The deeper they went…
…the quieter the world became.
Even the wind had disappeared.
Yan Fu stood atop Vorath's back, his gaze fixed ahead as the surroundings of the Forest of Yin and Yang began to change drastically.
The towering trees twisted unnaturally.
Their trunks bent in impossible directions, as if shaped by unseen forces.
The ground beneath them shifted colors—
From deep green…
To pale white…
To pitch black.
"This place…" Vorath muttered, his voice low.
"…is not natural."
Aetherion walked beside them, his hooves leaving faint traces of light with every step.
"It's a convergence point," he said calmly.
"Yin and Yang energies are colliding here."
Tianlong circled above, but even he wasn't as carefree as before.
"Something's interfering with my senses."
Yan Fu narrowed his eyes.
"That means we're close."
After another hour—
They stopped.
Before them stood something unexpected.
A massive invisible barrier.
It shimmered faintly, distorting the space behind it.
Beyond the barrier—
Nothing could be seen clearly.
Only fragments.
Broken land.
Floating rocks.
A sky that flickered between light and darkness.
Vorath growled softly.
"I don't like this."
Yan Fu stepped down.
"This… must be it."
The system's voice appeared.
---
[Detected: Forbidden Domain]
[Warning: Extreme Risk Area]
[Target: Final Guardian Presence Confirmed]
---
Yan Fu exhaled slowly.
"Of course it's dangerous…"
He stepped forward.
The moment his hand touched the barrier—
CRACK
A ripple spread outward.
Then—
The barrier opened.
---
Inside the Domain
The moment they entered—
Everything changed.
Gravity felt unstable.
The ground beneath them cracked with every step.
Fragments of stone floated in the air.
The sky above…
was split in half.
One side burned with golden light.
The other drowned in endless darkness.
"This is insane…" Tianlong muttered.
Even Vorath's expression turned serious.
"This isn't just a beast's territory…"
"…this is a domain."
Aetherion nodded.
"A domain formed by absolute power."
Yan Fu walked forward slowly.
His senses were fully alert.
Every instinct told him—
This place could kill him.
---
The First Trial
Suddenly—
The ground shifted.
A wave of energy surged toward them.
Without warning—
Illusions appeared.
Countless figures surrounded Yan Fu.
Enemies.
Strangers.
Even—
Himself.
Each one carried a different aura.
Different power.
Different expression.
"What is this?" Vorath growled.
The system responded.
---
[Trial Initiated: Trial of Mind]
[Objective: Identify the True Path]
---
Yan Fu's eyes sharpened.
"So this isn't about strength…"
The illusions moved.
Each version of Yan Fu stepped forward.
One spoke.
"You don't belong here."
Another—
"You're not strong enough."
Another—
"This power isn't yours."
The voices overlapped.
Endless.
Relentless.
Even the guardian beasts couldn't interfere.
"This trial is his alone," Aetherion said quietly.
---
The Test of Will
Yan Fu closed his eyes.
For a moment—
He didn't move.
The voices grew louder.
Sharper.
Trying to break his focus.
"You're just lucky."
"You rely on the system."
"You're not worthy of leading a sect."
Then—
He opened his eyes.
Silence.
His gaze turned cold.
"Are you done?"
The illusions froze.
Yan Fu stepped forward.
"I know what I am."
His voice was calm.
Steady.
"I was weak."
"I was lost."
"But that doesn't matter."
His aura began to rise.
"What matters…"
"…is what I choose to become."
The illusions shattered instantly.
---
The Second Trial
The moment the illusions disappeared—
The domain shifted again.
This time—
Pressure.
Overwhelming.
Crushing.
The sky darkened completely.
The ground trembled violently.
Yan Fu dropped to one knee.
"Ghh—!"
Even Vorath struggled.
"This pressure…!"
Tianlong crashed to the ground.
Aetherion's light flickered.
The system appeared again.
---
[Trial of Strength Initiated]
[Endure or Collapse]
---
Yan Fu clenched his teeth.
His body screamed.
Every bone felt like it was breaking.
But—
He didn't fall.
"Guardian Resonance…"
The connection activated.
This time—
Stronger.
More stable.
The combined power surged through him.
He stood up.
Slowly.
Step by step.
Against the pressure.
Against the domain itself.
---
The Awakening
Then—
It appeared.
At the center of the domain—
A figure.
Massive.
Floating.
Its form constantly shifting—
Between light and darkness.
Between creation and destruction.
Its voice echoed.
"You… passed."
The pressure vanished instantly.
Silence returned.
Yan Fu exhaled heavily.
"That… must be the third guardian."
The being descended slowly.
Its presence—
Far beyond Vorath.
Far beyond Aetherion.
Even Tianlong remained silent.
"This is…" Vorath whispered.
"…on a completely different level."
---
The Third Guardian Revealed
The being finally took a stable form.
A humanoid figure—
Yet not human.
Its body was split—
Half radiant white.
Half abyssal black.
Its eyes held both warmth…
…and destruction.
"I am…"
It paused.
"Eclipse Sovereign."
The name alone shook the air.
Yan Fu stared at it.
"You're the final guardian."
The being tilted its head slightly.
"Perhaps."
Its gaze pierced through him.
"You seek power."
"But power comes with a cost."
Yan Fu didn't hesitate.
"I'm ready."
The Eclipse Sovereign smiled faintly.
"Everyone says that."
Then—
Its aura exploded.
The domain trembled again.
"Prove it."
---
Final Trial Begins
The ground beneath Yan Fu shattered.
The sky collapsed.
Light and darkness collided violently.
The Eclipse Sovereign raised its hand.
"This is your final trial."
"Not of strength."
"Not of mind."
"But of…"
Its eyes glowed.
"Balance."
Yan Fu tightened his grip on his staff.
"Then come."
For the first time—
He charged forward.
And the battle began.
---
Final Scene
Outside the domain—
The forest trembled.
Energy surged outward in waves.
Even far away—
At Ji Xia Sect—
Zhao Tian looked toward the horizon.
"…What is that?"
Li Fei felt it too.
"That… is Master's aura…"
He clenched his fists.
"…and something else."
Something far greater.
Something ancient.
Something that could change everything.
And deep within the domain—
Yan Fu stood before his greatest challenge yet.
Not just to gain power.
But to prove—
He was worthy of it.