Chapter 68: The Heart of the Labyrinth

The corridor stretched endlessly before them, a narrow path shrouded in darkness. The walls seemed to pulse as if the labyrinth itself were alive, and the haunting voice that echoed from within continued to call Jin Long's name.

"Jin Long..." the voice whispered, each syllable dripping with malice. "Come closer. I've been waiting for you."

Yue Lan shivered, her grip tightening on her whip. "That voice... it feels as if it's inside my head."

Jin Long nodded, his jaw clenched. "It's the labyrinth itself. We're getting closer to the source."

They moved forward cautiously, the air thick with tension. The path sloped downward, and the further they descended, the colder it became. Frost clung to the walls, and a chilling mist rolled across the ground, obscuring their vision.

Jin Long's senses remained sharp. Every shadow seemed to shift, every flicker of light a potential threat. The Genesis Core pulsed within him, resonating with the labyrinth's energy, as if warning him of the impending danger.

After what felt like hours of walking, they emerged into a vast, circular chamber. The ceiling stretched high above, vanishing into darkness. At the center of the room stood a massive, crystalline structure—the Heart of the Labyrinth. It pulsated with a dark, ominous glow, and tendrils of black energy snaked through the air, connecting it to the surrounding walls.

And standing before the Heart was a figure cloaked in shadows, his face obscured by a hood.

"So, you finally made it," the figure said, his voice echoing with an eerie familiarity.

Jin Long's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

The figure laughed, the sound sending a shiver down their spines. "You don't remember me? How disappointing."

The figure raised a hand, and the darkness surrounding him dissipated, revealing a man with piercing eyes and a cruel, twisted smile. It was a face Jin Long recognized immediately.

"Liang Wei?" Jin Long gasped, disbelief washing over him.

Liang Wei had been a fellow disciple at the Celestial Sect, a prodigy who had once fought alongside Jin Long. But he had disappeared during the Celestial Sect's fall, presumed dead.

"But... you died," Jin Long said, his fists clenched.

Liang Wei sneered. "Died? No, Jin Long. I was abandoned. Left to die while you and the others escaped."

Yue Lan stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "We thought you were gone! We searched for you—"

"You searched for me?" Liang Wei cut her off, his tone dripping with venom. "While you ran away, I was captured. I was brought here, to this cursed labyrinth. And I was offered power—power to take revenge on those who betrayed me!"

Dark energy swirled around Liang Wei, his eyes glowing with a sinister light. "The Heart of the Labyrinth granted me this power. It gave me purpose. And now, I will use it to take what is rightfully mine!"

Jin Long gritted his teeth, the Genesis Core within him flaring with celestial energy. "Liang Wei, you've been corrupted! The labyrinth has twisted your mind!"

"Corrupted?" Liang Wei's laughter echoed through the chamber. "No, Jin Long. I've been enlightened!"

Liang Wei raised his arms, and the dark energy from the Heart surged into him, wrapping around his body like a cocoon. The ground trembled, and the walls of the chamber cracked as power radiated outward.

"You wanted to be a hero, Jin Long," Liang Wei said, his voice distorted by the dark energy. "Let's see how you fare against the one you left behind!"

The dark energy burst outward, forming massive tendrils that lashed toward Jin Long and Yue Lan. Jin Long leaped forward, his sword blazing with celestial light as he cut through the first tendril, but more appeared, each one thicker and more powerful than the last.

Yue Lan lashed out with her whip, striking the tendrils with precise, lightning-infused attacks, but they kept reforming, growing stronger with each strike.

Liang Wei's laughter echoed through the chamber, and his form twisted, the dark energy reshaping him into a monstrous, shadowy figure with blazing red eyes. His voice boomed through the room.

"You abandoned me, Jin Long! Now, you will pay!"

A massive tendril shot toward Jin Long, but he met it head-on, his sword cleaving through the darkness. The Genesis Core within him surged, releasing a burst of radiant energy that momentarily pushed Liang Wei back.

"Liang Wei!" Jin Long shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos. "You're stronger than this! The labyrinth is controlling you! Fight it!"

But Liang Wei's eyes were blank, his mind completely consumed by the dark power. "Fight it?" he roared. "I've already embraced it!"

The Heart of the Labyrinth pulsed violently, and a shockwave of dark energy blasted through the chamber, knocking Jin Long and Yue Lan to the ground.

Jin Long struggled to his feet, his vision blurred. Liang Wei loomed over him, his form now a towering mass of shadows, his eyes glowing like twin suns.

"Say goodbye, Jin Long," Liang Wei sneered, his hand raised, dark energy crackling around his fingertips.

But before he could strike, Yue Lan's voice rang out. "Jin Long! The Heart! Destroy the Heart!"

Jin Long's eyes snapped toward the crystalline structure. It was pulsating, its energy surging toward Liang Wei, feeding his transformation.

"If I can sever the connection..." Jin Long thought, his mind racing.

Liang Wei's fist crashed down, but Jin Long rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow. He sprang to his feet, his eyes fixed on the Heart of the Labyrinth.

"Yue Lan! Cover me!" Jin Long shouted, charging toward the Heart.

Yue Lan leaped forward, her whip snapping toward Liang Wei's arm, wrapping around it tightly. "Liang Wei! This isn't you! Fight it!"

Liang Wei roared, the dark energy flaring around him as he struggled against the whip.

Jin Long sprinted toward the Heart, his sword blazing with celestial light. As he drew closer, the Genesis Core within him pulsed violently, resonating with the Heart's dark energy.

"This ends now!" Jin Long shouted, raising his sword high.

With all his strength, he brought the sword down, the celestial energy colliding with the Heart in a blinding flash of light.

The entire chamber shook as the Heart shattered, shards of crystal scattering in every direction. Liang Wei screamed as the dark energy surrounding him dissipated, his form collapsing to the ground.

Jin Long fell to his knees, breathing heavily as the dust settled. Yue Lan rushed to his side, her eyes wide with concern. "Are you okay?"

Jin Long nodded, his gaze fixed on Liang Wei's unconscious form. The once-tormented disciple now lay still, the dark energy that had consumed him finally gone.

But as Jin Long looked around the chamber, he realized something chilling—the darkness had not vanished. It lingered, swirling in the air like a storm cloud, and a deep, ominous voice echoed from within it.

"Well done, Jin Long," the voice said, cold and hollow. "But this is far from over."

Jin Long's eyes narrowed. The true master of the labyrinth was still watching. And the real battle was only just beginning.