The purified crystal's golden light lingered in Liang's mind as the group exited the Shadow Spire. Even as the oppressive atmosphere of the spire faded behind them, the memory of the corrupted shadows and their relentless attacks weighed heavily. Each step they took felt like leaving a part of themselves behind—a piece of their resolve, tempered by what they had just endured.
The Azure Bloom chimed faintly in Liang's vision, displaying an update:
"Corruption Source Neutralized. Spirit energy in the area returning to equilibrium. Current Path Progress: 18% toward Nexus of Awakening."
Liang's lips tightened into a thoughtful line. "The Bloom says we're making progress, but that was only one step. There's so much more ahead."
Yuan glanced at him, his sharp eyes studying Liang. "What did you feel back there? When you were channeling your energy into that crystal?"
Liang hesitated, recalling the sensation that had coursed through him. It wasn't just the purification—it was something deeper. The crystal had shown him fleeting visions of the past, fragmented and disjointed but vivid nonetheless. A thriving city, cultivators gathered in harmony, and a great betrayal that shattered it all.
"It felt… connected to something ancient," Liang said finally. "I saw glimpses of what this place used to be. Before the corruption."
Yuan nodded. "The Shadow Spire was once a part of the Azure Path—a network of strongholds used by the early cultivators to harness spiritual energy. What you saw might've been its last memories before it fell."
"Whatever happened here, it left scars," Mei said, her voice tinged with unease. "Scars that almost killed us. And if this was only a fragment of the corruption… what's waiting for us at the Nexus?"
Liang didn't answer. The thought of facing something even more dangerous than what they had just encountered filled him with equal parts dread and resolve.
They descended from the mountain as the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of crimson and gold. The air was lighter now, free of the oppressive energy that had plagued the spire. Yet, as they reached the base of the mountain, a new unease settled over them.
Liang paused, his senses prickling. The Azure Bloom flashed a warning in his vision:
"Unidentified presence detected. Multiple sources. Hostility likely."
"Something's here," he said, his voice low.
Yuan's hand went to his sword, and Mei notched an arrow, her keen eyes scanning the shadows.
The forest around them was unnaturally still. No wind rustled the leaves, and even the distant chirping of birds had fallen silent.
Then, from the darkness, figures emerged. At first, they seemed human, but as they stepped into the fading light, their features became clearer—and far more sinister. Their eyes glowed faintly, their skin marked with black veins that pulsed with unnatural energy.
"Corrupted cultivators," Yuan said grimly, his grip tightening on his sword.
"How is that possible?" Mei asked, her voice sharp with alarm.
"The corruption we purified at the spire might've spread further than we realized," Yuan replied. "These people were likely caught in its influence… or they've been hunting us."
One of the corrupted cultivators stepped forward, his movements jerky and unnatural. He raised a hand, and a dark tendril of energy coiled around his arm like a living serpent.
"Leave this place," the figure rasped, his voice hollow and echoing. "The Azure Path is forbidden."
Liang stepped forward, his dagger at the ready. "We're not leaving. The corruption here isn't natural, and we're going to stop it."
The figure let out a low, guttural laugh. "You think you can undo centuries of decay? Foolish. You'll only join us in the shadows."
The corrupted cultivators attacked without warning, their movements swift and erratic. Liang barely had time to react as the first tendril of dark energy lashed out at him. He dodged to the side, countering with a quick slash of his dagger. The blade connected, but instead of blood, the corrupted figure released a burst of black mist that burned Liang's skin.
"They're not normal!" Mei shouted, loosing an arrow at another attacker. The arrow struck true, piercing the figure's chest, but he didn't fall. Instead, he lunged at her, forcing her to leap back.
Yuan engaged two of the corrupted at once, his sword flashing as he deflected their attacks. "Don't let them surround you! Focus on disrupting their energy!"
Liang called upon the Azure Bloom, which immediately began analyzing their enemies. A series of weak points and energy patterns appeared in his vision, guiding his strikes.
"There!" he shouted, pointing to the glowing core in the chest of one attacker. "Hit their cores—it's the source of their corruption!"
Mei adjusted her aim and fired another arrow, this time striking the core directly. The corrupted cultivator let out a shriek and dissolved into a cloud of ash.
Liang moved swiftly, using the Bloom's guidance to evade attacks and target weak points. His dagger glowed with a faint blue light as he channeled his spirit energy into each strike.
The battle was fierce, but the group's teamwork and the Azure Bloom's insights turned the tide in their favor. One by one, the corrupted cultivators fell, their twisted forms dissolving into nothingness.
As the last attacker crumbled, the forest fell silent once more.
"Is everyone okay?" Liang asked, his breathing heavy.
"Fine," Yuan said, though his sword arm was trembling slightly.
"Still standing," Mei added, though her voice was strained.
Liang glanced at the spot where the last cultivator had fallen. "What were they protecting? They weren't just random attackers—they had a purpose."
Yuan nodded. "The corruption might've warped their minds, but they were still cultivators once. Their duty to the Azure Path probably became twisted into something darker."
"Then we need to keep moving," Liang said. "If there are more of them out there, we need to figure out where they're coming from—and stop it."
They set up camp a short distance from the forest, finding a small clearing near a stream. The night was calm, but the weight of the day's events lingered over them like a storm cloud.
As they sat around the fire, Liang opened the Azure Bloom's interface and began reviewing the data it had gathered during the battle.
"Anything useful?" Mei asked, leaning back against a tree.
Liang frowned. "The Bloom says the corrupted cultivators were tied to a larger energy source. It's similar to what we purified at the spire, but… stronger. More concentrated."
"Another fragment," Yuan said.
"Or worse," Liang replied. "Whatever it is, we're heading straight toward it."
The group fell into a thoughtful silence, the crackling of the fire the only sound.
Liang stared into the flames, his resolve hardening. The journey was becoming more dangerous with each step, but turning back wasn't an option. The Azure Path was calling to him, its secrets waiting to be uncovered—and its challenges waiting to be overcome.
As the firelight danced in his eyes, Liang silently vowed to see this path through to the end, no matter what it demanded of him.