The tension lingered as Lei Tian, Lin Yue, and Qin Hao cautiously withdrew from the altar. The dark energy still pulsed in the air, its malevolence lingering like a whisper of something far more ancient than any of them could comprehend.
Lin Yue was the first to break the silence. "We should return to the sect. The elders need to know about this."
Qin Hao scoffed. "And admit that we barely survived? I say we keep this to ourselves. If we report this, they might not let us near anything important again."
"This isn't about pride," Lin Yue shot back, her gaze firm. "Something dangerous is at work here. If we ignore it, we might not get another chance to warn them."
Lei Tian remained silent, his mind preoccupied with the strange familiarity of the energy. The resonance he had felt was too similar to the power he carried within. Could it be connected to the Void Veil?
Before they could make a decision, a rustling from the surrounding trees sent them into high alert. Shadows flickered between the twisted trunks, and soon figures in dark robes emerged, their faces obscured by masks etched with arcane symbols.
"You should not have come here," one of them hissed, their voice laced with unnatural distortion.
Lin Yue instinctively stepped forward, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The masked figures made no move to answer. Instead, the leader raised a hand, and dark tendrils of energy coiled toward them. The hostility in the air was palpable.
Qin Hao wasted no time. With a roar, he charged forward, his sword igniting with blazing energy. Lin Yue followed, forming intricate hand seals to weave a protective barrier.
Lei Tian remained still for a moment, his instincts warning him against reckless action. These figures were powerful, and their energy bore an eerie resemblance to what he had sensed at the altar. However, he could not reveal his true power—not yet.
As the fight erupted, Lei Tian observed the combatants. Qin Hao fought with relentless aggression, his blade slashing through the air like a storm. Lin Yue, in contrast, moved with calculated precision, countering the enemy's attacks with well-placed defenses.
But despite their combined efforts, the masked figures fought with an unnatural coordination, their attacks unpredictable and laced with dark energy. One of them broke through Qin Hao's defense, landing a heavy blow that sent him sprawling.
Lin Yue gasped, rushing to aid him, but another attacker intercepted her.
Seeing his companions struggling, Lei Tian finally made his move. With careful, almost imperceptible control, he manipulated the battlefield in subtle ways. A well-placed footstep here, a seemingly weak strike there—each action disrupting the enemy's flow just enough to turn the tide.
Lin Yue and Qin Hao, unaware of Lei Tian's assistance, fought on, their movements unknowingly aligning with his unspoken strategy. Soon, the tide shifted, and the masked figures began to falter.
One of them snarled in frustration. "This isn't over!" With a sharp gesture, the group vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only the lingering echoes of their presence.
Qin Hao cursed, slamming his fist into the dirt. "Damn it! They got away!"
Lin Yue exhaled slowly, her gaze still fixed on where their enemies had stood. "No. They left because they had what they wanted. This wasn't a fight to the death—it was a warning."
Lei Tian remained quiet, his thoughts racing. Those figures were after something, but what? And why did their energy resonate so strongly with his own? He clenched his fists, realizing that the more he uncovered, the more dangerous his secret became.
Lin Yue turned to him. "Are you alright?"
Lei Tian nodded, forcing a faint smile. "I'm fine."
She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Let's head back. The sect needs to hear about this."
As they made their way back, Lei Tian knew one thing for certain: whatever was happening in the shadows of the world, he was already entangled in it. And sooner or later, he would have to face the truth of his own existence.