Fractures and Resolve

Chapter 28: Fractures and Resolve

The battlefield was silent. The oppressive darkness of Zhao Heng's Realm of Devouring Shadows had dissipated, leaving behind scorched earth and jagged cracks that ran deep into the ground. Li Qing stood motionless, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breathing. Her sword hung loosely in her hand, its brilliant light dimming as her energy waned.

Around her, Han Tie, Elder Fang, and the surviving cultivators staggered to their feet. They bore the marks of the abyss—burns, scratches, and exhaustion etched into their bodies. The cost of resisting Zhao Heng's onslaught was steep, but they were alive.

"Li Qing," Han Tie called out, his voice hoarse but steady. He limped toward her, leaning heavily on his war hammer. "Did we… win?"

Li Qing didn't answer immediately. Her sharp gaze swept across the desolate battlefield. The monsters Zhao Heng had summoned were gone, banished with the collapse of his realm, but the lingering aura of the abyss still hung in the air like a specter.

"No," she finally said, her voice cold. "This was only a taste of his power."

Han Tie frowned, but Elder Fang, who had finally regained his composure, stepped forward. "He retreated," the elder said, his tone somber. "But that doesn't mean he's been defeated. Zhao Heng is cunning. He wouldn't risk everything in a single confrontation. He was testing us."

Li Qing tightened her grip on her sword. She knew Elder Fang was right. Zhao Heng had fought with devastating power, but he hadn't shown the true depths of his strength. If this was just a test, then the next battle would be catastrophic.

"We need to regroup," she said firmly, turning to face the others. "This fight is far from over."

Han Tie nodded reluctantly, while the others murmured their agreement. But even as they prepared to leave, a faint ripple of energy caught Li Qing's attention. Her instincts flared, and she spun around, raising her sword.

A figure emerged from the shadows—not Zhao Heng, but a young man clad in tattered robes, his face pale and his eyes wide with fear. He stumbled forward, collapsing to his knees before Li Qing.

"Please… help me," he gasped, his voice weak and trembling.

Li Qing's brows furrowed. The young man's aura was faint, his cultivation barely reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm. He was no threat, but the timing of his arrival was suspicious.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her tone sharp.

"My name… is Chen Rui," the man stammered. "I… I was a disciple of the Abyssal Sect. But I couldn't… I couldn't stay. Zhao Heng… he's gone mad. He'll destroy everything!"

The tension among the group rose instantly. Han Tie raised his war hammer, his expression dark. "A disciple of the Abyssal Sect? Give me one reason not to crush you where you stand."

"Wait," Elder Fang interjected, placing a hand on Han Tie's shoulder. "Let him speak."

Chen Rui trembled under their scrutiny. "I don't want to die," he said desperately. "I'll tell you everything! Zhao Heng… he's not just trying to conquer the cultivation world. He's… he's trying to ascend. To become something… more."

Li Qing's eyes narrowed. The term ascension was not unfamiliar to her. It was the ultimate goal of cultivators, the point where they broke free from the mortal plane and stepped into the realm of the divine. But the process was fraught with danger and often required unimaginable sacrifices.

"What do you mean?" she pressed, her voice cold.

Chen Rui swallowed hard. "The abyss… it's not just a technique or a source of power. It's alive. It's feeding off him, just as he's feeding off it. He's trying to fuse with it completely, to become its avatar. If he succeeds…"

He didn't need to finish. The implication was clear. If Zhao Heng merged with the abyss, he would become a being of unimaginable power, capable of annihilating entire sects and reshaping the world itself.

Li Qing's grip on her sword tightened. "Where is he now?"

Chen Rui shook his head. "I don't know. After the battle, he returned to the heart of the Abyssal Sect. But his plans… they're already in motion. He's using the sect's resources to prepare for the ritual. You have to stop him before it's too late!"

The group fell into a heavy silence. The weight of Chen Rui's words settled over them like a storm cloud.

Finally, Li Qing spoke. "Elder Fang, take him back to the stronghold and interrogate him further. We need every scrap of information he has."

"And what about you?" Han Tie asked.

Li Qing's gaze hardened. "I'll scout the Abyssal Sect's inner sanctum. If Zhao Heng is preparing for ascension, I need to know exactly what we're dealing with."

Han Tie's eyes widened. "Alone? Are you insane? You just fought him, and you're barely standing!"

"I don't have a choice," Li Qing replied firmly. "The longer we wait, the stronger he becomes. We can't afford to let him complete the ritual."

Elder Fang placed a hand on her shoulder. "Be careful," he said gravely. "You've already defied the odds once. Don't push your luck."

Li Qing gave him a small nod before turning to leave. As she walked away, her thoughts churned. Zhao Heng's power was terrifying, but she couldn't back down. Not now.

She tightened her grip on her sword, the faint glow of her soul energy reigniting. The road ahead was treacherous, but she would face it head-on.

Zhao Heng… your abyss may be vast, but it will not consume me