The abyss exploded.
Starlight and devouring darkness collided, folding space like ripping parchment. Every clash of their blades sent shockwaves across the void—shockwaves that would have turned an ordinary cultivator into dust.
Xiao Wang skidded backward, boots scraping against the invisible floor, but he did not fall.
Not this time.
The Emperor's Root pulsed within his soul—a slow, thunderous heartbeat that felt ancient and familiar.
[System Status: Updated]
[Emperor's Root – Tier 1: ACTIVE]
[Soul Fortification: +20%]
[Sword Intent Resonance: Stable]
[Locked Authority: 6 remaining]
The shadow flickered into view before him, eyes narrowing.
"You're adapting quickly. Annoyingly quickly."
Xiao Wang raised his sword. "You talk too much."
The shadow froze for a fraction of a second.
"…Did you just talk back to yourself?"
Xiao Wang shrugged. "Someone has to."
His other personality coughed in his mind.
"Hey—someone already does! It's me!"
"Not the time," Xiao Wang muttered internally.
"Exactly! Because we're about to die AGAIN!"
The shadow's expression twisted with irritation.
"Pathetic humor. You mock yourself to hide your fear."
Xiao Wang took a slow, calming breath.
"Fear isn't the enemy."
He shifted his stance, lowering the Devouring Sword until its edge hummed with the new resonance inside him.
"It's letting it control you that makes you weak."
The shadow didn't bother responding.
Instead, he attacked.
A Duel That Shakes the Soul
The Starfall Annihilation Sword carved a silver arc across the abyss.
Xiao Wang met it head-on.
CLANG!!!
The collision erupted into a cyclone of sword intent. Starlight shattered into billions of burning fragments. Devouring darkness surged upward like an enraged beast.
Both versions of Xiao Wang were thrown back—one sliding, controlled, composed.
The other flips midair before landing soundlessly, the void forming footholds beneath his steps.
The shadow's lips curled upward.
"Better. You're finally learning to breathe."
He lunged forward again; Xiao Wang parried.
He spun; Xiao Wang deflected.
Gravity twisted; Xiao Wang forced it back with his soul pressure.
The shadow raised a brow mid-exchange.
"You've never used Emperor's Root before, yet… your body remembers it."
Xiao Wang's jaw clenched.
"Then let it remember."
He thrust forward.
For the first time, the shadow had to block.
Sparks erupted between their blades.
The Devouring Sword cracked the air, arcs of black lightning spiraling outward.
The shadow stepped back, studying him.
"You're growing far too quickly. If I let you continue…"
His gaze sharpened, murderous.
"…you might actually become a threat."
Xiao Wang steadied his breath.
"I'm already a threat."
The shadow didn't speak.
He vanished again.
Speed Beyond Mortal Perception
Xiao Wang sensed the killing intent behind him.
He twisted.
The Starfall Sword grazed his cheek—leaving behind a faint burn of star-fire.
[Soul Integrity: 68% → 63%]
Xiao Wang gritted his teeth.
Too close.
The shadow appeared behind him again. "Still too slow."
Xiao Wang activated Emperor's Root instinctively.
A hum rippled through the void.
The world slowed.
No—he sped up.
The shadow's movements grew clearer—no longer an impossible blur, but a series of razor-sharp trajectories traced through space.
Xiao Wang raised his sword.
Blocked.
Deflected.
Countered.
SLASH!!
SLASH!!
SLASH!!
Three strikes landed on the shadow's blade.
None reached flesh, but the shadow slid backward, boots skidding.
He looked down at his trembling hand.
Shock spread across his face.
"You… forced me back?"
Xiao Wang exhaled, chest rising and falling.
"I told you. I'm not running."
The shadow's expression gradually melted into something new.
Not contempt.
Not boredom.
But something dangerously close to excitement.
"You are beginning to resemble me."
Xiao Wang's grip tightened.
"I'm not you."
The shadow tilted his head.
"You're wrong," he said softly. "You are exactly like me. And the moment you stop denying that… you will stop being weak."
Xiao Wang pointed his sword forward.
"Let's test that theory."
Starfall vs. Devouring
The shadow let out a low, thunderous laugh.
"Very well."
He swung his sword.
But not a normal swing.
The void behind him fractured—breaking into countless pieces of starlight. Entire constellations folded into the edge of his blade.
A galaxy responded to his call.
"Take this seriously," the shadow murmured, voice layered with power. "This strike once wiped out an immortal clan."
Xiao Wang's eyes narrowed.
The system chimed violently.
[WARNING!!]
[Incoming Attack: 'Starfall Severance – Emperor Grade']
[Impact Likelihood: Lethal]
[Defense Options: 0]
[Counter Options: 1]
Counter Option: Use Emperor's Root – Tier 1 (Forced Activation)
Xiao Wang inhaled sharply.
"So be it."
He stepped forward.
The Emperor's Root ignited.
Black flame burst from his pores—cold, steady, absolute.
The Devouring Sword screamed with power.
From behind Xiao Wang, a faint silhouette formed—too faint to fully manifest.
Not the Sword Ancestor.
Not the Emperor Fragment.
Not the faceless version.
Someone else.
Someone seated on a broken throne, surrounded by drifting stars.
Someone watching.
Someone waiting.
A flicker of a voice whispered:
"Show me."
Xiao Wang swung down.
World-Splitting Impact
Their blades collided.
Starfall and Devouring.
Light and void.
Emperor and reincarnation.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A pillar of energy exploded upward, ripping the abyss apart. For a moment, the void had no shape—just roaring chaos swirling around them in stormlike vortices.
The force hurled both backwards.
Xiao Wang's body slammed into a wall that didn't exist moments ago—soul quaking from the impact.
[Soul Integrity: 63% → 51%]
He spat out blood—silver-tinged spiritual blood, scattering into the air like molten mercury.
But he remained standing.
Barely.
The shadow's arm shook uncontrollably. A crack spread across his blade.
He stared at it in disbelief.
"You damaged Starfall," he murmured. "Impossible."
Xiao Wang lifted his sword, breathing hard.
"Believe it."
The shadow's expression twisted into pure delight.
"Good. GOOD. Become stronger. Become ME."
Xiao Wang shook his head.
"No. I'll become better."
The shadow froze.
Then he smiled—not mocking, not cruel…
But proud.
"…Ambitious." He lowered his blade. "You're finally speaking like a sovereign."
Before Xiao Wang could reply—
The trial shifted.
The abyss rippled.
The darkness thinned.
A massive gate appeared behind the shadow—towering, ancient, etched with seven seals of pure starlight.
The shadow turned around slowly.
The gate opened.
Light poured out.
Not pure light.
Not holy light.
But a light so heavy and suffocating it crushed space.
The shadow looked at Xiao Wang.
"Our time is up."
Xiao Wang stepped forward instinctively.
"What does that mean?"
The shadow looked almost… disappointed.
"The next trial begins. The Gate of Buried Truth… opens only once."
The seals on the gate cracked one by one.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Six opened.
One remained closed—the one from which the faceless version had appeared.
The shadow sheathed his blade.
"You are not ready to open the seventh seal. Not yet."
Xiao Wang raised his sword. "Then I'll—"
"No."
The shadow raised a hand, stopping him.
"You are growing too fast for your own good. If you open that door now, you will go mad."
Xiao Wang hesitated.
The shadow stepped back toward the gate, his form beginning to fade.
"Remember my words."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"When you learn the truth, you will hate Heaven."
His form flickered.
"And you will hate yourself."
Xiao Wang's breath stilled.
"But until then…"
The shadow pointed at him—one last gesture.
"Survive."
His body dissolved into light.
The gate swallowed him whole.
The trial's environment collapsed.
The abyss disappeared.
Darkness swallowed Xiao Wang—
Only to release him into another chamber entirely.
Second Stage of the Trial of Souls
He landed hard—knees hitting stone.
Yes.
Stone.
This time, he wasn't in a void.
He wasn't surrounded by memories.
He was in a ruined temple—broken pillars, shattered statues, glowing cracks running along the floor like molten veins.
Cold wind howled through the empty halls.
A single inscription burned across the wall ahead:
"THE TRUTH OF YOUR DEATH."
Xiao Wang gripped his sword, breath steadying.
His heart pounded.
His soul throbbed.
And the system chimed softly—
[Trial Stage 2 Initiated]
[Objective: Witness That Night]
[Warning: Mental collapse possible]
[Time Dilation: 1 hour outside = 3 days inside]
Xiao Wang rose.
His voice was steady, but quiet.
"…I'm ready."
But someone else wasn't.
A familiar warmth pressed against his back.
He turned—
And froze.
She was there again.
The woman from the past.
His once-lover.
Her form made of memory, illusion, soul echo—yet her tears were real.
"You aren't ready," she whispered, voice trembling.
Xiao Wang lifted his chin.
"I have to be."
She reached for him.
"Then let me walk with you. Just this once."
Xiao Wang hesitated…
Then nodded.
Together, they walked toward the truth—
Toward the night Heaven rewrote—
Toward the betrayal that wasn't a betrayal—
Toward the moment the Emperor died.
And in the real world—
The Silent Eraser opened his eyes.
"The Emperor's soul has entered the next stage."
He raised a hand.
Darkness gathered at his fingertip.
"When he emerges… he must not draw breath."