The air around them crackled with tension as the figure in dark robes stepped forward. His presence felt like a cold wave, a suffocating pressure that pressed down on Yan Rui's chest. The storm above them swirled ominously, dark clouds swirling in a vortex as if to echo the malicious energy surrounding the cloaked figure.
"You must be mistaken," Yan Rui said, his voice steady but filled with an edge of uncertainty. "The vault belongs to no one. It is a force of nature, not a prize for petty thieves like you."
The figure's low laugh reverberated through the air, his voice like gravel scraping against stone. "Oh, but you misunderstand, Keybearer. The vault is not a mere force. It is a source of unimaginable power. And that power belongs to me, as it always has. You are but a fleeting obstacle in my path."
---
Yan Rui narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. This was no ordinary foe. The energy the man radiated was oppressive, far darker than the power Xian Fen had wielded. Every fiber of Yan Rui's being screamed that this was not a battle he could take lightly. The man before him was a Collector of Shadows, a being who thrived on consuming power, draining it from the world and bending it to his will. He was no mere mortal; he was a force of destruction.
The figure stepped forward again, his hood shifting as his face slowly emerged from the shadows. It was a face that seemed almost too perfect, too symmetrical, yet devoid of warmth or humanity. His eyes were black voids, empty and endless, reflecting nothing but darkness.
"I am Shen Dhao, the Collector of Shadows," the man said, his voice like a whisper that reverberated inside Yan Rui's mind. "I have been tracking the vault for centuries, watching as it changed hands. And now, it has come to you. Do you understand the gravity of what you are holding? That power is not meant for the likes of you."
---
Yan Rui felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of Shen Dhao's name. The Collector of Shadows was a legend in the cultivation world, a being whose thirst for power had driven him to consume entire sects, leaving only desolation in his wake. It was said that he had once been human, a powerful cultivator who had mastered the forbidden arts of shadow manipulation. But over time, his obsession with power had transformed him into something less than human—a creature of darkness that existed to consume and control.
"You've been following me," Yan Rui said, his voice steady despite the creeping fear settling in his heart. "For how long?"
"Long enough," Shen Dhao replied, his smile cold and unfeeling. "I have waited for the right moment to claim what is mine, and now, I will not be denied."
---
Without warning, the ground beneath them trembled, the storm overhead intensifying as Shen Dhao raised his hand. Shadows coiled around him like serpents, slithering through the air as though they were alive. In an instant, the shadows shot toward Yan Rui, a thousand tendrils of darkness aimed directly at him.
Yan Rui barely had time to react. The Celestial Vault's power surged through him, but it was raw and uncontrolled, still too unfamiliar for him to fully master. He raised his sword in defense, and a barrier of light flared around him, repelling the dark tendrils that lashed at him. But there were too many of them. The darkness was overwhelming, relentless.
---
With a growl of frustration, Yan Rui focused, channeling the energy of the Celestial Vault through his blade. He didn't know if he could control it completely, but he had no choice. The shadows came again, and this time, he was ready.
"Astral Slash!" he shouted, his sword glowing with an ethereal light. With a single, sweeping motion, he cut through the tendrils of darkness, the light of his sword burning away the shadows that surrounded him. The energy exploded outward in a burst of radiant power, pushing Shen Dhao back for a moment.
But the Collector of Shadows was not easily deterred. He laughed, low and menacing. "Impressive, Keybearer. But your strength is nothing compared to mine."
---
With a flick of his wrist, Shen Dhao summoned more shadows, this time forming them into a massive, twisting serpent that lunged at Yan Rui. The serpent was a creature of pure darkness, its eyes glowing with malevolent intent. It opened its maw wide, ready to devour him whole.
Yan Rui's heart raced as he dodged to the side, barely avoiding the serpent's snapping jaws. The darkness was too much—he couldn't fight it with brute strength alone. The Celestial Vault's power was immense, but it was volatile, chaotic. He needed to find a way to focus it, to harness its energy with precision.
---
"Wu Qian!" Yan Rui shouted, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "Get back! This is not something you can fight alone!"
Wu Qian appeared at his side, his own sword drawn and ready, but he hesitated. "What's going on? Who is this?"
"Shen Dhao," Yan Rui replied, his voice grim. "He is not a normal enemy. He is the Collector of Shadows, and he wants the vault's power."
---
As the massive serpent of darkness bore down on them, Wu Qian raised his sword, preparing for the worst. "Then we'll stop him together."
But Yan Rui knew it wouldn't be enough. They were outmatched. Shen Dhao's mastery over shadows was absolute, and every move they made only seemed to play into his hands. They were on the defensive, and even with the Celestial Vault's power flowing through him, Yan Rui felt the crushing weight of the darkness.
---
"Shadow Bind!" Shen Dhao hissed, his voice dripping with malice. The shadows twisted in the air, coiling around them like chains. Yan Rui felt his movements slow, his body becoming heavier as the shadows wrapped around him. His sword arm grew numb, the energy from the vault becoming distorted by the overwhelming dark force.
---
In that moment, Yan Rui realized the true danger of the vault's power. It was not a simple tool—it was a force that could easily overwhelm him if he didn't control it. He needed more than just brute strength. He needed balance. Shen Dhao understood that—he had been manipulating the power of darkness for centuries. And it was clear that he would stop at nothing to claim the Celestial Vault for himself.
---
In the distance, there was a flash of light, and Yan Rui's heart skipped. A figure appeared at the edge of the battlefield, a powerful aura emanating from them. Wu Qian looked up, his expression hopeful. "Who is that?"
---
The figure stepped forward, her long hair flowing in the wind like a banner. She was dressed in the robes of the Silent Flame Sect, her eyes sharp and focused, a strange power radiating from her. She was a woman, older than Wu Qian, with a calm and calculating presence.
"I am Lian Yuxi, a member of the Silent Flame Sect," she said, her voice carrying authority. "And I have come to stop Shen Dhao."
---