Xu Wang stood atop a vast snow-covered mountain, the world around him an endless sea of white beneath a sky heavy with swirling clouds. The cold air bit at his skin, and the wind howled like a distant wail. Yet, despite the icy ndscape, his body felt numb, detached from the frigid surroundings.

  In front of him stood an old man, his back straight and posture regal despite his age. His hair was long and silver, flowing wildly like the mountain winds, and his eyes gleamed with an ancient, knowing light. Cd in robes that seemed to shift with the snow, the man radiated an aura of overwhelming power.

  “So... you wish to learn the Sahasrara Qi Technique,” the old man spoke, his voice deep and echoing as if the mountain itself was speaking. His eyes bore into Xu Wang, piercing through his soul. “Yet, you stand before me unprepared, still chained by your fears and doubts.”

  Xu Wang opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. His voice was swallowed by the howling wind.

  The old man stepped forward, his movements fluid and unhurried. “To learn this technique, you must prove yourself worthy. You must know my name.”

  Xu Wang’s eyes narrowed, confusion washing over him. “Your name...?” His voice finally broke through the silence, but it sounded distant, hollow.

  The old man’s expression hardened. “Only by understanding who I am and who you are, will you grasp the power of Sahasrara.” His form seemed to flicker, his outline blurring against the snowstorm that suddenly raged around them.

  Before Xu Wang could react, the old man’s figure shattered into countless shards of light, reforming behind him. A powerful force smmed into Xu’s back, sending him skidding across the snow.

  He gasped as pain exploded through his body. But the cold... he still couldn’t feel the cold.

  “Name me!” the old man’s voice boomed, echoing through the mountains as he unched forward, his fist crackling with lightning. “Name me, or be forgotten in this void!”

  Xu Wang barely managed to roll aside, the ground where he y a moment before splitting apart from the impact. The snow burst into a cloud, swirling chaotically.

  He struggled to his feet, his heart pounding. *Who is he? What is this pce?* His thoughts raced, but his body felt heavy, sluggish. It was as if the snow itself was trying to consume him.

  The old man appeared again, his form phasing in and out like a ghost. His eyes glowed with fierce intensity. “You carry the burden of Dual Spirits, yet you hesitate. You seek power without knowing yourself. How can you master the crown when you cannot control the mind?”

  The words struck Xu Wang like a hammer. He remembered the Ajna Qi Technique, the power of perception and vision that he barely understood. His third eye... it was resonating, burning beneath his forehead.

  The old man’s figure blurred, reappearing inches from Xu Wang’s face. “Then perish!” His palm smmed against Xu’s chest, and the world exploded into darkness.

  Everything vanished. The snow, the mountain, the old man—all swallowed by an empty void. Xu Wang floated in the darkness, his body weightless, his senses dulled.

  A voice echoed around him, soft and melodic, carrying a strange warmth. “What are you doing... Do you want to die?”

  Xu Wang’s heart skipped a beat. A figure emerged from the shadows, moving with graceful fluidity. A woman, her body curved and elegant, draped in robes that flowed like liquid midnight. Her face was shrouded in darkness, obscured by a veil of shadows, but her presence radiated an intoxicating allure.

  “Who... who are you?” Xu Wang stammered, his voice trembling. He tried to step back but found himself unable to move.

  The woman’s figure leaned closer, her scent sweet and alluring. “A fool who rushes to cim power without understanding it. That’s what you are.” Her voice was teasing, almost pyful, but ced with warning.

  “What... what do you mean?” Xu’s thoughts were a tangled mess, the encounter with the old man still fresh in his mind. “Who was that? What is this pce?”

  She tilted her head, her form flickering like a mirage. “The Sahasrara Qi Technique... it is too powerful for someone like you. Not yet.” Her fingers lightly traced the air, and violet symbols danced around her, glowing softly. “Your Ajna Qi Technique is incomplete. Without mastering it to the core, the Sahasrara will consume you.”

  Xu Wang’s eyes widened. “But... I need this power. I need it to protect Li... to survive the prophecy.”

  The woman’s ugh was musical, echoing softly. “Protect? Survive? You can’t even protect yourself from your own fears.” Her voice softened, almost tender. “Ajna... the Third Eye... perception, wisdom, vision. Until you see clearly, you will never reach the Crown.”

  Her fingers touched his forehead, and a sharp pain shot through his mind. Images flooded his vision—Li Wang engulfed in shadows, Zhu Sun’s piercing gaze, Mei Ling’s wary smile, and the old man’s fierce attack.

  “Ajna and Sahasrara... They are connected, one leading to the other,” she whispered, her voice resonating within his soul. “But only two people in this world know the Ajna Qi Technique to its core. Find one of them... learn the sequence of techniques... only then will you survive the Sahasrara’s awakening.”

  Her words hung in the air, twisting around him like a spell. Xu Wang’s body grew heavy, his vision blurring.

  “Wait... who are you?” His voice was faint, his consciousness slipping.

  The woman’s form wavered, her figure shimmering as the darkness grew deeper. “We will meet again...” Her voice was soft, mencholic. “My love...”

  Xu Wang’s heart skipped a beat. His vision shattered into a thousand pieces, and his body fell, sinking into the darkness.

  His eyes flew open, his body drenched in sweat. He was back in the temple, lying before the statue of the Sahasrara God. Li Wang and Mei Ling were kneeling beside him, their faces etched with worry.

  “Xu! You’re awake!” Li’s voice was trembling, her eyes glistening with relief. “You... you were glowing with this purple light, and then you just colpsed.”

  Mei Ling’s gaze was sharp, her lips pressed into a thin line. “What did you see?”

  Xu Wang’s throat was dry, his heart racing. “I... I don’t know. There was a man... and then... a woman...” His fingers touched his forehead, the spot where the woman had pced her hand. It was still warm, throbbing with energy.

  He looked at the statue before him, its serene face seeming to watch him with silent judgment. His eyes drifted to the crown of the statue, where a brilliant gem rested, pulsating with a faint, violet glow.

  The woman’s voice echoed in his mind, her final words lingering like a haunting whisper.

  *“When we meet... my love...”*

  A cold shiver ran down his spine. Who was she? And why did her voice sound so... familiar?

  The chamber grew colder, the shadows stretching along the walls, as if the temple itself was watching him.

  The mystery deepened, and Xu Wang felt the weight of destiny pressing down on him. The journey was far from over... and the shadows were just beginning to move.

  To be continued.......