Chapter 21: Whispers of the Abyss
Chapter 21: Whispers of the Abyss
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The Aftermath of Battle
As the last of the dark figures fell, Han Ye exhaled slowly, his sword shimmering with the remnants of celestial energy. The battlefield was silent, save for the crackling of residual lightning dancing along the edges of Silver Moon's blade.
Lan Yue landed beside him, her breathing slightly uneven. Though her Water Divination technique had revealed the enemies' movements, she had never witnessed such overwhelming swordsmanship before.
"You were… incredible," she whispered, gazing at him with newfound admiration.
Han Ye wiped a streak of blood off his sleeve. "It's not over yet. There's something deeper here—this darkness isn't natural."
Lan Yue furrowed her brows and extended her spiritual sense. What she found made her expression turn grim.
"Something is buried beneath the valley," she said. "A seal… no, multiple seals. And they're breaking."
Han Ye's gaze sharpened. If an ancient entity was imprisoned here, then the presence of these dark beings was no coincidence.
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Descent into the Abyss
Determined to uncover the truth, Han Ye and Lan Yue made their way toward the valley's center. The deeper they ventured, the heavier the air became, as if the very world was resisting their intrusion.
The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a massive stone altar came into view. Etched into its surface were intricate runes glowing faintly, struggling against an unseen force. In its center lay a deep crevice, from which an ominous, pulsating energy leaked out.
"This is the source," Lan Yue murmured. "If this seal shatters completely, I fear we may be facing something beyond our current strength."
Han Ye approached the altar, his sword humming with anticipation. As he reached out, the moment his fingertips brushed the ancient stone, the runes flared violently, and a spectral voice echoed through the valley.
"Who dares disturb my slumber?"
A shadow erupted from the fissure, taking the form of a wraith-like entity, its eyes burning with malevolent intelligence. The air around them distorted as its presence alone bent reality.
Lan Yue staggered back, clutching her chest. "This aura… it's at least at the Saint Realm!"
Han Ye's grip on Silver Moon tightened. "Then I have no choice but to cut it down before it fully awakens."
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The Dance of Blades
The shadow let out a hollow laugh. "Foolish mortal, you think your blade can—"
Before it could finish, Han Ye vanished from sight. A flash of silver streaked across the battlefield, and the next moment, the wraith howled as a deep gash formed across its incorporeal form.
Silver Moon shone brighter than ever before, exuding a force that resonated with the heavens themselves.
The entity roared, summoning chains of black fire to ensnare Han Ye, but he moved like flowing wind, his blade slicing through them effortlessly. Each strike carried the weight of mountains, the swiftness of a storm, and the precision of the moon's reflection upon still waters.
Lan Yue watched in awe as Han Ye executed the second form of the Soaring Blade Sword Style—Void Step Blade Dance—his movements so fluid that it seemed as if he was fighting from multiple places at once.
The wraith staggered, its form flickering. "Impossible… this power…!?"
Han Ye's gaze remained cold. "You are but a remnant of something long forgotten. And now, you shall fade completely."
He raised Silver Moon high, the sword absorbing the surrounding energy before unleashing the final form—Moonlit Sword Domain. A celestial glow erupted around him, forming a sphere of cutting light.
With a single downward slash, the entire valley shook.
The wraith's scream was drowned out as its form disintegrated, vanishing into nothingness.
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The Path Forward
As the energy dissipated, the valley fell into silence once more. Han Ye stood amidst the fading glow of his sword technique, his breath steady despite the immense power he had just unleashed.
Lan Yue stepped forward hesitantly. "Is it… over?"
Han Ye looked at the altar. The runes had stabilized, their glow returning to full strength.
"For now," he replied. "But something tells me this was only a fragment of a larger force."
Lan Yue nodded solemnly. "Then we must return and report to the Sect Master."
Han Ye sheathed his sword and turned his gaze to the horizon. Though they had won this battle, he had the distinct feeling that the war was only just beginning.
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End of Chapter