Li Shen's heart pounded as he crossed the threshold into the unknown. The moment he stepped past the veil of mist that separated the mortal realm from the realm of the Immortal Sect, the atmosphere shifted. It was as if time itself had slowed, the very air heavy with a strange energy. Every breath he took felt both alien and familiar, the tingling sensation of power crackling beneath his skin.
The path before him was no longer rocky and treacherous but instead smooth and lined with ancient stone tiles. Towering trees, their trunks gnarled and twisted, stretched high into the heavens, their leaves glowing with an otherworldly light. The sky above had deepened into a violet hue, tinged with swirling constellations that seemed to pulse with life.
Li Shen's gaze swept over the breathtaking landscape, but he felt no awe. There was only a burning determination within him. The Immortal Sect, the source of the power he sought, lay ahead, hidden deep within the mountains. But he knew better than to believe it would be easy to find.
The Lotus inside him was restless, its petals unfurling with a hunger that could not be satisfied. It called out, its energy reverberating through his very being. It wanted something, but what?
As he moved forward, the silence of the place was almost suffocating. The further he walked, the less it seemed as though anyone had ever stepped foot here before. No sounds of wildlife reached his ears, no signs of life. Just the hum of the Lotus and the occasional whisper of wind through the leaves.
He continued onward, and it wasn't long before he noticed a figure standing at the edge of the path, bathed in the soft, ethereal light of the trees. The figure was tall and cloaked in flowing robes that shimmered with faint patterns of gold and silver. Their face was obscured by a mask of delicate jade, with intricate carvings etched into its surface, revealing only their glowing eyes.
Li Shen stopped, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. The figure, sensing his presence, turned toward him.
"Li Shen," the figure spoke, their voice melodic but cold, as though it came from a place far beyond the mortal realm. "We have been expecting you."
Li Shen narrowed his eyes, studying the mysterious figure. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice steady.
The figure's lips curled into a faint smile, though their expression remained hidden. "I am one of the Elders of the Immortal Sect. My name is Wei Lan. And I believe you have come to us seeking power."
Li Shen's heart skipped a beat. This was it. He had reached the heart of the Immortal Sect, or at least one of its representatives. He had to tread carefully, not allowing his impatience to cloud his judgment.
"I seek more than power," Li Shen said, his voice quiet but filled with conviction. "I seek understanding. I seek the truth of the Lotus inside me."
Wei Lan's glowing eyes studied him for a long moment. "You are not the first to seek the Lotus, Li Shen. Many have come before you, all with similar desires, but few have walked away from this place unscathed. The Lotus is not something that can be controlled so easily. It has its own will, its own path."
Li Shen didn't flinch. He had known this. The warnings of Xiao Ming echoed in his mind, but he pushed them aside. He wasn't here to be stopped; he was here to uncover the truth.
"The Lotus chose me," he said firmly. "I have already walked the path it set before me. I am not afraid of what lies ahead."
Wei Lan's expression remained unchanged, but the faintest flicker of approval passed through their eyes. "Very well. But be warned, the path to the core of the Immortal Sect is fraught with trials. To understand the true nature of the Lotus, you must first prove yourself worthy of its power."
Li Shen nodded, steeling himself for whatever challenges awaited him.
Wei Lan turned, gesturing for Li Shen to follow. "Come. The Sect awaits you."
They walked in silence through the ethereal forest, the path growing narrower as they advanced. The trees around them grew more twisted and ancient, their trunks gnarled and twisted in ways that seemed almost unnatural. The air grew colder, the strange energy in the atmosphere pulsing more intensely with each step.
Finally, they reached a clearing, and there, in the center, stood a massive structure — the Immortal Temple, its towering spires reaching toward the sky, its surface adorned with intricate symbols and runes that pulsed with an eerie glow. The temple was unlike anything Li Shen had ever seen — a perfect fusion of nature and stone, an otherworldly structure that seemed to exist outside of time itself.
Wei Lan stepped forward, their glowing eyes fixed on the temple. "This is where your trial will begin."
Li Shen felt a surge of anticipation. This was it. He had come so far, endured so much. The power he sought was here, in this very place. He could feel it, thrumming beneath the surface, waiting for him to unlock it.
"What must I do?" he asked.
Wei Lan turned to him, their mask expressionless. "You will enter the temple alone. Within, you will face trials that will test your body, your mind, and your spirit. Only by overcoming them will you be granted the knowledge you seek. But beware, for the trials are not what they appear. The Lotus will guide you, but it will not save you."
Li Shen took a deep breath, his heart steady. "I understand."
Wei Lan gave a single, curt nod. "Then enter. And remember, only those who are worthy may leave the temple with their life."
Li Shen's gaze hardened as he stepped forward, crossing the threshold of the Immortal Temple. The air inside was thick with energy, and the light from the outside world faded into darkness. The atmosphere was suffocating, the air thick with the weight of ancient power.
As his eyes adjusted, he found himself in a large, circular chamber. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, depicting scenes of great battles, ancient rituals, and celestial beings. In the center of the room stood a massive pedestal, upon which rested an orb of brilliant, pulsing light. The Lotus inside him responded, its energy surging in time with the orb's rhythm.
Li Shen approached cautiously, his eyes fixed on the orb. The Lotus inside him grew restless, its petals opening and closing as if it recognized something within the orb.
Suddenly, the orb flared with blinding light, and Li Shen was thrown back, his body crashing into the cold stone floor. The room around him seemed to warp and twist, and he felt his consciousness being pulled into the light.
---
When Li Shen regained his senses, he found himself in a different place. It was no longer the Immortal Temple. He was standing in a vast, desolate landscape, the sky above him blackened with swirling clouds. The ground beneath him was cracked and barren, as if it had been scorched by an ancient fire.
The Lotus within him throbbed with energy, its power more intense than ever before. But there was something else here — a presence that radiated darkness, something that felt like an echo of the very abyss itself.
"You have arrived," a voice said, smooth and cold, as if it came from the very ground beneath him. "The trial begins now."
Li Shen spun around, his heart racing. He could see nothing, yet he knew the voice came from all around him. He had to remain focused. He had to trust in the Lotus, trust in himself.
"Who are you?" Li Shen called out.
The voice chuckled, the sound like a thousand whispers. "I am what you fear, what you cannot escape. I am the shadow of the Lotus, the darkness that lies at its heart. You seek power, Li Shen, but power comes at a price."
The ground beneath him began to shake, and from the cracks in the earth, tendrils of dark energy rose, twisting and coiling like serpents. Li Shen drew his sword, his grip firm. He was not afraid. He had come this far. There was no turning back.
atreon.Com/ Hazay
"If you want to follow me, the advanced chapters are available on my Patreon page: patreon.com/ Hazay