Chapter 24: The Ruins' Depths
The ancient temple in the Mistveil Swamp pulsed with an eerie rhythm, its black stone walls etched with murals of the Nine Worlds. Li Wei, Lin Xue, Su Chen, and Yang Kai stood before the cracked orb on its jade pedestal, its Core Formation qi humming with secrets. The Nine Worlds Ascension Art scroll in Li Wei's sleeve burned, its characters shifting to reveal a new technique: World Resonance Seal, a formation that harmonized with a location's qi to unlock hidden paths. Li Wei's early Foundation Establishment aura thrummed, his Spirit Sense detecting currents of ancient power within the ruins.
Yang Kai, his sword still drawn from the shadow beast battle, urged caution. "This place is tied to the Core Formation World's gate," he said. "But its defenses are alive." Su Chen nodded, his frost-white hair glinting, his Frost Phoenix Claw ready. Lin Xue, now at the eighth stage of Qi Condensation, traced the murals with her fingers, her formation expertise sensing a lock. "The orb's a key," she said. "But it's guarded."
Li Wei activated World Resonance Seal, channeling his qi into the pedestal. The temple shook, stone grinding as a hidden stairwell opened, descending into darkness. The scroll whispered: The past holds the future. The team descended, their steps echoing. The air grew heavy with ancient qi, and Li Wei's Spirit Sense caught a flicker—Xu Rong's fiery qi trailing them, her Crimson Fang faction plotting revenge.
The stairwell led to a vast chamber, its ceiling a dome of glowing runes depicting the Nine Worlds' creation. At its center stood a stone altar, radiating Core Formation qi. A spectral figure materialized—a guardian spirit, its form a robed cultivator with eyes like stars. "Only the worthy may claim the World Key," it intoned, its aura at mid-Core Formation. "Face the Trial of Harmony."
The trial began with a surge of chaotic qi, the chamber's runes flaring. Shadow beasts—stronger than before—spawned, their claws slashing. Yang Kai's Starlit Blade carved through one, while Su Chen's Frost Phoenix Tempest froze another. Lin Xue's Cloud Veil Formation cloaked the team, but the beasts' qi pierced through. Li Wei used Celestial Vortex, his spinning shield absorbing the beasts' attacks and redirecting them. He followed with Celestial Harmony Strike, syncing with the chamber's qi to blast a beast apart.
The guardian spirit nodded. "You harmonize well, but the key demands more." It unleashed a wave of starlight qi, testing their resolve. Li Wei's World Resonance Seal stabilized the team, aligning their qi with the chamber's. The trial ended, and the altar revealed the World Key—a jade orb etched with nine interlocking rings, pulsing with the path to the Core Formation World.
As Li Wei claimed it, Xu Rong's Crimson Flame Whip lashed from the shadows, aiming for the key. Li Wei's Celestial Tide Flow dodged, and Su Chen's frost qi restrained her. "You'll pay for this," she hissed, fleeing as Yang Kai's sword flashed. The team secured the key, but the scroll warned: The gate tests the heart.