Chapter 81: The Tomb's Echo
The entrance to Black Tomb loomed like a gaping maw in the earth, the air thick with the oppressive scent of decay and the faint, unsettling pulse of demonic qi seeping from cracked stone and twisted roots, the early morning light casting an eerie glow over the rugged terrain. The allied forces had fortified the perimeter, but the tomb's depths beckoned, drawing Lin Xuan forward, his crimson eyes narrowed with readiness, 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 entrance, the air crackling with red-tinged energy. "This qi is stronger—Qorath's influence grows," he murmured, his voice a low growl, his senses attuned to the subtle shift.
He ventured a step inside, facing a surge of demonic qi that coalesced into shadowy tendrils, lashing out with dark energy. Lin Xuan countered with a precise qi burst, the energy dissipating one tendril in a burst of smoke, but a second struck, forcing him to dodge and strike again, the ground trembling as it vanished. Liu Yue, her Half-step Profound Heavenly Realm qi flowing with Frost Phoenix Cry, and Liu Yang, his 9th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust, set up defenses, her snowflake mark glowing as she froze a tendril's advance, his blood-forged glaive flashing to cleave through another, ichor spraying. "Reinforce the line, Elder Sister—the qi's relentless!" Liu Yang shouted, his young face set with determination, the glaive's weight a grounding force.
In the royal council, Ji Yunjing, now at the 5th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, commissioned a tomb expedition, his silk robes rustling as he traced the site on a map, his voice firm. "We need to understand this threat—assemble the team," he ordered, his brow furrowed with the weight of rulership, the air thickening with the clink of armor as officers nodded. Bai Ningxue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a serene yet potent force, sealed the perimeter with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering as she stabilized the entrance, her hands steady and precise. "This will hold the qi—proceed with care," she said, her tone calm and focused, her efforts buying time for preparation.
The exploration stretched into the morning, the air growing heavy with the scent of decay and the murmur of tension, the team regrouping as Lin Xuan sensed a breakthrough nearing. "The tomb's calling—we need to act," he said, his voice thoughtful. Liu Yue nodded, her breath steady but her eyes alert. "We'll be ready, Senior Brother—let's face it together," she replied, her hand brushing his arm. The council buzzed with the clink of strategy and the hum of debate, the war's end giving way to a darker challenge.