Chapter 86: The Demon's Veil
The outer chambers of Black Tomb unfolded like a labyrinth of shadows, the air thick with the musty scent of ancient dust and the faint, ominous pulse of demonic qi seeping from cracked walls adorned with faded inscriptions. The dim light from qi lanterns cast flickering shadows over the uneven stone floor, where minor demonic shades—ethereal figures with glowing red eyes—emerged from the darkness, their claws scraping with a chilling rhythm. Lin Xuan led the expedition deeper, his crimson eyes burning with combat intent, the power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation surging like a storm. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a steady rhythm, a guide as he unleashed Severed Crimson Unity Slash, the crimson arc slicing through the air with a resonant hum, cleaving a shade in two, its form dissipating in a burst of smoke. "Clear the path—stay sharp!" he shouted, his voice rough with exertion, wiping sweat from his brow as he pressed forward.
He engaged a cluster of shades, their dark qi lashing out in tendrils that forced him to dodge, his robes singed by a near miss. Lin Xuan countered with a second slash, the energy shattering two more, but a third lunged, grazing his shoulder before he struck 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, supported the advance, her snowflake mark glowing as she froze a shade's path, his blood-forged glaive flashing to shatter it, ichor spraying. "Hold the rear, Elder Sister—these things are endless!" Liu Yang called, his young face set with determination, the glaive's weight a grounding force as he parried a claw strike.
The team discovered Qorath's inscriptions on the walls—crimson runes hinting at a ritual of power—prompting a moment of awe. At the expedition tent, Ji Yunjing, at the 5th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, received scout reports of external qi surges, his silk robes rustling as he traced the patterns on a map, his voice firm. "Reinforce the perimeter—the tomb's influence spreads," he ordered, his brow furrowed with concern, the air thickening with the clink of armor. Bai Ningxue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a serene yet potent force, purified the chambers with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering as she uncovered a hidden passage behind a rune-etched wall, the air crackling with neutralized energy. "This leads deeper—be ready," she said, her tone calm and focused, her hands steady as she stabilized the area.
The battle stretched into the afternoon, the air growing heavy with the scent of decay and the murmur of discovery, the team advancing as the shades thinned. Lin Xuan gathered his team later, his breath heavy but his spirit high. "That passage is our next step—Qorath's close," he said, his voice thoughtful. Liu Yue nodded, her breath ragged but her resolve firm. "We'll follow, Senior Brother—together," she replied, her hand brushing his arm. The tent buzzed with the clink of strategy and the hum of anticipation, the demon's veil lifting to reveal a greater threat, their bows to the discovery a sign of progress.