The old man smiled and nodded slightly, clearly quite satisfied with Yan Zhao's performance. With a casual wave of his arm, the raging sea of flames vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye, as though erased by magic. Yet in its place came boundless darkness, as if the entire world had been swallowed by it.
A fierce wind howled wildly through the darkness, producing shrill noises like countless evil ghosts roaring in rage, enough to make one's blood run cold. Yan Zhao steadied himself, drew a deep breath, and cautiously took a step forward, feeling his way through the darkness.
Every step he took was exceptionally careful, for he knew that unknown dangers could lurk anywhere in this dark space. Suddenly, a chilling gust came from behind him. Yan Zhao's heart tightened, and he hurriedly turned around. A hideous evil ghost lunged at him with bared fangs and claws, moving as swiftly as lightning.
Yan Zhao swiftly drew his sword. Its blade cut a cold gleam through the darkness and collided with the ghost's claws with a crisp clang. Sparks flew in every direction. The ghost was forced back several steps by Yan Zhao's sword force, but rather than retreating, it pounced even more fiercely.
Yan Zhao and the evil ghost engaged in a thrilling, ferocious battle. His swordsmanship was like a raging storm, each strike precisely aimed at the ghost's vital points. The ghost, meanwhile, relied on its nimble movements and sharp claws to attack Yan Zhao without pause.
After a fierce struggle, Yan Zhao finally found an opening. He thrust his sword forward, aiming straight for the ghost's heart. The ghost let out a miserable shriek, its body slowly collapsing before finally turning into a wisp of black smoke and dispersing into the darkness.
Yan Zhao panted heavily, wiped the sweat from his brow, and continued onward through the darkness. After an unknown amount of time, he finally discovered a pearl emitting a faint glow in a corner. It was the Pearl of Light.
The old man's lips curled into a satisfied smile as he said softly, "Very good. You have successfully passed the first two trials. Next, the third trial awaits you."
With that, the old man waved his long sleeve, and the scene changed in an instant as though by magic. In the blink of an eye, Yan Zhao found himself in a forest shrouded in dense mist. The surrounding trees were tall and thick, while the swirling fog brought an inexplicable sense of oppression and fear.
"The third trial is to cross this Misty Forest and find the exit," the old man's voice sounded beside Yan Zhao's ear. "However, this forest is filled with all manner of dangers. Various phantom beasts roam within, and they will do everything in their power to stop you from moving forward."
Before the old man had finished speaking, a low roar suddenly came from deep within the forest. Immediately afterward, a massive phantom wolf shot out from the trees like lightning. Its eyes glimmered with a ghostly light as it stared fixedly at Yan Zhao, baring sharp fangs and letting out low growls, seemingly filled with hostility toward him.
Yan Zhao gripped his sword tightly and assumed a fighting stance. The phantom wolf lunged at him, and Yan Zhao sidestepped before swinging his sword at it. The wolf nimbly evaded the blow and attacked again. Yan Zhao dodged left and right, searching for an opportunity to counterattack. When the wolf pounced close, he thrust his sword into its vital point, and it crashed to the ground.
However, after dealing with the phantom wolf, even more phantom beasts came one after another. Yan Zhao showed no fear, fighting them fiercely time and again. After an unknown amount of time, a glimmer of light appeared ahead. He quickened his pace and ran toward it, finally finding the exit. The old man appeared before him and said approvingly, "You have passed all three trials. Next, I will entrust the true inheritance to you." With a wave of his hand, an ancient stone hall appeared before them. Its doors slowly opened, and a mysterious aura filled the interior.
Before you continue