The silence in the darkness was like an invisible net, tightly enclosing Chen Shanyi. The light slowly faded away, replaced by a heavy, oppressive power, as though she had entered another dimension. She tried to open her eyes, but found herself unable to move. It felt as if her body was bound within an invisible space, surrounded by endless void.
At that moment, she heard a deep voice echoing in her ears. It seemed to come from an endless abyss, or perhaps from some place deep within her own heart. The voice was distant and mysterious, carrying an unfathomable power: "Chen Shanyi, you have stepped to the edge of fate. Everything that comes next will be for you to choose."
Her heart sank, as if some irresistible force was pressing against her chest, making it hard to breathe. At this moment, fear and confusion intertwined, nearly suffocating her. Yet, she did not stop thinking. Her father's last words, the mysterious man's warnings—everything seemed to point toward a world she had never seen before. She knew she could no longer turn back.
"How should I choose?" she asked softly, her voice echoing through the boundless void.
The deep voice sounded again, carrying an inexplicable sense of pressure: "You must undergo a trial to uncover the secrets of your father. The nature of the trial will vary from person to person. If you succeed, you will gain more power and get closer to the truth; if you fail, you will be trapped here forever, unable to escape."
A violent storm surged inside Chen Shanyi's heart. A trial? What did that mean? Her mind raced with countless possibilities—was it a test of her spirit, body, or intellect? Each trial would determine whether she could continue her journey, even decide whether she could uncover her father's secrets.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew there was no choice. If she failed the trial, she would never escape this fog. But if she succeeded, all the answers would be revealed before her.
"Let it begin." She whispered, her gaze firm.
The moment her words finished, the entire void trembled. The ground cracked open, and strange lights began to appear in the surrounding darkness, like countless stars twinkling in the night sky. Chen Shanyi's heart raced as the scene before her became blurry, feeling as if she were being pulled into a strange place.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, lifting her long hair. The darkness behind her was replaced by a radiant halo of light, and the surroundings gradually became clearer. She opened her eyes wide and found herself standing in a massive, ancient hall. In the center of the hall was an intricately carved altar, surrounded by countless stone pillars, each engraved with complex runes.
Her gaze was drawn to something on the altar. It was a huge stone tablet, its surface covered in strange characters, like an ancient language that was almost impossible to decipher. Above the stone tablet was a gem embedded in the structure, glowing with a mysterious light that emitted a powerful attraction.
Unconsciously, Chen Shanyi walked toward the altar, her heartbeat quickening. She knew this stone tablet had to be related to the trial. She reached out and gently touched it. Immediately, a powerful force surged from the stone tablet, making the entire hall tremble. A wave of dizziness overwhelmed her, and the scene before her shifted again.
She was surrounded by a burst of light, and in the next moment, the entire world vanished. Her body seemed to be propelled by an invisible force, spinning rapidly, as if she were sucked into a vortex. The surroundings became a blur. She felt as though she had lost all control, unable to understand where she was.
After a moment, everything returned to stillness. When she opened her eyes again, the scene before her stunned her. She was standing in the middle of a desolate wilderness, surrounded by a vast, barren plain. The sky was heavy and dark, and the clouds were thick. In the distance, she could faintly make out a few broken buildings, overgrown with weeds, and the wind was filled with sand and dust.
"What is this place?" she murmured, her heart filled with confusion.
"This is your first trial ground," the deep voice echoed in her ear once more. "You must cross this wasteland to reach the next stage of your trial. You will face endless challenges, and whether you can escape this wasteland depends on your wisdom and courage."
Chen Shanyi's heart raced with tension, but she didn't stop moving. She knew this was just the first stage. She looked around, trying to find a way out. Suddenly, a low, mournful howl echoed from the distance, filled with anguish and threat. Startled, she turned to look, and saw a giant shadowy beast emerging from the overgrown grass. Its massive form was illuminated by a hungry gleam in its eyes.
Chen Shanyi's heart raced faster, and without hesitation, she turned and ran toward a nearby abandoned building. She knew this was just the beginning—the true challenge was only just starting.
Her fate had already been sealed. There was no turning back. She had to keep moving forward.