Chapter 12 : Trial of the Shadowmoon

Chapter 12: Trial of the Shadowmoon

The statues surged forward with terrifying speed, their stone limbs cleaving through the air with crushing force. Bai Yuan twisted his body, narrowly dodging a fist that cratered the ground where he had stood moments ago. The sheer strength of these constructs was beyond ordinary means.

Ling Xi somersaulted over one of them, her daggers flashing like twin streaks of silver as she struck at the glowing rune on its chest. Sparks flew as her blades met resistance. "Damn! It's tougher than I thought!"

Bai Yuan's mind worked rapidly. The statues were infused with a dense energy, likely a combination of Qi reinforcement and ancient formations. Regular attacks wouldn't be enough. He needed to exploit their weaknesses.

[Analyzing combat patterns… Identified structural weak points. Optimal attack strategy calculated.]

A stream of information flooded Bai Yuan's mind. His body moved instinctively, flowing with the battle like a seasoned warrior. He ducked beneath another strike, twisting midair, and delivered a precise palm strike to the rune on the nearest statue's chest. A tremor ran through the construct as cracks splintered outward from the impact.

"Ling Xi, focus your strikes at the same spot! Their cores are resistant, but sustained attacks will break through!"

She didn't hesitate. The moment Bai Yuan struck, she followed up with a rapid flurry of slashes, targeting the fractured rune. The glowing sigil flickered before shattering completely. The statue froze, then crumbled into dust.

One down. Two to go.

The remaining statues adapted, their movements becoming more fluid, as if they were learning. The one on the right suddenly shifted, its arms elongating into curved blades. The other's fists began to glow, vibrating with condensed Qi.

"This just keeps getting better," Ling Xi muttered.

Bai Yuan smirked. "We're warming up, that's all."

The battle raged on, Bai Yuan and Ling Xi fighting in perfect tandem. The last two statues were more resilient, forcing them to change tactics. Bai Yuan used his superior agility and precise strikes, while Ling Xi's dagger techniques allowed her to weave between their attacks, landing devastating blows at crucial moments.

Finally, with a final dual strike to their weakened runes, the statues collapsed into dust, leaving only silence in the vast chamber.

A new set of runes flared to life on the far wall, and a voice echoed through the room. "You have passed the Trial of the Shadowmoon. Proceed."

Bai Yuan and Ling Xi exchanged glances before stepping toward the opening path. Whatever awaited them beyond, they were ready.