Chapter 11 – Shadows in Pursuit
The forest stretched endlessly under the pale glow of the twin moons, its dense canopy whispering secrets to the night wind. Chen Yue darted between towering trees, each leap carrying him across impossible distances as the last traces of Heaven Vein Step burned through his veins.
Behind him, two figures clung to his arms—Velira, her breath ragged but her eyes sharp, and Ayara, who moved with an archer's grace even in flight.
Every heartbeat felt like a countdown.
[System Alert]
Authority Burst Remaining Time: 12 seconds
Warning: Severe meridian strain imminent. Recommend disengage immediately.
Chen Yue gritted his teeth. The aftereffects would be brutal, but slowing down now was death. Lord Ardyn was behind them—wounded, but not beaten. And a Mana Saint didn't give up easily.
A crushing wave of mana erupted in the distance, ripping through the forest like a hurricane. Ancient trees snapped like twigs, their trunks hurled skyward.
"He's coming," Chen Yue muttered, forcing his legs to move faster.
Ayara glanced back, her sharp eyes catching glimpses of blue-white light tearing through the darkness. "He's not alone. I see… at least twenty soldiers chasing us!"
Velira's voice was ice-cold. "You're going to explain everything after we survive this."
Chen Yue didn't answer. His focus was on the terrain ahead. A deep ravine loomed in the moonlight, cutting the forest like a scar. The only path forward was across an old stone bridge barely holding together.
Perfect for an ambush, Chen Yue thought grimly. But we don't have a choice.
[System Notice]
New Sub-Quest:Survive the Bridge of Echoing Ruin.
Condition: Cross before structural collapse.
Time Limit: 90 seconds.
Chen Yue's boots hit the cracked stone as they landed on the bridge. The surface trembled under their weight, fragments falling into the abyss below.
"Ayara! Lay suppression fire behind us!" Chen Yue barked.
Without hesitation, Ayara drew three arrows at once, mana glowing on their tips. She loosed them in rapid succession—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—turning the forest edge into a wall of explosions and fire.
Velira! Freeze the gaps!"
Velira clenched her teeth, summoning frost so intense it crystallized the air. Shards of ice sealed the widening cracks beneath their feet, buying them precious seconds.
But the mana storm behind them grew stronger. A voice thundered through the night, shaking the very stones under their feet.
"You think you can escape me?!"
Ardyn.
A spear of light ripped through the trees and slammed into the bridge, obliterating half of it in a flash of brilliance. Chen Yue cursed, pushing harder as the structure groaned and tilted.
[System Alert]
Authority Burst Expired. Stats returning to baseline.
Warning: Qi Flow Disruption Detected. Immediate stabilization required.
Chen Yue felt his strength falter, his muscles screaming in agony. Blood trickled from his nose as his meridians burned like molten steel.
"Damn it… Not now."
Velira saw it too. "You're slowing down!"
"Just… keep running!"
The last stretch of the bridge crumbled as they leapt across, landing hard on the other side. Behind them, the ancient structure collapsed into the abyss, dragging countless tons of stone into darkness.
For a moment, silence. Only the sound of their ragged breathing filled the night air.
Velira spun on him, her icy gaze sharp enough to cut steel. "Now. Explain. That power—you're not using mana. What are you?"
Ayara crossed her arms, eyes narrowed but calmer. "I saved your life once. Don't make me regret it."
Chen Yue wiped the blood from his mouth, thinking fast. If I tell them everything, they could betray me—or worse, become targets because of me.
"It's… an ancient technique," he said finally. "From before mana ruled this world. I'm reviving something long forgotten."
Velira didn't look convinced. "Ancient? No one remembers such power."
Chen Yue's lips curled into a faint smile. "Exactly. And I plan to keep it that way."
Before they could press further, Ayara stiffened. Her hunter's instincts screamed danger. "We're not safe yet. I hear something."
Chen Yue tensed. Then he felt it—a ripple of energy, not from Ardyn, but something else. Darker. Heavier.
The forest beyond the ravine shimmered with shadow. Figures cloaked in black emerged, their faces hidden by bone masks carved into grotesque smiles. Each radiated a sinister aura that made even Velira pale.
"Void Cult," she whispered, fear threading her voice. "Why are they here?"
Chen Yue frowned. He didn't know who they were, but the System did.
[System Warning]
Faction Detected: Void Cult – World-Destroying Sect. Objective: Consume All Sources of Power.
Threat Level:Catastrophic.
Recommendation: Avoid engagement. Survival chance: 8%.
The masked leader stepped forward, his voice like dry leaves scraping stone.
"We smelled something… ancient." His gaze locked on Chen Yue. "The scent of Qi. Hand it over… and die quickly."
Velira froze. "Qi? They know?"
Ayara drew an arrow, voice calm but cold. "You'll have to take it from us."
Chen Yue's heart pounded. System says survival chance is 8%… so what's the other 92%?
[System Override Initiated]
Emergency Quest:Forge the First Bond.
Objective: Establish Vein Harmony with one companion.
Reward:Bonded Technique Unlocked.
Failure:Death within 10 minutes.
Chen Yue's eyes widened. Now? In the middle of this fight?
But as the Void Cultists advanced, shadows twisting like living serpents, Chen Yue knew there was no choice.
He turned to Velira and Ayara, voice low but urgent. "If you want to live, trust me. Give me your hand."
Velira hesitated. Ayara didn't. She grabbed his hand without a word, her heartbeat steady and calm.
"Good," Chen Yue whispered as Qi surged like wildfire. "System—start the ritual."
The night exploded in light.
End of Chapter 11 – Shadows in Pursuit
Next chapter will feature:
First Dual Cultivation Session (combat-enhanced) – Qi + Mana fusion
First Bonded Technique unlocked: Starpierce Volley with Ayara
A battle against the Void Cult assassins
And the beginning of Velira's jealousy arc