Chapter 6: The Forbidden Vault
The Crimson Shadow Sect was an institution steeped in history, but like all things that had endured for centuries, its foundation was riddled with secrets. It wasn't just the strength of its disciples that made it feared—it was the knowledge hidden away in the Forbidden Vault. The vault was a legend among the sect's higher echelons, a place where only those deemed worthy by the elders could access its dark arts and ancient techniques. But the vault was far from a simple storage space. It was a puzzle, a labyrinth that no one had fully navigated in centuries.
Elder Xue's words echoed in Zhao Rui's mind as he made his way to the secluded chambers where she had promised to meet him. She had claimed to know the way to the vault—though Zhao Rui suspected that her motives, like his own, were more complex than they appeared.
Zhao Rui didn't trust Elder Xue, but he had no choice but to entertain her offer. If she could indeed lead him to the Forbidden Vault, it would give him the power he needed to move against the sect's leadership, or perhaps even control them without lifting a finger. Knowledge, after all, was power. And the secrets locked within the vault could change everything.
The Path to the Vault
The night was dark, with only the pale light of the crescent moon casting long shadows across the mountain. Zhao Rui followed the winding path that led to a hidden part of the sect, far from the prying eyes of most disciples. The air grew colder as he descended deeper into the ancient tunnels beneath the Blood Summit.
When he finally reached a large stone door carved with intricate symbols, Elder Xue was already there, waiting. Her thin, bony hand rested lightly on the door, her fingers tracing the symbols with an unsettling familiarity.
"This is the entrance," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's not something you can simply walk through. The vault is protected by a powerful array, one that only those with the right knowledge can bypass."
Zhao Rui's gaze flickered over the door, sensing the layers of spiritual energy woven into the stone. It was clear this was no ordinary barrier—this was ancient, nearly forgotten magic. The kind of magic that could obliterate an intruder in an instant if they didn't understand how to navigate it.
Elder Xue stepped back, motioning for Zhao Rui to approach. "The key to unlocking this door lies in understanding the array. The symbols on the door are part of it, but you must activate them in the correct sequence. It will test your cultivation, your mind, and your will."
Zhao Rui studied the door carefully, his mind working to decipher the symbols. The Abyssal Seed stirred within him, urging him forward, sensing the potential within the array. He extended his senses, allowing the dark energy to guide him.
With a single breath, Zhao Rui reached out and pressed his palm against one of the symbols. As soon as his hand made contact, the door trembled, and the symbols began to glow faintly with a deep, blood-red light. The air around them thickened, as if the very mountain held its breath.
The door slowly began to open.
Elder Xue observed him closely, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of approval and wariness. "You're more perceptive than I thought. This will make things easier."
Zhao Rui didn't respond. Instead, he stepped forward into the darkened corridor beyond, the Abyssal Seed guiding his every move. He could feel the pull of the vault's contents—its forbidden knowledge calling to him.
The Forbidden Knowledge
The vault's interior was a vast, underground chamber, its walls lined with ancient scrolls and tomes. Faint flickers of spiritual energy illuminated the shelves, but the true power lay hidden deep within the vault itself. At its center stood a pedestal, upon which rested a single, blood-red crystal. The crystal radiated an aura so potent that it sent ripples of energy through the air, vibrating the very foundations of the mountain.
"This is it," Elder Xue said, her voice low. "The Heart of the Crimson Shadow Sect. The source of all its power and secrets."
Zhao Rui approached the pedestal, his eyes fixed on the crystal. He could sense the weight of centuries pressing down on him. This was the heart of the sect's strength—the forbidden knowledge that had been passed down through the generations. And now, it was within his reach.
Elder Xue watched him carefully. "To take the knowledge stored in the crystal, you must be prepared to sacrifice something. Power always comes at a price, Zhao Rui. Are you willing to pay it?"
Zhao Rui's crimson eyes flickered with intensity. He had already made countless sacrifices. To gain power, to reshape the world, he had already given up his humanity to the Abyssal Seed. What was one more sacrifice?
Without hesitation, he reached out and touched the crystal.
The Price of Power
The moment his fingers brushed against the blood-red surface, a surge of energy coursed through Zhao Rui's body. It was unlike anything he had ever felt—an overwhelming flood of dark power, ancient and unyielding. His body shuddered as his cultivation surged, his spirit torn between the raw energy of the crystal and the darkness of the Abyssal Seed.
He saw visions—flashes of ancient battles, long-forgotten cultivators whose power had once rivaled that of the heavens themselves. He saw the Crimson Shadow Sect in its prime, built upon the backs of countless lives, all sacrificed for the sake of power.
But there was more.
He saw the elders—their true forms, their true intentions. The darkness they had kept hidden from the sect's disciples. The Heart of the Crimson Shadow Sect was not merely a source of power—it was a prison, a containment vessel for a great and terrible force. The sect had kept it locked away, not out of reverence, but out of fear.
Zhao Rui's mind reeled, but he held on, drawing strength from the Abyssal Seed. The power within the crystal flooded him, filling the emptiness inside him with an unquenchable thirst.
But at what cost?
As the visions subsided, Zhao Rui staggered back, his mind heavy with the weight of what he had seen. His body burned with new power, and yet, a gnawing emptiness lingered in his chest.
Elder Xue stepped forward, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "You've taken it, Zhao Rui. The forbidden knowledge of the Crimson Shadow Sect is yours to command. But remember—power always comes at a price. And sometimes, that price is more than you can bear."
Zhao Rui steadied himself, his breath labored. He had gained what he came for, but the knowledge was a double-edged sword. The secrets of the sect's heart had opened new paths for him, but they had also exposed the terrifying truth of the sect's origins.
The Abyssal Seed stirred within him, urging him forward, urging him to claim what was rightfully his.