Chapter 73: The Tipping Point

The deafening roar of clashing energies filled the chamber, drowning out the cries and grunts of the battle - worn warriors. Chen Jiuzhang's body trembled violently as he poured more of his life force into the Heart of the Realm. His vision blurred, and he could feel his consciousness slipping away, but he gritted his teeth and held on, his will unbreakable.​Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔,enraged by the smoke from Wu Laogou's talisman, let out a primal scream. With a wave of his staff, he dispersed the cloud and launched a series of shadowy tendrils towards the group. The tendrils, sharp as blades, sliced through the air, their targets clear: the ones standing between him and the Heart.​Su Nian, shielding an injured Zhang Chengying, swung her chains with all her might. The metal links collided with the tendrils, sending sparks flying, but they kept coming. "We can't keep this up!" she shouted, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.​Shen Qingluan, her body battered and her face bloodied, tried to raise another shield. But her hands shook uncontrollably, and the golden light that flickered to life was weak and patchy. One of the tendrils pierced through the shield, grazing her arm and leaving a deep, smoking wound.​Wu Laogou, his pockets now empty, looked around desperately for anything that could help. His eyes landed on a shard of the crystal - key that had fallen from Chen Jiuzhang's grasp during the chaos. Without hesitation, he picked it up and charged towards Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔,hoping to use it as a weapon.​But the old man was ready. He intercepted Wu Laogou with a blast of dark energy, sending the elderly warrior flying across the chamber. Wu Laogou crashed into the wall with a sickening thud and slumped to the ground, unmoving.​Luna, who had been assisting Chen Jiuzhang with the ritual, felt a surge of panic. She knew that if they didn't turn the tide soon, all would be lost. Closing her eyes, she summoned every last bit of her starlight - infused power. Her body glowed brightly, and a constellation of stars materialized around her.​"Take this!" she cried, sending the stars towards Chen Jiuzhang. The stars merged with the light of the crystal - key, giving Chen Jiuzhang a brief boost of strength. He redoubled his efforts, chanting the incantations with renewed vigor.​Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔,seeing that his attacks were failing to stop the ritual, decided to unleash his ultimate move. He raised his staff high, and a massive, swirling vortex of darkness formed above his head. The vortex grew larger and larger, sucking in everything around it, including the remaining shadowy tendrils.​"This is the end for all of you!" he shouted, his voice filled with madness. "The Heart of the Realm will be mine, and I will use its power to reshape the world in my image!"​As the vortex began to descend, the group knew that they were in their final moments. But they refused to give up. With a final, desperate act, they all charged towards Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔,determined to stop him at any cost. The fate of the Gui Xu Secret Realm hung in the balance, and the next few moments would decide whether light or darkness would prevail.