As the trio crossed one soul bridge after another, the scenes of the Void Domain grew ever more bizarre. Time here seemed to lose all meaning, and every inch of space was suffused with an invisible pressure, as though countless eyes were watching them from the darkness. The Soul Tower, the place symbolizing the Source of Destiny, was drawing ever closer.
"This tower is truly extraordinary," Yan Yao whispered, her eyes flickering with unease.
Xiao Chen gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his brows furrowed. "The Soul Tower isn't just a physical structure. It seems to be intricately connected to the entire fabric of the Void Domain. Every step we take triggers deeper layers, even causing distortions in time and space."
Lei Hao remained calm, but he knew that the closer they got to the top of the tower, the more dangerous the challenges would become. "The Void Domain is not a simple forbidden ground—it's a living world. The rules here are far more complex than we could have imagined. Each layer forces our souls to endure tremendous trials."
The three continued forward, heading toward the towering Soul Tower. It soared into the clouds, its peak seemingly unreachable. Ancient runes flowed like water across the surface of the tower, filled with mysterious power.
"Before entering the Soul Tower, we must prepare ourselves," Lei Hao said, turning to Xiao Chen and Yan Yao. "The trials here are extremely complex and may even invoke our deepest fears and pain. Remember, no matter what happens, do not let your emotions control you."
"I understand," Xiao Chen responded in a deep voice. "Our goal is clear—stop the Black Flame Sect and find the key to the Source of Destiny."
The Trial of the Soul Tower
Finally, the trio arrived at the entrance to the Soul Tower. The door was immense and heavy, adorned with a pitch-black gemstone that emitted a chilling glow. At that moment, the door slowly creaked open, as if some power was guiding them forward.
"Go in," Lei Hao said, his voice tinged with caution.
Without hesitation, Xiao Chen was the first to step through the doorway, followed closely by Yan Yao and Lei Hao. The moment they entered the Soul Tower, they felt a powerful force envelop them. The entire space seemed to compress, and a heavy aura of death hung in the air.
The scene inside the tower was extremely strange. In the endless darkness, a few dim lights flickered to life, and the surrounding space seemed to tear apart, with blurred images and memories flooding in from all directions. These images slammed into Xiao Chen's consciousness, like an army charging toward him.
"This is... the first layer of the trial," Lei Hao's voice grew serious. "This is a test of our minds. Every person who enters this tower must face their past, their fears, and truths they cannot confront."
Xiao Chen furrowed his brows and closed his eyes, trying to force out the memories that invaded his mind. However, deep in his heart, some past events could not be forgotten.
It was a memory he had never spoken of—
He remembered a friend from his youth, named Meng Chen. They had trained together, supporting each other, growing up in the same sect. But one day, Meng Chen suddenly disappeared. Xiao Chen searched desperately but could never find any trace of him. Until one day, he learned by chance that Meng Chen hadn't died by accident—he had been killed by Xiao Chen's own hand.
The news struck him like a thunderbolt, tearing his heart apart. He couldn't understand why Meng Chen would make such a choice, why he would betray their friendship. Xiao Chen had even tried to end everything himself, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to do it.
These past events flooded back, bringing with them an unbearable pain and guilt. Xiao Chen's body trembled, cold sweat beading on his forehead as his mind felt as if it were being crushed by thousands of soldiers.
"Xiao Chen, calm down!" Yan Yao's voice suddenly rang in his ears. "You can't let these past things control you."
Xiao Chen's eyes snapped open, as if waking from a dream. His body felt drained, as if all strength had left him. Yan Yao stood before him, her eyes filled with determination.
"Let go of the past to move forward," Yan Yao said, reaching out and tightly gripping Xiao Chen's hand. "What you face now isn't just your past fears—it's your resolve to fight for the future."
Xiao Chen took a deep breath, gradually regaining his composure. He nodded, his gaze becoming resolute. "Thank you, Yan Yao."
Just then, Lei Hao walked up beside them, gazing ahead. "This is only the beginning. Stronger trials await us. Every layer represents the ascension and tempering of our souls. We cannot stop. The key to the Source of Destiny is hidden here, and only by overcoming all the trials can we reach it."
Xiao Chen knew that Lei Hao spoke the truth. The Soul Tower was not just a single layer; they still had more difficult challenges ahead. But no matter what, he had made up his mind to uncover the truth behind his parents' deaths.
The Crisis Inside the Tower
As they ventured deeper into the Soul Tower, the space inside became increasingly complex. The convoluted corridors and vast labyrinths seemed endless. The three walked for a long time, yet they had not found any clear exit. The entire tower was filled with an eerie silence, as if everything had been frozen in the flow of time.
When they reached the third level of the tower, a strange, eerie whisper suddenly entered their ears. The air around them grew thick, almost suffocating.
"Did you hear that?" Yan Yao furrowed her brow, her eyes alert.
Xiao Chen and Lei Hao nodded silently, their hearts filled with caution. The whisper grew louder, eventually coalescing into a single voice: "Xiao Chen, Yan Yao, Lei Hao, the Source of Destiny will never belong to you..."
Before the voice could finish, the space within the tower suddenly warped violently, and the three immediately sprang into action.
"Prepare for battle," Lei Hao commanded in a low voice, his hands crackling with lightning as he formed a sharp spear.
At that moment, from the rift in space, a group of strange ghosts surged forth. They moved erratically, their eyes glowing blood-red, mouths open as they emitted chilling screeches.
"It seems our trials have only just begun," Xiao Chen tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes sharp. "Let's fight!"
As the eerie whispers echoed, the trio quickly prepared to face the ghosts that were about to appear. As their gazes swept across the surroundings, the atmosphere in the tower grew suffocating. The ghostly beings hovered in midair, their bodies translucent like mist, yet their eyes gleamed with an undeniable, terrifying light.
"Get ready!" Lei Hao shouted, his hand crackling with lightning. In an instant, a bolt of lightning coalesced into a spear and was hurled towards the nearest ghost.
However, the ghosts seemed unfazed by the lightning spear, swiftly scattering and vanishing into the air. Lei Hao's eyes narrowed, a chill running down his spine. "Their speed is far beyond what I expected. These are not ordinary souls."
"What exactly are these?" Yan Yao frowned, gripping her sword tightly as she entered a battle stance.
Xiao Chen focused on the ghosts. They didn't seem to be launching direct attacks but rather circled around the trio, their forms flickering in and out of existence. The whispers grew louder, more grating, as if they were trying to lure them into some invisible labyrinth.
"These ghosts are the 'guardians' of the Soul Tower. Each one is a soul that once entered this tower and failed the trial," Lei Hao explained calmly, aware of the danger. "Their purpose is to lure us into endless heart demons, twisting our minds, ultimately trapping us here forever."
Just as he finished speaking, Xiao Chen suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of pressure coming from all directions. His soul seemed on the verge of being torn apart. In that moment, his mind surged with the events of the past—his parents' deaths, and that painful memory he had buried long ago.
A familiar figure appeared in Xiao Chen's mind—Meng Chen. His face was no longer blurry, but clear, as if standing right before him.
"Do you think you can escape?" Meng Chen's voice rang in Xiao Chen's ears, tinged with mockery. "Do you think that by relentlessly pursuing the truth, you'll achieve anything? Fate has already decided your end."
Xiao Chen's heart lurched, and he almost lost his balance. Meng Chen's figure began to twist and contort, eventually transforming into a terrifying monster that lunged at him.
"Don't be deceived!" Yan Yao shouted from beside him, but Xiao Chen could hear nothing—only the false Meng Chen.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within, and forcefully pulled himself out of the illusion. Xiao Chen gripped his sword tightly, his eyes unwavering as he swiftly slashed through the vision, severing the illusion.
"Meng Chen is no longer the person you knew. He's dead," Xiao Chen breathed, his tone cold. "You are just a fragment of my past, unable to control my future."
When Meng Chen's phantom vanished, Xiao Chen exhaled in relief. The surrounding whispers grew weaker, as though the ghosts lost their power after he overcame his heart demons.
However, the trial was far from over. The remaining ghosts grew more violent. They seemed enraged by Xiao Chen's calm, gathering together in a massive shadow and charging toward the trio.
"We must counterattack immediately, or they will drag us into an even deeper illusion," Lei Hao said in a low voice.
"Alright!" Yan Yao responded, her eyes sharp. She gripped her longsword tightly and charged toward the nearest ghost. Her sword blazed through the air, drawing a brilliant arc as she swept the sword's aura toward her target.
At the same time, Lei Hao unleashed a stronger burst of lightning, his electrical currents weaving into a net that descended upon the ghostly swarm. Their teamwork was flawless, each strike landing with precision, breaking apart the ghosts.
But these ghosts didn't rely on physical form; even after being shattered, their bodies would regenerate, becoming more ferocious.
Xiao Chen gritted his teeth, suddenly struck by an idea. His gaze locked onto the group of ghosts, and a realization hit him.
"Yan Yao, Lei Hao, follow me! We need to use our mental strength to break these ghosts!"
Yan Yao and Lei Hao understood Xiao Chen's intent immediately. They ceased their attacks and focused all their mental energy, forming a powerful psychic barrier. Xiao Chen closed his eyes, linking his soul with theirs. In an instant, the three of them formed an indestructible mental bond.
The oppressive, invisible pressure began to subside under the strength of their collective minds. The ghosts' whispers turned chaotic and confused. Finally, under the force of their powerful mental assault, all the ghosts froze in place, then shattered into fragments and dispersed into the air.
"Finally, it's over," Yan Yao sighed in relief, casting a complicated look at Xiao Chen. "You truly are a born leader, able to make decisions so quickly."
"This was a result of our combined effort," Xiao Chen replied simply, though his gaze shifted toward the depths of the tower. "The real challenge has only just begun."
Lei Hao nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Deeper within the Soul Tower lies a power far more terrifying than these ghosts. We must be cautious."
The Truth of the Soul Tower
As they ventured deeper into the tower, the trio began to realize that the Soul Tower was not merely a place of trials—it was a vast maze, a repository of the souls of countless powerful beings. Each level of the tower not only tested their strength and intelligence but also challenged their mental limits.
The space within the tower grew more complex, twisting like a labyrinth. The trio gradually lost their sense of direction. Just when they were about to become disoriented, a blinding light suddenly shot from the top of the tower, illuminating the surrounding darkness.
"That's..." Lei Hao's eyes narrowed. "We're finally getting close."
No longer hesitating, the three of them joined forces, charging toward the light. The path ahead seemed to clear as if their resolve had made the way visible. The ultimate secret of the Soul Tower was slowly being revealed.
However, just as they were about to reach the summit of the tower, a powerful wave of pressure suddenly descended, shaking the entire tower. From the deepest part of the Soul Tower came a chilling, bone-chilling laugh.