The air seemed to thicken as Yan Rui, Lian Yuxi, and Wu Qian continued their journey through the Abyss. Though the sanctuary's knowledge had filled their minds with invaluable truths, it also left behind a sense of foreboding.
"The Celestial Vault wasn't created as a mere tool," Yan Rui said, breaking the silence. His voice carried the weight of revelation. "It was designed to suppress something—something ancient and far more dangerous than we imagined."
Lian Yuxi glanced at him, her brows furrowed. "Do you mean the Abyss itself? Or something else hidden within it?"
"Both," Yan Rui replied. "The Vault wasn't meant to empower; it was meant to contain. Whatever lies at the heart of the Abyss… it's alive. And it's waiting."
Wu Qian grunted, his grip tightening on his sword. "We'll deal with it when the time comes. Right now, we need to focus on surviving this place."
---
The group pressed on, the glow of their lanterns barely illuminating the twisting paths ahead. The labyrinthine corridors of the Abyss seemed to shift and change with every step, disorienting even Lian Yuxi's sharp senses.
"Wait," she said suddenly, holding up a hand. "Do you hear that?"
The others stopped, straining their ears. Faintly, they heard it: the sound of voices, growing louder as they moved closer.
"Other people?" Wu Qian asked, his tone skeptical.
"Not just anyone," Yan Rui said grimly. "I recognize one of those voices."
Lian Yuxi raised an eyebrow. "Someone you know?"
"Someone I'd hoped never to see again," Yan Rui muttered.
---
They moved cautiously toward the source of the voices, eventually coming to a large, open chamber. There, a group of cultivators stood gathered, their armor and robes marked with the insignia of the Scarlet Eclipse Sect. At the center of the group was a man whose presence exuded both authority and danger.
Yan Rui's breath caught as he recognized the man: Feng Jiao, a former prodigy of the Yan clan and one of the very people responsible for his exile.
"Well, well," Feng Jiao said, his voice dripping with mockery as his sharp eyes landed on Yan Rui. "If it isn't the clan's forgotten disgrace. I thought you'd have died in some ditch by now."
Yan Rui stepped forward, his gaze steady. "Feng Jiao. I didn't expect to find you crawling through the Abyss like the rest of us."
Feng Jiao's smile didn't waver, but his eyes glinted with malice. "Unlike you, I'm here on important business. The Scarlet Eclipse Sect has its eyes on the treasures hidden within the Abyss. You, on the other hand, are clearly in over your head."
---
Wu Qian bristled, stepping up beside Yan Rui. "Do you know this guy?"
"Unfortunately," Yan Rui replied. "He's a snake, but a dangerous one. Don't underestimate him."
Feng Jiao chuckled, his gaze sweeping over Yan Rui's companions. "And what's this? You've found yourself some lackeys? How quaint. Though I'll admit, your taste has improved—especially her." He nodded toward Lian Yuxi, his tone lecherous.
Before Yan Rui could respond, Lian Yuxi's eyes narrowed, and she stepped forward, her aura flaring. "Watch your tongue, or you'll lose it."
The tension in the chamber skyrocketed as Feng Jiao's subordinates drew their weapons, their energies surging. Wu Qian unsheathed his sword in response, and Yan Rui placed a hand on his own blade, ready for a fight.
"Easy now," Feng Jiao said, raising a hand to calm his men. "There's no need for violence—yet. The Abyss will deal with you soon enough."
---
Yan Rui didn't lower his guard. "What does the Scarlet Eclipse Sect want here? The Abyss isn't a place you come to lightly."
"That's none of your concern," Feng Jiao said, his smile returning. "But since you're so curious, let me give you a piece of advice: turn back while you still can. The deeper you go, the less likely you are to leave alive."
"We'll take our chances," Yan Rui said coldly.
Feng Jiao shrugged. "Suit yourself. Just don't get in my way, or I'll have no choice but to deal with you personally."
With that, he turned and motioned for his group to follow. As the Scarlet Eclipse cultivators disappeared into another corridor, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to lift slightly, though the tension among Yan Rui's group remained.
---
"That guy's a piece of work," Wu Qian muttered, sheathing his sword.
"He's dangerous," Yan Rui said, his expression dark. "And not just because of his strength. Feng Jiao is cunning. If he's here, it means the Scarlet Eclipse Sect knows something about the Abyss that we don't."
Lian Yuxi nodded. "We'll need to stay ahead of them. If they're after the same treasures or knowledge we are, they won't hesitate to eliminate us."
"We'll be ready," Yan Rui said. "Whatever Feng Jiao is planning, we won't let him stop us."
---
The encounter left an uneasy feeling lingering over the group as they continued their journey. The Abyss seemed to grow more hostile with every step, its oppressive energy pressing down on them like a physical weight.
As they delved deeper, the corridors began to twist and writhe, as though the Abyss itself were alive. Strange shadows flitted across the walls, and the faint sound of whispers returned, growing louder and more insistent.
Finally, they came to a massive door, its surface carved with intricate runes that pulsed faintly with power.
"This is it," Yan Rui said, his voice low. "The next trial."
Lian Yuxi examined the door, her brow furrowed. "The runes… they're a sealing formation. Whatever's on the other side was locked away for a reason."
Wu Qian snorted. "Let me guess—our next challenge is to open it."
"Not just open it," Yan Rui said, his gaze fixed on the runes. "We have to break the seal. And whatever's inside… we'll have to face it."
---