The world seemed to hold its breath. Ling Xiao stood at the center of the chamber, his hand pressed firmly on the True Stone, its energy crackling around him like the heart of a storm. The power surged through him, a torrent of cosmic might that bent reality itself. Every muscle in his body screamed with the intensity of the Stone's grip, but beneath it, something else stirred—a strange, cold clarity. It was as if the Stone had unlocked a hidden part of his soul, a part of him that had been buried beneath layers of pain, doubt, and fear.
He could feel **everything**—the energy of the world, the pulse of the land, the slow approach of something terrible. The Hollow One.
The ground beneath his feet trembled once more, as if the very earth was reacting to the dark force drawing nearer. In the distance, Ling Xiao could hear the echoes of the Hollow One's approach: the sound of the earth splitting, the whisper of destruction sweeping across the land like a **black tide**.
Xiao He's voice broke through the chaos, cutting through the roar of energy in Ling Xiao's mind.
"You've done it," Xiao He said, his voice full of urgency. "The Stone has given you the power you need, but you have to control it. We can't afford to lose you to it."
Ling Xiao's eyes snapped open, and for a moment, he forgot where he was. The world felt **shifted**, as if he were standing at the center of two realities. The Stone's energy hummed beneath his skin, a constant, gnawing presence that whispered for him to **embrace** it fully, to let it overwhelm him and **reshape** the world according to its will. It was tempting, so tempting to give in. To unleash everything, to reshape reality with a mere thought.
But Xiao He's words echoed in his mind. *Control*. He had to maintain control.
Ling Xiao pulled his hand away from the True Stone, his body trembling as the surge of energy began to fade. His mind swirled with the power he had briefly tasted, and it was like nothing he had ever felt before—far beyond the limits of mortal comprehension. He had glimpsed the potential for **infinite power**, and with it, the temptation to become a god.
But he wasn't a god. Not yet. Not ever.
"Xiao He, Jian Zhen," Ling Xiao said, his voice strained. "The Hollow One is coming. We need to move now."
As Ling Xiao turned to face the chamber's entrance, a deep rumble split the air. The sound wasn't just an earthquake—it was the sound of something colossal, something primal, **ancient**, and hungry. The Hollow One had arrived.
A dark shape loomed in the distance, its form flickering and shifting, as though it was composed of shadow and flame. It was **massive**, towering over the landscape, its body a swirling mass of void and terror. Its eyes—if they could be called eyes—glowed with an eerie light, and its very presence seemed to bend the laws of nature. The ground cracked beneath its weight, and the air rippled with a sense of unbearable dread.
"The Hollow One," Jian Zhen muttered, his voice low, "A creature born from the very chaos of the universe. It feeds on worlds, on civilizations. Its hunger is endless."
Ling Xiao could feel the malevolent force of the Hollow One's energy pressing against his mind, as if it were trying to invade his very thoughts. The more he focused on it, the more it felt like it was pulling at the **edges of his soul**, trying to tear him apart from the inside out. He clenched his fists, grounding himself in the physical world, refusing to let the Hollow One consume him.
"We cannot fight it head-on," Jian Zhen said, his eyes narrowing. "The Hollow One is too powerful. We need to seal its path before it reaches the heart of this land. If it gets any closer, we will lose everything."
Xiao He unsheathed his sword, his eyes sharp. "Then we'll need to buy time for Ling Xiao to **complete the seal**. We must hold it back, no matter the cost."
Ling Xiao turned to Jian Zhen, his gaze steely. "What do I need to do?"
Jian Zhen looked at him gravely. "The True Stone can create a barrier—a seal that can lock the Hollow One away. But it requires immense concentration, and the Hollow One will do everything in its power to disrupt the process. You must hold it back long enough to complete the seal. Do you have the strength?"
Ling Xiao didn't hesitate. "I do."
Without another word, Jian Zhen and Xiao He moved toward the entrance, their weapons drawn. The Hollow One was **too close** now. They had no time to waste. As the two warriors charged forward, Ling Xiao felt a surge of determination rise within him. He couldn't let the Hollow One reach them. He couldn't let the world fall to darkness. He had to **stand his ground**—not as a hero, but as someone who would not **surrender**.
He raised his hands, the energy of the True Stone swirling around him. The ground beneath him cracked, the air **shimmered** with raw power. He could feel the Seal forming, a barrier of light and energy beginning to take shape around him. But the Hollow One was getting closer, its form shifting and **expanding**, as if it could feel the disturbance in the fabric of reality that Ling Xiao was trying to create.
"Foolish mortal," a voice boomed from the Hollow One, deep and **rumbling**, like the sound of a thousand souls screaming in agony. "You think you can bind me with the power of that petty artifact? I am the **end**, the beginning of all things. You cannot stop me."
The voice cut through Ling Xiao's thoughts like a blade. He could feel the pressure building, the Hollow One's power pressing against the barrier he was trying to form. But he couldn't stop now.
He focused on the Stone, on the energy flowing through him. The Seal had to be completed.
"Don't let it break through!" Xiao He shouted as he clashed with the Hollow One's minions, spectral forms that seemed to melt into the air itself, only to reform again as new horrors. Jian Zhen was right beside him, his sword flashing through the dark, cutting through the shadows, but the Hollow One's influence was **relentless**.
Ling Xiao's fingers curled around the True Stone, the energy crackling violently in response. His mind felt like it was being pulled in a hundred different directions, his body straining under the weight of the Stone's power. But he could **feel** it—just beyond the surface—there was a thin thread of something else, something deeper. The Stone wasn't just a weapon. It was a **key**, a key to something far older than anything he could understand.
"Stay focused!" Jian Zhen's voice snapped him back to reality.
Ling Xiao's heart pounded in his chest as he steadied his breath. He could not falter now. His hand reached out, his fingers brushing against the Stone, and the energy **exploded** outward.
A barrier of **blinding light** shot up from the Stone, encircling Ling Xiao like a protective dome. The Hollow One recoiled, its monstrous form shrieking in frustration, but it did not stop. Its power surged, waves of black energy crashing against the barrier, threatening to shatter it.
Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed, and with all his might, he **pushed** against the Hollow One's force, forcing the barrier to strengthen. The Hollow One's energy clawed at him, but Ling Xiao could feel its essence—**chaotic**, **hungry**, and disjointed. He focused on that feeling, narrowing it down into a single point, and drove it back with everything he had.
"Now!" Ling Xiao shouted to his companions.
Xiao He and Jian Zhen surged forward, pushing through the throng of minions, their weapons flashing in the dark. They reached Ling Xiao's side just as the Hollow One launched itself at the barrier, its monstrous form crashing against the light with a force that could split mountains.
Ling Xiao's hands shook with the effort, but his resolve remained firm. The Seal was almost complete, but the Hollow One was no longer just an entity of destruction—it was **fighting** back, desperate to break free.
"**You cannot contain me!**" the Hollow One howled, its voice filled with fury.
Ling Xiao's teeth clenched. The power of the True Stone surged again, but this time, it felt different—warmer, more **alive**. The Stone was no longer simply a tool. It was a **part of him**, and with that connection, Ling Xiao could feel the **entire universe** press against him—its weight, its energy, its **will**. It was not just power that flowed through him now; it was **understanding**.
"You are wrong," Ling Xiao said quietly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I don't have to control you. I just have to **release** you."
With that, Ling Xiao thrust his hands forward, and the **Seal** shot outward in a blinding wave. The Hollow One screeched as the barrier collapsed around it, locking it in a prison of light and energy. The creature's form writhed, but it could not escape.
Ling Xiao collapsed to his
knees, exhausted, but he felt a surge of triumph. The Hollow One had been sealed, for now.
End of Chapter 21
In Chapter 21, Ling Xiao must face the terrifying presence of the Hollow One, an ancient force of destruction. With the power of the True Stone, he forms a barrier to seal the Hollow One's path, but the creature's power is overwhelming. In a desperate battle for time, Ling Xiao channels the Stone's energy to create the Seal, while his companions, Xiao He and Jian Zhen, hold off the Hollow One's minions. In the end, Ling Xiao succeeds in trapping the Hollow One, but the cost of using the Stone is clear. The battle may be won, but the war is far from over.
If you'd like more chapters, I can continue to build the story step by step, expanding on Ling Xiao's journey, his growing power, and the world he seeks to reshape.