The wind howled through the narrow canyon as we pressed onward, the air thick with tension.
Zhang Hao's corruption weighed heavily on the group, but there was little time to dwell on it.
The path ahead was fraught with danger, and the Shadow Devourer's influence was growing stronger with every step.
The system's appearance startled me, its cold, mechanical tone a reminder of the ever-present challenges we faced.
[System Notification: Region Update – collect battle points to regain past full memories and strength.
Objective: Defeat the Shadow Beasts and uncover clues about the Celestial Gate.
Reward: Fragment of the Celestial Emblem and 300 Faith Points.]
Liu Ying glanced at me, her sharp eyes narrowing.
"It's never simple, is it?"
"It never is," I replied, gripping my tooth tighter.
"Stay alert. They could attack at any moment."
We didn't have to wait long.
As we rounded a bend in the canyon, a low growl echoed through the air.
The ground beneath us trembled, and from the shadows emerged a pack of creatures—Shadow Beasts, their forms twisting and shifting as though the darkness itself had taken shape.
Their glowing red eyes locked onto us, and their jagged claws scraped against the rocky ground.
"Here they come!" Tian Lan shouted, her staff glowing with a soft green light.
She immediately began chanting, her words weaving a protective barrier around us.
"Everyone, stay together!" I called, raising my sword.
"Zhang Hao, can you fight?"
He hesitated, the dark aura still clinging to him.
"I'll manage," he said, unsheathing his blade.
Despite his words, I could see the strain in his movements.
The beasts lunged, their attacks feral and relentless.
I met the first one head-on, my sword slicing through its shadowy form.
It let out a piercing shriek before dissolving into black mist.
Another beast charged at Liu Ying, but she was quick, her twin daggers flashing as she dispatched it with precision.
"They're tougher than before!" Liu Ying shouted, dodging another attack.
"It's like they've been strengthened!"
"The Shadow Devourer's influence," Tian Lan said, her barrier flickering under the repeated assaults.
"It's corrupting everything around us."
The system appeared again, its notifications adding to the chaos of battle.
[System Notification: Shadow Beasts defeated: 3/unknown number.]
Battle Points Earned: 75.
"Unknown number of these things?" I muttered, slicing through a beast that lunged at him.
"Just how many are there?"
"Focus!" I snapped, parrying a clawed swipe aimed at my chest.
"We've faced worse!"
Tian Lan's voice rang out, commanding and clear.
"Get them into a group! I can take out multiple at once if they're close together!"
"On it!" Liu Ying replied, her movements fluid as she baited several spirits toward her.
Zhang Hao and I joined in, herding the lost spirit into a tight cluster.
"Now, Tian Lan!" I shouted.
Her staff glowed brilliantly as she unleashed a wave of energy.
The light enveloped the beasts, their shrieks echoing as they dissolved into nothingness.
[System Notification: lost spirit defeated: 2/unknown.
Battle Points Earned: 150.]
I clicked on the system.
"who has the highest battle point contained"?
[system: two shadow devourer who works under main shadow controller that is both beast and the spirit has the highest battle point found ever till now
Battle point: unknown]
So, in order to claim my full strength I have to kill all those lost spirits and the beast.
The remaining beasts were more cautious, circling us like predators waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
One of them, larger and more menacing than the others, stepped forward, its form shifting and solidifying into something almost humanoid.
"That's new," Liu Ying muttered, her daggers at the ready.
"It's an elite," Tian Lan said grimly.
"Be careful."
The elite Shadow Beast let out a guttural roar, charging at us with terrifying speed.
I barely managed to block its strike, the force of the impact sending me skidding backward.
Liu Ying and Zhang Hao flanked it, their attacks coordinated but struggling to find purchase against its toughened form.
"It's too strong!" Zhang Hao yelled, his movements slowing as the dark aura around him flared.
"I—I can't keep this up!"
The system appeared, this time with a more urgent tone.
[System Notification: Critical Condition Detected.]
Warning: Corruption level is increasing.
Immediate intervention required.
"Zhang Hao, fall back!"
I ordered, stepping in to take his place.
My sword clashed against the beast's claws, sparks flying as I pushed it back.
"No! I can still fight!" he protested, but his trembling hands betrayed him.
Tian Lan's voice cut through the chaos.
"Li Wei, use the skill you unlocked during the last trial! It might be enough to turn the tide!"
I clicked on the system as fast as I could.
[System Notification: Skill Activation Recommended – Spirit Channeling.]
Effect: Temporarily enhances physical abilities and allows manipulation of spiritual energy.]
Taking a deep breath, I focused my energy.
The air around me seemed to hum, and my sword began to glow with a radiant light.
The Shadow Beast hesitated, its predatory instincts recognizing the shift in power.
"This ends now," I said, surging forward.
My enhanced speed and strength allowed me to overwhelm the beast, my strikes landing with precision and power.
The final blow split its form apart, the darkness dissipating like smoke.
[System Notification: Shadow Beasts defeated: 5.]
Objective Complete.
Battle Points Earned: 300. Reward Acquired: Celestial Emblem Fragment.
You can claim Memory fragments restoration when you have enough battle points/faith point. ]
I should recall all my memories of my past life and the strength too.
As the last beast fell, the canyon grew eerily silent.
The oppressive weight in the air lifted, but the toll on our group was clear.
Zhang Hao sat slumped against a rock, his face pale and his breaths shallow.
Tian Lan knelt beside him, her hands glowing as she worked to stabilize him.
"The corruption is spreading faster than I expected.
He'll need time to recover."
"Will he be okay?" Liu Ying asked, worried evident in her voice.
"For now," Tian Lan replied.
"But if we don't find a way to cleanse him completely, the next battle could be his last."
I clenched my fists, the weight of responsibility pressing down on me.
The Shadow Devourer's influence was growing stronger, and now it had claimed one of our own.
But the fragment of the Celestial Emblem in my hand reminded me of why we were fighting.
This was just the beginning.
"We'll find a way," I said firmly, meeting each of their gazes.
"Together."
The path ahead was darker than ever, but we couldn't afford to falter.
The fate of the Celestial Gate—and the world—depended on it.