The darkness swallowed everything, distorting the space and solidifying the air. Lin Tian felt as if he was floating in an endless void, unable to touch anything. All that remained was the sound of his heartbeat and the growing sense of fear.
"Is this the third trial?" Lin Tian whispered, his voice echoing in the darkness, but receiving no response.
Zidian's figure remained close, but her voice seemed to be swallowed by the darkness as well. "Can you feel it? This is not just the distortion of space; it's the disturbance of the mind. We are in a labyrinth of nothingness."
Lin Tian tightly gripped the sword in his hand, and his spiritual energy automatically began to flow, trying to break the oppressive feeling, but every strike seemed to vanish, as if falling into a bottomless abyss. A sense of unease gripped him. "Is this an illusion? Or is it...?"
Suddenly, the surrounding darkness began to faintly glow. Distant lights seemed to float, flickering like stars in the void. Lin Tian instinctively moved toward the lights, but every time he took a few steps, the lights would disappear and reappear ahead of him.
He realized that this was not just simple guidance, but a test of his mind. Every light he perceived could be a reflection of his deepest fears and desires.
"Don't be attracted to those lights," Zidian's voice warned. "They do not represent the truth; they are temptations, trying to lead you astray."
"Temptations..." Lin Tian murmured, growing more alert. "So, what exactly does this trial want me to face?"
Just then, a deep, cold, and evil laugh echoed from the darkness. Lin Tian spun around, but saw nothing.
"Who are you?" Lin Tian's voice grew more serious. He knew this trial was not just about the distortion of space—it was perhaps a challenge to his very soul.
The laugh sounded again, as though coming from all directions. "Do you think this is just a trial? No, it is a test of your innermost self. Only by facing your fears will you be able to break through."
A flash of realization crossed Lin Tian's eyes. He understood that the true enemy was not an external presence, but himself. Perhaps it was his past, or perhaps his endless fear of the future.
"I understand now," Lin Tian took a deep breath, raising his sword high. The blade glowed with a faint blue light. "If this is a trial of the mind, then I will face my deepest fears."
Suddenly, a blurry figure appeared before him. It gradually became clearer, and to his shock, it was himself.
"You?" Lin Tian froze. The figure before him was a pale version of himself, with hollow eyes, as if a completely different version of him.
"Yes, it is I," the figure spoke, its voice cold and lifeless. "What you have feared is standing right before you. You fear failure. You fear admitting your own weakness. You've always been running away, running from your true self."
Lin Tian's heart trembled. The figure before him was a manifestation of his own fears and insecurities—an embodiment of his inner turmoil.
"I have never run away," Lin Tian replied coldly. "I have only been seeking strength to protect everything I hold dear."
"You are deceiving yourself," the image scoffed. "The strength you seek is merely the fear of failure. You fear loss. You fear facing a fate beyond your control. You refuse to confront your true self; you are just running away."
"You are right." Lin Tian closed his eyes, remaining silent for a moment. Then, with determination in his eyes, he spoke, "I once feared, but I never ran away. I have always pursued strength, but I no longer feel ashamed of my past. The past me is not the person I am today. The person I am now is no longer the weak boy you see."
Lin Tian opened his eyes, facing the image of himself. The fear no longer held him back. Slowly, he raised his sword, pointing it at the "self" before him.
"You are nothing more than the fear within me, a manifestation of my fear of failure. I will surpass my past, I will surpass you."
A flash of surprise appeared in the image's eyes before it slowly disappeared. Lin Tian felt a heavy burden lift from his heart. The darkness around him seemed to dissipate in an instant. The lights ahead grew brighter, and a path leading into the unknown extended before him.
"You did it," Zidian's voice sounded in his ear. "You've conquered your own mind. Now, it's time to face the true enemy."
Lin Tian took a deep breath, a strong sense of belief rising within him. "If this is the final test of the trial, then I will pass it."
Just as he was about to move forward, a sudden tremor ran through the space. The entire world twisted again. Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat as the scene before him shifted violently. Then, he heard a familiar voice calling his name.
"Lin Tian..."
He turned sharply, and a familiar figure emerged from the darkness—a woman, her face delicate and elegant, her eyes gleaming with a deep and mysterious light.
"Who are you?" Lin Tian furrowed his brows, an indescribable feeling rising in his chest.
The woman smiled faintly and stepped closer. "I'm here, Lin Tian. I am your future companion."
Lin Tian's heart suddenly jolted. That voice, that presence—it seemed to trigger a deep memory within him.