The storm outside continued to rage throughout the night, the wind howling like a beast prowling the land. Lin Xi found herself drifting in and out of sleep, her mind clouded with strange dreams—visions of the Black Dragon Emperor, of ancient temples crumbling into dust, and of the relics glowing with a fierce, untamed power.
When she awoke, the storm had calmed, leaving a strange, eerie silence in its wake. The others were already up, packing their gear and preparing to leave the cave.
Shēng Lóng was standing at the entrance, looking out at the barren landscape. The sky was a pale gray, heavy with the remnants of the storm, and the ground was slick with mud and rainwater.
"The storm has passed," he said, turning to the others. "But we should move quickly. The Eastern Wastes won't remain calm for long."
Lin Xi gathered her things and joined Su Qinghe and Liú Jùn near the entrance. The air was heavy with humidity, and the ground was treacherous, but they pressed forward, determined to reach the temple before Hēilóng Dì's forces.
As they walked, Shēng Lóng spoke quietly, his voice barely audible over the squelching mud beneath their feet. "We're close now. The temple lies beyond those cliffs. Once we reach it, we'll need to move fast—Hēilóng Dì's commanders won't be far behind."
Lin Xi nodded, her heart pounding with anticipation. The journey had been long and difficult, but they were finally nearing their goal. The relic hidden within the temple was their only chance of stopping the Black Dragon Emperor's rise to power, and they couldn't afford to fail.
As they neared the cliffs, the ground beneath their feet began to shift, just as Shēng Lóng had warned. The earth trembled, small rocks tumbling down the slopes, and the air grew thick with tension.
"We need to be careful," Su Qinghe said, his voice steady despite the growing danger. "The land here is unstable."
Lin Xi tightened her grip on her sword, her senses on high alert. Every step felt like a gamble, the ground threatening to give way at any moment.
Suddenly, without warning, the earth beneath them cracked open with a deafening roar. Lin Xi barely had time to react as the ground crumbled beneath her feet, sending her tumbling down into a dark chasm. She fell hard, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs as she hit the cold, damp stone below.
"Lin Xi!" Su Qinghe's voice echoed from above, filled with panic.
Lin Xi groaned, pushing herself up onto her hands and knees. The fall had left her bruised and winded, but otherwise unharmed. She looked up to see Su Qinghe and the others standing at the edge of the chasm, their faces pale with worry.
"I'm fine," Lin Xi called up, her voice hoarse. "Just a little shaken."
Su Qinghe's expression was tight with concern, but he nodded. "Stay there. We'll find a way down."
Lin Xi glanced around, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. The chasm was deep, its walls slick with moisture, and the air was cool and damp. Strange, luminous plants grew along the walls, casting an eerie glow that barely illuminated the cavern below.
As she stood, dusting herself off, something in the darkness caught her eye—a shadow moving in the corner of the cavern, almost too quick to notice.
Lin Xi froze, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her sword. She squinted into the gloom, trying to make out what had caught her attention, but there was nothing there. Just the faint glow of the plants and the distant sound of dripping water.
"Lin Xi, don't move," Shēng Lóng called down, his voice calm but firm. "The caverns here are old. There could be traps or worse."
Lin Xi's grip on her sword tightened, her senses prickling with unease. She hadn't imagined it—something was down here with her. And whatever it was, it wasn't friendly.
Before she could call out to the others, the shadow moved again, this time closer. Lin Xi whirled around, drawing her sword just as a figure emerged from the darkness—a humanoid shape, cloaked in shadows, its eyes glowing a malevolent red.
Lin Xi's heart pounded in her chest as the figure approached, its movements unnaturally fluid. She had faced many dangers on her journey, but there was something about this creature that filled her with a deep, primal fear.
The creature lunged at her with terrifying speed, its claws slashing through the air. Lin Xi barely had time to react, parrying its strike with her sword and stumbling back as it hissed, baring sharp, jagged teeth.
"Su Qinghe!" Lin Xi shouted, her voice echoing through the cavern. "I'm not alone down here!"
Above her, Su Qinghe and Liú Jùn scrambled to find a way down, their voices tense with urgency. But Lin Xi knew she couldn't wait for them to reach her. The creature was fast, faster than anything she had fought before, and she had to act quickly.
The creature lunged at her again, and this time Lin Xi was ready. She sidestepped its attack and struck out with her sword, slicing through its shadowy form. The creature let out a shriek of pain, its body dissolving into black smoke as it fell to the ground.
Lin Xi stood panting, her sword still raised, as the last of the creature's form faded away. But she knew this wasn't over. The shadows in the cavern were thick and alive, and the sense of danger had not passed.
Moments later, Su Qinghe and the others finally reached her, climbing down the slick walls of the chasm with ropes. Su Qinghe's eyes were wide with concern as he rushed to her side. "Are you hurt?"
Lin Xi shook her head, still catching her breath. "No, but… something was down here. Some kind of shadow creature."
Shēng Lóng's face darkened as he glanced around the cavern. "The Eastern Wastes are filled with dark magic, remnants of the war against Hēilóng Dì. We must be cautious. These creatures are drawn to power—and they're only the beginning."
Lin Xi exchanged a look with Su Qinghe, her heart still racing. They were getting closer to the relic, but the danger was growing with every step. Whatever awaited them at the temple, it wasn't going to be an easy fight.
"Let's move," Shēng Lóng said, his voice grave. "The temple is close. And so are our enemies."
With renewed determination, they pressed forward into the depths of the chasm, the weight of the relic and the looming threat of Hēilóng Dì's forces driving them onward.