Netherworld Pavilion: Keeper of Souls

The dim light of the temple hall seemed to flicker as the Ascended One stepped back, their presence remaining a constant, weighty force in the room. Li Zhen felt the air shift, growing colder and heavier, as if the very walls of the temple were alive, reacting to the trial that lay ahead.

The Ascended One regarded him with an unreadable expression, their eyes sharp and knowing. "You have passed the trial of the heart, Keeper of Souls," they said, their voice echoing through the vast chamber. "Now, you must face the trial of the mind. In this trial, you will confront your beliefs, your ideals, and your perception of the world. It will force you to question everything you know about yourself and the path you have chosen."

Li Zhen took a deep breath, his heart still heavy from the first trial. The images of his childhood, the harsh words of his father, and the pain of being misunderstood had lingered in his mind. But now, he knew what he had to do: he could not be ruled by his past. He had chosen a path of cultivation, a path of strength and responsibility. And no matter how difficult the trial, he would not let it break him.

"I'm ready," he said, his voice steady, though a flicker of uncertainty remained in the pit of his stomach. The Ascended One nodded, and with a wave of their hand, the temple hall seemed to dissolve around him.

The world shifted, the walls of the temple vanishing, replaced by an endless expanse of shifting clouds. The ground beneath Li Zhen's feet was soft, like he was standing on the edge of an ocean of mist. The sky above was an impossible hue, a swirling mixture of deep purples, vibrant blues, and the faintest glimmers of starlight. It was as though he had been transported to a different plane entirely, one that was neither real nor imagined.

The Ascended One's voice came again, this time distant, as if it came from the very fabric of the space around him. "In this realm, your mind is your greatest tool, but it is also your greatest enemy. You will encounter illusions, contradictions, and paradoxes—forces that will challenge everything you believe. It is up to you whether you can discern the truth from the lies."

Li Zhen nodded. He had no idea what the Ascended One meant by illusions, contradictions, or paradoxes, but he knew one thing for certain: he would need to stay focused, to trust his instincts, and to think critically. His cultivation journey had always been about self-mastery, and now, he would need to apply that to his mind as much as his body.

Suddenly, the clouds parted before him, revealing a landscape that seemed familiar yet surreal. It was the city where he had grown up, but it was not the bustling metropolis he remembered. The streets were eerily quiet, the buildings crumbling and abandoned, and the sky above was tinged with a sickly yellow glow. It was a vision of destruction, a future he had never imagined for the place he once called home.

Li Zhen's breath caught in his throat. Was this the future? The city, reduced to ruins—was this what awaited him? Was this the consequence of his choices? Was this the price he would pay for his cultivation?

He took a step forward, but as his foot landed on the cracked pavement, the vision shifted. The destruction melted away, and suddenly, he was standing in the heart of the city again, but this time it was vibrant, alive with people moving through the streets, laughing, talking, going about their business as if nothing was wrong.

But something was off. The people seemed hollow, their faces blank, their eyes vacant. They moved without purpose, like puppets on strings, their actions mechanical, their words scripted. And in the center of the crowd, Li Zhen saw himself.

The vision was a mirror of his own life, a reflection of his own self-doubt and fear. He saw himself, a younger version of himself, walking through the streets with the same vacant expression as the others, trapped in a cycle of routine and indifference. He was trapped in a life that lacked meaning, a life that had no purpose beyond mere survival. This was the life he had been living before he inherited the hotel, before he took up the mantle of the Keeper of Souls.

The illusion was powerful, but Li Zhen resisted. He had already broken free from this way of thinking. He had chosen to walk a different path, one that was uncertain but filled with purpose. The man in the vision—he wasn't the Li Zhen of today. That version of him had no room for growth, no room for change. He had been defined by his father's harsh words and his own lack of direction.

Li Zhen clenched his fists. He would not return to that. He had chosen to embrace the path of cultivation, to grow, to learn, to protect. He would not allow himself to fall back into the rut of complacency and self-doubt.

The vision flickered and vanished, leaving Li Zhen standing in the shifting mists once again. The voice of the Ascended One returned, soft but powerful.

"You have rejected the illusion of a future defined by fear and self-doubt. But what of the other illusion, Keeper of Souls? What of the illusion of your own strength?"

Before Li Zhen could respond, the ground beneath him cracked open, and from the depths of the void, a towering figure rose—an enormous version of himself. The figure was made of light and shadow, its eyes burning with a fierce intensity. It was a reflection of his own ambition, his own desire for power, his own belief that he could handle any challenge, no matter how great.

The giant version of Li Zhen stepped forward, its footsteps shaking the very ground beneath him. "You think you are strong enough to face the Dark Warden," the vision of himself boomed. "But you are nothing. You are weak, just like the boy you once were. You are not worthy of this power. You are not worthy of the responsibility that comes with it."

Li Zhen gritted his teeth, his heart pounding in his chest. The vision of himself was his deepest fear made flesh—the fear that he would not be enough, that he would never be able to protect those who depended on him. He had always struggled with the weight of responsibility, always felt that he was not capable of handling the power he had inherited.

But the more he thought about it, the more he realized something. He was not the same person he had been. The training, the trials, the choices he had made—they had shaped him into something stronger, something capable of overcoming even his deepest insecurities. The power he had gained from the hotel, from the Netherworld Pavilion, was not just for his own use—it was for the souls he was sworn to protect. It was a responsibility he had taken up willingly, and he could not falter now.

"I am not afraid," Li Zhen said, his voice firm, the words coming from deep within his soul. "I will never be afraid of my own power. I will use it to protect the innocent, to guard the souls entrusted to me. And I will face the Dark Warden, no matter how strong it is, no matter how many trials I must face. I will not fail."

The giant version of him roared, its form beginning to break apart, dissipating into the mist as the trial faded.

"You have confronted the illusion of your strength," the Ascended One's voice said, its tone now filled with approval. "But now, the greatest trial remains. The trial of the mind itself. To see the world clearly, without the filters of your own desires and fears."

Li Zhen stood still, his mind racing. The final challenge lay ahead, but he had already learned something vital from the trials he had faced: the key to overcoming illusions was clarity. To see things as they truly were, without the distortion of fear, pride, or regret.

The mists swirled around him again, and before him appeared a vision of the Netherworld Pavilion—but not the one he knew. This one was dark, twisted, its walls crumbling, its once-beautiful architecture now decaying. The hotel, which had been his home, his responsibility, was now a desolate ruin, its halls empty and lifeless.

And standing in the center of the hotel was the Dark Warden, its eyes glowing with malevolent power. The vision was a projection of his greatest fear—the fear that he would fail in his duty, that the hotel would fall, and all the souls under his care would be lost.

Li Zhen's heart pounded as the vision threatened to overwhelm him. But this time, he resisted. He had already learned that fear was just another illusion. The Netherworld Pavilion was not the building—it was not the walls or the corridors—it was the souls it protected, the duty he had undertaken. And as long as he was there to defend it, it would not fall.

"I will protect it," Li Zhen said, his voice unwavering. "I will never give up. No matter what it takes."

The vision shattered, and the mists cleared.

"You have passed the trial of the mind, Keeper of Souls," the Ascended One said, their voice soft with approval. "You are ready to face what lies ahead."

Li Zhen stood tall, his heart calm and his mind clear. He had faced his greatest fears, his deepest doubts, and had come through stronger for it. The trial of the mind had tested his resolve, but now, he was more certain than ever of his purpose.

The path ahead was still uncertain, but Li Zhen knew one thing for sure: he was ready.