Chapter 88: The Tomb's Heart
The central chamber of Black Tomb opened into a vast, echoing expanse, the air saturated with the ancient, musty scent of decay and the ominous pulse of demonic qi radiating from a towering altar adorned with crimson runes and skeletal relics. The dim light from qi lanterns barely pierced the gloom, casting jagged shadows across the uneven floor, where a sudden qi surge erupted—dark tendrils lashing out like living whips, threatening to overwhelm the team. Lin Xuan stood at the center, his crimson eyes widening with the thrill of a breakthrough, the power of his 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm igniting as he harnessed Battle Soul Unity. The technique fused his qi into a roaring torrent, the Celestial Unity Crest on his back flaring with a steady rhythm, guiding him as a vision of Qorath's shadowy form loomed—whispering promises of dominion before fading. "This is his heart," he muttered, his voice a low growl, shaking off the vision's weight.
He countered the surge with Crimson Abyss Domain, a new technique that enveloped the chamber in a crimson haze, dampening the tendrils' ferocity and giving the team breathing room. The strain etched lines on his face, but he pressed on, his breath ragged. Liu Yang, his 9th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust, reacted instinctively, his blood-forged glaive slashing through a tendril, the Energy Devour technique siphoning its qi to bolster his stance. "Senior Brother's got it under control—let's hold the edges!" he called, his young voice brimming with excitement, the glaive's weight anchoring him as he deflected another strike.
Bai Ningxue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a serene shield, moved to support, her Thousand Lotus Seal Art weaving a lattice of seals to absorb the surge's backlash, her hands trembling slightly under the pressure. "The altar's unstable—stabilize it!" she urged, her tone calm but edged with urgency, her seals shimmering as they held the line. Liu Yue, her Half-step Profound Heavenly Realm qi surging to the 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm in the heat of the moment, felt her leadership reach its peak. Her snowflake mark blazed as she unleashed Frost Phoenix Cry, freezing the altar's edges, her moonlight eyes scanning with newfound authority. "Rally to me—we protect the core!" she commanded, her raven hair streaked with frost, her voice a rallying cry that steadied the team.
At the expedition camp, Ji Yunjing, at the 5th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, monitored the chaos through a qi-linked mirror, his silk robes rustling as he barked orders. "Send reinforcements—hold that chamber!" he shouted, his brow furrowed with concern, the air filling with the clank of armor as guards mobilized. The clash stretched into the afternoon, the air growing heavy with the scent of scorched stone and the murmur of determination, the qi surge subsiding as the team secured the altar. Lin Xuan, panting but elated, turned to his companions. "We've hit Qorath's core—get ready for what's next," he said, a rare smile breaking through the grime. Liu Yue met his gaze, her breath uneven but her spirit high. "Together, Senior Brother, we'll face it," she replied, her hand resting on his shoulder. The camp hummed with the clink of strategy and the buzz of anticipation, the tomb's heart a crucible of growth.