Chapter 63

The Awakening of the Element Stone

The ground beneath Daming's feet trembled violently, as if the earth itself was rebelling against the chaos unfolding above. He took a step back, his eyes never leaving Xiang and Wen Shia. His jaw tightened, and his voice cut through the cacophony of the quaking world. "I will find out the truth," he vowed, his tone low but resolute. The earthquake grew stronger, cracks splitting the ground like veins of lightning, forcing him to retreat further. Yet, his gaze remained locked on the two figures standing at the heart of the storm.

Xiang, his hand firmly clasping Wen Shia's, felt a surge of energy unlike anything he had ever experienced. The moment their hands touched, a strange calm washed over him, as if the chaos around them had momentarily ceased to exist. His heart pounded, not from fear, but from a deep, inexplicable connection. For Wen Shia, it was the first time in years that someone had held her hand with such warmth and reassurance. Her breath hitched, and she found herself unable to look away from Xiang's eyes. Time seemed to stand still as they stood there, their souls intertwining in a silent understanding.

But the world was not done with them. The earthquake intensified, the temple walls groaning under the strain. The ground beneath them split open, revealing a dark abyss that seemed to stretch into infinity. The air was thick with dust and the acrid smell of burning stone. Xiang and Wen Shia snapped out of their trance, their survival instincts kicking in. Without a word, they turned and began to run, their hands still tightly clasped.

As they fled, Wen Shia's mind raced. She knew they couldn't outrun the destruction, but she also knew she had to act. With a deep breath, she summoned her spiritual energy, her free hand moving in intricate patterns as she chanted an ancient spell. A soft glow emanated from her fingertips, and she pressed her palm against Xiang's hand. The moment she did, their combined energy surged, creating a blinding light that enveloped them both.

The light was so intense that even Daming, who was now several paces away, had to shield his eyes. The soldiers accompanying him were less fortunate; those with weaker spiritual energy collapsed, overwhelmed by the sheer force radiating from Xiang and Wen Shia. A swirling, rainbow-colored smoke began to rise from the ground, encircling the two figures like a protective cocoon. The smoke was dark and ominous, yet it pulsed with a strange, almost hypnotic beauty.

Daming felt a chill run down his spine. He had seen many strange things in his life, but nothing like this. The energy emanating from Xiang and Wen Shia was unlike anything he had ever encountered—ancient, powerful, and deeply unsettling. He took another step back, his instincts screaming at him to get as far away as possible. But curiosity held him in place, his eyes glued to the scene unfolding before him.

The smoke began to condense, forming a solid, glowing mass that hovered between Xiang and Wen Shia. It was the Element Stone, now fully awakened and radiating a golden light that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality. The earthquake, which had been tearing the world apart, suddenly ceased. The silence that followed was deafening, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

High above, the heavens seemed to respond to the stone's awakening. The clouds parted, and a beam of golden light descended from the sky, illuminating the temple grounds. The celestial gods, drawn by the light, began to descend, their ethereal forms shimmering with divine power. They landed gracefully, their eyes fixed on the Element Stone. It was clear that this was no ordinary artifact—it was a force of balance, a key to the very essence of existence.

But not everyone was content to simply watch. Doming, who had been lurking in the shadows, saw his opportunity. His eyes gleamed with greed as he stepped forward, his hand outstretched toward the stone. "It's mine," he muttered under his breath, his voice trembling with anticipation. He lunged, his fingers brushing against the stone's surface. For a moment, it seemed as though he had succeeded. But then, the light dimmed, and the stone fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Doming's face twisted in frustration. He reached for the stone again, but it eluded him, sliding across the ground as if it had a will of its own. He chased after it, his movements growing more desperate with each passing second. The stone led him on a wild chase, weaving through the rubble and debris like a mischievous spirit. Doming's frustration turned to anger, and he began to chant a mantra, his voice rising in pitch and intensity. The stone slowed, then stopped, as if bound by his words.

With a triumphant grin, Doming snatched the stone from the ground. The moment his fingers closed around it, the stone began to glow once more, its light pulsating with a strange, almost malevolent energy. Doming's eyes widened as he felt the power surging through him, filling him with a sense of invincibility. But it was a fleeting sensation. The stone's energy was too much for him to control, and he staggered under its weight.

The celestial gods, realizing the danger, moved to intervene. The leader of the heavenly army, a towering figure clad in golden armor, stepped forward. "Release the stone, mortal," he commanded, his voice echoing with the authority of the heavens. But Doming was beyond reason. He clutched the stone tighter, his eyes blazing with defiance.

A fierce battle erupted, the clash of divine and mortal forces shaking the very foundations of the earth. Doming fought with a ferocity born of desperation, his movements fueled by the stone's chaotic energy. The heavenly army, though powerful, found themselves struggling to contain him. The battlefield became a whirlwind of light and shadow, the air thick with the scent of ozone and the sound of clashing steel.

Amidst the chaos, Daming's father arrived, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. He saw the stone in Doming's hand and immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, he joined the fray, his attacks aimed not at the heavenly army, but at his own son. "You fool!" he roared, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow. "Do you not see what you've done?"

Doming, however, was beyond reason. He fought back with equal ferocity, his father's words falling on deaf ears. The two men clashed, their movements a blur of speed and precision. It was a tragic sight—a father and son, locked in a deadly struggle, their bond shattered by greed and ambition.

Wen Shia, watching from below, felt a deep sense of loss. She could feel the stone's energy draining her, as if a part of her soul had been torn away. She wanted to cry out, to warn Xiang, but her voice failed her. She turned to him, only to find him collapsing to the ground, his body limp and lifeless. Panic surged through her as she knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she tried to wake him. "Xiang!" she cried, her voice breaking. "Please, wake up!"

But Xiang did not respond. His spiritual energy was gone, his body a hollow shell. Wen Shia's heart ached as she realized the cost of the stone's awakening. She looked up at the battlefield, her eyes filled with tears. The world was in chaos, and she felt powerless to stop it.

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