The Abyss of Shattered Dao had claimed more than just General Wu's strength. As he stood, gripping the Crown of the Eternal Sky, an overwhelming sense of power surged through him. It was not the satisfying surge of triumph he had expected. Instead, it felt like an insidious force that pressed down on him, draining him of his will and mind, replacing it with a sense of dread.
As his fingers brushed the artifact, the words of the ancient voice echoed again, louder now, a warning that struck to the core of his being.
"You seek control, but the cost is your soul. Power comes with a price, and the price of the Crown is more than you can bear."
General Wu staggered, his knees buckling beneath him as the weight of the Crown seemed to grow heavier, its golden light flickering like a dying flame. His soldiers, now only a handful of exhausted warriors, looked on with a mixture of awe and fear.
"General Wu...?" One of them called out, his voice trembling. "What's happening? What is that feeling?"
But General Wu couldn't answer. The pressure in his chest was unbearable, and he could feel the Crown burning into his skin, its energy feeding on his very essence. He tried to pull away, but the artifact clung to him, unwilling to release its hold.
A terrible, otherworldly scream filled his mind, and he fell to his knees, clutching the Crown in desperation. He could feel his strength draining, his power slipping away as if the Abyss itself were devouring him from the inside out.
The creature that had been stalking him and his team loomed over him again, its massive form casting a shadow across the chamber. But this time, it did not attack. It simply watched, as if amused by the unfolding scene.
General Wu's mind was clouded, his vision blurry, but he could still make out the faces of his soldiers as they looked on in horror. They were too far away to help, and they could do nothing but witness the price of seeking the Crown.
In the Forgotten Celestial Valley, Bai Qingyu stood at the highest point of the cliff; her eyes narrowed as she sensed the surge of energy from the Abyss. She could feel the disturbance growing stronger, a sign that the Emperor's plans were nearing their final stage. It was clear that General Wu had succeeded in obtaining the Crown—but at what cost?
Li Yuexin stood beside her, her fiery energy crackling in the air. "Looks like they've gone too far this time," she said with a grin. "They've awakened something far darker than they bargained for."
Bai Qingyu's expression remained stoic as she gazed out at the horizon. "The Emperor's desperation will be his downfall. The Crown is not a gift—it is a weapon. And now, General Wu is paying the price for his greed."
Yuexin's grin widened. "Let them. The more they try to control what they don't understand, the more they'll expose their weakness."
Bai Qingyu's voice was low, filled with a quiet intensity. "The Emperor cannot control the Abyss. He cannot control the Crown. And he cannot control us."
Li Yuexin's playful demeanor shifted as she turned her gaze to Bai Qingyu. "So, what now? Do we wait for them to make the next move? Or do we make our own?"
Bai Qingyu considered this for a moment. "We wait. But we prepare. The Emperor's actions have set in motion a path that will lead to conflict. And when that time comes, we will end it on our terms."
Back in the Abyss, General Wu's body trembled, and his vision clouded as the Crown's power surged through him. His once-proud posture had collapsed into a hunched, broken figure, his hands shaking as he clung to the artifact. His mind was shattered, filled with whispers of ancient voices, and his sense of self was fading.
"No... No!" General Wu's voice rasped, the words barely escaping his throat. "I... I can't control it."
The creature that had been lurking in the shadows finally made its move. It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its claws slicing through the air, but this time, General Wu could not react. He was paralyzed, his body unable to move as the Crown drained the last remnants of his strength.
The soldiers who had accompanied him tried to retreat, but one by one, they were overwhelmed by the dark creatures that poured from the Abyss, drawn to the power of the Crown. The final members of General Wu's team fought valiantly, but their numbers were few, and the Abyss was a place where no victory came without a price.
Back at the Heavenly Imperial Court, the Emperor sat in his grand throne room, his face a mask of fury. His hands clenched into fists as he received the news from General Wu's expedition. The Crown had been retrieved, but it had come at a tremendous cost.
"Report!" the Emperor demanded, his voice booming in the hall.
Lord Zhang bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, General Wu has succeeded in obtaining the Crown of the Eternal Sky, but... he and his team have been lost. The Crown's power is beyond what we anticipated. General Wu... he is not the man he once was."
The Emperor's face twisted in rage. "What do you mean? Speak clearly!"
"General Wu is no longer himself," Lord Zhang said softly. "The Crown... it has claimed him. His mind is fractured, and he is no longer fit to lead. The power it grants is... consuming."
The Emperor's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "I will not be made a fool of. I will not let this Crown slip from my grasp!"
Lord Zhang stepped back, his face filled with caution. "The Crown has a price, Your Majesty. We must be careful. The path you wish to take may be too costly."
But the Emperor's resolve was unwavering. "I will not back down. The Empresses must fall, and I will see to it that they do."
In the Forgotten Celestial Valley, Bai Qingyu and Li Yuexin watched as the disturbance in the Emperor's court grew stronger. They could feel the waves of energy as the Emperor sought to wield the Crown's power for his own gain. They knew that a final confrontation was inevitable, and when it came, it would change the fate of the entire empire.
"The time is drawing near," Bai Qingyu said, her voice quiet but filled with determination. "And when the Emperor comes for us, we will make him regret ever thinking he could control us."
Li Yuexin grinned, her fiery energy sparking to life. "Oh, I'm looking forward to it."