LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Echoes of the Third Test.
Xu Tian and Yue Lian rested in the shade of a large tree in the Valley of the Ancients. Their bodies still felt the exhaustion of the second test, but their spirits were firmer than ever. The connection they had formed during the confrontation resonated in their souls, as if the Sun and Moon had sealed an eternal pact.
"Do you think the third test will be more difficult?" Yue Lian asked, looking at the sky, where the light of the sun and moon seemed to coexist in harmony.
Xu Tian closed his eyes, pondering. "If I have learned anything from all of this, it is that we must not underestimate what awaits us. Each test not only measures our strength, but also our unity."
Guang Tian suddenly appeared, interrupting the conversation. His face showed a serious expression, different from the usual calmness that accompanied them.
"You have advanced further than I expected, but the next test will be different," he said, his eyes shining with a mysterious intensity.
"How different?" Xu Tian asked, standing up.
"This time, they will not face projections from the past. The third test will take place in a more dangerous place, where what is at stake will not only be their life, but also their mind."
---
With a gesture from Guang Tian, the valley began to change. The mountains and river disappeared, replaced by a gloomy and desolate landscape. They were on a vast plain covered in black mist. In the distance, a dark tower rose that seemed to absorb all light.
"The Tower of Balance," Guang Tian said. "A place where the bearers of the Sun and Moon face their greatest fears and desires. Here, illusions will be as real as the truth. If they fail, they will be trapped in this place forever."
Yue Lian frowned. "Why does this all seem like a punishment rather than a test?"
"It's not a punishment," Guang Tian replied. "It is a purification. Only those who face the truth of their soul can achieve the true balance between the Sun and the Moon."
---
Xu Tian and Yue Lian began to walk towards the tower, feeling the black mist trying to envelop them. With each step, a feeling of unease grew in their hearts.
Suddenly, familiar voices began to whisper from the mist.
"Why do you keep trying to protect someone who doesn't need your help, Xu Tian?"
"Yue Lian, do you really think the Sun can coexist with the Moon? In the end, one will always eclipse the other."
The words were like daggers, attacking their deepest insecurities. However, they both continued forward, knowing that stopping would mean falling into illusions.
Finally, they reached the entrance of the tower. The doors creaked open, revealing a dark and oppressive interior.
---
Upon entering, they found themselves in a circular room lit by a dim glow. In the center, a massive mirror stood, reflecting not their bodies, but distorted versions of themselves.
In the reflection, Xu Tian saw a version of himself engulfed in golden flames, his expression cruel and arrogant.
"See? This is the real you," the reflection said. "Someone who seeks power at any cost, even if it means destroying everything around them."
Yue Lian, for her part, saw a version of herself covered in silver shadows, with cold, empty eyes.
"You are weak," the reflection said. "You will always depend on others because you can never achieve true power on your own."
---
The mirror's words tried to break them, but they both stood firm.
"I am not just what this mirror shows," Xu Tian said, clenching his fists. "I may make mistakes, but my decisions will always be guided by protecting that which I love."
"And I am not alone," Yue Lian added, her gaze determined. "Because I know that there are people who believe in me and who will always be by my side."
A golden and silver glow enveloped the room, shattering the mirror into a thousand pieces.
---
After passing through the mirror, they arrived at a new room, where two pedestals stood. Above them, there was a golden orb and a silver one, radiating overwhelming energy.
"These orbs contain the absolute power of the Sun and the Moon," said an unfamiliar voice. "If you take them, you will have the strength to overcome any obstacle. But if you do, you will lose your connection to each other."
Xu Tian looked at the golden orb, feeling its energy draw him in. Yue Lian did the same with the silver orb.
However, they both took a step back at the same time.
"We don't need these orbs," Xu Tian said. "Our true power lies in our union."
"What makes us strong is not the Sun or the Moon separately," Yue Lian added. "It is the balance between the two."
The orbs faded away, and the doors to the next level of the tower opened.
---
The Culmination of the Trial
Guang Tian watched them from a distance, a faint smile on his face. "You have advanced beyond my expectations. The final trial of the tower will decide whether you are truly ready to face the challenges of the outside world."
As Xu Tian and Yue Lian ascended the final steps of the tower, they both knew that they were closer than ever to unlocking the true power of their martial souls. However, they also understood that the road ahead of them would be even more difficult.