Volume 15 — The Orb's Trial
The obsidian orb floated above its pedestal, pulsing with a rhythm that matched Lin Feng's heartbeat. Shadows twisted around the chamber, testing the limits of his focus. Each pulse seemed to whisper temptations: power, revenge, immortality.
"Uh… Peach Spirit?" Lin Feng asked nervously. "Do we have to talk back to it? Because I really don't do well with polite conversation."
Host, focus, the Peach Spirit replied. The orb will not yield to hesitation or fear. It tests your soul, your resolve, and your understanding of flow.
Caiyi stepped closer, her sword at the ready. "Lin Feng, remember—don't let your guard down. Hei Xu and the others are probably watching, waiting for a mistake."
Lin Feng nodded, closing his eyes. The First Bloom's petals spun around him, forming intricate patterns of light. He reached out, letting the energy flow naturally instead of forcing it.
The orb pulsed violently, dark tendrils lashing out like snakes. Lin Feng dodged instinctively, petals shielding him. Not enough, the Peach Spirit whispered. You must become one with the flow.
Lin Feng inhaled, centering himself. He let the First Bloom fill his entire body—heart, mind, and spirit. The petals responded perfectly, weaving a cage of radiant light around the orb.
The dark tendrils recoiled. A deep, resonant voice echoed inside his mind: Clever… but are you worthy?
"I… I want to be," Lin Feng whispered. "Not for power. Not for revenge. But to protect those I care about."
The orb shivered, then slowly descended toward him, as if acknowledging his sincerity. The light from the First Bloom intertwined with the darkness, creating a balance neither fully light nor fully shadow.
Caiyi's eyes widened. "He's… harmonizing with it!"
Before Lin Feng could fully comprehend, Hei Xu appeared in the chamber, aura crackling with fury. "So… this is the power you've gained? Impressive… but insufficient."
Lin Feng gritted his teeth, petals spinning faster, sword ready. "I don't need to be perfect—I just need to be stronger than you!"
Hei Xu's eyes narrowed. "Then prove it, boy. Show me the full strength of the Peach Spirit!"
The chamber exploded with light and shadow colliding, petals and darkness spiraling violently around them.
The trial of the orb—and Lin Feng's true test against the Obsidian Root Palace—had officially begun.