Sacred Source Trial

Dawn in the Sacred Source Land was far more resplendent than on the Open Source Continent. Ning Xiaochuan stood at the top of the Sacred Source Tower, watching the extraordinary sight of two suns rising over the horizon at once. The violet-red sky was dyed gold and crimson, while the clouds burned like flames, casting the entire white city in a magnificent halo.

"Daydreaming again?" Su Linger's voice came from behind him, fresh as morning dew.

Ning Xiaochuan turned and saw that she had changed into the Sacred Source Land's specially tailored white training attire. Her silver hair was tied high, and the Ice Crystal Longsword that never left her side hung at her waist. Three months of rest had greatly improved her complexion, restoring the rosy color to her cheeks.

"I was thinking about today's trial." Ning Xiaochuan accepted the morning dew tea she offered. "Star Radiance said no one has passed the 'Sacred Source Ancient Path' in a thousand years."

Su Linger walked to the railing and stood beside him. "Worried?"

"A little." Ning Xiaochuan took a light sip of tea, its fragrance soothing his heart. "They say the path seals the battle remnants of generations of Sacred Origin Tribe experts. There may even be..."

"Projections of the World Devourers." Su Linger finished for him, a trace of gravity flashing through her eyes. "Star Radiance told me."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon flew out from inside the tower and landed on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder. Little One had fully recovered after resting. His scales had become even more crystal-clear, and the dragon horn on his forehead had grown longer, making him look imposing. He affectionately rubbed against Ning Xiaochuan's cheek, then chirped "Goo Chu" at Su Linger as if greeting her.

"Little One is certainly full of energy." Su Linger reached out to stroke his scales, which felt cool and smooth.

Ning Xiaochuan set down his teacup. "Let's go. Star Radiance must be getting impatient."

The three arrived at the garden beside the Sacred Source Spring, where High Priest Star Radiance and the twelve elders had been waiting for some time. The spring water was even clearer than it had been three months ago. At its bottom, the Five Primal Fragments slowly revolved, releasing a gentle five-colored glow.

"Your Highness." Star Radiance bowed respectfully. "Everything is ready."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "Thank you for your trouble, High Priest."

Holding a crystal staff, Star Radiance drew a complex rune in the air. "The Sacred Source Ancient Path is a trial road left behind by our ancestors. It has nine stages in total. Those who pass it will receive the true Sacred Source Inheritance."

He paused, his expression turning solemn. "But the danger is equally immense. Over the past thousand years, seventeen members of the royal family have attempted the challenge. Only three survived."

Su Linger tightened her grip on her sword. "We'll be careful."

"It's not a matter of being careful." A Red Robe Elder cut in. "The trials will be tailored to the challengers' weaknesses. You will face the deepest fears in your hearts."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon seemed to understand. He let out several uneasy "goo roo" sounds, his little claws tightening around Ning Xiaochuan's collar.

Star Radiance walked to the spring and lightly tapped the water surface with his staff. The spring water immediately began to boil, forming a vortex. At its center, a staircase made of light slowly emerged, leading deep underground.

"Remember," Star Radiance gave his final warning, "no matter what you see, do not forget one another."

Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger exchanged a glance and stepped into the vortex together. The Sacred Spirit Dragon followed close behind, and the three were instantly swallowed by light.

When his vision returned, Ning Xiaochuan found himself standing on a desolate battlefield. The sky was an unnatural dark red, the earth was split apart, and black flames that would never go out burned in the distance.

"Su Linger? Little One?" He looked around, but found no trace of his companions.

"Stop looking. They're not here." A familiar voice rang out.

Ning Xiaochuan spun around and saw someone identical to himself standing nearby, down to his clothes and expression.

"Who are you?" Ning Xiaochuan asked warily, Sacred Source Power circulating through his body.

"I am you." The other person smiled. "More precisely, I am the embodiment of the fear buried deepest in your heart."

He waved his hand, and the scene suddenly changed—Qingyun City was engulfed in flames. Ning Zhantian and Ning Yuan were being besieged by a black tide and were on the verge of death. Meanwhile, Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon were trapped within a transparent barrier, slowly being eroded by Black Qi.

"What you fear most isn't death, but being unable to protect the people who matter to you." The other Ning Xiaochuan sneered. "Look. They're dying, and you're powerless to stop it."

It felt as though Ning Xiaochuan had taken a heavy blow to the chest. This truly was his deepest nightmare. But he quickly calmed down. "This is just an illusion."

"Is it?" The other man snapped his fingers, and the scene changed again.

This time, the Sacred Source Land had been breached by the World Devourers. Star Radiance and the elders had died horribly, the Sacred Source Spring had been contaminated, and countless civilians turned into black smoke amid their wails.

"As the Sacred Source King, you bear the survival of the entire world on your shoulders." The other Ning Xiaochuan advanced step by step. "Once you fail, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth and forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart. "I won't let that happen."

"How will you stop it?" The other man mocked. "With that half-baked Sacred Source Power of yours?"

He suddenly attacked, sending a streak of golden light straight at Ning Xiaochuan's face! Ning Xiaochuan dodged in haste, only to discover that the attack passed through his defense and struck Su Linger's phantom behind him directly!

"Don't!" Ning Xiaochuan lunged forward on instinct, but grasped nothing.

"See? This is your weakness." The other Ning Xiaochuan sneered. "A true king should be cold and ruthless, sacrificing the few to save the many."

Ning Xiaochuan suddenly understood the meaning of the trial. He took a deep breath and straightened his back. "No. True strength comes from the Heart of Protection, not the desire to kill."

Sacred Source Power surged through his body as he stared directly into the other's eyes. "I do not deny these fears, but I will never let them control me."

As soon as the words fell, the illusion shattered like glass. The other Ning Xiaochuan revealed a surprised expression before turning into light spots and fading away.

The scene changed again. Ning Xiaochuan found himself in a pure white space. Ahead stood a golden door engraved with the emblem of the Sacred Origin Tribe.

"The first trial has been passed." Star Radiance's voice echoed through the space. "Next comes the test of real combat."

The doors slowly opened. Amid dazzling golden light, a tall figure emerged—a Sacred Source Knight in ancient armor, wielding a greatsword and radiating a mountain-like presence.

"Defeat me and enter the next stage." The knight's voice scraped like metal.

Without a word, Ning Xiaochuan attacked. Sacred Source Power formed into a spear and thrust toward the knight's throat, only to be easily blocked. The knight counterattacked with lightning speed, his greatsword slashing down with a piercing howl!

Bang!

Ning Xiaochuan was forced back several steps, his arm going numb. The knight's strength surpassed all expectations. Every strike carried the weight of Qian Jun.

"Too weak." The knight appraised him. "Is this all the Sacred Source King can do?"

Ning Xiaochuan did not answer. He adjusted his breathing and attacked again. This time, he changed tactics. Rather than clash head-on, he used nimble footwork to circle around the knight. After several exchanges, he noticed that the knight's right leg moved slightly sluggishly—there was an old injury there.

Seizing the chance, Ning Xiaochuan suddenly changed moves and swept at the knight's right knee. As expected, the knight reacted half a beat too slowly, and his body swayed. Ning Xiaochuan pressed the advantage, gathering Sacred Source Power at his fingertips and striking toward the gap in the knight's breastplate.

"Urgh!" The knight groaned and staggered back several steps. "Not bad. You found my weakness."

He removed his helmet, revealing a weathered face. "But the real battle is only beginning."

The knight suddenly accelerated, becoming more than three times faster! Ning Xiaochuan had no time to react before a heavy blow struck his chest and sent him flying!

"Cough!" He spat out blood. Several of his ribs might have been broken.

"This is not how Sacred Source Power should be used." The knight looked down at him. "Feel it. Resonant with it. Do not wield it as crudely as a club."

Ning Xiaochuan closed his eyes and recalled the sensation he had felt within the Sacred Source Spring. Power did not come from muscle, but from resonating with the world...

When he opened his eyes again, his pupils had turned pure gold. Sacred Source Power was no longer confined within his body. It had merged with the surrounding environment.

"Much better." The knight nodded in satisfaction and raised his sword to meet him.

This time, Ning Xiaochuan moved as fluidly as flowing water, every strike perfectly timed. The knight's greatsword could no longer touch even the corner of his robes, while Ning Xiaochuan's counters hit vital points every time.

Bang!

With the final strike, the knight's greatsword flew from his grip and buried itself deep in the ground.

"The second trial has been passed." The knight retrieved his greatsword and stepped aside to reveal the path. "Your companions are waiting ahead."

Ning Xiaochuan passed through the golden doors and arrived at a circular plaza. At the far end, Su Linger was kneeling on one knee, using her longsword to support herself. She had clearly just endured a hard battle.

"Ling'er!" He hurried over.

Su Linger looked up, her face filled with surprise. "You're all right!" She tried to stand, but staggered from her injuries.

Ning Xiaochuan caught her. "Where are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. Just superficial wounds." Su Linger forced a smile. "I encountered some... troublesome illusions."

She did not elaborate, but Ning Xiaochuan could tell from the uncertainty in her eyes that those illusions must have been related to him.

The Sacred Spirit Dragon flew over from somewhere unknown and landed between them. He also looked as if he had fought a battle. Several patches of his scales were scorched black, but his spirits remained high.

"Little One passed his test too." Su Linger gently stroked his head.

A stone tablet suddenly rose from the center of the plaza, ancient words appearing upon it: "Two-person trial: Protect each other and break through the encirclement."

With a rumble, twelve metal puppets appeared at the edges of the plaza. Each wielded a different weapon, and dangerous red light flickered in their eyes.

"Careful. They'll target our weaknesses." Ning Xiaochuan moved to shield Su Linger behind him.

Sure enough, six puppets charged straight at Ning Xiaochuan, while the other six surrounded Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon. More troublesome still, the puppets attacking Ning Xiaochuan all imitated Su Linger's fighting style, while those attacking Su Linger and the dragon copied Ning Xiaochuan's techniques!

"What a despicable trial!" Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth. Facing puppets that resembled Su Linger, he unconsciously held back with every move.

On the other side, Su Linger was also caught in a bitter battle. She could clearly see the puppets' openings, but hesitated because they used techniques that belonged to "Ning Xiaochuan."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon flew about anxiously, trying to help, but two puppets specifically targeted him. His Dragon Breath was completely suppressed.

The battle rapidly worsened. An ice spike grazed Ning Xiaochuan's cheek, drawing blood, while Su Linger was knocked back by a Sacred Source Power shockwave and slammed into a pillar at the edge of the plaza.

"This won't work!" Ning Xiaochuan wiped away the blood. "We have to overcome our mental barriers!"

Su Linger nodded and forced herself upright. "I'll count to three. We attack together!"

"One, two, three!"

They erupted at the same time. Ning Xiaochuan no longer held back, turning Sacred Source Power into a sky full of Golden Needles that pierced the puppets' joints. Su Linger gritted her teeth and unleashed a killing move as well. The Ice Crystal Longsword traced a graceful arc and severed the heads of three puppets!

The Sacred Spirit Dragon took the chance to breathe out condensed Dragon Breath, burning two puppets into scrap metal.

The remaining puppets changed tactics, suddenly merging into two giant puppets. One imitated Ning Xiaochuan's Sacred Source Power, while the other copied Su Linger's Mystic Ice swordsmanship. Their power increased severalfold!

"Primal Covenant!" Ning Xiaochuan shouted.

The three immediately activated their Soul Link, their powers intertwining. To their surprise, this fusion was deeper than ever before—Ning Xiaochuan could clearly feel every thought in Su Linger's mind and could even predict her next movement!

"This feeling..." Su Linger's eyes widened as well. "It's like we've become one person!"

No words were needed. They attacked together. Ning Xiaochuan's Sacred Source Power and Su Linger's Mystic Ice Sword Qi fused perfectly, transforming into a pillar of intertwined gold and blue light that instantly pierced both giant puppets!

The Sacred Spirit Dragon flew high into the air and unleashed an unprecedented breath—not merely milky white anymore, but golden light containing Sacred Source Power mixed with blue radiance carrying Mystic Ice energy!

Boom!

After the explosion, every puppet had been reduced to dust. The stone tablet slowly sank into the ground, replaced by a door embedded with five-colored gemstones.

"The third trial has been passed." Star Radiance's voice rang out again. "What comes next is the true challenge."

The door opened by itself, revealing a deep, gloomy passage beyond. Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger smiled at each other and entered hand in hand. The Sacred Spirit Dragon followed closely, his little claws gripping Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder armor tightly.

At the end of the passage was a massive circular arena. Three figures stood at its center—dark mirror images of Ning Xiaochuan, Su Linger, and the Sacred Spirit Dragon!

"Only by defeating yourselves can you surpass your limits." Star Radiance's voice echoed throughout the arena. "Remember, the greatest enemy often comes from within."

The dark mirror images attacked at once, their offensive fierce. Worse, they seemed able to predict every movement of their originals, with every attack aimed directly at a vital point!

Ning Xiaochuan was kicked away by his own mirror image and crashed into the wall. Su Linger fared no better, her Ice Crystal Longsword easily knocked from her hand. The Sacred Spirit Dragon was pressed into the ground and battered, several scales falling off.

"This won't do!" Su Linger said between breaths. "They're stronger than us!"

Ning Xiaochuan suddenly realized something. "No, they aren't stronger. They're more... pure."

He recalled Star Radiance's words—the greatest enemy came from within. These mirror images represented their untempered, primal power.

"We need to change tactics." Ning Xiaochuan lowered his voice. "Use a method they won't expect."

Su Linger understood. "You mean..."

"Switch opponents!"

The two suddenly rushed toward each other's positions. Ning Xiaochuan faced Su Linger's mirror image, while Su Linger confronted Ning Xiaochuan's. The Sacred Spirit Dragon caught on as well and pounced toward the dark little dragon.

The sudden change worked. The mirror images clearly had not expected it, and were thrown into momentary chaos. Ning Xiaochuan seized the chance and struck the dark Su Linger on the back of the neck with a hand chop, knocking her unconscious.

Su Linger also exploited the fact that Ning Xiaochuan's mirror image was unfamiliar with swordsmanship, driving the Ice Crystal Longsword through its shoulder.

The Sacred Spirit Dragon was even more direct. He bit the dark little dragon by the neck and flung it away!

"Well done!" Ning Xiaochuan shouted excitedly.

However, before they could celebrate, the three dark mirror images suddenly fused into a three-headed, six-armed monster! Each head corresponded to one of them, and its six arms wielded different weapons.

"Isn't that completely unfair?" Su Linger stared wide-eyed.

The monster gave them no time to breathe and attacked in an instant! Ning Xiaochuan hastily defended, but was still driven back several yards. Su Linger's longsword was shattered directly, splitting the web of her hand. The Sacred Spirit Dragon was punched to the ground and let out a pained "Goo Chu."

"Primal Covenant!" Ning Xiaochuan tried to merge the three of them again, but this time the monster released similar power, neutralizing their advantage!

"It can imitate even that?" Su Linger asked despairingly.

Ning Xiaochuan suddenly understood. "No, it isn't imitating us... What we're facing is ourselves!"

He pulled Su Linger to her feet. "Do you remember what Star Radiance said? Only by defeating ourselves can we surpass our limits."

"You mean..."

"Accept it instead of fighting it." Ning Xiaochuan released her hand and walked toward the monster. "This is our untamed power. It is part of us."

The monster seemed startled by his actions and temporarily stopped attacking.

Ning Xiaochuan continued forward until he stood before it. He reached out and lightly touched the head that resembled his own. "Come back. We were always one."

A shocking scene unfolded—the monster began to break apart, turning into pure energy flow that flowed into the three of them separately!

Ning Xiaochuan felt unprecedented power rushing through his blood. Su Linger's Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul emerged on its own, the golden patterns on its feathers becoming more distinct. The Sacred Spirit Dragon's body swelled dramatically, and a second pair of dragon wings even grew from his back!

"This is the true trial." Star Radiance had appeared at the edge of the arena at some point, his eyes filled with gratification. "It is not about defeating your enemy, but accepting every part of yourselves."

He walked toward the three of them. "Congratulations. You have passed the first three trials of the Sacred Source Ancient Path. Next..."

Before he could finish, the entire arena suddenly shook violently! Countless cracks split open across the ground, and Black Qi surged out like spring water!

"Not good!" Star Radiance's face changed drastically. "The aura of the World Devourers! The trial ground has been contaminated!"

A massive Black Vortex formed in the center of the arena, and a bone-chilling roar came from within. A gigantic, spike-covered claw stretched out of the vortex and slammed heavily into the ground!

"Leave now!" Star Radiance shouted. "This is not part of the trial!"

Yet Ning Xiaochuan remained where he was, Sacred Source Power circulating at full force. "No. This is exactly the test we need."

He looked at Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon. The three gazes were resolute as iron. "Let's go together!"