Chapter 46: The Unseen Threat

The air in the hidden realm felt heavier than usual, as if the very essence of the land was stirring with a strange energy. Lin Tian stood at the edge of the sacred island within his hidden realm, his golden eyes scanning the surroundings with intense focus. His heart was pounding, not with fear, but with a growing sense of unease.

Something was wrong.

Xiao Yue, his first and most loyal companion, was perched on his shoulder. Her slime-like body shimmered faintly in the dimming light, a reflection of the atmosphere surrounding them. "Master, something feels different," she murmured, her voice filled with concern.

Lin Tian nodded, his fingers brushing against the jade talisman on his waist, an artifact granted to him by the Eternal Dual Harmony Sect. It pulsed with faint energy, an indication that something within the hidden realm was out of balance. His mind flickered through the possible reasons—perhaps an intruder, a disturbance in the realm's energy flow, or worse, the return of the Dark Guardian.

But it wasn't any of those.

A deep rumble echoed from the center of the island, followed by a sharp crackle that resonated through the very air. Lin Tian's eyes narrowed as a dark shadow appeared above the sacred island. It was an enormous figure—impossibly large, its outline hard to define as it flickered in and out of existence, like a phantom.

"What is that?" Xiao Yue asked, fear creeping into her voice.

"I don't know," Lin Tian muttered, his heart quickening. He could sense that whatever this entity was, it was beyond anything he had encountered so far.

The shadow began to solidify, and as it did, a powerful wave of energy slammed into Lin Tian, knocking him backward. The force was enough to make him stumble, but his cultivation held steady, and he quickly regained his balance.

The figure above them materialized into a being that appeared as a grotesque fusion of beast and human—a creature that was neither fully man nor fully monster. It stood at least twenty feet tall, with long, blackened claws and eyes that burned with an unnatural red glow. Its wings were like tattered shadows, vast and ethereal, and its presence was overwhelming.

Lin Tian clenched his fists, feeling the full weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had dealt with powerful creatures before, but this being was different. There was an ancient aura about it, as though it had existed long before the world had known civilization.

The creature's voice echoed like a whisper carried by the wind, chilling Lin Tian to the core. "So, you are the one they call the Heavenly Beast Tamer," it said, its tone both mocking and filled with disdain. "The one who dares to rebuild the Eternal Dual Harmony Sect... But do you truly believe you can control the power of this realm?"

Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat. This entity knew too much about him. It knew about the sect, the hidden realm, and even the system that governed his growth. But there was something else—something far darker—that lingered behind its words.

"Who are you?" Lin Tian demanded, his voice steady despite the unease in his chest.

The creature's lips twisted into a sinister smile. "I am the one who has been waiting for you, the one who watches over this cursed land. I am the guardian of the curse that binds this realm, the one who has been keeping it sealed for millennia. And now, you will face the consequences of disturbing that peace."

The world around them seemed to darken, as though the very essence of the hidden realm itself was rejecting Lin Tian's presence. The air thickened, and Lin Tian's spiritual energy began to feel heavy, as if it was being drained away. This was not an ordinary battle—it was a trial.

"What do you want?" Lin Tian asked, his mind racing for a solution. The power of this creature was beyond anything he had encountered, and the strange, oppressive atmosphere was starting to weaken him. He knew that if he didn't act quickly, he might lose control of his own power.

The creature's eyes flashed with malice. "I want nothing from you, Heavenly Beast Tamer. I have no need for your power. I merely exist to ensure that no one disturbs the delicate balance of this realm... and you have disrupted it in ways that cannot be undone. Now, I will consume you."

The creature raised its clawed hands, summoning a violent wind that twisted around Lin Tian. The pressure was immense, the energy pressing down on him like a mountain. He could feel his connection to the hidden realm weakening, and the energy of his beasts began to flicker like a dying flame.

But Lin Tian was not one to back down.

His eyes glowed with golden light as he drew upon the power of his beasts, calling upon Xiao Yue, the Silver Flame Fox, and the Thundercloud Dragon. The beasts materialized beside him, their forms merging with his, enhancing his strength. The aura around him grew brighter, pushing back against the oppressive darkness.

"Is this all you have?" the creature sneered, unimpressed. "You think your beasts can save you?"

But Lin Tian wasn't relying solely on the beasts. He was drawing from the Eternal Dual Harmony Sect's techniques, merging his energy with theirs in perfect synchronization. As his energy spiraled, the winds shifted, and the oppressive atmosphere began to dissipate.

"You are wrong," Lin Tian said coldly. "I am more than just a beast tamer. I am the master of this realm."

With a roar, Lin Tian unleashed a torrent of energy, striking the creature head-on. The force of the blow shattered the shadowy wings, causing the creature to stagger backward. Its red eyes widened in disbelief.

"Impossible…" it growled, pain lacing its voice. "How can you have so much power?"

But Lin Tian didn't stop there. He drew upon every ounce of his strength, pushing past his limits. His beasts, now fully merged with him, erupted in a wave of divine energy, creating an ethereal barrier that enveloped the creature.

The battle raged on, with Lin Tian's energy clashing against the creature's dark power. His beasts fought alongside him, lending him their strength, while Lin Tian channeled the power of the hidden realm itself.

With a final, mighty strike, Lin Tian pierced the creature's heart. The entity let out a final scream as it disintegrated into nothingness, its presence vanishing from the realm entirely.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, Lin Tian collapsed to his knees, drained from the immense battle. His beasts returned to their natural forms, and Xiao Yue hovered by his side, her slime-like body still flickering with a soft glow.

"You did it, Master," she said softly, her voice filled with relief.

Lin Tian let out a long, exhausted breath. His body ached, and his mind was clouded, but he had emerged victorious. The curse of the hidden realm had been challenged, but it was not yet broken.

The creature had been an ancient guardian, one of many that had been set in place to protect the secrets of the realm. But Lin Tian knew this was only the beginning. The hidden realm held more mysteries, more threats, and more power than he had yet to uncover.

And somewhere, deep within the heart of the realm, Lin Tian could feel the stirrings of something else—a new challenge, a new enemy. One that would force him to grow even stronger.

He couldn't afford to rest.

The journey was far from over.

To be continued...