Chapter 85: The Tomb's Threshold
The entrance to Black Tomb loomed like a jagged wound in the earth, the air thick with the oppressive scent of damp decay and the faint, unsettling pulse of demonic qi seeping from cracked stone and twisted roots, the early morning light casting an eerie pallor over the rugged terrain. The allied forces had fortified the perimeter with wooden stakes and glowing qi wards, their breaths visible in the chill as they prepared for the expedition. Lin Xuan stood at the threshold, his crimson eyes sharp with leadership intent, the robust power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation a steady anchor amidst the tension. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed faintly, a quiet guide as he employed Crimson Blood Crystallization Art, the air crackling with red-tinged energy as he detected Qorath's demonic qi—a deep, resonant hum from within. "This is the start—stay vigilant," he murmured, his voice low but firm, his senses attuned to the tomb's secrets.
He led the team forward, the ground trembling faintly as ancient traps triggered—sharp stone spikes erupting from the floor, forcing him to dodge with agile grace. Lin Xuan countered with a precise qi burst, shattering the mechanism, but a second trap unleashed a wave of dark qi tendrils, grazing his arm before he dispersed them with another burst, the air settling with a tense silence. 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 defensive arrays, her snowflake mark glowing as she wove icy barriers, his blood-forged glaive flashing to anchor the qi nodes. "Reinforce the left, Elder Sister—the traps are active!" Liu Yang called, his young face etched with focus, the glaive's weight a grounding force as he adjusted the array.
At the royal expedition camp, Ji Yunjing, at the 5th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, oversaw operations, his silk robes rustling as he paced the command tent, his voice resonant with authority. "Dispatch scouts—map the outer qi flows," he ordered, his brow furrowed with the weight of command, the air thickening with the clink of armor as messengers moved out. Bai Ningxue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a serene yet potent force, sealed the entrance with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering as she sensed a pulse from within—a rhythmic throb that sent a shiver through her senses. "This will hold the surface—proceed with care," she said, her tone calm and alert, her hands steady as she wove the seals with precision.
The descent stretched into the morning, the air growing heavy with the scent of decay and the murmur of caution, the team encountering more traps—collapsing ceilings and qi-charged blades—that tested their coordination. Lin Xuan gathered his team later at the camp, his breath steady but his eyes watchful. "We've crossed the threshold—more awaits inside," he said, his voice thoughtful. Liu Yue nodded, her breath even but her resolve firm. "We'll face it, Senior Brother—together," she replied, her hand brushing his arm. The camp buzzed with the clink of strategy and the hum of preparation, the tomb's threshold marking the beginning of their perilous journey, their bows to Ji Yunjing a sign of unity.