The Jade Conclave Market was now a memory, but its aftermath rippled through Jiang Chen's mind as he and Lei Qian made their way toward the outskirts of Skyreach Haven. The fragment he had seized pulsed faintly within his storage ring, a silent reminder of the volatile power it contained. Lei Qian's expression was grim, his usual levity absent. The Phoenix Sect, the Crimson Tide—the threads of conflict were weaving into a web around them, and Jiang Chen knew they couldn't remain passive.
The narrow streets gave way to a dense forest as they ventured farther from the city. The air here was thick with spiritual energy, the trees towering like ancient sentinels. Lei Qian broke the silence, his voice low.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Jiang Chen. Feng Ruyan isn't one to let things slide."
Jiang Chen's gaze remained forward. "If she wants revenge, she'll have to get in line. I've dealt with worse."
Lei Qian shook his head. "This isn't about bravado. The Phoenix Sect's reach is vast, and their methods… let's just say they won't confront you directly if they can help it. Subtlety is their weapon."
Jiang Chen smirked. "Then it's a good thing I'm no stranger to shadows myself."
A New Faction
As they traveled deeper into the forest, a faint hum reached their ears. It was rhythmic, almost like a chant, carried on the wind. Jiang Chen's steps slowed as he focused on the sound. Lei Qian frowned.
"That's… strange," he muttered. "This area is supposed to be unclaimed territory."
Jiang Chen motioned for silence, his senses sharpening. The hum grew louder, guiding them to a clearing where a group of cultivators knelt in a circle. At the center stood a monolith, its surface etched with glowing runes that pulsed in time with the chant. The cultivators were clad in simple gray robes, their faces obscured by hoods.
"A ritual," Jiang Chen whispered. "But for what?"
Lei Qian's hand went to his weapon. "We should leave. These kinds of gatherings rarely end well for intruders."
Jiang Chen's curiosity burned brighter. "Or we could see what they're up to. Knowledge is power, isn't it?"
Before Lei Qian could protest, the chanting stopped. The hooded figures rose in unison, their movements eerily synchronized. One of them turned, revealing a face marked with intricate tattoos that seemed to shift and writhe under the moonlight.
"Travelers," the figure said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "You tread upon sacred ground. State your purpose."
Jiang Chen stepped forward, his expression calm. "We're merely passing through. But your ritual caught our attention."
The figure's eyes narrowed. "Curiosity can be a double-edged blade. This ritual is not for the uninitiated."
"And who might you be?" Jiang Chen asked, his tone unyielding.
The cultivator hesitated before answering. "We are the Obsidian Veil, seekers of the Forgotten Truths. If you wish to know more, you must prove your worth."
Jiang Chen exchanged a glance with Lei Qian, who looked less than enthusiastic. "Prove our worth how?" Jiang Chen pressed.
The figure gestured toward the monolith. "Step into the circle. Let the Veil judge your spirit."
Trial of the Veil
Jiang Chen's instincts warned him of the danger, but he stepped forward without hesitation. This was a gamble, but one he was willing to take. The hooded cultivators parted, allowing him to enter the circle. As he approached the monolith, its runes flared brighter, casting an eerie light.
"What are you doing?" Lei Qian hissed from the edge of the clearing. "This could be a trap!"
Jiang Chen didn't respond. His hand touched the monolith, and the world shifted.
A surge of energy engulfed him, pulling him into a void. Darkness surrounded him, broken only by faint glimmers of light that danced like fireflies. Voices echoed in the void, indistinct and overlapping.
"Who are you?" a voice demanded, resonating through the emptiness.
"Jiang Chen," he answered, his voice steady. "A seeker of my own fate."
The lights converged, forming a figure cloaked in shadow. Its presence was oppressive, its gaze piercing.
"Fate is a chain," the figure said. "To claim it is to break it. Show me your strength."
The void shifted again, and Jiang Chen found himself on a battlefield. Opponents emerged from the shadows, each one wielding a weapon infused with the essence of the void. They attacked without hesitation.
Jiang Chen summoned the Heavenly Serpent's Core, its radiant energy clashing with the void's darkness. He moved with precision, his strikes calculated. Each opponent fell, their forms dissolving into mist. But the challenges grew fiercer, the void testing not just his strength but his resolve.
Emerging Unscathed
When the final opponent fell, the battlefield dissolved, and Jiang Chen stood once more before the shadowy figure.
"You are unyielding," the figure said. "But the path you walk is fraught with peril. Will you endure?"
Jiang Chen met its gaze. "I will."
The figure nodded, and the void shattered. Jiang Chen blinked, finding himself back in the clearing. The hooded cultivators regarded him with newfound respect.
"You have been judged worthy," their leader said. "The Forgotten Truths may yet reveal themselves to you. But be warned: knowledge comes at a price."
Jiang Chen stepped out of the circle, his mind racing with possibilities. The fragment in his storage ring seemed to pulse more intensely, as if reacting to the trial.
Lei Qian approached, his expression a mix of relief and exasperation. "You're insane, you know that?"
Jiang Chen smirked. "Perhaps. But fortune favors the bold, doesn't it?"
As they left the clearing, the weight of the trial lingered in Jiang Chen's thoughts. The Obsidian Veil had offered him a glimpse of something greater, and he intended to uncover the Forgotten Truths—no matter the cost.