Wei Liang sat cross-legged in his small dormitory, the Lunar-Eye Lens resting in his hand. Its faint shimmer pulsed in the dim light, a reminder of the power it held—and the responsibility it carried. His sparring match with Zhang Fei had proven its potential, but the sight of Lin Ziyan's flaws had stayed with him.
The System chimed softly in his mind.
[Notice: Lunar-Eye Lens synchronization with Host is increasing. Further use may unlock additional insights, but prolonged exposure will consume more Qi.]
"Additional insights," Wei Liang murmured. He wondered what more the artifact could reveal and what dangers might come with it.
A knock on his door broke his train of thought. "Wei, you in there?" Han Xun's voice called.
"Yeah, come in," Wei Liang replied, quickly tucking the lens into his satchel.
Han Xun stepped in, looking more serious than usual. "Zhang and I just got word from Elder Lin. There's a new mission."
Wei Liang stood, his curiosity piqued. "Already? What's the assignment?"
Han shrugged. "We're heading to the Mistwood again. Apparently, something's stirring there—spirit beasts acting strange, Qi density fluctuating. The elders want us to investigate."
Zhang Fei appeared in the doorway, her expression as calm and focused as ever. "This isn't just another herb-gathering mission. Something's wrong with the Mistwood, and they need us to figure out why."
Wei Liang nodded, feeling the weight of her words. The Mistwood had been dangerous before, but if the Qi itself was unstable, this mission could be far worse.
---
Back to the Mistwood
The Mistwood was as ominous as Wei Liang remembered, its towering trees shrouded in thick, swirling mist. The air felt heavier this time, each breath laden with the dense energy saturating the forest.
Han Xun kept his spear ready, his usual grin replaced by a cautious frown. "I don't like this. It's too quiet."
"Stay sharp," Zhang Fei said, her voice low. "We're not alone."
Wei Liang activated the Lunar-Eye Lens, the world around him shifting as solid forms turned translucent. The trees glowed faintly with Qi, their roots pulsing like veins. Further ahead, faint outlines of spirit beasts moved through the mist.
"Two wolves to the left, another to the right," he whispered. "They're circling us."
Han Xun tensed, his spear tilting toward the left. "How do you—"
A low growl cut him off as a pair of Ironfang Wolves emerged from the mist, their eyes glowing with hostile intent.
---
The Wolves' Assault
The wolves struck in unison, their movements swift and coordinated. Han Xun met the first with a thrust of his spear, forcing it back, while Zhang Fei's daggers flashed, cutting deep into the flank of the second.
Wei Liang lunged toward the third wolf, his sword glowing faintly with shadow Qi. The Lunar-Eye Lens highlighted its weak points—the joints of its legs and the soft underbelly. With a precise slash, he struck its hind leg, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Keep them off balance!" Zhang Fei shouted, sidestepping another wolf's lunge.
The fight was over quickly, but it left the group breathless. The wolves dissolved into faint wisps of Qi, their remains scattering into the mist.
Han Xun wiped sweat from his brow. "That was too easy. Why would the elders send us here for a few wolves?"
"They wouldn't," Wei Liang said, his eyes narrowing. "This is just the start."
---
The Forgotten Ruins
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the Lunar-Eye Lens revealed something new—a faint glow in the distance, obscured by layers of mist. Wei Liang focused on it, the artifact enhancing the outlines until he saw the faint shapes of stone pillars and crumbling walls.
"There's something up ahead," he said, pointing.
Zhang Fei raised an eyebrow. "I don't see anything."
"Trust me," Wei Liang replied. "It's there."
When they reached the site, the mist parted, revealing ancient ruins hidden among the trees. The stone was covered in intricate carvings that glowed faintly with residual Qi.
"What is this place?" Han Xun asked, stepping cautiously over the cracked stone floor.
Wei Liang activated Appraisal, the System providing immediate feedback.
[Location: Forgotten Ruins of the Jade Veil Sect]
[Description: Once home to a minor sect, these ruins are steeped in dormant Qi. The energy disruption in the Mistwood is linked to these ruins.]
"Another sect?" Zhang Fei muttered, running her fingers over the carvings. "What happened to them?"
Wei Liang frowned. "The System says the Qi disruption is coming from here. Whatever's happening to the Mistwood started in these ruins."
Before anyone could respond, the ground trembled beneath their feet. A low rumble echoed through the air as a large stone slab shifted, revealing a dark stairway descending into the earth.
Han Xun took a step back. "I don't like this. Hidden stairways never lead to anything good."
"We don't have a choice," Zhang Fei said, her tone firm. "If this is the source of the disruption, we need to investigate."
Wei Liang nodded, gripping his sword. "Stay close. We don't know what's down there."
---
Into the Depths
The stairway led to a massive underground chamber, its walls lined with ancient runes that glowed faintly in the darkness. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, atop which rested a pulsating crystal orb. Its energy filled the air, oppressive and chaotic.
The System chimed softly.
[Item Detected: Shard of the Veil]
[Type: Ancient Artifact]
[Description: A remnant of the Jade Veil Sect's experiments with Qi manipulation. Currently unstable. Interaction is not advised without proper preparation.]
Zhang Fei stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "This must be it. The Qi disruption—it's coming from that thing."
Han Xun frowned. "So, what do we do? Destroy it?"
"No," Wei Liang said quickly. "It's unstable. Destroying it could make things worse."
As they deliberated, the chamber trembled, and a low growl echoed from the shadows. A massive spirit beast stepped into the light—a Guardian Chimera, its body a horrifying fusion of lion, serpent, and eagle. Its eyes glowed with the same chaotic energy as the orb.
"Well," Han Xun muttered, raising his spear. "I guess we're fighting that."
---
The chimera attacked with ferocious speed, its claws raking the ground as its serpent-like tail lashed out. Wei Liang dodged, the Lunar-Eye Lens highlighting its weak points: the joints in its limbs and the base of its tail.
"Zhang, aim for the legs!" he shouted, parrying a strike from the beast's claws.
Zhang Fei moved with precision, her daggers striking the creature's hind legs. The chimera roared in pain but retaliated with a swipe of its tail, sending her sprawling.
Han Xun charged, his spear glowing with Qi as he drove it into the beast's side. The chimera roared again, its movements growing more erratic as it lashed out in all directions.
Wei Liang saw his chance. Channeling all his energy, he leaped onto the chimera's back, his sword plunging into the base of its neck. The creature thrashed violently before collapsing, its body dissolving into wisps of Qi.
---
As the dust settled, Wei Liang approached the orb on the pedestal. Its chaotic energy pulsed erratically, the air around it growing heavier with each beat.
"We can't leave it here," Zhang Fei said, clutching her injured arm.
Han Xun nodded. "But if it's unstable, how do we move it?"
Wei Liang activated the Lunar-Eye Lens, the artifact revealing intricate patterns of Qi flowing through the orb. He focused, trying to understand its nature.
[Insight Gained: The Shard of the Veil can be stabilized temporarily through controlled Qi infusion. Prolonged handling is dangerous.]
"I'll take it," Wei Liang said, stepping forward.
Zhang Fei frowned. "Are you sure? It could kill you."
"I'll be careful," Wei Liang replied, his voice steady. "We have to trust each other, right?"
With that, he placed his hand on the shard. Its chaotic energy surged through him, but the System's guidance helped him stabilize it—barely.
"Let's get out of here," he said, his grip tightening on the artifact. "This isn't over yet."
As they climbed back to the surface, the shard pulsed faintly in his hand, its power both a warning and a promise of what lay ahead.