Chapter 78: Clash with the Guardians

The silver - armored warriors lunged forward, their swords flashing in the dim light. Su Nian was the first to react, her chains slicing through the air like a whip. The metal links wrapped around the wrist of one of the warriors, yanking him off - balance. She followed up with a powerful kick, sending him crashing into two of his comrades.​Zhang Chengying, his broken peachwood sword crackling with electricity, leaped into the fray. He parried an incoming attack with a swift movement, then countered with a thrust that grazed the side of another warrior's armor. The smell of burning metal filled the air as his sword made contact.​Shen Qingluan focused her energy on the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal, summoning a shield of golden light. The shield intercepted a volley of arrows fired by a group of archers among the warriors. "Watch out for their ranged attacks!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the chamber.​Wu Laogou, despite his injuries, threw a series of talismans. The talismans exploded on impact, creating a cloud of smoke that temporarily obscured the warriors' vision. "Now's our chance!" he yelled.​Chen Jiuzhang, holding the crystal - key high, felt a surge of energy coursing through his body. The key's light seemed to resonate with his every movement, guiding him as he fought. He charged towards a particularly large warrior, his strikes enhanced by the key's power. But the warrior was formidable, blocking each attack with ease.​Luna, her starlight - woven gown now little more than rags, closed her eyes and began to chant. A constellation of silver stars materialized around her, then shot towards the warriors. The stars pierced their armor, causing them to stumble. But Lyra, watching from the sidelines, merely smirked.​With a wave of her hand, Lyra summoned a new wave of warriors from the shadows. These ones were larger and more heavily armored, their weapons glowing with a strange, otherworldly energy. "You think you can defeat us so easily?" she taunted. "You're sorely mistaken."​The new warriors proved to be a much tougher challenge. One of them swung a massive hammer at Zhang Chengying, who barely managed to dodge in time. The hammer struck the ground, creating a crater that sent shockwaves through the chamber.​Su Nian found herself surrounded by three warriors. They attacked in unison, their swords flashing in a deadly dance. She fought back with all her might, but she could feel herself growing tired. The tattered remains of her cloak did little to protect her from the sharp blades.​Just when it seemed like all was lost, Chen Jiuzhang felt a sudden connection with the crystal - key. Images flashed through his mind - images of ancient fighting techniques, passed down through the ages. He closed his eyes and let the key guide him. When he opened his eyes again, his movements were faster, more precise.​He launched a series of attacks that caught the warriors off - guard. His strikes were now accompanied by bursts of blue light from the key, knocking the warriors back. Sensing an opportunity, the rest of the group redoubled their efforts.​Luna summoned a more powerful wave of starlight, Shen Qingluan strengthened her shield and launched counter - attacks, Zhang Chengying and Su Nian fought with renewed vigor, and Wu Laogou continued to throw his talismans. Slowly but surely, they began to gain the upper hand.​Lyra watched in surprise as the group turned the tide of the battle. Her expression changed from one of arrogance to one of curiosity. "Who are you people really?" she muttered to herself.​As the last of the warriors fell, Chen Jiuzhang and his companions stood before Lyra, their chests heaving with exertion. "We're the ones who will save this realm," Chen Jiuzhang said, his voice firm. "Now, will you let us pass?"​Lyra studied them for a long moment, then let out a sigh. "Very well. You've proven yourselves. But be warned, what lies ahead is far more dangerous than anything you've faced so far." With that, she stepped aside, clearing the path to the unknown depths of the Gui Xu Secret Realm.​