The Warning Across Worlds
1. The Rift Between Realms
The moment Shenggu Julong stepped into Shanggu Keep, the atmosphere shifted. The elders, already wary of Chen Zhen, stiffened at the sight of another unexpected arrival.
Julong's robes were torn, his body marked with fresh burns from a battle fought far beyond this world. His aura, once steady and composed, now flickered with instability. The moment Chen saw him, he knew.
Something was very, very wrong.
Meilin was the first to speak. "What is this?" Her voice was sharp, suspicious. "Why is he here?"
Julong ignored her and turned directly to Chen. "You need to listen. Now."
Chen took a step forward, feeling the weight of Julong's urgency. "Tell me."
Julong exhaled sharply, as if steadying himself for the gravity of his words. "The barriers between worlds are failing. Earth is under siege."
Silence fell upon the hall.
2. The Gathering Storm on Earth
Chen barely had time to process Julong's words before the elder continued, his voice low and hurried.
"Li Na and the Guardians have uncovered something ancient—Anchors buried deep within Earth's ley lines. The military is trying to control them, but they don't understand what they're dealing with."
Chen's chest tightened. "And?"
Julong's expression darkened. "The Anchors are waking up. If they continue to be disturbed, the entire planet could collapse."
Meilin frowned, stepping closer. "Why does this concern us? Earth severed its connection to qi centuries ago."
Julong shook his head. "That's just it. The severance was never complete. The Sacred Abyss and Earth have always been connected, like twin stars caught in each other's pull. If one falls, so does the other."
Chen's grip tightened around his glaive. "And the military?"
Julong hesitated. "They've created something… unnatural. A fusion of qi and machine. A war construct. If they perfect it, not only will Earth suffer, but the balance here will be destroyed as well."
3. The Bond That Cannot Be Severed
The Shanggu elders whispered among themselves, their expressions a mixture of skepticism and alarm.
"Even if what you say is true," an elder finally spoke, "why should we intervene? This is Earth's battle."
Chen's gaze burned with intensity as he stepped forward, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "That is my home. That is my world. My wife and my children are there. Do you truly believe I would stand idly by while they face annihilation?"
The room fell silent.
Meilin's expression faltered for just a moment before she regained her composure. "You expect us to drop everything and follow you into another war?"
Chen exhaled sharply, his fists clenching. "I expect you to understand that this war is already here. You think you can ignore Earth's struggles, but when their actions bring catastrophe to our world, you will have no choice but to fight. If you do nothing now, you won't just be losing an ally—you'll be losing the very foundation of our survival."
Julong's voice was calmer, more measured. "You don't need to fight this war. But you need to prepare for it. Because the next time I return, it won't be with warnings. It'll be with proof that the war has already begun."
The weight of his words settled over the room.
Shanggu Xian, ever the pragmatist, studied Chen carefully. "And what of you? Do you plan to leave us to join this fight?"
Chen hesitated. For the first time, he didn't know the answer.
4. The Looming Cataclysm
Julong stepped forward and placed an ancient talisman in Chen's hand. The moment it touched his skin, he felt the sheer magnitude of the energy it contained. It wasn't just a message—it was a piece of Earth's ley lines, still pulsing with the chaos of the Anchors.
"This will guide you," Julong said. "When the time comes, you'll know where to go."
Chen clenched his fist around the talisman. He could already feel the pull, the whispers of his home and his family calling to him.
Meilin's voice was quiet but firm. "If you leave, you may not be welcomed back."
Chen met her gaze, his expression unwavering. "And if I stay, I might be dooming both worlds. You all claim to be warriors, protectors of balance. So, I ask you—what kind of protector turns their back on an entire world crying for help?"
A murmur rippled through the council, uncertainty settling in their eyes.
5. A Decision Left Unmade
As Julong turned to leave, he paused only once, glancing back at Chen. "Be ready."
Then, as swiftly as he had arrived, he vanished into the night.
The Shanggu Council would not decide this night. But the war had already begun.
And Chen Zhen would have to decide where he truly belonged before it was too late.