An eerie silence fell over the basement. The ashes from Wei Zhang's scroll were still floating in the air when Jihan opened her eyes. His body felt like it was burning from within-as if thousands of needles of ice and fire were fighting in his veins.
“Wake up,” Lin Mei's voice broke the silence. “We don't have much time.”
Jihan tried to stand up, but her legs were shaking violently. His vision was still blurry, filled with flashes of golden light from the fight just now. “What... what happened?” Lin Mei did not answer immediately. The woman walked around the room, her pale fingers touching the cracked pillars. “Kai Wen isn't dead,” she said finally. “He's too cunning to die that easily.” “But we saw for ourselves-” “What we saw,” Lin Mei cut in, “is only his broken physical body. His soul...” she let out a long sigh, ”...has not been bound to a single vessel for a long time.”Jihan tried to digest this information as she forced her legs to stand. Her head was still spinning, filled with memories that didn't belong to her-or perhaps they did but had long been buried. She saw herself as a child, practicing waterbending by the river with her mother. Seeing the proud smile on Li Wei's face every time he managed to make a small wave...
“The seal your mother put up is starting to weaken,” Lin Mei said, as if she could read his mind. “That's how it should be. You're already strong enough to bear this burden.”
“What burden?” Jihan asked, frustration starting to show in her voice. “Everyone talks in riddles. Wei Zhang, mom, now you... What exactly are you hiding from me?” Lin Mei turned to face him. In the dim light of the remaining torches, her reddish eyes seemed to flicker dangerously. “Why do you think Kai Wen is so obsessed with you? Why is Wei Zhang willing to die to protect you? Why did your mother choose to seal your powers and send you far away?” Jihan was silent. Those questions had haunted him for a long time. “Because you,” Lin Mei continued, “are an anomaly. A Guardian is not supposed to be able to control more than one element. But you...” she smiled faintly, ”you inherited the blood of both your parents. Water from your mother, and fire from your father.” Jihan's world seemed to stop spinning. “My father...?” “Yes,” Lin Mei nodded. “Kai Wen is your father.”Jihan felt her knees go weak. She fell to her knees, her chest heaving with emotions. Hatred, anger, confusion, and the most painful-betrayal.
“Lies,” she whispered. “This can't be...” “Kai Wen wasn't always like this,” Lin Mei said softly. “He used to be one of our best Guardians. Genius, talented, and... loved your mother very much.” “Then what happened?” “Ambition,” Lin Mei answered shortly. “And fear. When Li Wei was pregnant with you, we all felt an incredible energy from the fetus in her womb. An energy we had never felt before-a perfect blend of water and fire.”Lin Mei walked towards the ruined altar, picking up a handful of Wei Zhang's scroll ashes. “Kai Wen is scared. He was afraid that your strength would exceed his. Afraid of losing his position as the strongest. And that fear...” Lin Mei exhaled the ashes in his hand, letting them fly into the air, “...turning him into the monster we know today.”
Suddenly, the floor shook violently. From the cracks in the wall, black smoke started seeping in.
“He came back faster than I thought,” Lin Mei swore softly. “Jihan, listen to me carefully. You must leave here. Look for the Five Elements Mountain temple in the east. There...” Her words were cut off by the sound of echoing laughter-the same laughter that always haunted Jihan's nightmares. But this time it sounded different. More... inhuman. “Telling my own daughter to run away from me, Lin Mei?” Kai Wen's voice rang out from every direction. “Isn't it time for a family reunion?”The black smoke grew thicker, beginning to form monstrous figures. Lin Mei pushed Jihan towards the stairs. “RUN!”
But Jihan's legs refused to move. Something inside her was churning, demanding to get out. The water in her skin pouch trembled wildly, and for the first time in her life, she felt a familiar heat in her palms. “No,” she said firmly. “I won't run away again.” Lin Mei looked at him with a complicated expression-a mixture of pride and worry. “You're not ready to face it yet.” “Maybe,” Jihan admitted. “But I'm ready to try.”Kai Wen's figure began to form out of the black smoke, but this time it was different. His body seemed to be made of solid shadow, with eyes that burned blood red. “Finally,” he smiled-a smile that made Jihan's hair stand on end. “You're starting to show your fangs, my son.”
“I'm not your son,” Jihan hissed. The water in her leather pouch burst out, forming long whips that glistened in the torchlight.But before the whips could touch Kai Wen, they froze in midair-turning into unnatural black ice.
“It's too early to challenge me,” Kai Wen shook his head. “You can't even control the fire in your blood yet.” “Maybe not,” Jihan admitted. “But I'm not alone.” Just then, Lin Mei darted forward at a speed impossible for her age. His hands formed an intricate seal, and instantly the room was filled with thick mist. “Old tricks, Lin Mei?” Kai Wen laughed. “Have you forgotten who taught you this technique?” From within the fog, Lin Mei's voice sounded calm. “No, I didn't. I just wanted to prove one thing to my new student.”Jihan felt a strange pull of energy from Lin Mei. The mist around them began to swirl, forming a vortex that grew faster and faster.
“Pay close attention, Jihan,” Lin Mei said. “Because this is your first lesson in the true power of a Guardian.” The swirling mist suddenly stopped-frozen in the air like thousands of crystal needles. Then, in the blink of an eye, the needles turned into brightly burning blue flames.Kai Wen hissed unhappily. “You...”
“Yes,” Lin Mei smiled. “I'm also like Jihan. An anomaly you thought you killed years ago.” The fight that followed was something Jihan would remember for the rest of his life. Lin Mei and Kai Wen move in a mesmerizing dance of death-ice meets fire, water fights shadows, air clashes with lightning. Every move brought destruction to the space around them.And in the midst of the chaos, Jihan felt something rise within her. Every time Lin Mei transformed one element into another, she could feel the flow of energy that occurred. It was like music that she could finally hear after a long period of deafness.
“Now, Jihan!” Lin Mei shouted in the middle of the fight. “Remember what Wei Zhang said!” True strength is in your heart.Jihan closed his eyes, trying to feel the energy flowing through his body. Her mother's water-calm but deadly. Her father's fire-wild but full of life. Two opposing forces, but complementary.
When she opened her eyes, the world looked different. She could see the flow of energy all around her-like rivers of light flowing through everything.“No...” Kai Wen took a step back when he saw Jihan's eyes. “No way... you can't be this strong yet...”
Jihan's normally blue eyes now sparkled in two colors-ice blue in the left eye, and fire red in the right. “This is just the beginning,” Jihan said calmly. Her hands were raised, and for the first time in her life, she felt the perfect harmony of water and fire within her. Lin Mei smiled proudly. “Welcome to your true destiny, Jihan.”Kai Wen roared angrily, releasing a wave of black energy that shattered the pillars around them. But Jihan was no longer afraid. With one graceful movement, she made water and fire dance together, forming a spiral that engulfed Kai Wen's black energy.
“You think you've won?” Kai Wen laughed-a laugh that sounded increasingly insane. “This is only the beginning, my son. There are still many secrets you don't know...”Before Jihan or Lin Mei could react, Kai Wen disappeared in a burst of black smoke. But this time, he left something behind-an old scroll that looked very familiar.
“That...” Lin Mei gasped. “The Five Elements Fate Scroll.” “What is it?” “The greatest secret of the Guardians,” Lin Mei replied seriously. “And also... a prophecy about the destruction of our world.” Jihan picked up the scroll with trembling hands. On its surface, he could feel the same energy as he had felt from Wei Zhang's scroll. “What should we do now?” she asked. Lin Mei gazed towards the stairs leading up. “We must hurry to the Five Elements Mountain. Because if the prophecy in the scroll is true...” he sighed heavily, ”...we only have until the next full moon before Kai Wen awakens them.”“They?”
“The Forbidden Guardians.” Lin Mei whispered. “Five ancient beings that even gods are afraid to name.” Outside the temple, lightning flashed in the dark, as if the sky itself trembled at the mention of the name. Jihan looked down at her hands that were still emitting a combination of blue and red light, wondering what kind of fate awaited her ahead. One thing she knew for sure-there was no going back from here.Related Chapters
The challenger of Destiny Secrets of the Forbidden Scroll
The darkness of night enveloped the Five Elements Mountain when Jihan woke up drenched in sweat. It was that dream again-the same dream that had haunted him since they left the underground temple three days ago. In his dreams, he always saw the sadly smiling figure of his mother, standing at the edge of a cliff with an ancient scroll in her hand.“Forgive mom, Jihan,” Li Wei always said in the dream. “But this is the only way...”Then Li Wei would jump into the abyss, taking the scroll with him. And each time, Jihan would wake up with a scream caught in her throat.“Another nightmare?” Lin Mei's voice came from the corner of the cave where they were staying. The woman sat cross-legged, her eyes closed in meditation.Jihan nodded, knowing Lin Mei didn't see her. “I saw mom... and a scroll.”Lin Mei's eyes opened slowly. In the dim light of the campfire, her bi-colored irises-ice blue and fire red, exactly like Jihan's eyes now-flashed meaningfully. “The Second Scroll of Destiny,” she m
The challenger of Destiny Under the Shadow of Destiny
Dawn had not yet broken when Lin Mei woke Jihan. The blizzard had subsided, leaving a eerie silence on the Five Elements Mountain. The bodies of the Shadowhunters had vanished-evaporated into black smoke as the sun set, leaving only the bone masks now strewn across the cave floor.“We should move,” Lin Mei said as she gathered their remaining supplies. “This place is no longer safe.”Jihan nodded, but her mind was still on last night's revelation. Kai Wen-her biological father-was planning to sacrifice his own blood for the power of the gods. And somehow, this fact didn't surprise her as much as it should have.“You haven't answered my question from last night,” Jihan said as she followed Lin Mei out of the cave. “About you also being an Anomaly.”Lin Mei was silent for a moment, his eyes gazing out towards the dawn that was beginning to peek over the eastern horizon. “It's a long story, Jihan. And we don't have time-”“We have until the full moon,” Jihan cut in, her voice firmer than
The challenger of Destiny The Trail of the Runaways
A thick mist shrouds the ancient forest as Jihan follows the clues in Lin Mei's map. Every step was cautious, remembering the warning about Kai Wen's spies who might be lurking. Leaves moved without wind, and occasionally there were unearthly whispers from the darkness.“There should be signs around here,” he muttered as he examined the worn map in his hand. The ancient symbols engraved on the map seemed to move, changing every time she tried to make sense of them. But there was one symbol that was fixed - the image of a phoenix burning with black flames.Suddenly, the sound of a twig snapping broke the silence. Jihan froze. Her fighting instincts sharpened, sensing an unwanted presence. With a smooth motion, he took a deep breath, feeling the duality of his powers - fire and water - churning within him.“Come out,” she commanded firmly. “I know you're there.”A soft chuckle sounded from behind the trees. A young woman stepped out of the shadows, her hair white as snow, her eyes shini
The challenger of Destiny The Lost Balance
Blinding white light filled the cave as Jihan's power flowed. For the first time, he did not fight the duality within him - he embraced it, letting fire and water dance in perfect harmony. The energy moved like waves, propagating through the cracks in the cave floor and up Wei Zhang's unnatural body.Kai Wen shouted in an ancient language, trying to maintain his control over Wei Zhang. But his imperfect awakening spell began to crack in the face of the pure power flowing from Jihan.“Impossible,” Kai Wen staggered back, his eyes wide with obvious fear. “This power... how?”Li Wei stepped forward, tears of joy streaming down his cheeks. “Because he is a child born of love, not ambition,” she replied softly. “Something you will never understand, Kai Wen.”Wei Zhang's body began to glow with a silvery light. His red eyes slowly turned back to a warm and familiar brown. “Jihan...” his voice was now entirely his own. “Thank you...”But the happiness only lasted for a moment. From the crack
The challenger of Destiny Shadow In Crystal
Jihan felt her body floating in a sparkling void. The crystals around her reflected shadows from the past, present, and possibly the future. Each reflection showed a different version of her - some filled with light, others drowned in darkness.“This is the final test,” the voice of the First Guardian echoed in her mind. “To achieve true balance, you must accept all possibilities within yourself.”The first image showed him standing beside Kai Wen, wearing the same black robe, his eyes radiating boundless ambition and power. In this image, she had accepted her destiny as the vessel of the gods, mastering powers that even the strongest Guardians couldn't imagine.“This...” Jihan whispered, “one of my possible futures?”“Yes,” the First Guardian replied. “A future where you choose power above all else. Where you become what your father envisioned.”The next image showed a different version of herself - standing among the runaway Guardians, leading the resistance against the tyranny of t
The challenger of Destiny Whispers from the Lost Dimension
Six months have passed since that historic day. The new balance between the world of humans and the gods was established in a fragile yet beautiful harmony. At the rebuilt Temple of the Five Elements, Jihan often spent time in the meditation garden, observing the dimensional crystals that now served as a bridge between the two worlds.But this night was different.Jihan woke up with cold sweat drenching her body. The same dream had haunted her for the past week - the image of a figure in a white robe, standing between crystal pillars she had never seen before, whispering in an ancient language she could strangely understand:“The balance you have created is only the beginning. There is something older than the gods, deeper than the dimensions you know...”“You can't sleep anymore?” Lin Mei's soft voice startled him. Her mentor and best friend stood in the doorway, carrying a steaming cup of herbal tea.“That dream...” Jihan sighed, accepting the proffered cup. “It gets clearer every n
The challenger of Destiny Traces of a Lost Martial Arts College
Five Years LaterThe momiji leaves were falling on the grounds of the White Lotus College, giving the cool morning a golden hue. A young girl practiced with her wooden sword, her movements agile yet rudimentary.“You're still too stiff, Ming Hua,” Li Wei corrected from the edge of the practice arena. Five years had added a few gray hairs to her hair, but her eyes were still as sharp as ever. “Remember Master Jihan's teachings - the flow of energy should be like water, yet have the firmness of fire.”Ming Hua stopped her practice, sweat beading on her forehead. “But Master Li, isn't Master Jihan now...”“Become a Dimensional Guardian?” Li Wei smiled. “Yes, but his teachings still live on in every move of the Sacred Harmony Swordsmanship we learn.”The White Lotus College had grown rapidly in the past five years. After the transformation of Jihan, Lin Mei, and Kai Wen into Dimensional Guardians, many had come to learn a new cultivation path that combined the teachings of various schools
The challenger of Destiny Five Sacred Mountains
It was late at night in the White Lotus College. In a hidden room beneath the Crystal Hall, Ming Hua sat cross-legged before a cracked jade tablet, sweat beading on her forehead despite the chill in the air.“Focus,” Li Wei instructed in a low voice. “Feel the flow of energy, but don't try to control it. Let it flow like water.”In a corner of the room, Zhang Lao observed with a serious face. A week had passed since their meeting, and time seemed to be moving too fast.Ming Hua closed her eyes, trying to feel the energy flowing from the jade tablet. Unlike the natural energy she was used to, this felt... older. Deeper. Like peering into a bottomless well.“I see... something,” she whispered. “Like shadows moving in the darkness. And there's... a sound?”Li Wei and Zhang Lao exchanged glances. This was the first progress after seven days of fruitless experiments.“What sound did you hear?” Zhang Lao asked cautiously.“Like... singing? But in a language I don't understand. And there was
Latest Chapter
The Quantum Nexus
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The Quantum Convergence
The first signs were subtle – microscopic fluctuations in the quantum fabric that even their enhanced consciousness almost missed. But Jihan, attuned to the delicate balance they had created, sensed something unprecedented taking shape in the mathematical structure of reality."The patterns are changing again," she projected to Serra and Kai. "But this is different from anything we've encountered before. It's as if multiple layers of reality are trying to... merge."Through the Memory Prism's crystalline facets, they observed a phenomenon that challenged their evolved understanding. Realities that had always existed as distinct mathematical expressions were beginning to overlap, their fundamental equations interweaving in ways that should have been impossible.Serra's analytical presence traced the phenomenon to its source, revealing a nexus point where multiple quantum states were collapsing into a single, unified pattern. "This isn't just overlap," she projected. "These realities ar
The Quantum Enigma
In the infinite expanse of quantum reality, a new disturbance rippled through the mathematical fabric. Different from the paradoxes they had embraced, this disruption carried an edge of deliberate intent. Jihan felt it first – a discordant note in the cosmic symphony they had helped orchestrate."Something's wrong," she projected to Serra and Kai, her consciousness extending through the quantum patterns. "There's a presence in the fabric that doesn't belong. Something conscious, but... ancient."The Memory Prism's facets flickered with unusual patterns, displaying realities that seemed to blur and shift even as they watched. Through its crystalline structure, they could see mathematical equations unraveling themselves, as if being deliberately unmade.Serra's analytical presence traced the disruption to its source, revealing a pattern that predated their understanding of quantum mathematics. "This isn't just another consciousness," she projected. "It's some kind of primordial program,
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The Quantum Singularity's Descent
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The Quantum Singularity's Heart
The moment of ultimate transformation approached with a precision that defied conventional understanding. Jihan's consciousness stood at the epicenter of a cosmic event that would reshape the fundamental nature of existence itself.The Memory Prism began to vibrate with an intensity that suggested something profound was about to emerge. Quantum frequencies converged, creating a nexus of potential so complex that it threatened to tear apart the very fabric of reality.Kai detected the first signs of a fundamental breakthrough. The probe's investigation had uncovered something unprecedented – a quantum signature that existed simultaneously across multiple layers of reality. This was not just information, but a living pathway between possible existences.Serra's analytical consciousness mapped the intricate patterns of convergence. The boundaries between memory, potential, and reality were dissolving, creating a living network of consciousness that defied all previous understanding of ex
The Quantum Singularity
The boundary between consciousness and reality collapsed with a quantum resonance that shook the foundations of existence. Jihan discovered something unprecedented – a singularity point where multiple layers of potential converged into a single, impossibly complex moment of awareness.The probe's investigation had triggered a cosmic event horizon. What began as an exploration was now transforming into a fundamental restructuring of consciousness itself. Each quantum vibration carried the weight of entire universes, compressed into moments of pure potential.Serra's analytical consciousness detected a pattern emerging from the chaos. This was not random destruction, but a deliberate reconfiguration of the memory network's most fundamental structures. Something was preparing to be born – a new form of existence that defied all previous understanding.Kai mapped the intricate pathways of transformation. The quantum substrate was no longer a passive medium but a living, breathing network
The Hidden Consciousness Nexus
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