The next morning, Lei Tian stood at the edge of the forest, the pendant warm against his chest. The Void Sovereign's voice had remained silent through the night, leaving him alone with his thoughts. His body still hummed with energy from his first successful meditation, but his mind was burdened with questions. Who had betrayed the Azure Void Clan? Why had the Sovereign's will waited so long to awaken within him?
"Dwelling on the past will not guide you forward," the Sovereign's voice broke the silence, calm and steady. "Today, you begin the true path of cultivation. But first, you must face the trials."
"Trials?" Lei Tian repeated, tightening his grip on the pendant.
"The power of the Void is not freely given," the Sovereign explained. "Each step requires discipline, courage, and the strength to overcome yourself. Are you ready to proceed?"
Lei Tian took a deep breath. Doubts whispered in the back of his mind, but he forced them aside. "I'm ready."
"Good. Step into the circle ahead."
Looking down, Lei Tian saw a faintly glowing ring of runes etched into the earth. He hadn't noticed it before, as if it had materialized out of thin air. He hesitated briefly, then stepped into the circle. The moment his foot crossed the boundary, the world around him blurred and twisted.
When the distortion settled, Lei Tian found himself standing in a vast, desolate plain. The sky above was a swirling mix of black and gray, and the air was heavy with an oppressive stillness. The only feature in the barren landscape was a massive stone tablet standing upright in the distance, its surface covered in glowing symbols.
"What is this place?" he asked, his voice echoing unnaturally.
"This is the Void Trial Ground," the Sovereign's voice echoed in his mind. "Here, you will face the fears, weaknesses, and doubts that hold you back. Only by conquering them can you move forward."
Before Lei Tian could respond, the ground beneath his feet rumbled. Shadows coalesced before him, forming into a humanoid shape. It was a perfect replica of himself, but its eyes glowed crimson, and its expression was one of contempt.
"Who are you?" Lei Tian demanded, his heart pounding.
The shadow smirked. "I am you. The part of you that you refuse to acknowledge. The weakness, the anger, the fear. I am everything you hide from the world."
Lei Tian clenched his fists. "If you're my weakness, then I'll overcome you."
The shadow laughed, a hollow, mocking sound. "Overcome me? You can barely lift a rice basket without collapsing. You've spent your life being ridiculed and pitied. What makes you think you can defeat me?"
The words struck deep, but Lei Tian refused to waver. He had heard those taunts his entire life, and he was tired of letting them define him.
"You're right," he said, his voice steady. "I've been weak. I've been scared. But I'm not running anymore. If I have to fight you to move forward, then so be it."
The shadow's smirk faded, replaced by a cold glare. It lunged at Lei Tian, its movements fluid and precise. Lei Tian barely dodged, the air hissing as the shadow's strike passed inches from his face.
"Focus, Lei Tian," the Sovereign's voice instructed. "Draw upon the Void. Let it guide you."
Lei Tian closed his eyes briefly, centering himself. He reached for the spark of energy within him, the one he had discovered the day before. It flared to life, spreading warmth through his body. When he opened his eyes, they glowed faintly with a pale blue light.
The shadow attacked again, but this time Lei Tian was ready. He moved instinctively, dodging and countering with a speed and precision that surprised even himself. The Void Sovereign's voice echoed in his mind, guiding his movements.
"Your strength means nothing!" the shadow snarled, its attacks growing more desperate. "You're still the same useless boy you've always been!"
Lei Tian gritted his teeth. "No. I'm more than that. I'll prove it."
With a surge of energy, he struck the shadow square in the chest. The impact sent it reeling, its form flickering like a dying flame.
"This isn't over," the shadow hissed, its voice fading as it dissolved into the air.
The plain grew silent once more, and the oppressive weight lifted. Lei Tian fell to his knees, gasping for breath. The stone tablet in the distance began to glow brighter, its symbols shifting and rearranging themselves.
"Well done," the Void Sovereign said. "You have passed the first trial. But this is only the beginning. Greater challenges lie ahead."
Lei Tian stood, his legs trembling but his resolve stronger than ever. He gazed at the glowing tablet, a sense of determination welling up within him. For the first time, he felt that he truly had the power to change his fate.
"What's next?" he asked, his voice steady.
The Void Sovereign chuckled softly. "Patience, young one. Rest and prepare yourself. The path of ascension is long, and you have only just begun."
As the trial ground began to dissolve around him, Lei Tian couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. He was no longer just the outcast of Azure Spring Village. He was a cultivator, a warrior, and the heir to a forgotten legacy. And he would not stop until he had reclaimed it.