The portal engulfed Lin Hao and the Verdant Lotus Sect in a blinding surge, the void's darkness giving way to a swirling vortex of light and shadow as the Lotus Soul Amulet's golden lotus flame flickered like a fragile beacon. Lin Hao tumbled through the chaos, his eyes glowing with a faint golden light, the amulet pulsing weakly in his blood-streaked hands as the sect's cries mingled with the roar of the vortex, their forms scattered in the shifting currents. His body shuddered with exhaustion, fresh blood oozing from reopened scars, but his heart burned with fierce determination to navigate this new realm and rescue his people from the Void King's eternal grasp.
The vortex opened into a vast, ethereal plane, its sky a swirling tapestry of crimson and black, dotted with floating islands that glowed with faint, ghostly light, the air thick with a strange hum that vibrated through their bones. Disciples stumbled onto the nearest island, their splintered green staffs trembling as they chanted with fading hope, their voices barely rising above the hum, the ground beneath them pulsing with an ancient energy. Elder Qian Yu landed beside Lin Hao, her tattered robe torn further, her face etched with awe and resolve, the amulet's weak light reflecting in her eyes as shadowy wisps drifted around them.
"This plane holds the key to our freedom—we must seize it," she rasped, her voice rough yet steady like a guiding flame, the golden flame's energy barely holding as she gripped her cracked staff. She raised it with a trembling hand, a frail green shield sputtering to life with a faint hum, struggling to repel the wisps as the flame weakened further. "Lin Hao, unleash that flame's last power—lead us to victory!" she urged, her gaze locking with his dimming golden eyes, filled with a fierce intensity that sparked a flicker of strength in his weary spirit.
Lin Hao steadied himself on the island, the golden flame sputtering as it fought to mend his torn skin, fresh blood mixing with the glowing ground, the lotus blaze dimming with each labored breath he drew. "I'll find the way to break this curse," he vowed, his voice echoing faintly through the plane, his fingers clutching the amulet as its energy waned, battling the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. Lian Wei landed nearby, their silver robe shredded and streaked with grime, their staff glowing a dim blue that merged with the flame like a fading dawn, offering a fragile hope. "The Void King's power is strongest here, but the flame can guide us—hold on, my brother, for our lives teeter on the edge!" they whispered, their voice shaky with dread, gripping his arm with a trembling hand as the island quaked.
The plane pulsed with a rhythmic energy, shadowy wisps coalescing into spectral guardians, their eyes glowing red as they advanced with silent menace, the air growing heavy with a scent like burnt incense and forgotten battles. The floating islands shifted, some drifting closer while others crumbled into the void below, the ground beneath them cracking with faint tremors that sent pebbles tumbling into the abyss. Rong Shen's limp form reappeared, entangled in wisps, his singed cloak in tatters, purple embers gone as the Void King's laughter boomed, a towering shadow rising from the central island.
Jiao Mei staggered forward, her sword dim with cracked magic lines, striking weakly at the guardians with a tired shout that echoed faintly. The gaunt guy summoned a black-flamed phantom, its wail cutting through the hum with a hollow sound, its form flickering against the plane's pull. Lin Hao raised the amulet, the golden flame flaring briefly into a struggling lotus blaze that cast a frail light, filling him with a surge of energy that fought his exhaustion, giving him resolve to confront the Void King with a courage that flickered but persisted.
Qian Yu's green shield wavered with a soft, dying hum, her staff trembling as the golden flame wove into her magic, creating a fragile barrier that strained against the guardians, its edges fraying. Wei Tao rallied the disciples with a hoarse cry, their chants rising with desperate strength like a fading heartbeat, their green light merging with the flame to resist the shadows, their faces glowing with grim determination. Lian Wei's blue magic clashed with the phantom, ice shards flying like a weak storm across the island, enhanced by the flame to strike with cold, fading fury that glittered briefly before dissolving.
Lin Hao channeled the amulet's power, the golden flame sputtering as he chanted the Starfall Codex with a voice that trembled like a distant whisper, his body radiating a dim light. A fragile golden flower shield bloomed, its petals shimmering faintly like stars lost in the crimson sky, the flame's power weakening to cast a trembling glow that steadied his heart. The Void King unleashed a wave of shadows that slammed into the shield with a muted crash, the impact shaking his frame, but the shield held, the flame's resilience flickering like a warrior facing an eternal struggle.
Rong Shen's form twitched, wisps tightening around him as he groaned, the void pulling him toward the King. Jiao Mei's sword clashed against the shield with a dull thud, her moves slow and exhausted, her eyes dimming as the flame's light overwhelmed her strength. The phantom's flames faded, its form dissolving into the plane, but the golden flame struggled to hold back the growing darkness that pulsed with the King's power.
The altar's remnants, now a faint glow on the central island, pulsed weakly, its magic fading like a lost chant, clinging to the air with a whisper of ancient glory. Lin Hao pushed harder with a determined growl, the golden flower standing frail, its light slicing through the shadows like a fading blade. Qian Yu's green magic boosted him with a cold surge, the flame blending into a dim wave that lit the island, sparking courage in the sect's hearts.
Lian Wei's staff struck the wisps, the flame amplifying the strike to push them back, leaving a shimmer of ice. The gaunt guy fell silent, his form vanishing into the plane, his spirit lost. The Void King laughed, its form solidifying, dragging the islands downward with a relentless force.
"You will serve my eternal reign," it boomed, the plane swirling like a hungry vortex, its words a thunderous decree. The islands cracked, shadows rising, shaking the world with tremors that threatened to plunge them into the void. Lin Hao's shield wobbled, his energy draining, but the flame flared faintly, steadying him against the King's pull.
A blue wall shot up from Lian Wei, joining Qian Yu's magic and the flame in a fragile burst, their faces glowing with effort. The void slowed, giving them a moment to breathe, their chests heaving with fear. Jiao Mei stabbed again, cutting Lin Hao's side, but the flame's warmth failed, leaving the wound open.
Blood dripped from his side, pain lingering, but he held on, his eyes on the amulet as the flame dimmed. He poured its power into the codex, a golden wave pushing the shadows back with a weak thud. The King staggered, its strength growing, offering a slim chance to resist.
"Stand tall and fight," Qian Yu shouted, her staff high with the flame's light. The disciples' shields flickered, their chants rising, hands clutching staffs with resolve. The islands crumbled, the void pulling harder, knocking some down.
Lian Wei's light struck the King, ice cracking its form, the flame enhancing the shards. The void voice roared, a new wave rolling with sinister strength. Lin Hao's energy faded, the amulet cooling, but the flame flared briefly, his body swaying as he fought.
He gripped the amulet, its flame pulsing weakly, light flaring with his chant. The golden flower dimmed, the plane's power growing, but the flame reignited faintly. Qian Yu's array faltered, the disciples struggling, but the flame steadied them.
"Find your strength," Lian Wei urged, their voice steady, nodding to him. Qian Yu rallied with a cheer, their light flaring weakly, lifting spirits. Lin Hao sang the codex, the burst lighting the plane, pushing back the dark with a roar, their voices joining in a chorus.
The wave paused, the King stumbling with a hiss. The plane pulsed, pulling harder, its edges glowing darker. The King raised its arms, shadows swirling into a massive wave, aiming to engulf them, but Lin Hao thrust the amulet forward, the flame flaring into a desperate blaze that met the wave, the plane trembling as light and shadow clashed, a golden gate appearing with a blinding surge, hinting at salvation or a final trap.
Lin Hao's shield broke, his energy gone, his body falling as the flame lifted him briefly, gasping. The wave and flame collided, the plane erupting with light, islands vanishing into the gate, pelting them through smoky air. He plunged toward the gate, the amulet pulsing, the flame dimming as the void swallowed them, the King's laugh echoing, promising a final battle or an end.
Qian Yu and Lian Wei reached out, their magic clashing with the surge, faces strained. The disciples' chants faded, shields dissolving, hands grasping as the ground gave way. The gate roared, the void pulling them through, its edges glowing with a golden promise, but the flame flickered, bathing them in a last glow as they fell, leaving their fate teetering on the edge of redemption or ruin.