The head flickered with endless flames, and within the endless flames, two eyes appeared, like two great suns illuminating the sky.
Divine pressure flowed, causing the eternal trembling immortal will to rise. It was the Primordial Vermilion Bird, the true Primordial Vermilion Bird.
Everyone else in the hall knelt on the ground, except Long Chen standing there. The Ancient Vermilion Bird looked down at Long Chen, and Long Chen looked back at the Ancient Vermilion Bird.
Only now did Long Chen understand why he had been repelled earlier. Only those who possess the Vermilion Bird faith can activate the tenth level and summon this Ancient Vermilion Bird.
This Ancient Vermilion Bird is not a physical entity, but a heroic spirit, the Vermilion Bird God worshipped by the Vermilion Bird Empire. As long as the power of faith is undying, the Ancient Vermilion Bird's heroic spirit will endure forever.
"Buzz"
Suddenly, Long Chen saw a faint figure appear above Zhuque's head. The figure was graceful, her hair tied up high—a woman. Although her features were unclear, one could sense her noble and sacred aura, and she must be a peerless beauty.
The woman's figure was extremely blurry, with flames swirling around her, making her extremely mysterious.
"What do you want, senior?" The woman suddenly spoke.
"Senior?"
Long Chen was startled. This ancient Vermilion Bird actually addressed him as 'senior.' For a moment, Long Chen didn't know how to respond.
"I hope you can use the Vermilion Bird's Will to help him attain the Heart." The voice of a dragon clan expert came through. It turned out she wasn't talking to Long Chen at all, but rather having a conversation with a dragon clan expert.
Long Chen was even more shocked. This woman could actually see a powerful dragon clan? And the dragon clan expert seemed to know this woman.
"We will follow your instructions, senior."
The woman bowed, and suddenly, as the entire world trembled, the Ancient Vermilion Bird vanished, and a great door slowly opened.
"Passed, cleared!"
The gate opened, and all the royal disciples present erupted in cheers. After endless trials, they had finally succeeded.
"Long Chen, we've succeeded!" Yu Qingxuan held Long Chen's hand, her pretty face full of excitement.
Long Chen's expression was strange. He felt it might not be that simple, but everyone was excited. He didn't want to dampen the mood and rushed with them toward the main gate.
"Buzz"—
As they rushed through the gate, everything went black. They weren't inside the palace, but in a world where they couldn't see their faces. In that instant, they couldn't see anything, and an invisible sense of fear instantly enveloped their hearts.
"It's the little black room."
Yu Qianxue screamed in terror. That familiar feeling instantly recognized her—they hadn't passed the test, but had entered an even more terrifying trial.
For a moment, everyone was terrified—a fear deep in their souls, an instinct of all life.
Some say there is nothing to fear in darkness; death is what truly scares you; Some also say that darkness is the most terrifying, and death is eternal darkness.
Darkness is like an irresistible hand, slowly taking away everything you have—your life, your loved ones, your love. Yet, facing it, you have no ability to resist and can only watch helplessly as it takes everything from you.
Perhaps darkness itself isn't scary; what's truly frightening is the inability to resist. That feeling is the most devastating, especially for a martial artist. Cultivation is all about protection, and when facing darkness, your protection seems so pale and powerless.
"Take your time, I'll wait for you up ahead."
Just as everyone was filled with terror, Long Chen's calm voice rang out, as confident as ever. This sentence seemed to light a guiding light for everyone, dispelling their fear.
Then they heard Long Chen's footsteps, slowly walking deeper into the area. His steps were firm and persistent, and the sound felt so reassuring.
"Big brother can do it, and I definitely can too. I'll be the vanguard, everyone follow me." Zhu Yifeng gritted his teeth, mustered his courage, and pressed forward through the darkness.
The path was still the same, exactly the same as the previous nine checkpoints. The blue bricks on the steps would guide the way, so you wouldn't go astray.
However, in endless darkness, in endless fear, and under the endless eruption of negative emotions, every step was so difficult.
But only Long Chen was alone. Facing endless darkness, he felt no fear at all; instead, he was filled with a sense of security, strolling leisurely as if in a courtyard, and soon reached the tenth stage of the tenth trial.
Passing through the gate, the darkness ahead grew even deeper, and various sounds appeared—some were crying, some were chuckling, some were shouting, and all sorts of sounds were confusing the mind.
But this sound didn't disturb Long Chen; he was like a passerby, ignoring the sounds from afar or in his ears.
Long Chen knew that the eleventh trial was a further test of human willpower, something Zhu Yifeng and the other royal disciples needed most, and for Long Chen, it was no difficulty at all.
Now that the inner demon was locked away, his mind was clear and fearless. This state might be a terrifying test for them, but it had no effect on Long Chen.
After passing through the eleventh and entering the twelfth stage, in the endless darkness, not only sounds appeared, but all sorts of strange images appeared.
Long Chen could even faintly hear his parents' calls, see scenes of the Fengming Empire, and witness various scenes of war.
Those he had killed appeared again, shouting and demanding his life. Some were crying and begging, begging Long Chen for forgiveness.
Long Chen suddenly stopped in his tracks, quietly watching the scenes. The formation here could actually penetrate his heart, unearthing some of the memories buried in his heart.
A faint smile appeared on Long Chen's face, but tears streaked in his eyes, because he saw the figures of the old man, Qu Jianying, Ling Yunzi, Hu Feng, and the five great emperors.
Before, Long Chen only dared to keep them deep in his memories and didn't dare to look at them. Now, the formation here projected them, and Long Chen was overwhelmed with emotions.
If the inner demon still remains, Long Chen would be at his most dangerous moment. But for now, it's just like watching a memoir.
After an unknown amount of time, Long Chen let out a sigh and continued forward. When he reached the tenth step, another gate appeared ahead.
After passing through this gate, he reached the thirteenth level. Long Chen had a feeling this was the final stage.
When Long Chen arrived at the gate, the door slowly glowing, and the woman appeared again. She was wrapped in flames, her sacred aura surging, illuminating this dark world.
The moment she appeared, all the shadows and voices in the darkness vanished, and the whole world once again appeared in light.
"Senior, you ask me to help you attain the Heart Confirmation, but you are really giving me too much credit. Your mind is clear and pure, flawless and pure, so I don't need to interfere.
But since I've been entrusted by you, senior, I need to ask you some questions. You can't think deeply; you need to answer me immediately. Can you do that?" The woman said.
"May I ask, senior?"
Long Chen took a deep breath, his expression growing serious. He knew that dragon clan powerhouses never act rashlyA single action, done in such a way, must have a deeper meaning.