The air shifted as Li Feng crossed the threshold of the ancient gate. Immediately, he was engulfed by a deep, eerie silence. The world beyond the stone gate was unlike anything he had encountered before—a cavernous expanse where the walls of the mountain seemed to pulse with a faint, ghostly light. Shadows danced on the stone, moving as if alive, and the air was thick with a presence that pressed against his chest.

Li Feng’s footsteps echoed as he moved cautiously through the darkened passage. The silence felt unnatural, as if the mountain itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Every instinct told him that this was no ordinary path. This was the beginning of the trials Yue had warned him about.

As he ventured deeper into the cavern, he noticed carvings on the walls—ancient symbols like those on the gate, only these were more intricate, weaving a story of battle, sacrifice, and loss. Li Feng’s fingers brushed the cold stone, feeling the weight of the history it contained. The figures depicted in the carvings were warriors, wielding weapons of light and darkness, locked in eternal conflict. At the center of it all were the blossoms—radiant, beautiful, but also destructive.

A sudden gust of wind whipped through the passage, pulling him from his thoughts. The ground beneath him trembled, and from the shadows ahead, a figure emerged.

At first glance, it looked like a man, but as it stepped into the faint light, Li Feng realized it was something far more sinister. Its form was cloaked in shadow, its features indistinct, but its eyes—cold and unfeeling—glowed with an unnatural light. In its hand, it held a sword, the blade shimmering with an eerie black mist.

Li Feng’s grip tightened on his sword. The figure made no sound as it advanced, its movements smooth and deliberate. This was no ordinary opponent; it was a manifestation of the mountain’s will, a trial designed to test him.

Without warning, the shadowed figure lunged, its blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Li Feng barely had time to parry, the force of the impact reverberating through his arm. The weight of the shadow’s blow was far greater than any he had faced before, as if the mountain itself was bearing down on him.

The battle was swift and brutal. The shadow’s movements were fluid, its attacks relentless. But Li Feng held his ground, each strike of his sword met with calculated precision. His mind raced, searching for any opening, any weakness in the shadow’s defense. Yet, no matter how fiercely he fought, the shadow seemed unfazed, as if it was merely testing his resolve, waiting for him to falter.

Suddenly, the shadow flickered, its form distorting for a brief moment. Li Feng seized the opportunity, driving his sword forward with all his strength. The blade cut through the shadow’s chest, and for a moment, the cavern was filled with an eerie silence.

Then, with a low, mournful hiss, the shadow dissolved into nothingness, leaving Li Feng standing alone in the dim light.

He took a deep breath, his chest heaving. The first trial had ended, but he knew this was only the beginning. The mountain was far from finished with him.

As he continued deeper into the passage, the atmosphere grew even more oppressive. The walls seemed to close in, and the shadows that danced on the stone moved with greater intensity. Li Feng could feel the weight of unseen eyes watching him, judging his every step.

The passage eventually opened into a vast chamber, its ceiling stretching high above. At its center was a large stone pedestal, and atop it lay a single blossom. Its petals glowed softly, casting a pale light over the chamber. The sight of it sent a shiver down Li Feng’s spine. This was one of the legendary blossoms he had sought for so long.

But as he stepped closer, the ground beneath him began to shake. From the shadows at the edges of the chamber, more figures emerged—warriors made of stone, their faces twisted in grimaces of pain and anger. Their weapons, though ancient and worn, gleamed with a dangerous light.

Li Feng cursed under his breath. Another trial.

The stone warriors moved in unison, their footsteps echoing like thunder in the vast chamber. They closed in quickly, giving Li Feng no time to think. With a shout, he charged forward, his sword flashing in the dim light as he met the first warrior head-on.

Their weapons clashed with a deafening sound, and Li Feng gritted his teeth against the force of the blow. These warriors were slower than the shadowed figure, but their strength was overwhelming. Each strike sent shockwaves through his body, and it took all his skill to stay on his feet.

One by one, the stone warriors attacked, their movements methodical and unrelenting. Li Feng dodged and parried, his sword a blur as he fought to keep them at bay. But with each passing moment, the weight of the battle pressed harder on him, and his strength began to wane.

Just as he thought he might be overwhelmed, a familiar voice echoed through the chamber.

“Focus on the light within.”

Li Feng froze for a split second, his heart pounding. It was Yue’s voice, clear and calm, though she was nowhere to be seen.

Without fully understanding why, Li Feng closed his eyes, focusing inward. He remembered the vision of the battle between the two warriors, how their weapons glowed with power. He took a deep breath, centering himself, and as he opened his eyes, he felt a surge of energy course through him.

His sword began to glow, faintly at first, then brighter, until it matched the light of the blossoms. With renewed strength, he swung his blade, and this time, the stone warriors crumbled before him, their forms shattering like fragile statues.

The chamber fell silent once more.

Li Feng lowered his sword, his chest heaving. The second trial had ended.

The blossom on the pedestal still glowed softly, undisturbed by the battle that had taken place around it. As Li Feng approached, he reached out cautiously, his fingers trembling as they brushed against the delicate petals.

The moment his skin touched the blossom, a wave of energy surged through him, filling his mind with visions—of the past, of the mountain, of the warriors who had fought and fallen before him. And at the center of it all was Mei, her face pale and distant, her eyes locked on the same blossom he now held in his hand.

He knew what he had to do. The trials were far from over, but he was one step closer to finding her.