Chapter 74: The Final Struggle

Chapter 74: The Final Struggle​The swirling vortex of darkness loomed overhead, casting an ominous shadow over the chamber as Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔 laughed maniacally. Su Nian led the charge, her chains spinning like a whirlwind. She aimed for the staff in his hand, hoping to disarm him before he could fully unleash the devastating power of the vortex. But with a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of dark energy that sent her crashing into the ground.​Zhang Chengying, despite his broken sword and battered body, leaped into the air, his remaining strength channeled into a final, desperate strike. The electricity from his sword crackled as it neared the shadowy figure, but his 二叔 merely swatted him away like a fly. The young warrior slammed into the wall, coughing up blood, but his eyes remained fixed on the enemy.​Shen Qingluan, her arm still bleeding from the earlier wound, raised the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal. The golden light it emitted was faint, but she refused to yield. She chanted ancient incantations, trying to form a barrier around the vortex to slow its descent. But the darkness ate away at her shield, bit by bit.​Luna, her starlight - woven gown now completely tattered and her energy almost spent, continued to send what little starlight she had left towards Chen Jiuzhang. The crystal - key, fueled by her power and his determination, glowed brighter, its light pushing back against the encroaching darkness.​Wu Laogou, groaning in pain, forced himself to his feet. He staggered towards the battle, his eyes fixed on the shard of the crystal - key still clutched in his hand. With a final burst of strength, he threw the shard at Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔,aiming for his head. The shard embedded itself in the old man's shoulder, causing him to howl in pain and distraction.​Taking advantage of the moment, Chen Jiuzhang felt a sudden surge of power within him. The connection between the crystal - key and the Heart of the Realm reached a new level. Images of the past, present, and future flashed before his eyes, and he saw the true nature of the Heart - not just as a source of raw power, but as the very essence of balance in the Gui Xu Secret Realm.​With a final, earth - shattering chant, Chen Jiuzhang poured every ounce of his remaining life force and the combined power of his friends into the Heart of the Realm. The orb responded, its pulsations growing stronger and more rhythmic. A beam of pure, white light shot out from the Heart, colliding with the dark vortex.​The two forces clashed in a cataclysmic explosion. The chamber shook violently, and the very fabric of the Gui Xu Secret Realm seemed to tear. Chen Jiuzhang's 二叔,caught in the crossfire, let out a scream of rage and despair as his body began to be consumed by the opposing energies.​As the light and darkness fought for dominance, the fate of the entire realm hung in the balance. Would the combined efforts of Chen Jiuzhang and his friends be enough to restore harmony, or would the darkness finally claim victory?