CHAPTER 37 — TRIAL OF RESONANCE
The moment the Keeper's words faded, the world fractured.
Jason Wu barely had time to blink before the altar beneath them split like glass. Golden shards transformed into spiraling blades of light, swirling around him as if he were the core of a storm.
Leon screamed, "JASON IS THE TARGET AGAIN?! WHY IS IT ALWAYS HIM?!"
Longwu Sword muttered,
["Because the boy's blood causes more trouble than three sect wars combined."]
Lan Yuren and Wei Qing leapt backward as the storm locked Jason in a circular arena of energy. A transparent barrier rose around him, cutting him off from the others.
Wei Qing's palms slammed the barrier. "Jason! We can't get in!"
Jason tightened his grip on Longwu. "It's fine! I'll handle—"
Before he could finish, the air distorted.
The Keeper raised a hand.
**"The Trial begins. Identity: Wu lineage.
Subject: Jason Wu.
Purpose: Awakening."**
Jason gulped. "Awakening? That doesn't sound ominous at all."
Leon cupped his hands to shout, "DON'T DIE!"
"Thanks for the encouragement!"
---
### THE FIRST PHANTOM
A humanoid shape formed from the swirling shards—tall, lean, carrying a sword made entirely of golden resonance energy. Its mask bore the same jagged crack as the Keeper's visor.
Jason stepped back. "A projection?"
Longwu replied,
["A Phantom of Lineage. It mimics techniques your ancestors once used. Try not to embarrass them."]
Jason snorted. "I'll try."
The Phantom attacked.
*Fast.*
Unbelievably fast.
Jason barely raised Longwu Sword in time. Sparks scattered across the barrier. The Phantom's movements were precise—cold—calculated.
Lan Yuren muttered from outside, "It moves like a perfect swordsman…"
Wei Qing added, "No wasted motion. No breath. No hesitation."
Jason parried another strike—and felt his arm numb.
"Holy—its power is insane!"
Longwu corrected him,
["Moderate. If your ancestor Wu Tianfeng were here, he'd beat this phantom with a wooden spoon."]
Jason stumbled from the next blow. "Can we NOT compare me to ancient monsters right now?!"
He ducked a slash, rolled forward, and countered with a rising strike.
The Phantom deflected it with one hand.
Jason stared. "…I suddenly miss fighting assassins."
Leon shouted, "JASON! TRY COMPLAINING MORE! MAYBE IT'S WEAK TO SARCASM!"
Jason ignored him, circling the Phantom.
---
### REMEMBER THE FOUNDATION
The Phantom's golden sword hummed, then split into multiple projections. Three illusory blades lunged for Jason at once.
Jason exhaled sharply. *Think.*
Master Fu's voice echoed in his memory from Chapter 3:
*"Technique without breath is dead.
Technique with breath becomes life."*
Jason grounded his stance.
Breathed in.
Centered.
Then he moved.
Longwu Sword erupted in a clean arc—fluid, calm, controlled.
The illusory blades shattered.
Lan Yuren's eyes widened. "That was… perfect form."
Wei Qing whispered, "His fundamentals… he refined them again."
Jason stepped forward with sudden confidence and slashed.
For the first time—the Phantom staggered.
Longwu hummed approvingly,
["Good. You remembered the basics. Now stop letting the phantom bully you."]
Jason grinned. "With pleasure."
---
### THE SECOND PHANTOM — BEAST OF MIGHT
Before he could celebrate, the arena pulsed.
Golden shards fused again—this time forming a hulking beast with four arms, tusks, and a massive frame of stone-like resonance.
Leon squeaked, "WHY IS IT BIGGER?! WHY?!"
Lan Yuren muttered, "Each stage likely tests a different aspect…"
Wei Qing finished, "Strength."
Jason's jaw dropped as the creature roared so loud the barrier shook.
Longwu's voice turned grave,
["Jason. Do NOT block head-on."]
Jason dodged as the beast slammed its fists down—cracking the stone beneath him.
"That thing hits like a mountain!"
Leon yelled, "RUN! RUN FASTER!"
Jason ran—but the beast was faster than expected. It swung a massive arm sideways—
*CRASH!*
Jason flew back, smashing into the barrier. His lungs screamed. Vision blurred.
Wei Qing shouted, "Jason!"
Lan Yuren slammed his sword against the barrier—cracks formed, but the barrier held.
Jason coughed blood. "Okay… that hurt."
Longwu sighed,
["This is why I tell you to wear armor, but nooo—'it's heavy, it slows me down.' Look at you now."]
Jason groaned, "Longwu… please… shut up."
The beast charged again.
Jason rolled aside, panting. *I need an opening…*
He remembered something—
The technique Pavilion Master Xueyin showed during the father-in-law test.
*Palm Compression Burst.*
Jason focused his qi into his left hand—too much, too fast, almost unstable.
Lan Yuren's eyes widened. "Jason, that's—"
He thrust his hand forward.
*BOOOOM!!*
Compressed energy exploded point-blank, launching the massive beast backward.
Leon shouted, "WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?!"
Jason swayed. "I think… I made my father-in-law proud… or horrified…"
The beast roared again—but now it limped. Its chest was cracked.
Jason gripped Longwu and leapt.
"THIS ENDS HERE!"
He slashed downward—
The beast shattered into golden dust.
---
### THE FINAL TEST — A MIRROR OF BLOOD
The arena went still.
Jason breathed heavily. "Is it… over?"
Longwu whispered,
["No. The Trial of Resonance has three stages. You passed strength and technique."]
Jason frowned. "Then the last is…?"
The Keeper spoke:
**"Identity."**
The shards rose again—slowly, deliberately—until they shaped a human figure.
Jason's heart froze.
It was him.
Same face.
Same stance.
Same Longwu Sword.
Leon gasped. "BRO—THAT'S JUST YOU!"
Wei Qing whispered, "A test of spirit."
Lan Yuren murmured, "He must defeat his own flaws."
Jason stared at his mirrored self.
The Phantom Jason lifted its sword—calm, perfect, emotionless.
Jason trembled.
Longwu spoke gently for once,
["Jason Wu… this one is different. It moves with your potential.
Your mistakes.
Your fears.
Your future."]
Jason clenched his fists.
The mirrored version spoke in his own voice:
**"You are not worthy of the Wu name."**
Jason's breath hitched.
His mirror continued:
**"You hesitate. You doubt. You pretend to be strong while fearing you'll fail everyone who believes in you."**
Jason stepped back.
Wei Qing shouted, "Jason don't listen—!"
But he already heard it.
Leon yelled, "Hit him first! Philosophical enemies are always the worst!"
Jason whispered, "Why… why does it know everything?"
Longwu replied softly,
["Because it is you."]
The mirrored Jason pointed its sword at him.
**"Defeat me—
or remain broken."**
Jason exhaled.
Then smiled.
"Fine.
Let's see which Jason Wu is the real one."
He raised Longwu Sword.
The final battle began.
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To All my lovely readers: just for now, i will hold a moment to publish next chapter and it's just a temporary for 1 or 2 days for next update, because i'm waiting my authorization and contract letter from webtoon. i hope all of you will forgive me for this situation. stay tuned guys! thankyou and i'm so sorry. but one thing that i can promise you, Story of Jasson Wu will continue till finish.
#alittleleakfromme: This novel will be a trilogy and very fun + suspenseful!