Betrayal

With measured steps, Ling Tian approached the strange cube at the center of the altar.

As he drew closer, he noticed intricate carvings covering its surface, each depicting scenes and symbols that seemed to pulse with ancient, unfathomable power.

The cube was suspended in mid-air, rotating slowly as if defying the very laws of gravity.

Reaching out, he hesitated for a moment, feeling the immense power radiating from the artifact. Taking a deep breath, he extended his hand to grasp it.

The moment his fingers made contact, the cube reacted violently. An apocalyptic surge of power erupted from it, flowing directly into Ling Tian's dantian.

His eyes widened in horror as he realized he couldn't stop the influx of energy.

Desperation took hold as Ling Tian released his full cultivation base, attempting to resist the overwhelming force.

The sheer magnitude of his power left his companions in shock, their eyes widening as they witnessed his true strength.

One of them, hidden among the group, felt a flicker of fear and jealousy, masked beneath a facade of concern.

Moments later, the torrent of power subsided, leaving Ling Tian standing in stunned silence.

His companions rushed to his side, their faces etched with worry. Han Ming was the first to speak, his voice urgent. "What happened to you, Brother Yuan? And where is that strange cube?"

Ling Tian took a moment to gather his thoughts, his mind reeling from the encounter. He looked at his friends, their anxious gazes reflecting their concern for him. "The cube... it's gone. But its power... it's now inside me."

His words hung in the air, heavy with implication. The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the situation settling upon them.

Ling Tian's revelation carried profound significance, suggesting that the power of the cube was now a part of him, and with it, an unknown destiny.

Mu Lin, usually the joker, was uncharacteristically serious. "What do you mean, Brother Yuan? How can the cube be inside you?"

Ling Tian took a deep breath, trying to make sense of what had just transpired. "The moment I touched it, its energy surged into my dantian. I tried to resist, but it was too powerful. Now, I can feel its presence within me, like a dormant force waiting to be unleashed."

His companions listened intently, their expressions a mix of awe and trepidation.

The implications of such a powerful artifact merging with Ling Tian were both exciting and terrifying.

They understood that this newfound power could either propel him to unprecedented heights or bring unforeseen challenges.

Everyone was scared out of their wits after knowing that the cultivation base of someone at the level of God Emperor had been sealed, rendering him powerless. They asked him just to be sure.

"Brother Yuan, your cultivation base is at the level of God Emperor and even then, it has been sealed?"

Ling Tian nodded his head but even then, everyone was having trouble believing it even then they all decided to trust their brother who they had fought so many battles together with.

As Ling Tian looked around at his companions, he saw their determination mirrored in their eyes.

Despite the uncertainty, they stood by him, ready to face whatever lay ahead together.

The peculiar gleam in the eyes of one among them went unnoticed, a silent promise of future conflict.

Han Ming placed a reassuring hand on Ling Tian's shoulder. "Whatever happens, Brother Yuan, we are with you. We'll figure this out together."

Just then Mu Lin suggested everyone leave from here so other people won't find them in this place.

Everyone agreed and left, after walking for a while they found a normal-looking metal door and opened it. There was nothing in it as it was already emptied by someone else.

Everyone stopped there to talk about what happened and what they could do about it.

Just as they were about to investigate it further, a bunch of people came barging in through the metal door.

When Ling Tian and the others looked over it was as though time stopped moving and everyone just stared at each other.

The group who entered the chamber was from the Jin clan, a formidable force known for their ruthlessness.

Five figures stepped forward: four peak God Monarchs and one Low-level God King.

At their forefront stood Jin Qiang, a man whose cruel smile sent a shiver down the spines of those present. His eyes locked onto Ling Tian as he began to speak, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here. The great young master of the Yuan clan, together with some minor characters of other clans and sects."

Ling Tian and his companions exchanged uneasy glances, their helplessness apparent in their eyes.

The tension in the room was palpable, but amidst it all, the peculiar gleam in one pair of eyes went unnoticed.

Mu Lin, sensing the impending danger, quickly communicated through their divine sense.

"Brother Ling Tian, once the fight begins, you should escape. Find a way to restore your cultivation base. We will hold off the Jin clan bastards and buy you some time."

The others nodded in agreement, their determination unwavering despite the looming threat.

Ling Tian's gaze hardened as he looked at each of his companions, appreciating their loyalty and resolve.

Shifting his focus to Jin Qiang, he spoke with a mix of defiance and anger.

"Jin Qiang, what do you want from me? Have you already forgotten how it felt when you always lost miserably to me?"

Jin Qiang's face twisted with anger at the reminder, but he quickly regained his composure, a smirk forming on his lips. "Ling Tian, every dog has its day. You weren't expecting me to find you here, right? Especially now, when you've lost your cultivation base."

The satisfaction in Jin Qiang's voice was unmistakable, and Ling Tian felt a cold dread settle in his stomach.

His worst fears were being confirmed. Someone had betrayed him, and now Jin Qiang was here to revel in his misfortune. Ling Tian's face paled as realization dawned.

"WHO WAS IT?? WHO BETRAYED ME AND OUR COUNTLESS YEARS OF CAMARADERIE??" Ling Tian roared, his voice echoing through the chamber.

Zhang Wei, Wang Tao, and Mu Lin also paled, their faces reflecting the shock and betrayal they felt.

Their minds raced, trying to comprehend the situation. Just then, Han Ming stepped forward from among them.

The eyes of his companions widened in disbelief as they watched him walk over to Jin Qiang and stand silently behind him.

Jin Qiang's smirk widened. "Surprised, Ling Tian? Sometimes the snake you trust the most is the one that bites you."

Ling Tian's heart sank as he stared at Han Ming, his former comrade. "HAN MING, why? Why would you do this?"

Han Ming's eyes were cold and unfeeling. "Why? Because power and survival matter more than your so-called camaraderie. The Jin clan offered me protection and a position of power. What did you ever offer me, Ling Tian? Mere words of friendship?"

The room fell silent, the weight of Han Ming's betrayal heavy in the air.

Ling Tian clenched his fists, anger and sorrow swirling within him. "I thought of you as a brother, Han Ming."

Han Ming sneered. "Your naivety is your weakness, Ling Tian. In this world, power is the only thing that matters."

Jin Qiang smirked proudly at Ling Tian and began to speak.

"Han Ming is the one who told me everything about you, not only about just now but from a long time ago. But even I have never imagined in my wildest dreams that you will reach the God Emperor realm so soon."

As he spoke up to this point, even his voice was trembling due to shock. Then he continued saying,

"Not only do I know about your cultivation base, but I also know that it is sealed currently and you also got a peerless treasure which might have surpassed the limits of the Divine realm. Now I have all the more reason to kill you off right now before you release the seal on your cultivation; otherwise, I'm afraid you will exterminate my entire clan in the future."

He then requested from his God King level clan elder to make a move.

Zhang Wei, Wang Tao, and Mu Lin looked at each other with pale faces. Then, they gritted their teeth and spoke to Ling Tian.

"Brother Yuan, you should leave now and let us block them off for you. You can take revenge for us in the future."

Wang Tao said with great determination. And then Mu Lin also spoke.

"Old Wang is correct, Brother Yuan. You have the greatest potential in all of the Divine realm and after getting your cultivation back, you can use the treasure and just wipe out the Jin Clan."

Zhang Wei also spoke up at that time and said with a relieved smile.

"I shall depend on you to take revenge for me from the Jin clan, Old Brother Yuan."

Before Ling Tian could even respond to any of them, Mu Lin rushed towards the Jin clan people while shouting.

"I will take down at least half of you bastards to hell with me!"

The desperation in his voice reverberated through the chamber, echoing the grim resolve of a man ready to sacrifice everything.

His body began to glow with an intense light, signaling the initiation of self-destruction of his cultivation base. The energy around him surged wildly, creating a vortex of power that distorted the very fabric of reality.

The Jin clan members' faces changed drastically as they realized the gravity of the situation.

Fear and panic spread among them like wildfire. Jin Qiang's arrogant smirk vanished, replaced by a look of sheer terror.

He screamed orders, but his words were lost in the deafening roar of Mu Lin's impending explosion.

"MU LIN!!!!" Ling Tian's voice was filled with anguish as he called out to his friend, but his cry was drowned by the rising tide of energy.

Before Ling Tian's voice could even reach Mu Lin, his friend had already reached the point of no return.

With a final, defiant roar, Mu Lin detonated his cultivation base. The explosion was cataclysmic.

A blinding light engulfed the chamber, and the sheer force of the blast ripped through the ancient stone walls, sending shockwaves that distorted space-time itself.