Chapter 24: The Rift in the Skies
The land was still trembling beneath them as Li Qing and her companions made their way back through the desolate terrain. The destruction of the Abyssal altar had been a victory, but it felt hollow. The temple was now nothing more than ruins, the land scarred, and the night sky above them was bruised, as if the heavens themselves mourned what had transpired.
Li Qing's thoughts were sharp, her mind constantly calculating their next move. Even now, the energy of the Abyss lingered, like a sickly fog creeping into the world. She could feel the faint pulse of dark energy beneath the earth, though it was weaker than before. This battle had not eradicated the threat—it had only delayed it.
But Li Qing's strength was not to be underestimated. As a cultivator in the Soul Refinement Realm—the sixth realm in the cultivation hierarchy—her abilities were formidable. The power flowing through her veins was not something most would ever encounter. She could harness the True Soul Force to devastating effect, manipulating the essence of life itself. Her cultivation allowed her to push beyond the limits of mortal understanding, breaking through barriers that would crush those of lesser realms.
Still, she knew she wasn't invincible. And even as the Soul Refinement Realm gave her a vast edge in combat, she wasn't the only one who had cultivated such power. Her enemies, too, were formidable, and she could already feel their presence stirring in the distance. This wasn't the end.
The Arrival of an Unseen Foe
As they continued their trek through the barren lands, a sudden shift in the air warned Li Qing of something. Her senses, honed by years of cultivation, pricked as she looked into the distance. Her companions noticed it too, the oppressive silence in the air making them uneasy.
"It's him," Elder Fang said softly, her eyes narrowing. "He's come."
The figure who appeared on the horizon wasn't a stranger to Li Qing. The aura radiating from the man was unmistakable—Zhao Heng, a cultivator at the peak of the Divine Manifestation Realm. His presence was suffocating, and his very being seemed to distort the space around him. His aura pressed down on them, heavy with the oppressive power of someone who had reached the pinnacle of mortal strength. His cultivation was higher than Li Qing's, even in her Soul Refinement Realm, and it was clear that he was no ordinary adversary.
Li Qing's grip tightened on her sword. Zhao Heng. The name echoed in her mind like a curse. He was a figure from her past, a man who had once been her ally—until betrayal had shattered everything. Now, as the leader of the Abyssal Sect, he stood as her greatest rival. The bitterness of their past burned in her chest.
Zhao Heng's eyes locked onto hers, and a twisted smirk crept across his face. "Li Qing. I see you've managed to survive. How quaint."
Li Qing's expression remained cold. "What do you want, Zhao Heng?"
"You've caused quite a stir," Zhao Heng replied, his voice smooth but carrying a chilling undertone. "But it's over now. You've meddled in the affairs of the Abyss, and for that, you must pay."
Han Tie stepped forward, his war hammer in hand, eyes burning with anger. "You've already caused enough damage. Leave now, or we'll make you leave."
Zhao Heng's gaze flicked toward Han Tie, his smile widening. "A Third Heaven Daoist trying to stand in my way? How laughable." He raised a hand, and the air around him rippled as he called upon the deep, dark forces of the Abyss.
Li Qing stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension. "Don't waste your breath, Han Tie. He's in a different league altogether."
The power emanating from Zhao Heng was overwhelming. His cultivation had reached the Divine Manifestation Realm, a realm far beyond even the Soul Refinement Realm. The Divine Manifestation Realm allowed a cultivator to command the very elements, manipulating the laws of nature itself. It was a terrifying power, one that Li Qing had only seen in the rarest of individuals. Zhao Heng was a being who had long surpassed mortal constraints, and now, he wielded that power with the cruel precision of someone who had learned to dominate everything in his path.
Zhao Heng raised a finger, and the ground beneath them cracked, fissures spreading as the earth itself seemed to warp and bend under his will. The air grew thick, and a heavy pressure descended upon them.
"You still don't understand," Zhao Heng said, his voice cold and disdainful. "You are nothing more than an ant struggling against a tide. The Abyss cannot be stopped."
Li Qing's eyes flashed with determination. Despite the overwhelming pressure of Zhao Heng's power, she knew that she couldn't back down. This was the battle she had been preparing for—though it wasn't the one she had hoped for.
The Clash of Powers
Zhao Heng moved first, his figure blurring as he closed the distance between them in an instant. His fist collided with the ground, sending a shockwave of energy that split the earth. Li Qing barely managed to block the attack with her sword, the impact nearly knocking her off her feet. The force was unimaginable, and even with her Soul Refinement Realm cultivation, she felt as if the very air was being crushed out of her lungs.
But she didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, she unleashed a burst of Soul Force, a concentrated strike that shot toward Zhao Heng. The energy coiled around her blade, crackling with the intensity of her cultivation. Zhao Heng barely flinched, raising a hand to intercept the strike. His Divine Manifestation Realm cultivation allowed him to effortlessly deflect her blow, sending it spiraling into the ground.
"You are stronger than I remember," Zhao Heng said, his smirk returning. "But it's not enough."
Li Qing gritted her teeth, pushing through the pain. She knew she had to act quickly. Despite her Soul Refinement Realm prowess, Zhao Heng's power was still superior. The difference in their realms was too great for a direct confrontation.
She shifted her stance, gathering her energy for a more potent strike. The air around her began to crackle with power as she summoned the True Soul Force, the essence of her cultivation. It was a last-ditch effort, and she knew that even if it connected, it would drain her nearly to the point of collapse.
Zhao Heng's eyes gleamed with amusement as he raised his hand, summoning a barrier of dark energy to shield himself. "You think your soul force will do anything against me?"
Li Qing's gaze narrowed. "I don't need to defeat you here. I only need to create an opening."
She unleashed the full force of her strike, aiming for the weak point she could sense in Zhao Heng's barrier. The power from the True Soul Force tore through the air, a brilliant flash of light that seemed to momentarily blind them all.
A Tenuous Victory
The explosion of energy shattered the barrier Zhao Heng had summoned, throwing him back. His smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of surprise. But the victory was short-lived. As Zhao Heng stumbled, Li Qing's vision blurred, the toll of using her True Soul Force taking its toll.
But that moment was enough. Han Tie and Elder Fang seized the opportunity, attacking in synchronized precision. Han Tie swung his war hammer, sending a fiery shockwave toward Zhao Heng, while Elder Fang unleashed her own spiritual attacks, weaving barriers and strikes of light to bind him.
For a brief moment, the tide turned. Zhao Heng was forced to retreat, his expression now dark with fury. But Li Qing knew this wasn't the end. The Divine Manifestation Realm cultivator was not easily defeated. She had given them a temporary advantage, but the battle was far from over.
"We'll finish this," Zhao Heng snarled, his body beginning to pulse with more intense energy. "You can't hide from the Abyss forever."
Li Qing wiped the blood from her lips, her eyes burning with determination. "We'll see about that."
But she knew one thing for sure: their fight had only just begun.