Xiaojun pressed himself into the shadows of the cavern, the flickering torchlight from the nearby guards casting long, dancing shadows on the walls. Three guards—Jade Serpent Sect members, judging by their green robes—stood near the entrance to the vault, their voices low but clear enough for him to catch fragments of their conversation.
"…heard the Red Sky Sect's spies are close. We need to secure the Soulstone soon," one of them muttered.
"The sect leader said no one gets past us, not even the other sects," another replied, his grip tightening on his spear. "We guard this place with our lives."
Xiaojun stayed silent, his mind working quickly. These weren't low-level disciples, and even though he could probably take one or two of them in a fair fight, he couldn't afford to alert the whole mountain. This was no ordinary artifact they were guarding. The Crimson Soulstone was more than just a relic; it was a source of immense power, and he needed to get to it without starting a war with the Jade Serpent Sect.
He glanced at his system interface, scrolling through his abilities. Nothing he had so far would allow him to confront them head-on. Then, an idea clicked in his mind. His new Shadowstep ability was perfect for situations like this. He hadn't had the chance to use it yet, but now wasn't the time to hesitate.
[System Notification: Skill Activation - Shadowstep]
Description: Become one with the shadows for 30 seconds. You are invisible to sight, sound, and sense.
The air around Xiaojun seemed to shift as the shadows thickened around him, blending him into the darkened corners of the cavern. His breathing slowed, his presence becoming undetectable. In this state, he was nearly invisible—unless someone had a particularly sharp sixth sense for Qi. The trick was moving slowly and not drawing attention.
Carefully, Xiaojun edged forward, moving past the three guards. Their voices continued to murmur behind him as he silently approached the stone door at the end of the passage. It was massive, covered in glowing runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light. He crouched down to examine the symbols more closely, recognizing the intricate patterns. This wasn't just any door—it was sealed with a Qi-lock.
Xiaojun had encountered similar mechanisms before in Murim Conquest. In the game, only those who mastered high-level Qi manipulation could break these seals, but his system-enhanced memory and his cultivation gave him a distinct advantage. He might not have been on the level of these sect disciples yet, but he could manage this.
Resting his hands on the cold stone, Xiaojun allowed his Qi to flow into the runes, tracing their paths with his energy. The door responded sluggishly at first, but as he focused, he felt it yielding. With a low rumble, the seal dissipated, and the massive stone door creaked open.
As the door parted, the weight of the powerful energy inside hit him like a wave.
The chamber beyond was dark, save for a single object that glowed with an eerie, blood-red light. Sitting on a pedestal at the far end of the room was the Crimson Soulstone. Its surface shimmered like liquid fire, pulsating with life. Xiaojun could feel the intense power radiating from it. This wasn't just a cultivation artifact—it was a force of nature.
He cautiously approached the stone, keeping his senses on high alert. There was something wrong about this room. The energy was too chaotic, too unstable. His instincts screamed at him to be careful.
He stopped a few feet from the pedestal, eyes fixed on the Soulstone. Could he handle this power? He had read stories of cultivators who sought too much strength too quickly and paid the price for it. But he didn't have the luxury of time. He needed to grow stronger, and this was his chance.
Before he could reach out, a soft voice echoed through the chamber.
"I wouldn't touch that if I were you."
Xiaojun froze, his hand inches from the Soulstone. His eyes darted to the source of the voice. Standing at the entrance of the chamber was a man, draped in red and black robes, his face partially obscured by a hood. His aura was dark, oppressive, and unlike anything Xiaojun had felt before. This wasn't a Jade Serpent Sect disciple—he was something else entirely.
The man stepped forward slowly, his boots making no sound on the stone floor. "You have no idea what you're dealing with, boy."
Xiaojun tensed, his hand slipping to the hilt of his dagger. "Who are you?"
The man's lips twisted into a humorless smile. "A guardian, of sorts. The question you should be asking is not who I am, but why you're still standing here."
Xiaojun narrowed his eyes. "I've come for the Soulstone. I need it."
The man chuckled softly. "Need it? You think you can control it? The Crimson Soulstone isn't something you can just take and wield. It's a cursed object, and it devours anyone who tries to use its power improperly."
"I'll take my chances."
The man's expression darkened, his amusement fading. "Then you're more of a fool than I thought."
Before Xiaojun could react, the man's hand shot forward, sending a blast of dark Qi hurtling toward him. Xiaojun barely managed to dodge, the energy slamming into the pedestal behind him and sending shards of stone flying through the air. The force of the attack was far stronger than anything Xiaojun had encountered before, and it was clear that this wasn't just an ordinary cultivator.
Xiaojun rolled to his feet, his mind racing. He couldn't take this guy in a direct fight, but he wasn't about to back down. His hand tightened around his dagger as he quickly assessed the situation. The chamber wasn't large, but the pedestal in the center provided some cover. He needed to figure out this guy's weaknesses and fast.
The man moved fluidly, another wave of dark energy forming around his hands. "You should have listened, boy. Now you'll pay the price."
With a flick of his wrist, the man unleashed another blast of energy. This time, Xiaojun was ready. He ducked behind the pedestal, the dark Qi slamming into it with a deafening crack. The force of the blow sent vibrations through the stone, but Xiaojun stayed low, focusing on gathering his own Qi.
He couldn't match this guy in raw power, but he had something the man didn't—his system.
Glancing quickly at his interface, Xiaojun scrolled through his abilities. The Lightning Strike ability had proven useful before, but he needed more than just a direct hit. Then, his eyes landed on another skill he hadn't used yet.
[System Notification: New Skill Available - Thunderclap]
Description: A powerful, area-of-effect Qi technique that creates a deafening burst of sound and lightning. Can disorient and weaken enemies temporarily.
This was it. If he could disorient the guy, he might have a chance to land a decisive blow.
Xiaojun took a deep breath, centering his Qi before activating the ability. As he stepped out from behind the pedestal, the man was already preparing his next attack, but Xiaojun was faster. He slammed his palms together, channeling his Qi into the motion.
Thunderclap.
The chamber erupted in a deafening explosion of sound and light. A massive shockwave of lightning-infused Qi rippled through the air, striking the man head-on. He staggered, momentarily blinded by the intense light and deafened by the roar of the Thunderclap.
Xiaojun didn't hesitate. Seizing the opportunity, he dashed forward, his dagger flashing as he aimed for the man's chest. The blade struck true, sinking deep into the man's side. A pained grunt escaped his lips, but before Xiaojun could follow through, the man retaliated with a wild burst of Qi, forcing Xiaojun back.
The man clutched his side, his dark eyes glaring at Xiaojun with a mix of pain and fury. "You think… you've won?" he growled, his voice laced with venom.
Xiaojun held his ground, his dagger still dripping with the man's blood. "I'm not here to play games. Leave, or the next strike won't be so merciful."
The man's lips curled into a grim smile. "You have no idea what you've just unleashed." He took a step back, his body flickering as if he were phasing out of existence. "We'll meet again, boy. And when we do, you'll regret crossing me."
With that, the man vanished, leaving behind only the faint echo of his laughter in the air.
Xiaojun stood there, his chest heaving. The Soulstone still glowed ominously behind him, but now, it felt even more dangerous. He had won, but the cost of that victory was yet to reveal itself.
He looked back at the Crimson Soulstone, knowing full well that this wasn't the end—it was only the beginning.