Chapter 957 Soul Battle

Bai Xue covered her chest and felt her heart beating violently, as if the "demon in her heart" had not yet completely dissipated from her consciousness. She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and looked at Zhang Meng who had been giving her "enigmatic" answers.

“You’re right, this thing is too real.” Her voice was trembling, her face pale. “What was that just now? I almost thought I was going to be swallowed up.”

Zhang Meng leaned to the side, his mouth slightly raised: "Don't you think this is the charm? The inner demon may seem like a powerful enemy from the outside, but in fact, the most terrifying thing is often the fear in your own heart."

"Oh my god, you can just say such philosophical language casually?" Bai Xue frowned, "I would rather you give me some practical help instead of pretending to be a 'psychology master'."

Zhang Meng laughed loudly: "Do you know what 'smart' means? It's not that I'm smart, but that you're not 'smart' enough." He pretended to be mysterious and walked to the center of the formation. "Next, the real challenge has just begun!"

Bai Xue's eyelids jumped: "What do you want to do now?"

"Hey, don't worry, Bai Xue." Zhang Meng patted her shoulder, with a little pride in his tone, "This test is definitely not easy, it's even more interesting than the 'Inner Demon' just now."

"Interesting? Did your head get caught in the door?" Bai Xue was almost going crazy, with a suppressed anger in her heart. She resisted the urge to flip the table and said, "Hurry up and tell me what the next level is."

Zhang Meng waved his hand, his eyes suddenly became deep: "Next, we have to face a 'soul battle'." He threw out the word lightly, "But don't worry, this 'battle' refers to the battle of thoughts."

Bai Xue's eyes suddenly widened: "What? You want me to fight with my own thoughts?"

Zhang Meng narrowed his eyes and pointed at the gradually blurry light in the distance: "Yes, as you said, this is not only a physical challenge, but more of a contest between you and yourself."

Bai Xue took a deep breath and said, "Zhang Meng, can you not make it so suspenseful every time? Can't you be more direct?"

"Directly?" Zhang Meng grinned. "Then what is the more direct result you want? Tell you directly that the next 'soul battle' will make you see your deepest fear? Or tell you directly that you don't have any 'fear' in your heart at all?"

Bai Xue was so angry that she almost vomited blood: "Shut up! No matter what you say, I won't believe it!"

"Okay, okay, okay." Zhang Meng raised his hand helplessly, "Since you don't believe it, then you will face the next challenge." He took two steps towards the center of the formation, then turned back and added, "But, Bai Xue, remember, every step you take may lead you to a different future."

"Don't tell me about this 'destiny line' thing!" Bai Xue held her forehead with her hand, "I don't want to hear your tricks."

Zhang Meng smiled, and suddenly turned around. The light of the formation suddenly burst out with a strong ray of light, shooting straight towards Bai Xue.

"Hey!" Bai Xue shouted and instinctively jumped back a few steps, but found herself attracted by some invisible force and unable to move.

Zhang Meng's voice was no longer relaxed, but became solemn: "Bai Xue, you have now entered the core area of ​​'Soul Battle'. Once you enter this area, you will not be able to escape from anything, and even the most hidden fear in your heart will be revealed."

"I don't believe it!" Bai Xue gritted her teeth, "I'm not afraid of 'fear'!"

However, as she said this, the entire space suddenly became distorted, and the scene before her eyes began to change rapidly. She found herself in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by gray and mist, as if shrouded by a thick layer of fog.

"Where is this place?" Snow White looked around vigilantly.

Before she could react, a familiar voice came from not far away: "Bai Xue, why are you here?"

Bai Xue was stunned and turned around to see that the person in front of her was her father who she had lost contact with for many years - someone she had thought she would never see again.

"Dad? Why...why are you here?" Bai Xue's voice trembled a little, and there was a hint of surprise and disbelief in her eyes.

Her father smiled slightly, and his warm eyes seemed to comfort her: "I have always been here, Bai Xue, but you have never really seen me."

"You...how come you are here?" Bai Xue's head was dizzy, and memories came flooding back. She remembered that when she was a child, her father was the most important person in her life, but with an accident, her father's disappearance changed everything for her.

"You know, Bai Xue, I've been looking for you." The father's voice was gentle and low, as if carrying deep apology, "You have always been my pride, but I can't protect you."

Bai Xue's heart trembled suddenly: "Dad, it's not that you don't protect me, it's that I'm not strong enough. How could you..." Her voice began to choke, "How could you disappear when I needed you the most?"

"Do you want me to come back?" My father's voice suddenly became low. "Do you really want me to come back and continue to be your support in life?"

Bai Xue's face changed. She tried to struggle out of this painful memory, but every word seemed to carry a heavy yoke: "I... I have thought about asking you to come back countless times, but I know you have..."

"I know you have a lot to say in your heart, but you dare not say it." The father smiled and said, "Bai Xue, the real test is not to face others, but to face your own heart. You have been avoiding, avoiding the pain that you think you can't bear."

There was a trace of struggle in Bai Xue's eyes, and her hands clenched unconsciously: "I'm not running away, I'm just..."

"You're just making the easiest choice and avoiding the truth you don't want to face." Her father's words were like a needle piercing her heart, making every nerve in her body tense.

"I...I don't want to hear it anymore!" Bai Xue roared in a low voice, "I don't want to go back to the past!"

The father sighed and said, "Well, Shirayuki. If you don't want to go back to the past, you must make yourself stronger and face everything, even your deepest fear."

As her father finished speaking, the haze around her suddenly dissipated, and Bai Xue suddenly came back to her senses. She found herself standing at the core of the formation again, and Zhang Meng was standing beside her, looking at her with a complicated expression.

"Bai Xue, you've passed this level." Zhang Meng patted her shoulder, "But remember, your soul battle is not over yet."

Bai Xue panted slightly, her eyes determined: "I understand. This time, I won't run away again."

Zhang Meng nodded, with a gleam of approval in his eyes: "Not bad, Bai Xue. The fact that you can get over your inner demons proves that you have taken a big step forward."

Bai Xue took a deep breath and felt a peace she had never felt before. She looked up at Zhang Meng and frowned slightly, "But I still don't understand what the next test is. Is it really a battle of wits and courage with myself?"

"Do you think the battle of souls is that simple?" Zhang Meng chuckled. "No, Bai Xue, this is just the beginning. The next test will be more complicated. You may even find that most of the time, you are not competing with yourself."

Bai Xue heard this and her mind was in a mess: "What do you mean? Can you stop being so vague?"

Zhang Meng's eyes were deep: "Next, you will meet the 'villain' in your life. They are not your physical enemies, but the shadows, memories and burdens hidden deep in your heart. They will reappear and try to influence your judgment and oppress your choices."

"Villain?" Bai Xue smiled bitterly, "I'm already annoyed enough, don't tell me I have to face another 'old rival'."

"You can understand it this way." Zhang Meng showed a meaningful smile, "And, this time, they are no longer others, but you yourself."

"Me?" Bai Xue was stunned for a moment, then said with a hint of sarcasm, "Are you saying that there is a villain hidden in my heart?"

"Everyone has a villain in their heart, Bai Xue." Zhang Meng shrugged, as if he was watching a play. "And the reason why you are here is because you must face the dark side of your heart and break those shackles to be truly free."

Bai Xue's heart sank slightly: "That's easy to say. Can you tell me how I should fight this kind of 'villain'?"

Zhang Meng's mouth curled up slightly: "Fight? Do you still think this is a game? This is not something you can solve with your fists." He paused, his eyes became a little serious, "These 'villains' will not attack you directly, they will only influence you through temptation, lies, and even emotional manipulation. What you need to do is stay awake, face your own weaknesses, and abandon those things you think are 'safe'."

"Temptation and lies?" Bai Xue clenched her fists subconsciously, and suddenly felt an indescribable pressure. "I'm not afraid of any temptation, Zhang Meng, do you think I will lose to myself in this kind of psychological game?"

"This is your biggest challenge, Bai Xue." Zhang Meng's voice became more serious. "The more confident you are, the more you think you can't lose, the more your inner demon will use your most vulnerable part to test you. You may seem strong, but deep down inside, you have weaknesses that you don't want to admit."

Bai Xue was silent for a moment, her eyes gradually calmed down: "You are right, I can get here not because I am not afraid of difficulties, but because I keep forcing myself to face these problems. I know that I have my weaknesses, but I don't intend to let them restrict me."

"Well said." Zhang Meng smiled. "But in this test, not only will your weaknesses be exposed, they will even be infinitely magnified until you can't bear it."

"So what should I do?" Bai Xue looked at him with a hint of impatience in her tone, "Do you want me to guess riddles again, or unlock some mysterious skills?"

"Haha." Zhang Meng suddenly laughed. "Do you really think I will let you solve everything by yourself? Don't worry, Bai Xue, this is not the time for you to face it alone. Only when we work together can we make a breakthrough together."

Bai Xue raised her eyebrows slightly: "You mean, we should cooperate?"

"That's right." Zhang Meng nodded. "When you face the darkness in your heart, there are some things that you can't break through alone. You need a trustworthy partner to move forward together and support each other."

"You can trust me?" Bai Xue raised her eyebrows, "Aren't you afraid that I will fail at the critical moment?"

"Bai Xue." Zhang Meng looked at her with a serious expression, "You and I have always been in the same trench. The trust between us is more important than ever."

"Yeah." Bai Xue nodded slightly. Although she was still a little hesitant, she knew that there was no way out in the current situation. "Then, it depends on how we cooperate next."

"Yes." Zhang Meng curled his lips, "Now, we have to prepare for the next 'Soul Trial'. You must always be alert, because it may appear when you are not paying attention."

Just as Zhang Meng finished speaking, the formation in front of him began to flicker again, the runes gradually became active, and the sense of oppression in the air suddenly intensified. Suddenly, a deep light spot appeared in the formation, and with a low roar, a figure slowly walked out of it.

Bai Xue narrowed her eyes: "What is this?"

"That's your first 'villain'." Zhang Meng's tone was a little serious, "Are you ready?"

Bai Xue looked at the figure, and her heart tightened. The figure was made entirely of black mist, as if it had no substance, but Bai Xue could clearly feel that the sense of oppression from the abyss was emanating from it, like an approaching storm.

"What is that?" Bai Xue couldn't help but ask.

"This is a fate you cannot avoid," Zhang Meng whispered. "It is the embodiment of your deepest fear, the pain and regret you have ignored, and even the past you cannot let go of. It is not a specific form, but the most difficult part of your heart to face."

Bai Xue couldn't help but clench her fists tighter, staring at the black mist figure, feeling uneasy in her heart: "Why do I feel like that thing is looking at me, as if waiting for me to make a mistake."

"It's just waiting for you to make a mistake." Zhang Meng's voice became more steady. "You must understand that it is not only the fear in your heart, but also represents the mistakes in your past choices. Facing it, you can't just think about escaping, but you have to embrace your past fragility to get through this."

Bai Xue took a deep breath, and the complex emotions in her heart were beyond words. She looked at the gradually approaching black mist figure, and her heart was full of trepidation, but she also knew clearly that she had no way back.

"Come on." She took a deep breath. "I'm ready."