Chapter 90: The Crimson Stand
The core of Black Tomb blazed with a sinister, otherworldly light, the air saturated with the choking sulfurous scent of demonic energy and the thunderous, relentless pulse of Qorath's fragment, now fully manifest at the 7th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm. The crystalline entity towered in the center, its surface pulsating with a dark, sentient fury, the dim light from qi lanterns struggling to illuminate the jagged stone floor, where shadows twisted and writhed with each movement.
Crack!
A tendril lashed out, splintering a boulder into dust, and the ground shook with a low Rumble! as the fragment unleashed a barrage of qi tendrils, their dark energy coiling and striking with precision, forcing the team into a desperate stand. The air was thick with the scent of scorched stone and the sharp tang of ozone, a testament to the escalating battle.
Lin Xuan, at the 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, stepped into the heart of the storm, his crimson eyes blazing with the unyielding fire of a duel. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a steady rhythm, a guiding light as he channeled Severed Crimson Unity Slash. The crimson arc tore through the air with a resonant Whoosh!,
colliding with a tendril in a blinding Boom! that sent sparks and shards of rock flying, the ground beneath cracking with a sharp Snap!
He advanced, his movements a blend of grace and power, dodging a tendril that scorched the air near his face with a sizzling Hiss!, the heat singeing his hair.
With a swift pivot, he retaliated with Nether Soul Devouring Technique, draining a sliver of the fragment's essence, the air darkening as the energy flowed into him, weakening the entity with a faint Groan! from its core.
Liu Yue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm qi flowing with the icy precision of Frost Phoenix Cry, moved to flank, her snowflake mark glowing like a beacon in the gloom.
Crack!
She froze a tendril mid-strike, its crystalline form shattering under her command with a satisfying Shatter, her moonlight eyes scanning for the next target.
"Flank it hard—we're breaking through!"
She called, her voice steady despite the frost clinging to her raven hair.
Liu Yang, his 9th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust and crackling, joined her, his blood-forged glaive arcing through the air with a Whoosh! as he channeled Energy Devour, absorbing a tendril's qi before cleaving it with a wet Splatter of ichor.
"Keep the pressure, Elder Sister—Senior Brother's on fire!"
he shouted, his young face flushed with exertion, the glaive's weight grounding him as he blocked a counterstrike with a metallic Clang,
At the expedition base, Ji Yunjing, at the 5th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, orchestrated the effort with a strategist's calm, his silk robes fluttering as he leaned over a map etched with the tomb's depths, his voice cutting through the tension.
"Guide their movements—hold the line steady!"
he instructed, his brow furrowed with the weight of command, the air filled with the rhythmic Clank! Clank! of armor as messengers relayed orders.
Bai Ningxue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a serene yet unyielding shield, reinforced the seals with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art,
her seals shimmering like a protective veil as they absorbed the fragment's outward pressure with a soft Pop.
"The barriers hold—push the assault!"
she urged, her tone calm and focused, her hands moving with a fluid grace to weave the intricate patterns, her eyes narrowing against the strain.
The stand dragged into the afternoon, the air growing dense with the sulfurous stench and the labored breathing of the combatants, the ground trembling with each Boom of clashing qi.
The fragment's movements slowed, its energy waning under the relentless assault, its crystalline surface cracking with a sharp Crack!
Lin Xuan rallied his team, his breath heavy but his spirit buoyed, wiping a streak of grime from his cheek with a weary hand.
"We're breaking through—let's finish this fight!"
he declared, his voice carrying a note of pride that echoed off the walls.
Liu Yue nodded, her breath ragged but her resolve unwavering, a faint sheen of frost on her skin as she met his gaze.
"Together, Senior Brother, we'll see it done,"
she replied, her hand brushing his arm in a quiet show of support.
Liu Yang, panting but grinning, twirled his glaive.
"Let's end it!"
The base hummed with the Clink of strategic adjustments and the low murmur of encouragement, the crimson stand a pivotal moment, their coordinated efforts a testament to their growing mastery and unbreakable bond.