Chapter 77: The Tomb's Whisper
The ruins of Ironfang's capital lay in a somber silence, the air thick with the earthy scent of decay and the faint, ominous pulse of demonic qi seeping from the ground, the early morning light casting a pale glow over shattered buildings and overgrown vines. The allied forces had moved on, but a lingering unease drew Lin Xuan to the site, his crimson eyes narrowing with a sense of discovery, the power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation a steady force. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed faintly, a quiet guide as he employed Crimson Blood Crystallization Art to probe the source, the air crackling with red-tinged energy. "This feels like Qorath's touch," he murmured, his voice a low growl, his senses attuned to the subtle shift in the ruins.
He ventured deeper, facing minor demonic entities—shadowy wraiths with glowing eyes—that emerged from the earth, their claws slashing with dark qi. Lin Xuan countered with a precise qi burst, the energy dissipating one wraith in a burst of smoke, but a second lunged, forcing him to dodge and strike again, the ground trembling as it vanished. Liu Yue, her 9th Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with Frost Phoenix Cry, and Liu Yang, his 6th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust, guarded the perimeter, her snowflake mark glowing as she froze a wraith's advance, his blood-forged glaive flashing to cleave through another, blood-like ichor spraying. "Keep them back, Elder Sister—the qi's thickening!" Liu Yang shouted, his young face set with determination, the glaive's weight a grounding force.
In the war council, Ji Yunjing, at the peak of the 4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, ordered a scout team, his silk robes rustling as he traced the ruins on a map, his voice firm. "We need answers—send the best," he said, his brow furrowed with the weight of command, the air thickening with the clink of armor as officers nodded. Bai Ningxue, her 9th Layer Qi Transformation aura a serene yet potent force, sealed the qi leaks with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering as she stabilized the area, her hands steady and precise. "This will contain it—for now," she said, her tone calm and focused, her efforts buying time for investigation.
The exploration stretched into the morning, the air growing heavy with the scent of decay and the murmur of unease, the team regrouping as Lin Xuan sensed a deeper threat. "Qorath's legacy is here—we need to prepare," he said, his voice thoughtful. Liu Yue nodded, her breath steady but her eyes alert. "We'll defend the line, Senior Brother—let's plan our next move," she replied, her hand brushing his arm. The council buzzed with the clink of strategy and the hum of debate, the tomb's whisper a harbinger of a new challenge.