Chapter 78: Whispers Beyond the Gate

After the grueling trial in the Hall of Unity, Lin Tian emerged from the second gate into a serene meadow bathed in golden sunlight. The gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, and the distant sound of a flowing stream broke the eerie silence he had grown used to in the Hidden Realm.

"It's...peaceful," Xiuying murmured, perched on Lin Tian's shoulder in her phoenix form. Her fiery aura dimmed as if even she didn't want to disrupt the tranquility.

Lin Tian smiled faintly. "A rare moment to catch our breath. Let's make use of it while it lasts."

As his beasts relaxed around him, Lin Tian spread out a map within the orb's interface. The Hidden Realm's geography constantly shifted, making navigation tricky, but the map updated itself as he explored, marking locations of interest.

"This meadow isn't on the original map," he noted. "It must be a transitional zone between trials."

A Mysterious Encounter

Just as he prepared to move forward, the grass around him rustled. Lin Tian tensed, his orb ready to summon his beasts, but what emerged from the bushes wasn't another hostile creature—it was a young woman.

Her hair was silver, cascading down her back like moonlight, and her eyes shimmered with a faint violet hue. She wore a flowing robe adorned with celestial patterns, and in her hands, she carried a harp.

"Who are you?" Lin Tian asked, his guard still up.

The woman tilted her head, offering a soft smile. "A traveler, like yourself. I am Yue'er. And you?"

"Lin Tian," he replied cautiously. "You don't look like someone who belongs in this realm."

Yue'er chuckled, her voice melodic. "Neither do you. But it seems fate has brought us both here."

Lin Tian studied her carefully. Something about her presence felt off—not hostile, but not entirely trustworthy either.

"What are you doing here?" he pressed.

"I'm seeking something precious," Yue'er said cryptically. "Perhaps our paths align. May I accompany you for a while?"

Lin Tian hesitated but eventually nodded. "Stay close, but don't slow me down."

The Forgotten Village

Together, they ventured deeper into the meadow, eventually reaching the outskirts of a dilapidated village. The houses were crumbling, overtaken by vines, and the air carried a heavy sense of abandonment.

"This place feels wrong," Ling'er whispered, her deer form materializing beside Lin Tian. Her antlers glowed faintly as she scanned the area.

"It's a memory of the past," Yue'er explained. "This village once thrived, but something happened. Something dark."

Lin Tian's orb pulsed, detecting faint traces of energy. He followed the trail, leading him to the village square where a weathered stone altar stood. Ancient symbols were etched into its surface, glowing faintly.

"What is this?" he muttered, running his fingers over the symbols.

Yue'er stepped closer, her expression solemn. "A sealing altar. Someone or something was bound here long ago. The question is...why?"

Before Lin Tian could respond, the ground beneath them trembled. Shadows seeped from the altar, coalescing into a monstrous figure—a beast with eyes like burning coals and claws sharp enough to rend steel.

The Shadow Beast

The beast roared, its voice echoing with rage and pain. Lin Tian didn't hesitate, summoning Xiuying and Ling'er into their battle forms.

"Stay back!" he ordered Yue'er, who had already taken several steps away.

The battle was fierce. The shadow beast moved with unnatural speed, its form shifting and reforming as if it were made of liquid darkness.

"Xiuying, strike from above! Ling'er, entangle it!" Lin Tian commanded.

Fire and vines clashed against the beast's shadowy body, but it showed no signs of weakening. Instead, it seemed to grow stronger, feeding off their attacks.

"It's absorbing energy," Yue'er warned, her harp glowing softly. "You need to find its core and destroy it."

Lin Tian's eyes narrowed. "The altar—it's connected to the beast!"

He dashed toward the altar, dodging the beast's attacks with the agility honed through countless battles. Channeling his energy through the orb, he struck the altar with a concentrated blast of light.

The beast let out a deafening roar as cracks spread across its body. In a final, desperate lunge, it tried to strike Lin Tian, but Xiuying intercepted it with a blazing inferno, reducing it to ashes.

A New Revelation

As the dust settled, Lin Tian turned to Yue'er. "You knew about this, didn't you?"

She nodded, her expression unreadable. "I suspected. This village was once home to powerful tamers who guarded a dark secret. The beast was likely their punishment for trying to use forbidden methods."

"Forbidden methods?" Lin Tian echoed, frowning.

"Experimenting with life and death," Yue'er said softly. "Merging beasts and humans in ways that defied natural laws."

Lin Tian's orb pulsed again, revealing a hidden compartment within the altar. Inside lay a small crystal, swirling with shadowy energy.

"What is this?" he asked.

"A fragment of their experiments," Yue'er said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Be careful, Lin Tian. This realm holds many secrets, but not all of them are meant to be uncovered."

Lin Tian pocketed the crystal, his mind racing with questions. He had a feeling this was just the beginning of something much larger—and much darker.

End of Chapter 78