Chapter 123: The Heart of the Seal
Before the temple's inner sanctum, six figures stood in silence.
Aizen stood at the forefront, his gaze fixed calmly upon the imposing stone door that barred their way. His dark eyes were as still and deep as autumn water, utterly inscrutable.
Huang Quan stood behind him, his own eyes a whirlpool of conflicting emotions—ferocity, hesitation, and a grim, final resolve. The thought of striking Aizen down flitted through his mind once more, but even with Aizen's back turned to him, Huang Quan found he lacked the courage to act. Whether it was uncertainty of success or the sheer, oppressive weight of Aizen's invisible aura, he did not know. From beginning to end, all Huang Quan could do was stand there, a cold sweat beading on his skin, not daring to make a move.
"Huang Quan," Aizen's voice broke the silence, calm and commanding. "Proceed. Open this door. Let me... assist you."
He walked forward without a change in expression, completely ignoring the treacherous glances at his back.
The four acolytes—Kira, Setsuna, and the others—exchanged a look, then stepped forward together. Putting their shoulders to the massive stone door, they pushed with all their enhanced strength.
Creeeeak—
The heavy stone door groaned open, and a gust of ancient, musty air washed over them.
Inside the temple, eerie, flickering flames cast a dancing, ghostly light, dotting the pitch-black interior like malevolent stars.
The moment Huang Quan stepped across the threshold, he felt it—two diametrically opposed energies warring within the sacred space. The pure, sanctifying power of the Shrine Maidens, and the vile, corrupting origin of the evil Sprite. The two forces were locked in a perpetual stalemate, each suppressing the other.
Aizen continued his unhurried advance. Soon, an endless-seeming corridor stretched out before them. By the dim light of the ghostly flames, he could clearly see a shimmering barrier sealing the far end.
"The Sprite's soul... the Shrine Maiden's seal," Aizen murmured, coming to a halt. He cast a sidelong glance at Huang Quan. "Proceed. Do not concern yourself with a lack of strength. Do not worry about being unable to break the seal. You need only focus on your method. I will handle the rest."
Huang Quan looked at Aizen's calm face. For once, the fanaticism in his eyes was gone, replaced by an unprecedented, chilling calmness. He stepped forward, positioning himself at the mouth of the long corridor.
"This moment has finally arrived," he said, his voice low. "The rest of you, wait here. Further ahead is the convergence point of two worlds. Only I, who bears the name 'Huang Quan,' may enter."
He then turned his head, his gaze locking onto Aizen. "Master Aizen... let us go. I require your... strength."
With that, he began his descent down a steep, narrow staircase that led into the depths of an endless underground palace.
Aizen offered a slight smile and followed, descending the steps under the horrified yet obedient eyes of Kira and Setsuna. The moment Aizen's foot touched the first step, flames roared to life along the walls, casting a ghastly, dancing light like will-o'-the-wisps.
The deeper they went, the heavier the ancient, oppressive atmosphere became.
Though the corridor seemed endless, Aizen and Huang Quan reached its terminus with surprising speed.
"There it is... Master Aizen," Huang Quan whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of awe and greed.
At the end of his line of sight stretched a stone bridge nearly a hundred meters long. On the other side of the bridge was a circular stone platform, supported by six massive pillars. A shimmering, light-blue barrier enveloped the entire platform. At the apex of this dome-like barrier, a complex, esoteric sealing formula was engraved, pulsing with a mysterious, potent energy.
"And what are these?" Aizen asked, his eyes sweeping over the countless, towering stone statues that lined the sides of the stone bridge. They stood like a silent, petrified army. He could feel a strange fluctuation emanating from them—not quite a sign of life, more like dormant puppets awaiting a command.
"These are the Undead Legions of Lord Sprite," Huang Quan explained, his voice swelling with pride. "They are our ultimate weapon against the Five Great Nations. Once Lord Sprite's soul is awakened, these legions will reactivate. The dominion of the Five Great Nations will be within our grasp!"
Aizen smiled faintly, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes. Huang Quan's so-called "ultimate weapon" was nothing more than a collection of mindless statues in his view.
"Let us proceed," Aizen said. "If I am not mistaken, the soul of the Sprite is sealed within that stele at the center of the barrier?"
Without waiting for an answer, he flashed forward, appearing directly before the shimmering dome.
Huang Quan watched Aizen's blasphemously casual approach, his fists clenching tightly within the sleeves of his robe. A sinister glare fixed on Aizen's back, his heart boiling with a renewed, potent killing intent.
He followed Aizen, stepping onto the stone bridge. In the vast, empty underground space, the echo of their footsteps was the only sound.
BZZZT—!
Before they could even reach the barrier, Huang Quan tentatively reached out a hand. The moment his palm neared the shimmering surface, ripples spread across it, and a powerful, repelling force surged out, blocking him from taking another step.
"As I expected," Huang Quan sighed, a note of genuine regret in his voice. "My strength is still too weak."
He had long anticipated this result, but facing it directly was still a bitter pill. According to his original calculations, the monstrous chakra within him would not reach maturity for another three years. Only then would breaking this barrier be a simple task.
But fate had other plans.
"Master Aizen," Huang Quan said, turning an eager, almost desperate look toward the composed figure beside him. "It is time to honor your promise. Help me break this seal."
He was so close. Just one step away from the power he dreamed of. All he needed was to cross this barrier, and he could use his dark arts to shatter the Shrine Maiden's seal forever.
"Such a fragile seal, and it is beyond your reach," Aizen remarked, his tone dripping with contempt as he glanced at Huang Quan. "Your strength is truly disappointing."
Under Huang Quan's bitter, watchful gaze, Aizen stepped up to the barrier.
SHIIICK!
No fancy movements. No incantations. He simply flipped his hand over, palm facing the dome of energy.
The seemingly unbreakable barrier tore apart under his touch, ripping open to reveal a gaping, man-sized crack.
"This... how is this possible?!" Huang Quan's face was a mask of pure shock. A storm of disbelief raged in his heart. He hadn't even seen Aizen do anything! The barrier, the culmination of generations of the Shrine Maiden's power, had simply... parted.
"Proceed," Aizen said, utterly indifferent to Huang Quan's astonishment. His interest was solely on the Sprite's soul sealed within the central stele. "Break the Shrine Maiden's seal. Release the Sprite."
Huang Quan stumbled forward, his arms trembling with an intensity born of overwhelming excitement and anticipation. He placed his hands upon the cold, ancient stone stele.
"You, who have haunted my dreams... Sprite."
"The ritual... begins!"
He began to chant, a low, guttural stream of dark incantations. A strange, corrupting power, purple and malevolent, began to seep from his palms and into the stone.
Time seemed to stretch. The atmosphere in the chamber grew thick and heavy, charged with imminent, cataclysmic change.
Finally, the stone stele responded. A network of hairline cracks began to spread across its surface, spider-webbing out from where Huang Quan's hands made contact.
The seal of the Shrine Maiden was failing.
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