The deeper Lin Feng and his companions ventured into the Ironclad Mountain Range, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The air felt heavier, thick with an energy that was both dark and ancient, as though the mountains themselves held secrets long forgotten. Even the usual sounds of wildlife had faded into an eerie silence, leaving only the sound of their footsteps on the rocky path.
Lin Feng's senses were on high alert. The encounter with the Dark Sect's assassins weighed heavily on his mind, especially the mysterious figure who had disappeared into the mist. Whoever they were, it was clear they were more than just an observer; they had been testing them, assessing their abilities for reasons yet unknown.
Wei Chen, who usually filled any silence with chatter, had fallen uncharacteristically quiet. He scanned the cliffs around them, his twin blades drawn, as though expecting an ambush at any moment.
"I don't like this," he muttered under his breath, casting a glance at Lin Feng. "Feels like we're walking into a trap."
Lin Feng couldn't disagree. "Stay sharp. We don't know what's waiting for us up ahead, but we have to assume they're watching."
Zhao Kuo, always the pragmatist, tightened his grip on his spear. "If they're watching, then let's give them a reason to be cautious. They'll regret underestimating us."
Li Mei, who had been walking slightly ahead of the group, suddenly paused. She raised her fan, tilting her head as if listening to something only she could hear.
"Wait," she said softly, her voice tense. "There's something up ahead. I can sense… a disturbance in the qi."
The group halted immediately, their instincts kicking in. Lin Feng reached for Azure Destiny, feeling the familiar pulse of the spirit sword as it resonated with his own energy. The blade hummed faintly, its azure glow cutting through the encroaching shadows.
"Can you tell what it is?" Lin Feng asked, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the path ahead.
Li Mei shook her head, her brow furrowing in concentration. "It's faint, but whatever it is, it's powerful. It's not like the dark qi we encountered before. This feels… older. More primal."
Zhao Kuo stepped forward, his expression grim. "Then we should proceed with caution. Whatever it is, we need to be ready."
They continued on, moving more slowly now, each step deliberate as they approached the source of the disturbance. The path led them through a narrow canyon, the towering cliffs on either side seeming to close in around them. Lin Feng could feel the weight of the mountain above, a sense of being watched growing stronger with each passing moment.
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet trembled. Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat as he instinctively drew his sword, the others following suit.
"What was that?" Wei Chen asked, his voice hushed.
Before anyone could answer, the rocks around them began to shift, the earth groaning as a large crack appeared in the canyon wall. A deep, rumbling sound echoed through the air, and from the shadows, something massive began to emerge.
It was a beast, though unlike any Lin Feng had seen before. Its body was covered in jagged black scales, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural crimson light. Dark energy radiated from it, the same sickly qi they had encountered during the fight with the Dark Sect, but this was different—more concentrated, more potent.
"A spirit beast, corrupted by dark qi," Zhao Kuo muttered, his grip tightening on his spear. "Be ready."
The beast let out a deafening roar, its massive claws digging into the ground as it charged toward them with terrifying speed.
"Scatter!" Lin Feng shouted, leaping to the side as the creature lunged, its claws tearing through the space where he had stood moments before.
Wei Chen was already moving, his twin blades flashing as he dashed toward the beast, aiming for its exposed underbelly. "Let's see how tough this thing really is!"
His attack struck true, but the blades barely scratched the surface of the creature's scales. The beast whipped around, swinging its massive tail toward Wei Chen with enough force to send him flying into the canyon wall.
"Wei Chen!" Li Mei called out, her fan snapping open as she unleashed a burst of wind qi, deflecting the beast's next strike.
Lin Feng seized the moment, charging forward with Azure Destiny glowing in his hand. The spirit sword pulsed with energy as he poured his qi into the blade, aiming for the beast's eyes. With a swift slash, he struck, but the beast's movements were faster than expected, and the blade only grazed its thick hide.
Zhao Kuo was already on the offensive, using his spear to drive the creature back. "It's too strong for direct attacks. We need to find a weak point!"
Lin Feng gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he analyzed the situation. The beast's scales were nearly impenetrable, but its movements were clumsy, and its attacks left it exposed for brief moments. They had to be strategic—time their strikes to exploit its weaknesses.
"Li Mei, use your wind qi to keep it off balance," Lin Feng ordered. "Zhao Kuo, aim for its legs. If we can slow it down, we might stand a chance."
The group moved in unison, their attacks coordinated. Li Mei sent powerful gusts of wind toward the beast, forcing it to stumble as Zhao Kuo's spear found its mark, piercing one of its legs with precision.
The beast roared in fury, but its movements were noticeably slower now. Lin Feng saw his opportunity and leapt into action, Azure Destiny gleaming as he struck at the creature's exposed neck. This time, the blade sank deeper, dark blood spraying from the wound as the beast let out a pained howl.
But the victory was short-lived.
From the wound, dark qi poured out, spreading like a miasma across the canyon. The corrupted energy lashed out, forming shadowy tendrils that wrapped around Lin Feng's arm, pulling him toward the beast with an unnatural force.
"Lin Feng!" Wei Chen shouted, struggling to stand after his earlier fall. He rushed forward, slicing through the tendrils with his blades, but more appeared, reaching for them both.
Li Mei moved quickly, summoning a powerful gust of wind to blow the dark energy away, but the miasma only seemed to grow stronger, feeding off the corrupted qi that filled the air.
Lin Feng fought against the pull, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a plan. The beast was clearly drawing power from the dark qi, its strength growing even as they wounded it. If they didn't act fast, they would be overwhelmed.
"Li Mei!" Lin Feng called out, his voice strained as the tendrils tightened around him. "We need to destroy the source of the dark qi. Can you sense where it's coming from?"
Li Mei closed her eyes, her fan moving in intricate patterns as she reached out with her qi senses. After a tense moment, her eyes snapped open. "There! Behind the beast—there's an underground fissure. That's where the dark energy is flowing from."
Lin Feng nodded, determination hardening his resolve. "Zhao Kuo, Wei Chen—keep the beast busy. Li Mei and I will close the fissure."
Without waiting for a response, Lin Feng surged forward, Azure Destiny slicing through the tendrils as he made his way toward the fissure. The dark energy was thick here, almost suffocating, but he could feel the source of it now—a deep, pulsating wound in the earth itself, radiating with malevolent power.
Li Mei followed close behind, her fan glowing as she prepared to unleash her strongest wind technique. Together, they focused their qi, channeling it into the fissure in a desperate attempt to seal the flow of dark energy.
The beast, sensing their plan, let out a final, furious roar, lunging toward them with all its remaining strength.
But it was too late.
With a surge of energy, Lin Feng and Li Mei sealed the fissure, cutting off the flow of dark qi. The beast faltered, its movements growing sluggish as the corrupted energy dissipated. With one last swing of his sword, Lin Feng struck the final blow, and the beast collapsed, its body dissolving into mist.
Breathing heavily, Lin Feng sheathed his sword, his mind still racing from the battle. They had won—but the encounter had revealed just how powerful the Dark Sect's influence truly was.
"We need to keep moving," he said, his voice grim. "If this was just a taste of what's to come, we have a long way to go before we're ready to face the Dark Sect."
With a final glance at the now-sealed fissure, the group pressed on, the shadow of the Dark Sect looming ever larger in their path.