In an instant, the ground beneath him seemed to shift, the air growing heavier, denser. A dark mist began to swirl around his feet, crawling up his legs and wrapping itself around him like the fingers of an unseen hand. His surroundings melted away, the city fading from view as the world around him blurred into a void of inky blackness.
"Wulian, this is the gateway," the system's voice said, no longer playful. It was serious now. "Once you step through, there's no turning back. You must be prepared for what lies ahead."
Wulian didn't respond. His heart pounded in his chest as the darkness grew, suffocating him, pulling him into the unknown. His feet moved before his mind could catch up, and as he stepped forward, the world seemed to crumble away. The ground beneath him was no longer solid—he was falling, weightless, like a leaf in a storm.
The sensation of falling only lasted for a moment before he landed with a heavy thud. Wulian's body absorbed the impact easily, though the air was thick with an oppressive energy that made his skin crawl. He rose to his feet and glanced around, finding himself standing in a desolate, barren landscape. There was no sky here, only an endless expanse of dark, swirling mist. The ground was cracked and lifeless, with jagged rocks scattered about, like the bones of a long-dead giant.
A faint glow appeared in the distance, a flicker of light that seemed to call out to him. Wulian's instincts flared, urging him to move, but his body remained rooted to the spot. He had to get a feel for this place first.
"What is this place?" he muttered, his voice sounding strange, almost distorted in the eerie silence.
"This is the Underworld, Wulian," the system replied. "It is a realm that exists beyond the mortal world, a space between life and death. It is a place of suffering, of souls bound by their past deeds, unable to pass on. You will face the trials here, and you will learn what true power means."
"Isn't that what I've already done?" Wulian asked, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "I've faced the strongest, mastered the deepest secrets of the Dao. What more could I possibly learn?"
The system's voice softened, almost as if it was amused by his arrogance. "The Underworld is not like the mortal realm, Wulian. It doesn't bend to your will. Here, you'll have to fight for every scrap of knowledge. Every bit of power you gain will cost you."
"Cost me?" Wulian repeated, his expression hardening. "I've already lost everything. What else do I have to lose?"
"You still have yourself," the system said, a hint of something darker in its tone. "And when you finally ascend, when you understand the truth of the Underworld, you'll see just how small your world has been."
Wulian's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. He was tired of riddles. Tired of the cryptic messages. He wanted answers, and he wasn't about to let some dark, endless realm stop him from finding them.
His footsteps echoed loudly as he started toward the flickering light in the distance. With each step, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on him like an invisible weight. He didn't care. He wouldn't be deterred.
The light grew brighter the closer he got, until it became a blinding beacon in the darkness. Wulian's heart quickened as he drew closer, a feeling of anticipation rising within him. He was going to face whatever trials lay ahead, no matter what it took.
And then, as he passed the threshold of the light, everything changed.
He was no longer in the bleak, empty expanse of the Underworld. Now, he found himself standing in a vast, ancient hall. The walls were lined with strange symbols and runes that pulsed with dark energy. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the faint sound of whispering voices seemed to drift from the very walls.
At the center of the room stood a towering figure, draped in dark robes that seemed to shift and change with every movement. Its face was hidden in the shadows of its hood, but Wulian could feel its gaze on him, piercing through him like a cold, calculating eye.
"Welcome, Wulian Qor," the figure said, its voice smooth and almost musical. "You are the one who seeks the truth, who dares to defy fate. But be warned, there are those who do not take kindly to such arrogance."
Wulian's grip on his sword tightened, and his posture shifted into a defensive stance. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
The figure stepped forward, its presence sending a chill down his spine. "I am but a servant, a guide for those who enter the Underworld. You will face trials, challenges that will test your resolve, your strength, and your will to survive. Only those who pass will earn the right to claim the knowledge they seek. But be warned, failure comes at a cost."
"Trials?" Wulian scoffed, shaking his head. "I've fought and bled for everything I've gained. I don't fear trials."
The figure's laugh was soft, almost mocking. "Then prepare yourself, Wulian Qor. For what you seek, you will have to sacrifice more than you can imagine."