Chapter 89: The Demon's Rise
The inner sanctum of Black Tomb unfurled like a nightmare given form, the air thick and suffocating with the acrid sting of brimstone, laced with the heavy, oppressive pulse of demonic qi that seemed to seep from every crack in the obsidian walls. The chamber's jagged stone floor glistened with an unnatural sheen, reflecting the dim, wavering light of qi lanterns that flickered like dying stars, casting long, writhing shadows that danced with the rhythm of an awakening menace. At the heart of it all, a crystalline shard—embedded deep within the wall—began to glow with a malevolent, blood-red hue, its surface trembling as Qorath's fragment stirred from its ancient slumber. Crackle! The sound echoed as dark tendrils of energy lashed out, coiling like serpents, their tips sizzling against the stone with a hiss that sent a chill down the spine. The team froze, hearts pounding, the air growing dense with the weight of the moment.
Lin Xuan, now standing firm at the 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, felt the surge in his veins, his crimson eyes narrowing with a fierce resolve to resist this rising evil. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a steady, reassuring rhythm, a silent guide as he stepped forward, channeling Crimson Blood Crystallization Art. The air around him shimmered with red-tinged energy, a low hum building as he thrust his palms forward, unleashing a precise burst that collided with a tendril—Boom!—the impact sending a shockwave that dispersed it into a cloud of smoke, though the effort left his arms trembling slightly. "We can't let this spread—contain it, now!" he barked, his voice rough and strained, sweat beading on his brow as he wiped it away with a shaky hand, his gaze locked on the shard.
The fragment's awakening intensified, its glow pulsing like a heartbeat, and with a deafening Whoosh!, a wave of tendrils erupted, scorching the ground with blackened streaks and forcing Lin Xuan to leap aside, his robes singeing at the hem with a sharp Sizzle! He countered with Phantom Severance, his form blurring into a flurry of afterimages that darted around the chamber, evading the onslaught. The technique's speed bought him a moment, and he followed with Crimson Abyss Domain, a technique that enveloped the sanctum in a crimson haze, the air thickening as it dampened the tendrils' ferocity. His chest heaved, the strain etching deep lines on his face, but he pressed on, determined to hold the line.
Liu Yang, his 9th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust and crackling with potential, reacted with a burst of youthful energy, his blood-forged glaive gleaming as he channeled Energy Devour. The blade absorbed a tendril's qi with a faint Hum!, and he swung with all his might, cleaving through another with a wet Splatter! of ichor. "Hold the flanks, Elder Sister—the qi's going wild!" he shouted, his young voice tinged with excitement and strain, his face flushed as he rolled to avoid a retaliatory lash, the glaive's weight grounding him amidst the chaos. Liu Yue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm qi flowing with the ethereal grace of Frost Phoenix Cry, moved to his side, her snowflake mark blazing like a winter star. She raised her hands, and with a sharp Crack!, an icy barrier formed, freezing a tendril mid-strike, its crystalline form shattering under the pressure. "We've got this—keep it together!" she called, her moonlight eyes scanning the battlefield, her raven hair streaked with frost from the effort.
Back at the royal tent, miles above the fray, Ji Yunjing's voice cut through the tension like a blade, his 5th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura commanding attention. His silk robes rustled as he paced the command tent, the air filled with the metallic Clank of imperial guards mobilizing. "Move swiftly—get reinforcements to them now!" he ordered, his brow furrowed with urgency, his fingers tracing the tomb's layout on a map with a tense grip. The tent buzzed with the hurried shuffle of boots and the clatter of armor, the weight of his command palpable.
Bai Ningxue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a serene yet unyielding force, worked with quiet intensity, her Thousand Lotus Seal Art weaving a delicate lattice of shimmering seals along the sanctum's edges. Whoosh! A tendril tested her barrier, but her seals absorbed the impact with a soft Pop!, the energy dissipating harmlessly. "This will slow its reach—keep fighting with all you've got," she said, her tone steady and focused, her hands moving with a fluid grace that belied the strain, her eyes narrowing as she sensed the fragment's growing power.
The confrontation dragged into the evening, the air growing thick with the sulfurous stench and the labored gasps of the combatants, the ground trembling with each Boom! of clashing qi. The tendrils thinned, but the shard's pulse grew stronger, a relentless drumbeat of menace. Lin Xuan slumped against a wall, his breath coming in ragged bursts, his body aching from the effort. "We've held it back—for now. Reinforcements will turn the tide," he said, his voice hoarse but carrying a flicker of hope. Liu Yue approached, her breath uneven, frost melting from her hair as she offered a tired smile. "We'll stand firm, Senior Brother—together, always," she replied, her hand brushing his arm with a gentle reassurance. Liu Yang, wiping ichor from his glaive, grinned weakly. "Yeah, we've got this!" The tent, when they later regrouped, hummed with the Clink! of armor adjustments and the soft murmur of tactical whispers, the demon's rise a chilling prelude to a greater battle, their unity a fragile but enduring strength.