Into the Lions Den

Chapter 29: Into the Lion's Den

The forests surrounding the Abyssal Sect's inner sanctum were unnaturally quiet. Not a single bird sang, nor did the leaves rustle with the wind. The air itself felt oppressive, as though the earth and sky were holding their breath in anticipation of the coming storm.

Li Qing moved silently through the dense undergrowth, her every step measured. Her energy reserves had not yet fully recovered from the last battle, but she couldn't afford to delay. Every moment Zhao Heng had was another step closer to completing his ritual.

Her senses were sharpened to their peak, scanning for any hint of danger. The Abyssal Sect's defenses were not just physical; layers of formations and wards surrounded the area, designed to keep intruders out and bind the sect's dark energy within.

Her eyes flicked to the horizon. Even from this distance, the Abyssal Sect's core was visible. A massive black spire pierced the sky, its surface writhing as though it were alive. The structure pulsed with an ominous energy, a beacon of Zhao Heng's power.

"Getting in will be the easy part," she muttered to herself. "Getting out…"

Her thoughts trailed off as she reached the first of the outer wards. A faint shimmer of light betrayed the presence of an energy barrier, its surface etched with runes of abyssal origin. Li Qing knelt to study it, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns.

"This isn't just a defensive barrier," she realized. "It's designed to siphon energy from intruders."

She frowned. The ward was a testament to Zhao Heng's meticulous planning—anyone attempting to breach it would find their strength drained before they even reached the sect's gates. But she had no intention of letting it stop her.

Taking a deep breath, Li Qing summoned her True Soul Force. A faint golden glow enveloped her hand as she pressed it against the barrier. Her energy surged, forcing the runes to flicker and distort. For a moment, the barrier resisted, but with a final push, the section in front of her shattered silently, leaving a gap just large enough for her to slip through.

She didn't waste a second. Moving quickly but carefully, she pressed onward, her senses alert for any sign of patrols. The terrain grew darker and more twisted as she neared the sect's heart. The trees were gnarled and lifeless, their bark blackened as if scorched by some unseen fire. Pools of stagnant water dotted the ground, their surfaces reflecting an unnatural red hue.

The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on her, but she pushed it aside, her focus unyielding.

As she approached the main gates of the sect, she paused. Two Abyssal disciples stood guard, their auras faint but unmistakable. They were both in the Foundation Establishment Realm, far below her current strength, but she couldn't afford to alert them.

Drawing her dagger, she slipped into the shadows. The art of concealment wasn't her specialty, but her movements were precise and deliberate. In a blur of motion, she struck, the first guard collapsing with barely a sound. The second turned, his mouth opening to shout, but her dagger was already at his throat.

The guards slumped to the ground, and Li Qing dragged their bodies into the underbrush. She paused to study the gates, her brow furrowing. The dark metal surface was covered in abyssal sigils, their energy thrumming with life.

"It's not just a gate," she murmured. "It's a binding formation."

Her mind raced. Destroying the gate outright would risk triggering the formation and alerting the entire sect. She needed to find another way in.

Circling the perimeter, she eventually found a narrow passage hidden behind a cluster of jagged rocks. The path was steep and treacherous, leading down into the earth. The air grew colder as she descended, and the faint sound of chanting reached her ears.

Her pulse quickened. She was close.

The passage opened into a vast underground chamber, its walls lined with veins of glowing red crystal. At the center of the chamber was a massive altar, and standing before it was a robed figure radiating a familiar aura.

Zhao Heng.

Li Qing froze, her heart pounding. He was alone, his attention focused entirely on the altar. The air around him rippled with power as he chanted in a language she didn't recognize.

The altar itself was a grotesque creation, carved from black stone and pulsating with a sickly green light. Suspended above it was a swirling vortex of energy, its center a gaping maw that seemed to devour the very light around it.

The Abyssal Core.

Li Qing's breath caught in her throat. The core was the source of the Abyssal Sect's power, the heart of Zhao Heng's ambitions. Destroying it would cripple the sect, but doing so while Zhao Heng was present was suicide.

Still, she had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, she began to gather her energy, her body trembling under the strain. The faint golden glow of her True Soul Force flickered to life, growing brighter with each passing moment. She knew the risks—if she failed to destroy the core in one strike, Zhao Heng would kill her before she could try again.

She steadied her breathing, her eyes locked on her target.

One strike. That's all I need.

But just as she prepared to move, Zhao Heng's voice rang out, cold and mocking.

"I was wondering when you'd arrive, Li Qing."

Her blood ran cold as Zhao Heng turned to face her, his eyes gleaming with malevolent amusement.

"Did you really think you could sneak past me?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain. "The Abyss sees all."

Li Qing tightened her grip on her sword, her body coiled like a spring. "You knew I was coming."

"Of course," Zhao Heng said smoothly. "But I let you come this far. It's always more satisfying to crush hope when it's at its brightest."

The chamber seemed to darken further as Zhao Heng's aura surged, the power of the abyss coiling around him like a living thing.

Li Qing's heart pounded, but she refused to back down. This was the moment she had been preparing for.

"I'll stop you," she said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her mind. "No matter what it takes."

Zhao Heng laughed, the sound echoing like thunder. "You're welcome to try, little cultivator. But this time, there will be no escape."

With a flick of his wrist, the abyss erupted around him, and the final battle began.