The Void Temple's chamber was eerily silent as Xiao Tian emerged from the portal, his aura more refined and powerful than before. The chaotic energy of the Abyss had been conquered and integrated into his cultivation, marking his ascent to the Peak Foundation Realm. Elder Taixu's spectral form appeared beside him, his expression a mixture of approval and concern.
"You've returned stronger, but the Abyss has left its mark on you," Taixu said, his voice carrying a weight of caution. "The power you've claimed will serve you, but it is also a test. Do not forget the warning."
"I haven't," Xiao Tian replied coldly. "If the Void wants to test me, I'll show it why I am its master."
Before Taixu could respond, the Void Compass flared to life in Xiao Tian's hand, its runes spinning rapidly. The chamber filled with a resonant hum, and a portal began to form—a swirling vortex of black and crimson energy.
Taixu's gaze darkened. "The Compass has aligned with the Ebon Spire."
---
The Call of the Spire
Xiao Tian turned to his master. "What is the Ebon Spire?"
"A place of corruption and forbidden power," Taixu explained. "It is said to be a prison for remnants of ancient gods who defied the natural laws of the Void. Many have sought its secrets, but few have returned. What lies within could grant you unimaginable strength—or destroy you."
Xiao Tian's silver eyes gleamed with determination. "If it holds power, I'll claim it. Nothing will stand in my way."
"The Ebon Spire does not obey the rules of ordinary realms," Taixu warned. "Its corruption will test not just your strength, but your will. Go prepared."
Xiao Tian nodded and stepped toward the portal, his Void Qi blade shimmering faintly in his hand. Without hesitation, he entered the vortex.
---
The Realm of Corruption
Xiao Tian emerged into a barren wasteland under a blood-red sky. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the ground was littered with the shattered remains of ancient structures. In the distance, the Ebon Spire rose ominously, a towering monolith of obsidian pulsating with dark energy.
"The corruption here is suffocating," Xiao Tian muttered, activating Void Qi Shield to stabilize his core. Each step toward the Spire felt heavier, as though the realm itself sought to crush his spirit.
As he moved closer, the shadows around him began to shift and coalesce. Twisted creatures with distorted forms emerged, their eyes glowing with an unnatural red light. Their snarls echoed through the wasteland as they charged at Xiao Tian.
---
A Trial of Will
Xiao Tian raised his blade, his stance steady. As the first creature lunged, he activated Void Steps, flickering behind it and delivering a precise slash that severed it in two. The others swarmed him, but Xiao Tian moved like a shadow, evading their strikes and countering with lethal precision.
The creatures' attacks grew more coordinated, their claws imbued with corrosive energy that sizzled against Xiao Tian's Void Qi Shield. "These things are relentless," he muttered, summoning Void Chains to bind several of them in place.
Channeling Void Qi into his blade, Xiao Tian unleashed a powerful slash that tore through the remaining creatures. As their forms dissolved into shadows, the path to the Spire cleared.
---
Inside the Ebon Spire
Reaching the Spire's entrance, Xiao Tian found a massive, rune-covered door. As he placed his hand on it, the runes flared to life, and a deep voice echoed from within. "Only the worthy may enter. Prove your strength."
The door opened slowly, revealing a dark corridor that seemed to stretch endlessly. Xiao Tian stepped inside, the air growing colder with each step. The walls pulsed faintly, as though alive, and the oppressive aura of corruption grew stronger.
At the corridor's end, he entered a vast chamber where a towering figure awaited—a Corrupted Sentinel. Its body was a fusion of stone and shadow, its movements unnaturally fluid. In its hand, it held a massive, jagged spear that radiated malevolence.
"You will not leave this place alive," the Sentinel declared, its voice resonating with ancient power.
---
The Battle with the Sentinel
The Sentinel struck first, its spear crashing down with immense force. Xiao Tian activated Void Steps, narrowly avoiding the impact as the ground shattered beneath the blow. Flickering to the Sentinel's side, he aimed a precise slash at its leg, but the creature's stone-like body deflected the attack.
"This thing is tougher than it looks," Xiao Tian muttered, dodging another strike. He summoned Void Chains, binding the Sentinel's arm to create an opening. Channeling Void Qi into his blade, he aimed for the glowing core embedded in its chest.
The Sentinel roared, breaking free of the chains and releasing a shockwave that forced Xiao Tian back. "You are strong, but not enough to defeat me," it growled.
Xiao Tian steadied himself, his silver eyes narrowing. "Then I'll just have to try harder."
---
Unleashing the Dominion Core
Drawing on the chaotic energy of the Dominion Core, Xiao Tian infused his Void Qi with raw power. His blade glowed brighter as he flickered toward the Sentinel, delivering a series of rapid strikes that cracked its armor. The Sentinel retaliated with a flurry of spear attacks, but Xiao Tian moved like a shadow, evading each blow.
Finally, he activated Void Chains again, binding the Sentinel's legs and arms. Channeling all his energy, he drove his blade into the creature's core. The Sentinel let out a deafening roar as cracks spread across its body. With a final surge of power, it shattered into fragments of light and shadow.
---
The Heart of the Spire
In the aftermath of the battle, a pedestal rose from the center of the chamber. Atop it rested a pulsating orb of dark energy—the Heart of the Ebon Spire. Xiao Tian approached it cautiously, extending his Void Qi to probe its power.
"This... this is unlike anything I've felt before," he murmured. The energy radiating from the Heart was both alluring and dangerous, its chaotic currents resonating with the Dominion Core within him.
Placing his hand on the Heart, Xiao Tian began to absorb its energy. The process was grueling, the corruption testing the limits of his control. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as he guided the energy into harmony with his Void Core.
A resounding pulse echoed through the Spire as the Heart's energy merged with Xiao Tian's cultivation. His Void Core expanded, the power within him reaching new heights.
---
A Warning from the Shadows
As the Spire began to stabilize, a shadowy figure appeared at the chamber's edge, its form flickering like smoke. "You've taken the Heart, but the Void does not forgive. This power will consume you, child of chaos."
Xiao Tian's silver eyes gleamed with defiance. "Let it try. I am not so easily broken."
The Void Compass activated, creating a portal back to the Void Temple. Without hesitation, Xiao Tian stepped through, leaving the Ebon Spire behind.