Chapter 91: The Tomb's Trial
The depths of Black Tomb plunged into an abyssal darkness,
the air thick with the sulfurous reek of demonic energy
and the relentless, fading pulse of Qorath's fragment,
its crystalline form now cracked and dimming under the team's relentless assault.
The dim light from qi lanterns cast jagged, trembling shadows
across the uneven stone floor,
where the fragment—still anchored at the 7th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm—
lashed out with a desperate fury,
its tendrils whipping through the air with a sharp Whoosh!
Crack!
A tendril splintered a nearby stalactite,
sending shards raining down with a cascading Clatter!,
the ground shuddering with a low Rumble!
as the entity fought to reclaim its strength.
Liu Yang, his 9th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust and crackling with untapped potential,
felt a surge within his core—
the Human Emperor's bloodline awakening with a primal roar.
His qi leapt to the 1st Layer Qi Transformation,
the crimson energy coursing through him like a river breaking its banks.
Boom!
He swung his blood-forged glaive,
channeling Energy Devour to siphon a tendril's qi,
the blade glowing as it cleaved through with a wet Splatter! of ichor.
"I've got its guard down—strike now, Senior Brother!"
he shouted, his young voice thick with exhilaration and strain,
his face flushed as he ducked a retaliatory lash,
the glaive's weight grounding him amidst the chaos.
Lin Xuan, at the 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm,
seized the opening with a predator's instinct,
his crimson eyes blazing with a focused strike.
The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a steady rhythm,
a guide as he unleashed Internal Fracture Wave.
Whoosh!
The shockwave rippled outward,
colliding with the fragment in a blinding Boom!,
sending shards of crystal flying with a sharp Ping! Ping!,
the ground cracking beneath with a resonant Snap!
He dodged a tendril that scorched the air with a sizzling Hiss!,
the heat brushing his cheek,
and retaliated with a new technique—Void Shatter Palm—
a concussive blast that shattered another tendril,
the air trembling with a deep Thud!
The fragment groaned, its energy waning,
a faint Groan! echoing through the chamber.
Liu Yue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm qi flowing with Frost Phoenix Cry,
guarded the exit with Ji Yunjing,
her snowflake mark glowing like a winter star
as she froze a tendril mid-strike with a sharp Crack!,
its crystalline form shattering with a satisfying Shatter!
"Secure the path, Elder Sister—the exit's holding!"
Liu Yang called, his voice cutting through the din,
his glaive flashing as he parried a stray lash.
Ji Yunjing, at the 5th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm,
stood tall, his silk robes fluttering with each movement,
his sword deflecting a qi bolt with a metallic *Clang!.
"Hold the line—don't let it breach!"
he commanded, his voice resonant with authority,
his brow furrowed as he coordinated the defense,
the air filling with the rhythmic Clank! Clank! of imperial guards.
Bai Ningxue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a serene yet potent shield,
stabilized the core with Thousand Lotus Seal Art,
her seals shimmering like a web of light
as they absorbed the fragment's backlash with a soft Pop!.
"This will hold—finish it quickly!"
she urged, her tone calm but edged with urgency,
her hands trembling slightly as she wove the intricate patterns.
The trial stretched into the evening,
the air growing dense with the sulfurous stench
and the labored gasps of the combatants,
the ground trembling with each Boom! of clashing qi.
The fragment's movements slowed,
its crystalline surface fracturing further with a sharp Crack!,
its energy flickering like a dying flame.
Lin Xuan rallied his team,
his breath heavy but his spirit unyielding,
wiping a streak of grime from his cheek with a weary hand.
"We've turned the tide—let's seal this victory!"
he declared, his voice echoing off the walls with pride.
Liu Yue nodded, her breath ragged but her resolve firm,
a faint sheen of frost on her skin as she met his gaze.
"Together, Senior Brother, we'll prevail,"
she replied, her hand brushing his arm in quiet support.
Liu Yang, panting but grinning,
twirled his glaive with a flourish.
"Let's take it down for good!"
The royal hall, when they later reported,
hummed with the Clink! of strategy sessions
and the low murmur of triumph,
the tomb's trial a testament to their growth
and the unbreakable bond forged in battle.