Lin Xuan tightened his grip on his sword. His trial was far from over.

And he would face it head-on.

A chilling wind swept through the Misty Abyss, carrying whispers that made the very air tremble. Shadows danced around him, flickering in and out of sight, never solid enough to strike yet always pressing in, testing his composure.

Then, the ground beneath him trembled.

A guttural growl echoed through the abyss, reverberating through Lin Xuan’s bones. He pivoted sharply, his senses screaming danger. From the depths of the swirling mist, a form emerged—a towering, spectral beast with jagged black horns and eyes that burned like smoldering embers. Its very presence made the surrounding air feel heavy, as if reality itself was bending under its weight.

“The Phantom Guardian…” Lin Xuan whispered. He had read about this being in the sect’s ancient texts. A creature that had devoured countless challengers, feasting on their life force, forever bound to this forsaken place.

The beast lunged.

Lin Xuan barely had time to react before a claw, wreathed in dark energy, slashed toward him. He twisted his body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the blow, though the sheer force sent him skidding across the rocky ground. He steadied himself, eyes sharp with resolve.

“Heavenly Script: Flowing Steps!”

His body became a blur as he dashed forward, his sword humming with energy. He struck, aiming for the beast’s core, but his blade passed through it like mist.

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The Phantom Guardian let out a low, echoing chuckle.

“Mortal… You think you can touch me?”

Lin Xuan gritted his teeth. Physical attacks wouldn’t work. He had to change his approach.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he reached deep into his consciousness, where the fragments of the Heavenly Script resided. He felt the ancient text pulsate, its boundless knowledge whispering to him.

Then, an answer revealed itself.

His eyes snapped open.

“Heavenly Script: Manifestation Art.”

The mist around him coalesced into glowing runes, forming a lattice of energy that crackled with power. He thrust his palm forward, sending a surge of golden light toward the beast. The energy wrapped around the Phantom Guardian, preventing it from dissipating.

For the first time, the creature recoiled.

Lin Xuan’s mind raced. The Heavenly Script’s power was taking effect, restricting the entity’s ability to phase between reality and illusion. This was his chance.

Without hesitation, he channeled all of his strength into his sword. The blade pulsed, taking on an ethereal glow. With a single, decisive strike, he cut through the Phantom Guardian’s chest.

A deafening roar shook the abyss as the creature writhed in agony. Its form flickered violently before disintegrating into countless wisps of dark energy, dissipating into the mist.

Silence followed.

Lin Xuan exhaled, his body trembling from exhaustion. The trial had pushed him to his limits, but he had overcome it.

Then, the ground beneath him rumbled once more.

A massive stone tablet rose from the earth, glowing with inscriptions he had never seen before. The moment his gaze fell upon the ancient symbols, a surge of knowledge flooded his mind.

It was a message… left behind by the founder of the Misty Abyss.

His pulse quickened.

What secrets did this trial truly hold?

As he reached out to touch the inscriptions, the mist around him began to shift once more…

To be continued…