Shadow Cultivator

Li Yuan woke up feeling tension throughout his entire body. The night had been restless: the sounds of the valley—whispers, dull footsteps, and the barely audible crunch of branches—seemed closer than they really were. At times, he heard branches snapping as if under someone's weight, and other times, an indistinct growling in the mist made his heart skip a beat. It seemed to him that the mist surrounding his shelter wasn't moving randomly but purposefully, as if watching his every move. As the first rays of dawn began piercing through the thick veil, the mist started to thin, revealing details of the surrounding world that had been hidden before.

"It's time to move," Li Yuan whispered, gripping the crystal in his hand. His thoughts returned to the shimmer he had noticed the previous night. It was his only lead, and he decided to head toward it.

Descending along a barely visible path, Li Yuan noticed more and more oddities. His thoughts were a chaotic mix of doubt and determination. "If I turn back now, then what's the point of all this?" he thought, gripping his sword tightly. "System, you brought me here, but why are you silent when I need you most?" The valley felt both alive and abandoned. He came across half-bloomed flowers whose petals emitted a soft glow, as if woven from moonlight. Further along, he found tracks—massive paw prints deeply embedded in the soft earth. "This is definitely not human," he thought, crouching to examine them more closely. The size of the prints made his heart race.

The system panel activated:

Tip: Stay alert. The valley may conceal threats.

After walking a bit further, he came upon a ruined stone monument, partially hidden under vines. The stone was covered in symbols similar to the ones he had seen earlier, but these were heavily weathered by time. The vines wrapping around the monument seemed unusual: their leaves pulsed faintly, almost in rhythm with his heartbeat.

The panel flickered again, this time with a delay:

Analyzing data... Match detected with ancient cave structures. Connection to the system not confirmed.

"Connection not confirmed? System, what are you hiding?" Li Yuan's thoughts were filled with doubt. "It's supposed to help me, but why does it feel like it's not being entirely truthful?"

"Not confirmed? What does that even mean?" Li Yuan frowned but kept moving forward.

His steps suddenly slowed as a strange sensation washed over him. Someone was watching him. He turned around but saw no one. Yet, on the edge of his vision, deep within the mist, he thought he glimpsed a figure. It wasn't an animal, and it definitely wasn't human. The shadow moved silently, almost gliding across the ground, and seemed to be observing him.

"Who are you?" he breathed, gripping the rusty sword still in his possession. The shadow didn't respond and vanished as abruptly as it had appeared. A chill ran down Li Yuan's spine.

After several more minutes, he reached the source of the light. It was a small pond with water as clear as glass. At the bottom lay small crystals, similar to the one he had found in the cave, but there were many of them, all glowing with a soft blue light. The system panel flickered, hesitating before displaying a message. This hesitation unnerved Li Yuan, as though even the system was uncertain about its actions:

Source of spiritual energy detected. Do not immerse yourself. Danger!

"Danger?" he muttered, staring at the shimmering glow. The water seemed to draw him in, alluring with its beauty and hidden power. But the system's warning made him pause. He decided to circle the source and move forward, hoping to find a safer path.

However, after a few steps, he felt the ground beneath him give way slightly. "No, no, no!" he managed to exclaim before the surface collapsed, sending him plummeting downward. The fall was short, but his body jolted as it hit a cold, damp surface. Panic seized him as his breath came in gasps, and his hands frantically searched for something to hold onto. "I'm stuck here... No way out... What now?" he thought, trying to calm himself. Gradually, his mind began to focus, though the cold and darkness still gripped him tightly. He had fallen into a dark chamber, hitting a damp stone surface. The sudden collapse had taken away his footing, and he felt as if the ground itself had betrayed him. His scream sliced through the silence, echoing off the walls. The air was heavy, smelling of dampness and something ancient, almost forgotten. The walls, covered in wet moss, seemed to breathe, and droplets of water falling from the ceiling echoed in the void. The light from his crystal illuminated intricate patterns on the stone, resembling scenes from an ancient legend.

Standing up, Li Yuan looked around. The walls were covered in symbols glowing faintly. These symbols seemed to shift, forming patterns he had seen before but couldn't recall their meaning. In the center of the chamber stood an old altar made of black stone, cracked as if the air itself had tried to tear apart this ancient relic. A blue crystal on the altar illuminated the symbols, which shimmered as if alive. Each pulse of light resonated with his breath, amplifying his unease. It felt as though the altar itself was waiting—for something or someone. "This place breathes ancient power. It will either accept me or destroy me," he thought, his heart pounding. "Another one... But why is it here?" he whispered.

As he approached, the mist seemed to thicken around him. The panel lit up with an alarming message:

Event activated: Guardian. Danger level: High. Prepare to defend.

The shadows around him began to move. They encircled him like snakes, creeping silently and stealthily. Their glowing eyes flared here and there, creating the illusion of countless enemies. Each figure shifted, becoming alternately human and beast-like, with long claws reaching for him. They moved in jerks, hiding in every moment of darkness, and their presence pressed down on him as though the darkness itself sought to consume him. Their movements were accompanied by sounds resembling the cracking of ice, and each step made it seem as if the darkness was hunting Li Yuan. Bright, burning eyes flickered closer and closer, piercing the gloom as if the shadows were studying him, preparing to strike. "They're waiting," the thought crossed his mind, intensifying the cold terror in his chest. Each movement was accompanied by a faint hissing sound, like a warning. "This... is impossible," he whispered, feeling fear paralyze his movements. Li Yuan felt his body tense. "System, what should I do?" he shouted, but no answer came. The panel flickered as if it too couldn't decide on advice.

Fight or flee. Time is limited.

Li Yuan gripped his sword, feeling his pulse sync with the rhythm of the glowing crystal. "If this is a test, then I will face it," he thought, watching as the shadows began to coalesce into a single massive entity with eyes burning like two blazing suns. The creature let out a low growl that made the walls tremble. Li Yuan tightened his grip on his sword, feeling his pulse merge with the rhythm of the shimmering crystal. "This moment will change everything." His fingers clenched the hilt of the sword tighter, and he realized there was no turning back. "This moment will change everything."