ARK SPIRIT

At that moment, the door opened again.

A figure staggered inside.

His entire body was in tatters, his hair disheveled, dried blood caked across his face. Fresh wounds covered him, and his breathing was so heavy that he looked as though he had just crawled out of a life and death battle.

He glanced at everyone.

Said nothing.

He simply dragged himself toward the final position, then collapsed onto it, gasping for breath.

Seven positions.

Seven people.

Complete.

At that exact moment, the entire chamber trembled slightly.

The runes beneath the stone floor began lighting up in rings.

Pale gray light spread outward from the seven positions, weaving together into a closed circle.

From the ancient lines carved into the stone, a thin mist slowly began to rise.

At first, it was very faint.

Then it grew thicker and thicker.

The mist covered all seven of them like an enormous bowl turned upside down.

Within it lingered a strange fragrance.

Earthy.

Faint.

Like the scent of incense smoke from his old hometown.

Familiar.

Yet distant.

And carrying an indescribably ancient feeling.

Hao Nhien took a breath.

The fragrance entered his body with his breathing.

It did not disturb his true qi.

It did not heat his meridians.

There was only a very faint sensation.

Very soft.

Slowly touching his Divine Soul.

Like an invisible hand soothing him.

Telling him to rest.

Telling him to relax.

Telling him he no longer needed to hold himself so tightly.

Around him.

The other six gradually closed their eyes as well.

The final person who had just entered had been nearly exhausted, but even his breathing slowly became steady.

Hao Nhien felt something approaching.

Not fast.

Not powerful.

But becoming clearer with every moment.

He knew.

The Soul trial had begun.

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“All right...”

“Let me see what the Quan family has prepared for its elites.”

Hao Nhien closed his eyes.

The seven people sat silently within the mist.

Their breathing gradually slowed.

The runes beneath the floor glowed faintly.

Threads of light silently crept along the engraved lines toward each of the seven positions.

Hao Nhien’s awareness gradually sank.

It did not disappear.

It merely felt as though it had been covered by a soft layer of mist.

Very peaceful.

Very light.

At some unknown moment.

A figure appeared within the mist before him.

A voice sounded.

Weak.

Hoarse.

But clear.

“Hao Nhien...”

“So you really made it here?”

Hao Nhien opened his eyes.

Through the thick mist.

A figure stood only a few steps away.

Quan Lam.

He was swaying on his feet.

His face was pale as paper.

His eyes dull.

Blood still seeped from the corner of his mouth.

His dark purple robe was torn apart, covered in dust and dried blood.

He looked as though he had just crawled out of hell.

Hao Nhien was startled.

Then immediately delighted.

“Quan Lam!”

“You finally made it up here.”

Quan Lam did not answer.

He only stared at him.

His eyes were empty.

A moment later.

His legs trembled.

His knees buckled.

His body fell forward like a puppet with its strings cut.

Hao Nhien barely thought.

Instinct had already driven him forward.

“Quan Lam!”

“Hold on!”

He reached out to catch him.

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At the moment he bent down, a cold glint suddenly flashed through those dull eyes.

Not exhaustion.

Calculation.

Quan Lam’s right hand straightened.

A metallic gleam flashed.

No warning.

No sound.

That hand stabbed directly into Hao Nhien’s chest.

Pshk.

Hot blood sprayed out.

Soaking his clothes.

Pain.

But Hao Nhien barely noticed it.

Because something else hurt more.

The trust he had only just placed down.

Shattered before his eyes.

His eyes widened.

His mouth opened.

But no sound came out.

Only one thought remained in his mind.

“I...”

“Trusted the wrong person?”

Quan Lam slowly withdrew his hand.

Blood dripped from his fingertips.

He straightened.

No longer trembling.

No longer exhausted.

A cold smile appeared on his lips.

Then Quan Lam stepped past him and walked directly toward the position that had once belonged to Hao Nhien.

He sat down.

As though nothing had happened.

He looked at the blood on his hand.

Wiped it lightly against the hem of his robe.

Closed his eyes.

His breathing became steady again.

He did not look at Hao Nhien even once more.

Blood continued pouring from Hao Nhien’s chest.

Spreading into a red pool across the stone floor.

He dropped to one knee.

Both hands pressed against the ground.

His body trembled in waves.

He did not understand.

From the first time they met.

From their conversations aboard the boat.

From the time they discussed the Inner Secret Realm.

From the time they exchanged insights on fist arts.

He had never sensed malice.

If all of it had been false...

Then how badly had he misjudged this man?

Hao Nhien wanted to crawl toward him.

Not to attack.

Only to ask.

One question.

“Why?”

Even if the answer was a lie.

He still wanted to hear it.

Hao Nhien gritted his teeth.

Using what little strength he had left.

He crawled toward Quan Lam little by little.

Blood drew a long trail across the cold stone floor.

Every time he moved.

The wound hurt more.

But he did not care.

He only wanted an answer.

At that moment.

From behind him.

A very weak voice called out.

Hao Nhien froze.

He did not want to turn around.

Did not dare.

But in the end, he still looked back.

Within the thick mist.

A small figure was struggling toward him.

Tieu Lan.

Her clothes were torn.

Covered in dirt and dried blood.

Her long hair was tangled and stuck to her pale face.

But when she saw Hao Nhien.

Her eyes still lit up.

A tiny thread of hope.

Tears streamed down continuously.

She struggled forward.

With everything she had.

Both hands reaching out.

Her lips moved as though she were calling him.

But Hao Nhien could hear nothing.

He only saw her trembling lips.

Only saw the tears.

His heart immediately tightened.

“Tieu Lan!”

“Don’t come over!”

“Go back!”

He was afraid.

Quan Lam was still there.

He did not know what was happening.

Did not know who else might be here.

Tieu Lan took another step.

She did not stop.

She kept moving toward him.

As though reaching his side was all that mattered.

At that moment.

Behind her.

A tall figure stepped out of the mist.

Hao Nhien recognized him.

The first opponent he had defeated in the arena trials.

The man looked at Hao Nhien.

His gaze was cold.

The corner of his mouth curled upward.

“You took away my hope...”

“So don’t blame me.”

Without another word.

He charged forward.

His fist clenched.

Hao Nhien roared:

“No!”

The fist force tore through the air.

And smashed directly into Tieu Lan’s back.

Her small body was instantly thrown upward.

Blood sprayed through the air.

Then she fell onto the stone floor.

Thud.

The sound was very soft.

But in Hao Nhien’s ears.

It was like the sky collapsing.

Blood began spreading beneath her.

Her eyes remained open.

The light within them slowly faded.

She looked toward him.

No resentment.

No blame.

Only regret.

Her lips moved.

As though she wanted to say something.

But only blood came out.

Then her eyes closed.

Hao Nhien collapsed to his knees.

Both hands braced against the floor.

His entire body trembled.

He stared at the small body lying not far away.

She had only ever wanted to cook porridge.

Make tea.

Tend a few pots of medicinal herbs on the boat.

Things so small that Hao Nhien had never imagined he would be so afraid of losing them.

“Tieu Lan...”

“I’m sorry...”

Hao Nhien reached toward her.

But the distance suddenly became absurdly vast.

As though an entire sea of mist separated them.

Tears finally spilled out.

Rolling down his cheeks.

Falling onto the floor.

He had once said he needed to become stronger.

Strong enough to protect her.

But now.

She was lying there.

Hao Nhien punched the floor.

Blood splashed from his fist.

“I chased after strength...”

“And in the end, I still couldn’t protect even you...”

The moment that thought appeared.

A very soft voice suddenly sounded.

“Hao Nhien...”

“Hao Nhien...”

He slowly raised his head.

Far away.

Within the white mist.

A woman appeared.

That face.

He could never mistake it.

Anh Nhien.

Those eyes that had once been gentle.

That smile that had once brightened his entire old world.

But now.

Her face was filled with pain.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Her eyes were red.

She reached toward him.

Her steps unsteady.

Faster and faster.

As though she wanted to rush over.

As though she wanted to embrace him.

But the faster she ran.

The fainter her figure became.

Thinning.

Dissolving into the mist.

Her lips moved.

No sound emerged.

Yet Hao Nhien felt as though he could hear her.

“Hao Nhien...”

“I’m scared...”

“I don’t want to be alone...”

His heart felt crushed.

Tieu Lan was already lying in blood.

Now Anh Nhien was disappearing as well.

Hao Nhien wanted to rush toward her.

Wanted to hold her back.

But his body felt nailed to the ground.

Exhaustion.

A boundless exhaustion.

Rose from somewhere within him.

He had struggled for too long.

Wanted to protect.

Wanted to recover what he had lost.

Wanted to become stronger.

But in the end.

One person lay dead before him.

The other remained forever beyond his reach.

Why was he still trying?

Hao Nhien’s hand slowly fell.

His shoulders relaxed.

He closed his eyes.

And let his body collapse into the cold pool of blood.

A faint thought appeared.

“Wait for me...”

“Tieu Lan...”

“Anh Nhien...”

Darkness began to descend.

Very soft.

Very cold.

Very quiet.

Hao Nhien’s awareness slowly sank.

“I’m coming...”

But just as that thought appeared.

A tiny question suddenly surfaced from the deepest part of his heart.

Could he really...

Go to Anh Nhien?

The thought was tiny.

Like a grain of sand falling into a still lake.

Ripples spread outward.

Hao Nhien froze.

Anh Nhien was somewhere else.

In another world.

She did not belong to the Remnant Cloud Continent.

She was being held by an existence at least at Divine Transformation.

Perhaps even higher.

Then who was the woman standing before him?

Quan Lam could appear here.

Tieu Lan...

Even if it made no sense.

He could still panic so completely that he failed to think.

But Anh Nhien could not.

She absolutely could not truly appear inside the Quan Family Inner Secret Realm.

If the Anh Nhien before him was false...

Then what about Tieu Lan?

What about Quan Lam?

What about the wound in his chest?

A chill ran straight down his spine.

Hao Nhien suddenly opened his eyes within the darkness.

“Impossible...”

“This...”

“Is an illusion.”

The moment that thought fully formed.

The world before him began to tremble.

But it did not disappear.

Tieu Lan was still lying there.

Anh Nhien was still dissolving into the mist.

Quan Lam still sat silently in the distance.

The emotions remained real.

The pain remained real.

Even though his mind understood.

His Divine Soul was still being dragged downward.

Hao Nhien bit down hard on his tongue.

The metallic taste of blood immediately filled his mouth.

Pain.

He used that pain to hold onto the awareness he had just recovered.

“False.”

“All of it is false.”

“But the feeling...”

“Is real.”

He did not deny it.

Did not force it to disappear.

He held onto only one thought.

What stood before him was not reality.

After a long time.

Tieu Lan’s image began to break apart.

Like smoke scattered by the wind.

Quan Lam disappeared as well.

The wound in Hao Nhien’s chest vanished.

The mist returned to what it had been.

He was still sitting on the rune covered stone platform.

Both hands resting on his knees.

True qi still circulating through his meridians.

There was no fatal wound in his chest.

Hao Nhien lowered his head.

His hands were still trembling slightly.

At some point, his fingernails had dug deep into his palms.

A few thin lines of blood seeped out.

He gasped for breath.

Cold sweat ran down his back.

“Illusion...”

His voice was hoarse.

“Terrifying.”

Not terrifying because it was false.

But because it felt too real.

It did not create unfamiliar fears.

It simply took the deepest wounds within his Divine Soul.

And tore them open one by one.

Trust.

Tieu Lan.

Anh Nhien.

One after another.

Driving him toward the point where he would abandon himself.

Hao Nhien closed his eyes for a breath.

Even though he was awake.

His heart still hurt.

The image of Tieu Lan falling remained lodged inside him like a blade.

The fear in Anh Nhien’s eyes within the mist still tightened his throat.

Only after a long time.

Did he open his eyes again.

His gaze was clearer.

But deep within it, a faint tremor still remained.

Hao Nhien quietly said within his heart:

“Thank you, Anh Nhien.”

“If you weren’t somewhere this secret realm could never truly reach...”

“I might really have sunk into it.”

He gave a dry laugh.

Very faint.

“So even the illusion never expected you to save me like this.”

Hao Nhien slowly turned his head.

The other six were still seated on their stone platforms.

But their conditions were completely different.

One person trembled all over.

Both hands clenched tightly.

Their face twisted in pain.

Another lowered their head.

Breathing chaotic.

The spiritual qi around their body fluctuating between strong and weak.

Quan Nha, usually so cold and composed.

Now had lips that moved constantly.

Tears ran down both cheeks.

Yet she seemed completely unaware.

Farther away.

One person was deathly pale.

Eyes wide open.

But without focus.

Giving Hao Nhien the feeling that their awareness had sunk somewhere very deep.

The last person convulsed in waves.

Sweat poured from their body.

Their breathing gradually weakened.

Like an oil lamp flickering in the wind.

Hao Nhien wanted to speak.

Wanted to try calling them awake.

But his body could not move.

An invisible force rose from the stone platform beneath him.

Holding him firmly in place.

Even the true qi he tried to send outward was forced back into his meridians.

Hao Nhien tried once more.

Still useless.

He frowned.

“No interference?”

That made sense.

If this was an individual trial.

Then whether someone crossed it.

Or sank beneath it.

They had to rely on themselves.

He could not help them.

And he was not allowed to.