white phantom

Silence.

Bai Shen stood amidst the thick mist that veiled the mountains. The wind whispered softly, carrying faint murmurs that were impossible to decipher. There were no signs of life, no immediate threats.

Yet he knew… the trial had begun.

There was no enemy lunging at him, no beasts lurking in the shadows. And that was precisely the challenge.

"If you can survive here for three days, then perhaps I will answer your question."

The man's words echoed in his mind. But survival was not just about endurance—this trial was clearly deeper than that.

Illusion or Reality?

Bai Shen took slow, measured steps, letting Phantom Echo extend outward.

Something was off.

The vibrations in the air were unstable.

The wind's flow was inconsistent, as if the world around him was shifting.

And then…

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Footsteps.

Bai Shen turned swiftly—but there was no one there.

Yet, the footsteps continued. Circling him, drawing closer, then fading away, as if something—or someone—was toying with him.

This wasn't a battle. This was a test of awareness.

A World That Isn't Real

Bai Shen tightened his grip on his sword.

"This isn't an ordinary illusion."

He had encountered many illusion techniques before, but this was different. It didn't just deceive the eyes—it manipulated all of his senses.

The sounds he heard, the air he felt, even the scent of the damp earth… everything felt real.

But was it?

Bai Shen closed his eyes—not because he was blind, but because he needed to perceive the world without relying on his deceived senses.

Phantom Echo - Silent Reverberation.

A soft sound wave rippled outward, not to detect shapes, but to understand the true rhythm of the world.

And that's when he realized it.

The footsteps weren't coming from someone else.

They were echoes of his own steps.

This world wasn't real—it was a reflection of himself.

Without hesitation, Bai Shen drove his sword into the ground.

Crack!

The world around him shattered. The mist thinned, and suddenly, he found himself standing in the exact same spot as before—as if he had never moved.

But now, something had changed.

Meeting the Hermit

A soft chuckle came from beyond the trees.

"Interesting. You freed yourself from the first trial faster than I expected."

Bai Shen remained composed.

"So you finally reveal yourself?"

From behind the trees, an old man stepped forward. His long hair was unkempt, his robes simple, but his sharp gaze felt as though it could see into one's soul.

"I'm not yet convinced that you are worthy to learn from me."

Bai Shen wasn't surprised.

He knew this was only the beginning.