Chapter 3 – Trial by Fire
The hidden cavern was silent, save for the gentle hum of the Celestial Jade at Leon's side. Its golden light pulsed with a rhythm that matched his heartbeat, as if guiding him, urging him to awaken the power within.
Leon lowered himself into a meditative stance. He closed his eyes, recalling the ancient teachings his master had whispered to him in years past. Breath steady, mind sharp, he allowed the jade's warmth to seep into his body.
At first, nothing happened. The pain of his injuries was gone, but his muscles felt foreign, as if they had been reforged by some unseen force.
Then—a surge.
A golden current shot through his veins, igniting every meridian, every cell. Leon gasped, staggering back as a shock of power knocked him off balance. The cavern walls trembled, small stones levitating around him.
"This… this is incredible," he whispered. His body no longer felt weak. His senses sharpened; he could feel the tiniest vibrations in the cavern floor, hear the faintest whisper of air moving through cracks in the stone.
Suddenly, a figure appeared at the cavern's entrance—shrouded in shadows, yet radiating a presence that made the air itself vibrate.
"You are the one reborn by the Celestial Jade," the figure said, voice like steel. "Few mortals survive its trial. Fewer still awaken its full potential."
Leon's eyes narrowed. "Who… are you?"
The figure stepped closer, revealing an elderly man with a long silver beard and eyes that glimmered like molten gold. "I am Master Kairos, guardian of the jade's legacy. You have awakened too soon, young cultivator. The path ahead is dangerous, filled with enemies who will stop at nothing to seize your power."
Leon tightened his grip on the jade. "I don't care. I will become stronger. I will return to the Azure Cloud Sect—and make them pay for their treachery."
Master Kairos nodded solemnly. "Very well. But power alone will not be enough. You must master control, refine your body, and learn to wield the jade's essence without letting it consume you. Only then will you survive the trials to come."
With that, he raised a hand, and a circle of runes glowed beneath Leon's feet. The golden light of the jade intertwined with the ancient symbols, binding Leon in a cocoon of energy.
"Your training begins now," Master Kairos intoned.
Leon felt a rush of energy unlike anything before. His body burned, his mind expanded, and his spirit soared. The journey to vengeance had begun, and he would stop at nothing to reclaim what was stolen—and to surpass everyone who ever doubted him.