Let's go now, Feng Kail said.
After some time they reached the edge of Coastal Forest. Thick smoke-like mist covered the entire area. Strange animal cries echoed from deep inside, making the place feel dark and dangerous. Xu Guifei looked at it and asked, are we really going inside this place? Is this the safe place you were talking about? Feng Kail replied calmly, yes, deep inside this forest there is a hidden safe zone where no one can enter. He then turned to Xu Guifei and said, you and Egneel will stay behind and protect the villagers from the rear. I will lead the way. I know a safe path. Then they all entered the forest together and started walking.
After a few minutes, everything became silent. No birds, no wind, no sound at all. The forest looked calm but it felt unnatural, like something was watching them from every direction. Suddenly a tiger jumped from the trees toward Xu Guifei. She turned instantly but it was too fast, she had no time to react. The tiger was mid-air, ready to strike, but Egneel appeared and attacked it with his claws. One hit was enough to slam the tiger to the ground. Feng Kail quickly came forward and asked Xu Guifei if she was okay. She nodded and said I am fine, but where did that tiger come from? I couldn't sense it at all. Feng Kail replied, it was hiding its presence and waiting for an ambush. Let's keep moving, no time to waste.
Xu Guifei nodded and they continued walking deeper. Feng Kail said while moving, there is a place deep inside this forest filled with pure energy. I came here years ago and cultivated there. It is a pond filled with dense spiritual energy. Xu Guifei looked ahead and said, this forest feels more and more strange. Feng Kail replied, stay alert.
As they went deeper, the mist slowly changed. The energy in the air became thicker and purer. Egneel suddenly spoke from behind, I can feel it now, it is getting closer. Feng Kail nodded and said, yes, we are near the pond.
After a while, the forest suddenly opened into a wide clearing. In the center was a glowing pond filled with blue-white energy mist rising from the surface. It looked peaceful but extremely powerful. Xu Guifei whispered softly, it's beautiful. Egneel flew ahead excitedly saying, this is it, the pure energy pond. Feng Kail stepped forward slowly but his expression remained serious. Something is wrong, he said quietly. This place is not the same as before.
Suddenly the water in the pond started to ripple. A voice echoed from inside the water, visitors… Feng Kail immediately stopped and narrowed his eyes. Xu Guifei raised her bow and asked loudly, who is there? The water slowly rose and formed a faint shadow-like figure. It was not human, not beast, something ancient and unknown. The voice spoke again, this is the resting place of forgotten energy. Only those who pass the trial are worthy to enter.
Egneel tilted his head and said, trial? Feng Kail stepped forward slightly and said calmly, interesting. Then let's begin.
The moment Feng Kail said "let's begin," the entire pond fell silent. The floating mist stopped moving and even Egneel froze mid-air. The ancient voice echoed again, "Trial of the Forgotten Pond has begun." Suddenly the ground beneath them changed and the entire forest disappeared.
Feng Kail opened his eyes and found himself alone in darkness. No Xu Guifei, no Egneel, only silence. A familiar voice echoed, "Your deepest fear will appear." Feng Kail's eyes narrowed, "…illusion?"
Then his parents appeared in front of him, alive and smiling, calling him. "Kail… come here…" For a moment he froze, but then his expression changed. "…Not real." His hand burned with blue-green flame. "The dead don't return." He stepped forward and punched the illusion. BOOM! Everything shattered like glass.
The world changed again. Feng Kail stood in an endless battlefield. Invisible pressure crushed his body and his bones cracked slightly. A voice echoed, "Survive or break." Feng Kail clenched his fists. "…So this is a test of will." He activated his strength and started walking forward step by step. Each step was heavier, but he did not stop. "…If I stop here…
I die anyway." He raised his head, eyes sharp. "I will not break."
Suddenly the pressure cracked, then shattered. The ancient voice returned, "…Interesting. You passed the first two. Now face the final trial."
The world turned blue and a giant shadow appeared in the sky. Not human, not beast, something ancient. "You want my power… then defeat the shadow of your future self."
Feng Kail looked up. "…My future self?" The shadow stepped forward, looking exactly like him but stronger and colder. Feng Kail slowly raised his sword. "…So this is it. My real enemy… is myself."
They clashed instantly. Sword against sword. Every move matched perfectly. The shadow spoke, "You are weak." Feng Kail replied calmly, "…Then I will become stronger." He pushed forward and for the first time the shadow moved back.
The ancient voice echoed, "…You are not perfect. But you are growing. Trial accepted."
Everything shattered.
Feng Kail fell beside the pond, breathing heavily but alive. Xu Guifei rushed forward, "Feng Kail!" He opened his eyes slowly. "…I'm fine." A faint smile appeared. "…We passed."
The pond's energy stabilized and a hidden doorway appeared behind it. Egneel whispered, "…That's the real path." Feng Kail stood up slowly. "…Then let's go."