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Access to the sword
After passing the test, they reached the depths of the valley, where they saw the sword embedded in a huge rock. The sword was radiating a strange light, as if it was alive.
Xu Jian approached and placed his hand on the sword hilt. Suddenly, he felt an intense heat running through his body, and he began to hear voices talking to him:
"If you are not strong-willed, you will burn out. Strength is a burden, not a gift."
Li Wei: "Xu Jian! Be careful, the sword may be a curse."
But Xu Jian, with his eyes closed, gathered all his strength and pulled the sword from the rock. The moment he released the sword, a huge energy exploded, and a huge creature, one of the guardians of the ancient sword, appeared before them.
Guard: "I'm not leaving. Are you ready?"
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The guard blazing with black fire
The moment Xu Jian stood in front of the guard, he felt an awe he had never felt before. The guard was surrounded by flames that devoured everything around it, leaving behind nothing but ash. The air became heavy, and every beat of Xu Jian's heart reminded him that he was facing something beyond human strength.
Xu Jian: "Li Wei, this is not the time for jokes. You have to run now!"
Li Wei: "Do you think I will leave you? If we are going to die, let's die together!"
Xu Jian's gaze was filled with sadness and anger. There was no time to convince Li Wei. Suddenly, and with a treacherous move, Xu Jian struck Li Wei with a blow that knocked him unconscious. He picked him up and threw him away using his newly acquired strength to ensure that he would be out of danger.
Guard: "Noble action, but it won't save you."
The flames around the guard flared up more violently, as if expressing his anger. Xu Jian rushed towards him at a speed that was not visible to the naked eye, and the tide began.
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Xu Jian against the guard
Xu Jian knew that he wouldn't win by force. The blows he aimed were swallowed by flames before they reached the guard. Every attempt to attack was met with a harsher response. But he noticed something strange… The black fire seemed to feed on the soul and wasn't just an ordinary flame.
In the midst of the fighting, Xu Jian realized that the only way to stop the guard was to control the fire itself. He began to focus his energy on his soul, trying to keep up with the flow of fire. With every difficulty, he found a solution that helped him understand how to control it.
Finally, at a crucial moment, Xu Jian let out an internal scream, and black flames began to engulf his hands. The guard paused for a moment, stunned.
Guard: "Impossible... How can you control my flames?"
Xu Jian: "Because I won't let you win. This fire is now a part of me!"
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Teachings of the Heavenly Ruler
After the fight was over, Xu Jian was about to collapse from exhaustion, but a huge shadow appeared in front of him. It was majestic, surrounded by an aura of light that shone from its eyes only.
Shadow: "You are now on the right path, heir of darkness and light. But the power you have possessed is only the beginning. There is more to learn."
For three days, Xu Jian sat in meditation with this shadow, who introduced himself as the "Celestial Ruler." He told him of a long history of wars and conflicts between light and darkness and of the power of the Celestial Jewels.
Celestial Ruler: "There are two gems, one representing light and the other representing darkness. If they come together, their possessor becomes immortal, able to break the shackles of time and space. But beware… this power is as much a curse as it is a blessing. And it will attract enemies you can't imagine."
Xu Jian understood the words, but he wasn't sure what he must do.
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Gathering of the Two Jewels
Xu Jian: "Tell me more about these jewels. What is their secret? And why are they so important?"
Celestial Ruler: "The 'Two Jewels' are not just a source of power, but a key to immortality and absolute control. When you unite them, time and space will be under your will, but... if they fall into the wrong hands, you will create a catastrophe that could destroy all that exists."
Xu Jian was silent for a moment, weighing the shadow's words. He knew that this mission would be fraught with danger, but he had no other choice.
Xu Jian: "Where do I start? How do I find the gems?"
Celestial Ruler: "The first 'Jewel' is hidden in the Eternal Mirage Valley inside an ancient buried structure, but... there is a much stronger guardian than the one you defeated."
At that moment, Li Wei suddenly entered the room. His face was angry after regaining consciousness from Xu Jian's treacherous blow.
Li Wei: "Xu Jian! How dare you hit me?! If you weren't my friend, I wouldn't have forgiven you, but you have to explain to me what the hell is going on!"
Xu Jian smiled coldly and said, "Li Wei, I did it to protect you. Now, either follow me silently or go back from where you came from."
Despite his anger, Li Wei decided to stay with Xu Jian, realizing that his friend was fighting a bigger battle than he could fight alone.
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