Lin Xuan's fingers grazed the ancient inscriptions, and the moment he made contact, the stone tablet pulsed with a faint golden light. The shifting mist around him thickened, swirling like a living entity responding to his touch.

A deep hum resonated from the tablet, sending vibrations through the very ground beneath his feet. Then, without warning, the inscriptions unraveled before his eyes—each character glowing as they lifted off the surface, rearranging themselves in midair.

Lin Xuan’s heart pounded. This wasn’t just an ordinary remnant of the past; it was a hidden fragment of knowledge left behind by an existence far beyond mortal comprehension.

Suddenly, the mist parted, revealing a corridor of shattered stone pillars leading into the unknown. The inscriptions, now floating freely, coalesced into a single rune before embedding themselves into Lin Xuan’s forehead. His mind trembled as a flood of foreign memories surged into him.

Images of towering figures waging war across the heavens, ancient cultivators breaking through realms unseen, and a temple lost to time flashed before his eyes. A name surfaced amidst the chaos—Temple of the Abyssal Origin.

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Lin Xuan staggered, gasping for breath. This trial was more than a simple test of strength; it was a gateway to something far greater.

The ground beneath him trembled, and from the corridor ahead, a shadowed figure emerged.

The figure’s presence was suffocating—its aura ancient yet unfamiliar. Robes tattered by time, eyes flickering with ethereal flames, it exuded the power of someone long forsaken by the world.

“You have touched the Forbidden Record,” the figure’s voice echoed like a whisper from the void. “Now, you must prove yourself worthy.”

Before Lin Xuan could react, the figure raised a withered hand. The mist solidified into countless blades of qi, each radiating overwhelming killing intent. They shot toward him like a storm of death.

Lin Xuan’s instincts screamed. He unleashed his Heavenly Script, his body moving with fluid precision as he dodged the first wave of attacks. With a flick of his wrist, his sword cut through the air, meeting the incoming qi blades head-on.

The moment their energies clashed, the ground cracked, sending shockwaves through the corridor.

Lin Xuan gritted his teeth. This was different from anything he had faced before. The enemy’s attacks were not just powerful—they were refined, carrying the weight of countless battles across time.

“Very well,” he muttered, eyes burning with determination. “If you want to test me, then let’s see if you can withstand my full strength!”

Golden script ignited around him, the air crackling with raw energy.

The real battle had begun.