Shen Jingqi clenched his teeth tightly, beads of sweat as large as beans rolling down his forehead. He knew that this arduous journey to unlock the Eighth Consciousness had just barely lifted the curtain of mystery, and more daunting challenges were quietly approaching like beasts in the night.
As his cultivation deepened, a searing pain spread wildly from his dantian like a surging tide. The pain was as if countless hair-thin, razor-sharp steel needles were viciously stabbing into his body all at once, every inch of skin, every nerve, enduring an indescribable torment. Shen Jingqi couldn't help but let out a piercing scream, his body curling up instantly like a wounded beast, struggling in endless agony.
"It hurts so much! What kind of power is this?" Shen Jingqi's eyes widened, bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead like meandering worms. He could clearly feel the mysterious power rampaging within him, wreaking havoc as it went, as if a raging fire was burning wherever it touched. Instinctively, he tried to operate his cultivation technique to resist this force, but each attempt was like trying to block a torrent with weak hands, only bringing more intense pain, as if his body was being torn apart.
"I can't give up, I must persevere!" Shen Jingqi cried out in his heart. He recalled the hardships he had faced along the way, the setbacks and difficulties he had endured, like steep mountains he gritted his teeth to climb over. This time, he was determined he could do it again. He bore the excruciating pain, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails almost embedded into his flesh, beginning to attempt guiding the force along a specific route.
Every attempt at guidance was like dancing on the tip of a knife, accompanied by enormous pain. His body trembled uncontrollably, sweat falling like raindrops, drenching the ground beneath him. Yet he never gave up, a look of firm determination shining in his eyes. Gradually, the force seemed to start obeying his command, like a wild beast being tamed, and the pain began to lessen.
However, just as Shen Jingqi thought the crisis was over and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, new difficulties loomed like dark clouds. Various stray thoughts suddenly flooded into his mind, those forgotten memories, rushing in like a tidal wave. Unfinished desires, missed opportunities, lost loved ones, and friends tangled around his mind like a ball of chaos, leaving him troubled and agitated.
"Why? Why are these things appearing now?" Shen Jingqi held his head in his hands, groaning in pain. He tried to concentrate, but those thoughts buzzed like a swarm of flies, increasingly intense, as if intent on drowning his consciousness. He felt his cultivation had fallen into an endless plight, like a ship lost in the vast ocean, unsure of how to break through the thick mist.
"Am I going to fail here?" Despair filled Shen Jingqi's heart, as if he had fallen into a dark abyss. He looked at the manuscript in his hands, the runes drawn in cinnabar on the yellowed paper seemed to mock his incompetence. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: this might be the crucial test for unlocking the Eighth Consciousness. Only by overcoming these distractions could he truly master his inner self and become the master of his destiny.
Hence, Shen Jingqi clenched his teeth, beginning a fierce battle with those distractions. He constantly reminded himself to stay true to his heart, unaffected by external forces. He recalled his original intentions and the forces that once motivated him to move forward, the starlight that illuminated his path in the dark.
In repeated struggles, Shen Jingqi gradually found a way to deal with the distractions. Instead of resisting them, he tried to accept them, like welcoming an unexpected storm. Then, with his tenacious willpower, he dissolved them one by one, as if slowly untangling a ball of chaos. Each time he unraveled a distraction, he felt his heart growing more resolute, his understanding of the Eighth Consciousness deepening, as if finding a path forward in the darkness.
Yet, just as Shen Jingqi thought he had mastered the method to cope and caught a glimpse of hope, a more terrifying challenge descended like a Demon. His body began to tremble violently beyond his control, as if an invisible and powerful force was manipulating him. He watched in horror as his hands turned rigid, like two cold iron bars, his legs immobilized, as if nailed to the ground. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on Nove1Fire.net
"What is happening? Am I being controlled by some force?" Fear engulfed Shen Jingqi's heart, spreading rapidly through his body like entwining vines. He wanted to cry for help, but found his throat seemingly gripped by an invisible hand, unable to utter a sound. He struggled desperately, but his body remained motionless, as if crushed under an invisible mountain.
In this moment of despair, a crazy thought flashed through Shen Jingqi's mind: this was the final test to unlock the Eighth Consciousness, and only by passing it could he truly unlock the Eighth Consciousness and uncover the veil of the mysterious world. He took a deep breath, striving to calm himself like a small boat in a storm, trying hard to maintain balance. He began to closely observe the changes in his body, attempting to find the source of that invisible force.
After careful exploration, Shen Jingqi was surprised to discover that the force seemed to originate from the depths of his subconscious. There, his inner most secrets and fears were hidden, like a dark abyss filled with unknown dangers. He realized that to break through this test, he must delve into his subconscious, confronting the force head-on, like a warrior stepping into a dark castle to battle the evil overlord.
So, Shen Jingqi mustered his courage, allowing his consciousness to gradually sink into the subconscious. It was a dark world, devoid of any light, shrouded in thick fog, seemingly hiding countless traps and dangers. He treaded carefully, each step filled with caution, as if at the edge of a bottomless abyss.
Suddenly, a shadow flashed past him so quickly that he barely had time to react. Startled, he immediately prepared for battle, clenching his fists, eyes filled with vigilance and determination. "Who are you? Why do you want to control me?" Shen Jingqi shouted, his voice echoing in the darkness.
The shadow let out a sinister laugh, its voice seeming to come from the depths of Hell, "I am your inner fears and desires; you can never defeat me!" The voice was filled with provocation and threat, sending a chill through Shen Jingqi's heart.