The pull of the abyss was overwhelming, an invisible force dragging me into its depths. The last image I saw was my master, Jing Xuan, her faint, enigmatic smile lingering in my mind as the darkness swallowed me whole.
I fell through an endless void, where time stretched and twisted, and my senses dulled. I couldn't tell if I was floating or falling. Then, with a sudden jolt, I found myself standing on solid ground.
Around me, the darkness began to lift, revealing a world bathed in a soft, golden light. I stood atop a high mountain peak, the air crisp and serene. Below, an endless forest stretched out, its verdant canopy merging seamlessly with the horizon. The stillness was almost too perfect—a world untouched by chaos, immaculately still.
This had to be her doing—some kind of test, an illusion, or perhaps an alternate reality she created to challenge me. The very air hummed with energy, as though the world itself was waiting, watching my next move.
I wandered the peak, exploring my surroundings. A small wooden house stood to one side, surrounded by vibrant flowers and a stream trickling gently down the mountain. For a moment, I allowed myself to breathe in the calmness, feeling the serenity wash over me.
But something tugged at my chest. Was this the peace I sought, or was it merely a fleeting illusion, a trap meant to test my resolve?
---
**Day 1**
At first, I embraced the simplicity of life here. I woke to the gentle calls of birds, drank from the stream, and marveled at the unbroken beauty of the world. The peace was undeniable, a balm to my weary soul.
But as the day dragged on, a creeping unease began to settle within me. The stillness grew stifling. Was this all there was to peace? A life without challenge, without purpose?
---
**Day 10**
I ventured down the mountain, eager to explore the forest below. The trees stood like ancient sentinels, their roots weaving intricate patterns in the earth. The forest was alive with the sounds of nature, but it was also eerily silent—no people, no interaction, no conflict.
At first, I relished the solitude, but as the days stretched on, the stillness began to gnaw at me. What was once a refuge now felt like isolation.
---
**Day 30**
My exploration led me to the edge of the forest, where I found a vast, glittering ocean. Its waves danced rhythmically beneath the sunlight, a constant motion that contrasted with the stillness of the mountain.
I built a shelter on the beach and spent my days fishing and swimming. For a time, the ocean gave me the sense of freedom I had been missing.
Yet, again, monotony set in. Days blurred together, and I found myself yearning for something more—a challenge, a purpose.
---
**Day 180**
Driven by restlessness, I decided to sail across the ocean, hoping to discover new lands. Crafting a sturdy boat took months, but when it was finally complete, I set out with renewed hope.
The first weeks were calm, the sea stretching endlessly beneath a cloudless sky. But soon, the ocean grew tempestuous. Storm clouds gathered on the horizon, and the wind howled like a vengeful spirit.
The waves rose like towering beasts, crashing against my fragile vessel. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the chaos before plunging me back into darkness.
A massive wave struck, capsizing my boat. I was thrown into the churning waters, my body battered and broken. As I sank deeper, a bolt of lightning struck nearby, searing an image into my mind: Jing Xuan's faint smile.
---
I awoke on the shore, my body aching but miraculously unharmed. The storm had passed, leaving the landscape devastated, my boat lost to the sea.
And then I heard it.
**ROAR!**
The ground trembled beneath me, and I froze. The sound was primal, deep, and filled with a rage I could feel in my bones. From the edge of my vision, I saw a shadow moving through the trees—massive, its form hidden by the dense foliage.
I scrambled to my feet, panic surging through me. No weapon, no plan. The peace I had once sought, the calm that had lulled me into complacency, was shattered.
The shadow moved closer, and its presence was suffocating. Every instinct screamed at me to flee, but my legs refused to obey.
And then, Jing Xuan's voice echoed in my mind, calm yet unyielding:
"Yi Lian, peace is fleeting. Strength is eternal. Stand and fight, or be consumed."
Her words broke through my paralysis, and I shook off the fear that had held me in place. I clenched my fists, my heart pounding with adrenaline. This was it—my trial. The peace I had longed for was not a gift; it was a challenge.
The shadow emerged fully, revealing a beast of unimaginable size, its eyes burning with an otherworldly fire. Its claws tore through the earth as it approached.
I drew in a steadying breath, letting the fear flow out of me. I had
endured the storm, the isolation, the emptiness. I would survive this too.