The Shadowed Valley seemed alive as Wei Liang and his team moved swiftly through its twisted paths. The oppressive weight of Qi only grew heavier, making each breath feel like a task in itself. The Fragment of Qi Disruption Core pulsed faintly in Wei Liang's satchel, its chaotic energy seeping into the air.
The distant growls of spirit beasts echoed through the valley, growing closer with each passing second.
"We've stirred the hornet's nest," Han Xun muttered, gripping his spear tightly.
Zhang Fei's eyes darted through the shadows, her daggers at the ready. "They're closing in. We need to move faster."
Wei Liang led the way, activating the Lunar-Eye Lens to scan for paths forward. The translucent outlines of the terrain revealed a winding route through the valley, though it was fraught with hazards: unstable ground, sharp ridges, and scattered clusters of glowing Qi veins.
"This way," Wei Liang said, gesturing toward a narrow path. "Stick close."
---
The First Attack
As the group navigated the winding trail, the first spirit beast emerged from the mist—a Shadowfang Panther. Its sleek, dark body seemed to blend with the shadows, its glowing red eyes locked onto Wei Liang.
The panther leapt, its claws aiming for Wei Liang's chest. He sidestepped just in time, his sword flashing as he slashed at its flank. The beast snarled, spinning to attack again.
"Han, take the left!" Wei Liang called, blocking another strike from the panther.
Han Xun charged, his spear striking the beast's hind leg with enough force to stagger it. Zhang Fei darted in next, her daggers slicing at the panther's exposed side.
The panther howled in pain, its body dissolving into mist as it collapsed.
"No time to rest," Zhang Fei said, her eyes scanning the shadows. "There's more coming."
---
The Pack Arrives
Moments later, the howls grew louder, and several pairs of glowing eyes appeared in the distance. A pack of spirit wolves emerged, their bodies pulsing with unstable Qi.
"This is getting ridiculous," Han Xun muttered, adjusting his grip on his spear.
Wei Liang activated the Lunar-Eye Lens, identifying the wolves' weak points. "They're unstable. If we hit their cores, we can take them down faster."
The pack lunged as one, forcing the group to scatter. Han Xun held the line, his spear sweeping in wide arcs to keep the wolves at bay. Zhang Fei moved like a shadow, her daggers striking with precision as she aimed for the glowing points revealed by the lens.
Wei Liang focused his Qi, channeling it into his sword. The shadow energy flowed smoothly through the blade as he struck at one of the wolves' cores, the impact causing it to collapse in a burst of light.
"We can't fight them all," Zhang Fei shouted, slashing at another wolf. "We need to keep moving!"
"Agreed," Wei Liang said, parrying a strike from another wolf. "Let's go!"
---
The Path Narrows
The group sprinted down the winding trail, the pack of wolves close behind. The unstable ground shifted beneath their feet, forcing them to stay light and nimble.
As they neared the edge of the valley, a massive spirit beast appeared, blocking their path—a Qi-Eroded Bear. Its hulking form radiated chaotic energy, and its roar shook the very ground beneath them.
"This just keeps getting better," Han Xun said, raising his spear.
"We don't have time for this," Zhang Fei said, her voice tense.
Wei Liang activated the Lunar-Eye Lens, scanning the bear for weaknesses. The lens revealed a glowing point at the base of its neck, where the chaotic Qi converged.
"There!" Wei Liang said, pointing. "We need to hit its neck!"
The bear roared and charged, its massive claws raking the air. Wei Liang dodged to the side, slashing at its leg to slow it down. Zhang Fei moved in next, her daggers striking at the weak point.
The bear roared in pain, but its movements grew more erratic. Han Xun seized the opportunity, driving his spear into the glowing point with all his strength.
The bear let out a final, pained roar before collapsing, its body disintegrating into mist.
---
The Final Stretch
With the bear defeated, the group pushed forward, the exit to the valley finally in sight. The pack of wolves still pursued them, but the distance was growing.
"We're almost there!" Han Xun shouted, his breathing heavy.
As they reached the edge of the valley, the oppressive Qi lifted slightly, and the wolves stopped their pursuit, snarling before retreating into the shadows.
The group slowed to a stop, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"We made it," Zhang Fei said, wiping sweat from her brow.
Wei Liang nodded, his hand resting on the satchel holding the Fragment of Qi Disruption Core. "But this isn't over. The elders need to see this."
---
Back at the sect, Wei Liang and his team stood before Elder Lin and Elder Cai in the main hall. Wei Liang carefully placed the fragment on the table, its faint glow illuminating the room.
Elder Lin examined it closely, her expression grave. "This artifact is the source of the instability. Its chaotic energy has corrupted the spirit beasts and disrupted the Qi flows in the valley."
Elder Cai crossed his arms. "You've done well to bring this back. But artifacts like this are rare—and dangerous. We must investigate where it came from."
"What should we do in the meantime?" Wei Liang asked.
"Continue your training," Elder Lin said. "The challenges ahead will only grow more difficult, and you must be prepared."
---
As they left the hall, Wei Liang felt the weight of the mission lift slightly from his shoulders. The path to the ninth layer of the Qi Gathering Realm still loomed ahead, but each mission, each test, brought him closer to his goal.
Zhang Fei and Han Xun walked beside him, their camaraderie a steady presence.
"We're getting stronger," Zhang Fei said quietly.
Han Xun grinned. "And more tired."
Wei Liang smiled faintly, his resolve unwavering. The climb wasn't easy, but it wasn't meant to be.
Together, they would face whatever came next.