Chapter 32: Echoes of the Abyss
Bai Yuan led the group through the darkened valley, his senses heightened by the power of the abyss now woven into his very being. Every step he took felt more profound, as if he could feel the pulse of the universe itself. The sigil hidden beneath his skin occasionally flickered, reminding him of the trial he had overcome—and the unknown destiny that lay ahead.
Ling Xi walked beside him, occasionally glancing at him with a mix of curiosity and concern. "You've changed," she said finally.
Bai Yuan chuckled. "For the better, I hope."
Feng Yao, ever the skeptic, grunted. "Power like that always comes with a price. The question is, how much are you willing to pay?"
Before Bai Yuan could respond, the ground beneath them trembled. A low, guttural growl echoed through the valley, sending shivers down their spines. The shadows around them deepened, twisting unnaturally.
Bai Yuan's eyes narrowed. "We're not alone."
From the darkness emerged creatures unlike any they had seen before—beasts of living shadow, their bodies pulsating with abyssal energy. Their glowing crimson eyes locked onto Bai Yuan, sensing the same abyssal force within him.
Ling Xi drew her blade, her stance steady. "They're drawn to you."
Bai Yuan took a deep breath, his fingers crackling with the fusion of Yin and Yang energy. "Then let's give them something to remember."
With a surge of power, he launched himself forward, clashing against the abyssal beasts. The battle had begun.
Far away, in the depths of the cosmic void, the unknown entity stirred once more.
The Abyss watched its heir with great interest.