Chapter 65: The Path to the Forgotten Ruins

The Hidden Realm pulsed gently within Lin Tian as he led his group through the wilderness outside the sect's borders. The air was thick with spiritual energy, the forest alive with the hum of life. Lin Tian's steps were steady, his senses on high alert as he navigated the unfamiliar terrain.

Beside him, Xinya and Baihu flanked his sides in their humanoid forms, their sharp eyes scanning for danger. Lin Mei, his youngest sister, clung to his arm, her confidence bolstered by his presence. Behind them, three of his more experienced sect disciples trailed, their expressions a mix of awe and determination.

"Brother," Lin Mei said softly, her voice laced with curiosity, "these ruins we're heading to—what do you know about them?"

Lin Tian glanced at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "Not much. Just rumors passed down through ancient texts. It's said the ruins were once a sanctuary for a powerful beast-taming sect, one that fell long before our time. If the stories are true, they might hold treasures or techniques that could greatly benefit us."

Xinya chuckled, her voice teasing. "And by treasures, you mean more beasts to tame, don't you, Master?"

Lin Tian smirked. "If they're willing to join us, why not? The stronger our allies, the better prepared we'll be."

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew heavier. The trees became twisted and gnarled, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal hands. The air grew colder, the light dimming as if the sun itself had been swallowed by the oppressive canopy.

"This place feels... wrong," Baihu muttered, her usually confident demeanor tinged with unease.

Lin Tian nodded. "Stay vigilant. We're getting close."

A Shadowed Ambush

Just as Lin Tian finished speaking, the ground beneath them trembled. From the shadows, figures emerged—dark, humanoid shapes with glowing red eyes. Their forms flickered like shadows given life, their presence radiating a malevolent energy.

"Shadow Wraiths," Xinya hissed, stepping protectively in front of Lin Tian. "They're remnants of cursed energy, likely tied to the ruins."

The wraiths moved with unnatural speed, their claws slashing through the air as they charged. Lin Tian reacted instantly, his sword blazing with spiritual energy as he met their attack head-on.

"Formation!" he barked, his voice commanding.

His team snapped into action. Xinya and Baihu took the front, their powerful strikes ripping through the wraiths with ease. Lin Mei stayed close to Lin Tian, her hands glowing as she cast supportive spells to enhance their strength. The disciples flanked the group, their coordinated attacks driving back the wraiths.

Despite their efforts, the wraiths seemed endless, their numbers replenished as quickly as they were cut down. Lin Tian's brow furrowed. This wasn't a random attack—it was a test.

"They're trying to wear us down," he realized. "We need to find the source and destroy it."

The Heart of the Ruins

Summoning the power of the Hidden Realm, Lin Tian unleashed a wave of spiritual energy that cleared a path through the wraiths. "Follow me!" he shouted, leading the group toward the heart of the ruins.

As they broke through the final wave of wraiths, they found themselves standing before a massive stone gate, its surface covered in intricate carvings of beasts and ancient symbols. The air around it pulsed with a sinister energy, the wraiths retreating as if afraid to come any closer.

"This must be it," Lin Tian said, his voice low.

Xinya approached the gate, her eyes narrowing. "There's a seal here. It's old, but still strong. Whoever placed it didn't want anyone getting in—or anything getting out."

Lin Tian placed his hand on the gate, his spiritual energy probing the seal. It resisted him at first, but as he channeled more power, it began to unravel, the ancient symbols glowing faintly before fading away.

The gate groaned as it slowly opened, revealing a dark corridor that led deep into the earth. A faint, otherworldly glow emanated from within, illuminating the walls lined with more carvings and inscriptions.

"Stay close," Lin Tian said, stepping into the corridor.

The Beast Guardian

The air inside was thick and oppressive, the silence broken only by the echo of their footsteps. As they ventured deeper, the corridor opened into a vast chamber, its ceiling lost in darkness. At the center stood a massive altar, its surface engraved with a swirling pattern that seemed to move and shift under their gaze.

Above the altar floated a crystal orb, its core pulsing with a brilliant light. Lin Tian could feel the immense power radiating from it—a relic of unimaginable strength.

But they weren't alone.

From the shadows, a massive creature emerged, its form both awe-inspiring and terrifying. It was a chimera, its body a fusion of lion, eagle, and serpent, its eyes glowing with intelligence and fury.

"You who dare trespass upon this sacred ground," the chimera growled, its voice reverberating through the chamber, "state your purpose or be destroyed."

Lin Tian stepped forward, meeting the chimera's gaze without fear. "We seek the power of this place—not to exploit it, but to protect it. The world outside is in chaos, and if we don't act, countless lives will be lost."

The chimera studied him for a long moment, its gaze piercing. "Words mean little. Prove your worth."

A Battle of Wills

The chimera attacked with ferocious speed, its claws and tail striking with deadly precision. Lin Tian met its assault head-on, his sword clashing against its claws as sparks flew. His beasts joined the fight, their teamwork seamless as they worked to subdue the guardian.

The battle was intense, the chimera's power pushing them to their limits. But Lin Tian refused to back down. Drawing on the energy of the Hidden Realm, he unleashed a powerful technique, his sword glowing with the combined strength of his beasts and his own cultivation.

With a final, decisive strike, he brought the chimera to its knees.

The guardian let out a low growl, its gaze softening. "You have proven your worth," it said, its voice filled with grudging respect. "The power of this place is yours to claim. Use it wisely."

Claiming the Relic

As the chimera stepped aside, Lin Tian approached the altar. Placing his hand on the crystal orb, he felt a surge of energy course through him. The Hidden Realm within him resonated with the relic, its power merging seamlessly with his own.

The island within the Hidden Realm expanded, new life sprouting as the relic's energy nourished it. Lin Tian could feel his connection to the realm deepening, his strength growing.

But as he stood there, basking in the relic's power, a chilling thought crossed his mind. If the coalition—and the Black Star Alliance—were seeking relics like this, how many had they already claimed?

The battle was far from over, but for now, they had taken a crucial step forward.