The alliance between the Azure Sky Sect and the Celestial Thunder Sect was fragile, but Xiang Chen knew it was their best chance to stop the Demon Blood Sect's growing influence. With Lei Feng's intel, they had a clearer picture of their enemy's network and the conduits that siphoned spiritual energy. But acting on this knowledge would require stealth, precision, and trust—things in short supply between the two sects.
The joint operation commenced at dawn. Both sects' disciples, cloaked in protective formations to mask their spiritual signatures, split into several groups to target the conduits. Xiang Chen, Yuan Mei, Lei Hong, Jin Li, and Lei Feng were tasked with infiltrating the largest conduit, located in the depths of the Black Serpent Gorge.
The gorge was infamous for its treacherous terrain and the demonic beasts that roamed its depths. Mist clung to the ground, and the scent of decay hung in the air as they made their way through the winding paths.
Yuan Mei scanned their surroundings with her spiritual sense. "There's a heavy demonic presence here. We need to stay alert."
Lei Feng smirked. "Afraid of a few demonic beasts?"
Yuan Mei shot him a glare. "You should know by now that I'm not afraid of anything. But we're in their territory. Underestimating them would be foolish."
Xiang Chen intervened, his voice calm. "Focus. We're getting close to the conduit's location. Save the banter for later."
The Heart of Darkness
As they moved deeper into the gorge, the air grew colder, and the mist thickened. The energy in the area felt oppressive, like a heavy weight pressing down on their bodies. They could hear the distant roars of demonic beasts echoing through the chasm.
Lei Hong clenched his fists. "This place gives me the creeps. Let's find this conduit and get out of here."
They soon came upon a large cavern entrance, hidden by overgrown vines and jagged rocks. The faint glow of dark energy seeped from within, illuminating the mist in an eerie light. Xiang Chen led the group inside, signaling for silence as they approached the source.
The interior of the cavern was massive, with walls covered in glowing demonic runes. At its center stood an enormous black stone pillar, pulsating with an ominous energy that crackled like dark lightning. The air around it was charged, and Xiang Chen could feel the intense spiritual pressure emanating from it.
"There it is," he whispered. "The conduit."
Lei Feng stepped forward, studying the structure. "It's even larger than I anticipated. This one must be linked to several major spiritual veins."
Jin Li looked skeptical. "And how do we destroy it?"
Lei Feng smirked. "Leave that to me. I've studied the demonic runes before; we just need to sever the connections linking the spiritual veins."
Yuan Mei nodded. "Let's make it quick. The demonic beasts won't stay away for long."
The Beast Within
As Lei Feng began the process of disrupting the runes, Xiang Chen and the others formed a defensive perimeter. The air was thick with tension, and every shadow seemed to hide a potential threat. They remained vigilant, but soon the distant roars grew louder, echoing through the cavern.
Yuan Mei's eyes sharpened. "Something's coming."
Suddenly, a monstrous figure emerged from the darkness—a demonic serpent, its scales as black as night, and eyes glowing red. Its body coiled around the cavern pillars as it hissed, revealing fangs dripping with venom.
"It's a Black Serpent!" Jin Li shouted, drawing his sword. "Get ready!"
The serpent lunged, and the group scattered. Xiang Chen dashed forward, his sword blazing with spiritual energy as he deflected the serpent's attack. The beast's scales were tough, and Xiang Chen's sword barely scratched its hide.
Lei Hong leapt in from the side, striking with his spear. "Its weak point is the eyes—aim there!"
Yuan Mei and Jin Li flanked the serpent, coordinating their attacks to draw its attention. As the battle raged, Xiang Chen noticed that Lei Feng continued to work on the conduit, his hands moving swiftly as he chanted incantations to sever the demonic links.
The serpent roared in pain as Yuan Mei's ice spell struck one of its eyes, temporarily blinding it. Xiang Chen seized the opening, leaping onto the serpent's back and driving his sword into the beast's remaining eye. The serpent thrashed, its body convulsing as it let out a final, agonized cry before collapsing to the ground.
Panting, Xiang Chen jumped down, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Is it done?"
Lei Feng stepped back, his hands glowing with spiritual energy. "Almost. One more seal remains. Get ready; this might attract more enemies."
A Betrayal Unveiled
As Lei Feng worked on the final seal, Xiang Chen's senses tingled. The spiritual energy in the air felt different—wrong, somehow. He glanced at Lei Feng, noticing the unusual glow around his hands.
"Wait," Xiang Chen said, his voice edged with suspicion. "What are you doing?"
Lei Feng's smirk returned, but this time, it held a hint of malice. "It's simple, really. While your sect and mine are busy fighting the Demon Blood Sect, I've been making arrangements of my own."
Jin Li stepped forward, his expression darkening. "What do you mean?"
Lei Feng's aura flared as he activated the seal. Instead of weakening, the conduit's energy surged, and the dark runes around the cavern lit up, creating a web of demonic power that wrapped around the stone pillar.
"I wasn't just disrupting the conduit," Lei Feng said. "I was enhancing it."
Xiang Chen's eyes widened. "You're betraying us?"
Lei Feng shrugged. "Betrayal is a strong word. Let's just say I have my own goals. The Celestial Thunder Sect has no intention of letting your Azure Sky Sect take the lead in this battle. By using the Demon Blood Sect's power, we'll rise above both enemies and allies alike."
Yuan Mei's expression hardened. "You'll doom the entire region!"
Lei Feng laughed. "The region? I care only for power. And with this, my sect will be unrivaled."
Xiang Chen's grip tightened on his sword. "We trusted you. That was our mistake."
Lei Feng's smirk faded. "Indeed. And now, you'll pay for it."
The Battle for Survival
As the energy in the cavern reached a peak, the runes around the conduit began to pulse erratically. The ground trembled, and cracks formed along the walls. Xiang Chen, Yuan Mei, Lei Hong, and Jin Li braced themselves as the demonic energy surged.
Lei Feng unleashed a wave of dark lightning, targeting Xiang Chen and his companions. Xiang Chen deflected the attack with his sword, but the force sent him skidding back. Yuan Mei countered with a blast of ice, while Lei Hong and Jin Li launched their own techniques.
The cavern became a battlefield as spiritual and demonic energies clashed. Xiang Chen and Lei Feng exchanged blows, their swords sparking as they collided. Despite his betrayal, Lei Feng's skill was undeniable, and Xiang Chen found himself pushed to his limits.
"Give up, Xiang Chen," Lei Feng sneered. "You're outmatched."
Xiang Chen gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with determination. "I won't let you win. Not today."
Channeling his spiritual energy, Xiang Chen unleashed his strongest technique. His sword glowed with a brilliant blue light as he struck, piercing through Lei Feng's defenses and shattering the dark aura surrounding him.
Lei Feng staggered, clutching his chest. "Impossible… How could you—?"
Before he could finish, the unstable energy of the conduit exploded. The force sent Xiang Chen and his companions flying back as the cavern began to collapse.
Escape and Regret
Xiang Chen and his team scrambled to their feet, making a desperate dash for the exit as the cavern crumbled around them. They narrowly escaped, diving out of the entrance just as the entire structure collapsed in a thunderous roar.
Catching their breath outside, Xiang Chen looked back at the ruins of the cavern. "We couldn't destroy the conduit, but at least it's buried for now."
Yuan Mei's expression was somber. "But the alliance… it's over. We can't trust the Celestial Thunder Sect."
Jin Li nodded. "Lei Feng was just one of their disciples, but who knows how deep the betrayal runs?"
Xiang Chen's eyes hardened. "We'll deal with them later. For now, we focus on stopping the Demon Blood Sect. But we'll need to watch our backs."
As they regrouped, Xiang Chen felt a sense of urgency. The battle was far from over, and the stakes were higher than ever. But one thing was clear: he would not allow the Demon Blood Sect—or the Celestial Thunder Sect—to threaten their world.