The woman stood at a distance, her gaze deep and cold, as if everything was under her control. Although Lin Tian and Zidian were shocked by her sudden appearance, their more immediate response was vigilance. This woman was clearly extraordinary, and her aura carried a mysterious power, seemingly intertwined with the entire environment of the Black Dragon Mountain trial.
"You... who are you?" Lin Tian was the first to speak, his tone calm but tinged with caution. "Why are you here? Are you also a participant in this trial?"
The woman smiled coldly, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes. "You think this trial is only about the 'Eternal Night Pearl'? No, I'm here to find someone." She paused, her gaze locking onto Lin Tian, her voice deep. "And you... are just a part of my plan."
"Find someone?" Zidian's eyes flashed with confusion. "What are you talking about? We have nothing to do with you."
The woman's smile grew even colder. "Do you know? The 'Eternal Night Pearl' is not just a pearl. It hides a secret capable of changing the structure of the Three Realms. And you, you are part of that secret."
Lin Tian furrowed his brows, his mind racing. "Change the structure of the Three Realms? So the true power of this pearl isn't just about controlling the Black Dragon Mountain?" He tried to glean more information from her words.
"If I were you, I'd give up the trial and return to your world," the woman said calmly, her voice devoid of exaggeration, yet carrying an unsettling calm that concealed a deep, unfathomable terror. "The power of the 'Eternal Night Pearl' exceeds anything you can imagine."
"Easy for you to say." Zidian retorted, unwilling to back down. "Since we've already started this path, how can we back out now? We don't seek power, we only wish to find the pearl."
The woman glanced at Zidian. "Your ignorance is disappointing," she said, pausing as if making a decision. She slowly stepped forward. "Since you insist, I'll give you some advice. If you can pass my test, I will tell you more secrets about the 'Eternal Night Pearl.' Otherwise, not even a shard of it will be yours."
Lin Tian narrowed his eyes, a strong sense of alert rising within him. "Who exactly are you? How do you know all this?"
The woman didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the depths of the Black Dragon Mountain. Her eyes seemed to pierce through layers of obstacles, focusing on some distant, unknown place.
"You may have already sensed it," she said suddenly, turning to face them, her gaze sharp as a blade. "The third trial is about to begin." She continued, her voice cool, "This trial is not just a battle with the black dragons. You will face not only physical tests but also challenges to your mind and will. Behind this trial lies the true enemy."
Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat. "Enemy? What do you mean? Who is our enemy?"
The woman's eyes darkened briefly, and she sighed. "Don't you understand? Your enemy is not someone else. It's you."
These words struck Lin Tian and Zidian like a thunderbolt. The enemy... was themselves? What did that mean?
Seeing their silence, the woman continued, "Your true enemy lies within—your own fears and desires. The Black Dragon Mountain trial tests your deepest fears and greed. Only by overcoming these can you reach the 'Eternal Night Pearl.'" She paused, her gaze sharpening as it locked onto Lin Tian. "And you, you are destined to be extraordinary."
Lin Tian's brow furrowed, unease swelling within him. "My enemy is myself? Is this trial really just about forcing me to face my own heart?"
Zidian looked at the woman, her expression complex. "You make it sound easy. Facing our own fears and desires is no simple feat. And what about this 'enemy'? How will it manifest?"
The woman smiled faintly, as though she had already seen everything unfold. "You're already caught in the vortex of the trial. Everything will reveal itself soon. Remember, only by facing the darkest parts of your heart can you break through."
As her words echoed in their ears, her figure began to blur, as though being swallowed by the darkness. The weight of her words lingered in the air, slowly pressing down on Lin Tian and Zidian.
"Who exactly is she? How does she know so much about the 'Eternal Night Pearl'?" Lin Tian stared at the place where she had vanished, his mind filled with doubts.
Zidian, too, fell into deep thought. "She seems to be some higher being. Perhaps she's the mastermind behind this trial."
At that moment, the surrounding darkness thickened, and an unprecedented sense of pressure enveloped them. Lin Tian took a deep breath, gripping his sword tightly, his spiritual energy surging, preparing for whatever challenge awaited.
"The third trial... begins." A deep voice echoed from all directions, as if from the deepest parts of the Black Dragon Mountain.
In an instant, Lin Tian felt a wave of dizziness, and the space around him began to twist. The scenery in front of him grew blurry.
"Come on. Whatever it is, I'm ready," Lin Tian whispered to himself.
At that moment, Zidian suddenly whispered, "Remember, I'm always by your side. We'll face this together."
As Zidian's words fell, the distortion of space reached its peak, and Lin Tian and Zidian were swallowed into an entirely new environment.
It was a suffocating world of darkness. All light had been consumed, leaving nothing but an endless black void.
Lin Tian's heart raced, and it felt as if he could hear the voice from deep within himself. In this endless darkness, a strong sense of fear suddenly overwhelmed him—he knew the third trial had truly begun.