Strange Paths to Immortality

In the desolate village of Su Nian's childhood, the charred remains of huts creaked in the wind. The cries of the dying echoed in her ears, and the same paralyzing fear that had gripped her years ago threatened to consume her once more. The villagers she couldn't save emerged from the shadows, their eyes accusatory. "You were weak," they hissed. "You let us die."​Su Nian's chains trembled in her grasp, but she forced herself to stand tall. "I was a child then," she shouted back. "But I've grown stronger. I won't let my past define me!" Summoning all her courage, she lashed out with her chains, shattering the illusions. The villagers vanished in a puff of smoke, and a warm, cleansing light began to wash over her.​Zhang Chengying, in his never - ending battle, was surrounded by enemies that looked just like the comrades he'd failed to protect. Their attacks were relentless, and each strike felt like a reminder of his inadequacy. "You couldn't save us," they taunted. "You're a failure."​But Zhang Chengying refused to yield. He dropped his makeshift weapon and opened his arms wide. "I grieve for you all," he said, his voice breaking. "I'll carry the weight of your loss, but I won't let it stop me from fighting for what's right." To his surprise, the enemies' attacks faltered, and they dissolved into motes of light, leaving him bathed in a soft, golden glow.​In the void of shattered stars, Luna reached out, trying to grasp the fragments of light that slipped through her fingers. "I'm not strong enough," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. But then, she remembered the times she'd protected her friends, the lives she'd saved. "Strength isn't measured by the power I possess," she realized. "It's in the hope I can give others." With a determined look, she gathered the remaining star shards, and they coalesced into a brilliant constellation that banished the darkness around her.​Lyra, surrounded by forbidden tomes, was tempted by the knowledge that lay within their pages. The power to control, to dominate, whispered in her ear. But she thought of the friends who trusted her, of the balance they sought to restore. "Knowledge without wisdom is a curse," she said, closing the books one by one. As she did, a gentle, cleansing breeze blew through the library, dispelling the allure of the forbidden.​In Chen Jiuzhang's realm, the shadowy figure laughed maniacally. "You'll never defeat me. The taint is a part of you, and it always will be." But Chen Jiuzhang held the crystal - key high, its light growing brighter. "I'm not alone," he said. "My friends' strength is my strength." Images of Su Nian, Zhang Chengying, Luna, and Lyra flashed in his mind. Drawing on that collective power, he charged at the shadowy figure. The key emitted a powerful blast of energy, shattering the figure into pieces.​Back in the real world, the Guardian's eyes glowed brighter as it sensed the changes in the group. The Abyssal Keeper watched, its expression unreadable. Just as it seemed they had passed the test, the ground began to shake violently. The Guardian raised its sword once more, and a dark, swirling portal opened behind the group. "There is one final trial," the Abyssal Keeper announced. "Enter the portal and face the greatest threat to the balance within the heart of the keep. Only then will your worth be truly proven."