The air around Shenlong grew still as the Storm Serpent's enormous body lay motionless on the ground. His heart pounded, and his muscles burned from the exertion, but a triumphant grin tugged at his lips. He had done it—defeated one of the most fearsome creatures in the abyss.
He wiped sweat from his brow and stepped closer to the serpent's body, observing the aftermath of his victory. Although the Storm Serpent was dead, the battle had left its mark on the landscape, the ground torn apart by their exchange. The surrounding cliffs stood silent witnesses to the fierce clash of power.
Shenlong knelt beside the beast, placing his hand on its scales. Even in death, the serpent's body still radiated immense energy. He knew that demonic beasts of this caliber contained powerful cores, which were invaluable for cultivation and alchemy. With a quick movement, Shenlong drew his sword and made a precise cut along the serpent's chest. A shimmering blue core, pulsating with the essence of lightning and storms, revealed itself within the creature's body.
"An elemental core," Shenlong whispered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. The serpent's core was a priceless treasure that could enhance his cultivation by leaps and bounds. He carefully extracted the core, feeling the power resonate through his hands as he tucked it into his spatial ring.
With the serpent defeated, Shenlong turned his attention to the mountain ahead. He had sensed it earlier—the faint aura of ancient energy emanating from within the mountain. The pendant around his neck pulsed lightly, as if urging him forward. The ruins were close.
Shenlong gathered his strength and began to ascend the rocky slopes, the path ahead growing more treacherous with each step. The terrain was rough, and sharp gusts of wind whipped against his face, but he pressed on. His determination to unlock the secrets of the ancient ruins and further his cultivation drove him forward.
After what felt like hours of climbing, Shenlong finally reached a hidden entrance carved into the mountainside. The stone doors were massive, covered in intricate symbols and carvings that seemed to depict scenes of ancient battles and long-forgotten gods. The aura of the place was overwhelming—this was no ordinary ruin. Shenlong could feel the weight of history pressing down on him, the power that lay dormant within these walls.
The pendant hummed softly as Shenlong approached the doors, reacting to the ancient energy. He placed his hand on the stone surface, and to his surprise, the symbols began to glow, lighting up one by one as if recognizing his presence. The doors slowly creaked open, revealing a dark corridor that led deeper into the mountain.
Shenlong stepped inside, his heart racing with anticipation. The air was cool and thick with the scent of old stone and forgotten mysteries. The walls of the corridor were lined with more carvings, each one depicting a different story—ancient warriors wielding powerful weapons, cultivators battling demonic beasts, and grand palaces rising into the heavens.
As he ventured deeper, Shenlong could feel the energy in the air growing stronger. The pendant around his neck seemed to react with every step, guiding him forward as if it knew the way. After several minutes, he reached a large chamber. The ceiling stretched high above him, and in the center of the room stood a massive stone altar.
Atop the altar lay a glowing orb, its light pulsating softly, casting eerie shadows across the chamber. Shenlong approached the orb cautiously, feeling the immense power radiating from it. This was what he had been searching for—the ancient legacy hidden within these ruins.
The pendant flared with warmth as Shenlong reached out to touch the orb. As soon as his fingers brushed its surface, a surge of energy shot through his body, and his mind was flooded with visions. He saw flashes of an ancient civilization, cultivators who had mastered the elements, and techniques that could reshape the world itself. Among them was the Storm Vanquishing Fist, but there was more—so much more. Forbidden techniques, ancient arts of pill concocting, artifact crafting, and battle formations that could decimate entire armies.
The orb was a repository of knowledge, left behind by a long-extinct sect of cultivators who had once ruled over the land. As the visions continued, Shenlong realized that this was the true legacy of his pendant—it had been passed down through generations, and he was the chosen heir to its knowledge and power.
But as the visions subsided, Shenlong noticed something strange. In the final moments of the vision, he saw a figure—a man with an aura as vast as the heavens, wielding a weapon that seemed to bend reality itself. The figure's eyes locked with Shenlong's, and a single word echoed in his mind.
"Return."
Shenlong staggered back, his mind reeling from the intensity of the vision. Who was that figure? And what did he mean by 'return'? Was it a message from the past, or a warning of what was to come?
Shenlong shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. There was no time to dwell on it now. He had unlocked a treasure trove of knowledge, and with it, the potential to ascend to heights he had never imagined. But he also knew that this power came with a cost. The ancient sects had been destroyed for a reason, and whatever secrets they had kept hidden were likely dangerous.
As he collected himself, Shenlong felt the pendant cool against his chest. The orb's light dimmed, its energy seemingly transferred to him. He had completed the first part of his journey, but he knew that this was only the beginning.