would have crumbled under such a trial."
Li Yan turned toward the cloaked figure, his grin returning to its usual carefree state. "Eh, I'm not like most people. Now, about that second challenge... Can we move on to the fun part yet?"
Before the cloaked figure could respond, the massive stone statue at the end of the chamber spoke again, its voice echoing through the hall.
"The second challenge is complete. Proceed to the final trial."
Li Yan shrugged, walking toward the opening that had appeared at the far side of the chamber. "Finally. Let's finish this up. I've got places to be and worlds to conquer."
The cloaked figure watched him go, his eyes still filled with a mixture of awe and concern. "You may not understand the full extent of this trial, Li Yan. But I cannot deny that you have passed it in a way no one else ever has."
Li Yan's voice floated back to him, carefree as ever. "Yeah, yeah. But don't get too attached to me. I'm just here for the fun."
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End of Chapter 5