Chapter 26: The Gate's Threshold
The rift to the Core Formation World stood open, a vortex of golden qi swirling within. Li Wei's team prepared to enter, their mission to secure the gate and uncover the source of the beast tides. The Nine Worlds Ascension Art scroll burned hotter, its characters revealing a new technique: Ninefold Pulse, a strike that layered nine waves of qi for devastating power. Li Wei practiced in the swamp, each pulse cratering the ground. His Foundation Establishment qi grew denser, nearing the mid-stage.
Lin Xue, now at peak Qi Condensation, refined her Mist Bind Array, binding qi with precision. Su Chen shared his Frost Phoenix Insight, a meditation technique that sharpened qi control, strengthening their teamwork. Mei Lan taught Li Wei a basic Jade Lotus Defense, complementing his Starweave Barrier. Huo Shen, chastened by Xu Rong's betrayal, pledged loyalty, his Blaze Fist adding firepower.
As they approached the gate, a new threat emerged: a Core Formation beast, a Shadow Wyrm, its scales absorbing light. Its aura dwarfed the Mist Drake, its roars shaking the swamp. Yang Kai's Starlit Blade struck first, but the wyrm's tail sent him flying. Su Chen's Frost Phoenix Tempest slowed it, while Mei Lan's Jade Lotus Palm shielded the team. Li Wei's Spirit Sense found its core, pulsing in its chest.
He unleashed Ninefold Pulse, nine waves of qi slamming the wyrm's core. The beast roared, its qi destabilizing. Lin Xue's Mist Bind Array bound its limbs, and Huo Shen's Blaze Fist scorched its scales. Li Wei followed with Starfall Strike, the auroral meteor shattering the core. The wyrm dissolved, its qi feeding the gate's stability.
The team stepped through the rift, entering the Core Formation World. A landscape of floating peaks and radiant rivers greeted them, its qi overwhelming. The scroll burned, warning of trials: the Heart Demon Tribulation, rival sects, and the Crimson Fang's pursuit. Li Wei gripped the World Key, his team behind him. The Nine Worlds Ascension Art whispered: Ascend, or fall.