The Unknown
The dense forest on the other side of the river was darker, the trees twisted and gnarled as if shaped by centuries of unnatural forces. The air carried a sharp chill, and the sunlight struggled to pierce through the thick canopy. Lin Xuan and Li Fengxian moved cautiously, their senses heightened after the encounter with the Spirit Serpent.
The energy from the serpent's Spirit Core still pulsed faintly within Lin Xuan, settling into his dantian. He could feel its power, dormant for now, but radiating potential.
"Do you feel that?" Li Fengxian asked, her voice low as she scanned their surroundings.
Lin Xuan nodded. "The air here is... heavy. Something's wrong."
The oppressive atmosphere gnawed at their minds, making every sound seem louder and every shadow seem alive. They pressed forward, their footsteps careful and deliberate.
---
They hadn't gone far when a faint sound reached their ears—a soft, echoing hum, like a distant chant. Lin Xuan held up a hand, signaling Li Fengxian to stop.
"Do you hear that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Li Fengxian tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "Yes. It's coming from up ahead."
The hum grew louder as they advanced, taking on a rhythmic cadence. It wasn't long before they found the source: a crumbling stone altar in a small clearing, surrounded by ancient, weathered statues.
The altar was covered in strange, glowing runes that pulsed with an eerie, crimson light. Around it, skeletal remains lay scattered, their bones bleached white with age.
Li Fengxian shuddered. "What is this place?"
Lin Xuan approached the altar cautiously, his eyes fixed on the runes. "It's ancient. These symbols... they don't belong to any known language."
He reached out, his fingers hovering just above the surface of the altar. The runes flared brighter in response, and a deep, guttural voice echoed through the clearing.
"Who dares disturb my sanctuary?"
The voice was everywhere and nowhere, filling the air with a palpable weight. Lin Xuan and Li Fengxian drew their weapons, their eyes darting around the clearing.
"We mean no harm," Lin Xuan said, his tone steady. "We're travelers passing through. Who are you?"
The voice chuckled darkly. "You tread upon forbidden ground, mortal. This place is sacred, and none may leave unscathed."
The ground trembled, and the skeletal remains began to stir. Bones clattered together, forming grotesque, incomplete shapes that shambled toward them.
---
"Get ready!" Lin Xuan shouted, stepping in front of Li Fengxian.
She didn't hesitate, her sword flashing as she struck down one of the skeletons. It collapsed instantly, but two more rose in its place.
"They keep coming!" she called out, slashing through another.
Lin Xuan's mind raced. The skeletons weren't particularly strong, but their numbers were overwhelming. He turned his focus back to the altar, the runes glowing brighter with each passing moment.
"It's the altar," he said. "It's fueling them. We need to destroy it!"
Li Fengxian nodded, cutting her way toward him as the skeletons closed in. Lin Xuan channeled his energy into his sword, the blade humming with power.
He slashed at the altar, the force of his strike sending a shockwave through the clearing. The runes flickered but held firm.
"It's not enough!" he said, gritting his teeth.
Li Fengxian joined him, her blade infused with energy. Together, they unleashed a barrage of attacks on the altar, each strike shaking the ground.
The voice roared in anger. "Fools! You cannot destroy what you do not understand!"
---
Suddenly, the energy from the Spirit Core within Lin Xuan surged, flooding his body with strength. Without thinking, he channeled it into his sword, the blade igniting with a green flame.
With a single, powerful strike, he brought the sword down on the altar. The runes shattered, and the crimson light dissipated.
The skeletal figures crumbled to dust, and the voice let out a final, anguished scream before fading into silence.
The clearing fell still, the oppressive atmosphere lifting as the altar's power was extinguished. Lin Xuan lowered his sword, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Li Fengxian rested a hand on his shoulder, her own breathing heavy. "That was... intense. What kind of place is this?"
Lin Xuan shook his head. "I don't know, but whatever it was, it's ancient—and dangerous."
---
As they prepared to leave, Lin Xuan noticed a small, metallic object glinting in the rubble of the altar. He picked it up, revealing a medallion engraved with the same runes that had been on the altar.
"What's that?" Li Fengxian asked, eyeing it warily.
"I'm not sure," Lin Xuan said, slipping it into his pouch. "But it might be important. We should hold onto it."
Li Fengxian hesitated before nodding. "Let's hope it doesn't bring us more trouble."
They left the clearing, the faint hum of the medallion lingering in Lin Xuan's mind. Though the altar was destroyed, he couldn't shake the feeling that their troubles were far from over.