62. The Forgotten City’s Awakening

The Forsaken Realm was a graveyard of time itself. With the Warden defeated, the suffocating pressure that filled the air dissipated slightly, yet an eerie silence followed. The ruins ahead stood tall, untouched by the ravages of nature, as if frozen in an eternal slumber.

Ling Tian and Xu Qing'er stepped past the battlefield of fallen Sentinels, their footsteps echoing across the desolate plain. The city's gates loomed before them—massive, obsidian doors covered in ancient inscriptions.

Xu Qing'er placed a hand on the cold surface, tracing the engravings with her fingers. "These markings… they belong to an era long before even the great clans."

Ling Tian's eyes flickered. "Then it's likely tied to the Vanquished Throne."

Just as he finished speaking, a pulse of energy erupted from the doors. The inscriptions lit up, glowing with a haunting crimson hue.

The ground trembled.

Xu Qing'er stepped back. "Something is waking up."

Ling Tian unsheathed his sword. "Then let's welcome it properly."

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The Guardians of the Forgotten City

With a deafening groan, the obsidian gates slowly creaked open, revealing a pathway shrouded in darkness. The scent of decay and time-worn history lingered in the air.

Ling Tian stepped forward, but the moment his foot touched the stone floor—

BOOM!

A blinding light erupted from within the city, forming into towering humanoid figures clad in ancient armor. Unlike the Fallen Sentinels, these warriors were different—each radiated an aura of sovereignty, as if they had once been rulers of their own domains.

Xu Qing'er's breath hitched. "They aren't just remnants. They're spirits of past sovereigns."

The leading figure, a colossal being with a golden mask, raised a sword as ancient inscriptions danced across its surface.

"You who seek passage… prove yourself worthy or be erased."

Without hesitation, the warriors charged.

Ling Tian's aura flared, his dual-colored energy surging as he met the first opponent in a devastating clash. Sparks flew as his sword collided with the golden-masked guardian's blade.

Xu Qing'er moved like a shadow, weaving through the battlefield. With a flick of her wrist, a cascade of celestial light descended upon their foes, yet the guardians barely faltered.

These were not mere spirits—they were warriors bound by an eternal duty.

Ling Tian's expression darkened. "They're fighting like they still remember battle."

The golden-masked warrior suddenly lunged, its blade slicing through the air with unnatural precision. Ling Tian barely evaded, countering with a sweeping arc of azure and gold.

But the warrior was relentless.

Blow after blow, their battle shook the very foundation of the Forgotten City.

Xu Qing'er found herself pushed back as well, her usual techniques proving ineffective against the guardians' sheer resilience.

"Ling Tian, these warriors… their spirits are still tied to this city. If we don't sever that link, they'll keep reviving!"

Ling Tian's gaze sharpened.

He didn't need to defeat them—he needed to release them.

Summoning all his strength, Ling Tian gathered his energy into his sword. The golden flames of his aura intertwined with the deep azure of his weapon, forming a blade that resonated with the very essence of fate itself.

With one final strike, he brought his sword down.

A deafening roar filled the city as the golden-masked warrior staggered. Cracks formed along its ethereal body before, with one final sigh, it shattered into fragments of light.

The remaining warriors let out a low, mournful wail before fading into the wind.

The battle was over.

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The City's Heart

As the last warrior disappeared, the oppressive aura over the Forgotten City lifted. The once-darkened streets were now illuminated by soft, golden embers—remnants of the spirits who had guarded this place for eternity.

Xu Qing'er wiped her brow. "That was… exhausting."

Ling Tian, however, was focused on something else.

At the far end of the city, a grand palace stood untouched by time. Unlike the ruins around it, this structure pulsed with an ominous presence.

"The heart of the city…" Ling Tian muttered.

Xu Qing'er followed his gaze. "And likely the place where we'll find our answers."

Without another word, they stepped forward.

The doors of the palace slowly opened before them.

And within, something was waiting.

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