The cavern roared with energy, every corner alive with the hum of power. Lin Xuan tightened his grip on his blade, his gaze locked on the cloaked figure. They stood motionless, yet the weight of their presence pressed against him like an iron hand. The Eternity Core floated between them, its crystalline surface pulsing faintly as if reacting to the mounting tension.
"You have no idea what you're meddling with," the figure said, their voice reverberating unnaturally. The air around them shimmered as strands of dark energy coiled and twisted, taking the shape of serpents that hissed silently in the cavern's gloom.
Lin Xuan took a steadying breath. He had faced countless trials before, but this—this felt different. Dangerous. Yet, he knew turning back was not an option. "If the Eternity Core is as powerful as the legends claim, it doesn't belong in the hands of a shadow like you."
The figure chuckled, a sound like the grinding of stones. "You speak of power as though you understand it. Allow me to educate you."
With a flick of their wrist, the serpents lunged toward Lin Xuan, their forms dissolving into streams of energy mid-flight. Reacting instinctively, Lin Xuan raised his blade, channeling his Qi into its edge. A brilliant arc of energy erupted from the weapon, colliding with the streams and scattering them into harmless sparks. But the figure was already moving.
In a blur, they closed the distance between them, a dagger of shadow materializing in their hand. Lin Xuan barely had time to parry, their weapons clashing in a burst of light and dark. The force of the impact sent him skidding back, his boots digging grooves into the cavern floor. Pain lanced through his arms, but he steadied himself, his determination unshaken.
The figure did not relent. They moved with an unnatural fluidity, their attacks relentless and precise. Lin Xuan found himself on the defensive, each strike pushing him closer to the edge of the silver pool. His mind raced, searching for an opening, a weakness. The figure was faster, stronger, and their command of energy far surpassed anything he had encountered before. Yet, Lin Xuan's resolve burned brighter with every passing moment.
"You fight well for one so young," the figure said, their tone almost admiring. "But this is not a battle you can win."
Lin Xuan smirked, his voice steady despite his ragged breathing. "I've never cared for odds."
Summoning the full extent of his dual cultivation, Lin Xuan unleashed a burst of energy that radiated from his body like a shockwave. The force pushed the figure back, if only for a moment, giving him the space he desperately needed. Without hesitation, he channeled his Qi into the ground, forming a protective barrier of light that encircled him.
The figure's serpents reformed, hissing as they circled the barrier. "Clever," the figure said, "but futile. The Core will not tolerate weakness."
As if responding to their words, the Eternity Core began to glow brighter, its light filling the cavern with a blinding brilliance. Lin Xuan shielded his eyes, his heart pounding as the artifact's energy surged outward. The ground trembled, and the cavern walls groaned as cracks spiderwebbed through the stone.
"Enough of this," the figure snarled, their calm demeanor fracturing. They raised both hands, summoning a torrent of dark energy that coalesced into a massive, swirling vortex. The air grew heavy, suffused with the weight of their power. Lin Xuan felt his barrier buckle under the strain, the light dimming as the vortex bore down on him.
"I won't fall here," Lin Xuan thought, his resolve hardening. Digging deep, he drew upon the hidden reserves of his strength. His body glowed with a radiant aura as his Qi fused with his physical energy, creating a harmony that few cultivators could achieve. With a roar, he shattered his own barrier, unleashing a concentrated beam of energy that pierced through the heart of the vortex.
The impact was cataclysmic. The vortex exploded outward, the force shaking the cavern to its core. Lin Xuan was thrown to the ground, the wind knocked from his lungs. For a moment, all was silent save for the faint hum of the Eternity Core. Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet, his vision swimming.
The figure was gone.
Lin Xuan's eyes darted around the cavern, searching for any sign of his opponent. But there was nothing. Only the Core remained, its light steady and unyielding. He approached it cautiously, every step measured. As he reached out, the air around the Core grew warm, its energy pulsating in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"Is this it?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. His fingers brushed the surface of the artifact, and a surge of energy raced through him, lifting him off the ground. Visions flooded his mind—stars burning and dying, ancient battles fought in forgotten realms, and a voice, deep and resonant, that spoke directly to his soul.
"You have been chosen," the voice said. "But your journey is far from over."
Before Lin Xuan could comprehend the words, the cavern began to collapse. The ground cracked and buckled, the pool of silver boiling as molten rock burst through the surface. Clutching the Core, Lin Xuan sprinted toward the exit, his Qi propelling him forward. The archway loomed ahead, its runes glowing with a desperate intensity.
He leapt through the threshold just as the cavern caved in behind him, a deafening roar echoing in his ears. Lin Xuan collapsed onto the forest floor, the cool air a stark contrast to the heat of the collapsing realm. He lay there for a moment, clutching the Eternity Core to his chest, his body trembling from exhaustion.
When he finally rose, the forest was silent, the moonlight filtering through the trees casting an ethereal glow. Lin Xuan stared at the Core, its light now soft and steady. He had claimed it, but at what cost? And what did the voice mean by "chosen"?
From the shadows, a pair of glowing eyes watched him. The figure had not been defeated—only delayed. Their presence lingered like a specter, a promise of battles yet to come.
Lin Xuan straightened, his resolve unbroken. The journey ahead would be long, and the dangers greater than he could imagine. But he would not falter. The Eternity Core was his, and with it, he would forge a destiny unlike any other.