Chapter 81: Divided and Conquered
The rift in the ground yawned wide, its jagged edges crackling with an otherworldly energy that seemed to pulse in rhythm with the strange, sweet smell hanging thick in the air. Chen Jiuzhang, Su Nian, and Wu Laogou found themselves on one side, while Shen Qingluan, Zhang Chengying, and Luna were left scrambling on the other."Stay calm!" Chen Jiuzhang shouted across the chasm, his voice echoing through the humid passageway. The crystal - key in his hand glowed faintly, as if struggling against the oppressive atmosphere. "We'll find a way to get back together!"Su Nian nodded, her chains at the ready. But her eyes were filled with worry as she watched Shen Qingluan sway unsteadily on the opposite side. The young woman's face was pale, and she seemed to be fighting to keep her eyes open. "We don't have much time. This place is doing something to our minds."On the other side of the rift, Luna was already working to counter the strange influence. She closed her eyes, her tattered starlight - woven gown glowing with a weak, silver light. "I can feel... something trying to cloud our thoughts. It's like a fog seeping into our minds."Zhang Chengying gritted his teeth, his broken peachwood sword trembling in his grip. "Well, we can't just sit here and let it happen." He turned to Shen Qingluan, who was now leaning heavily against the pulsating wall for support. "Qingluan, can you use the Imperial Jade Seal to create a shield?"Shen Qingluan shook her head, her words slurred. "I... I can't focus. It's too strong."Meanwhile, Chen Jiuzhang's group was facing their own challenges. Wu Laogou, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination, rummaged through his pockets. "I might have something that can help. A charm passed down in my family for just such occasions." He pulled out a small, weathered amulet, its surface carved with ancient symbols. But as he tried to activate it, a tendril of pulsating flesh shot out from the wall, knocking the amulet from his hand."Damn it!" he cursed, scrambling to retrieve the charm.Su Nian lashed out with her chains, slicing through the fleshy tendril. But more immediately sprouted in its place, wrapping around her ankles and pulling her towards the wall. "Jiuzhang! A little help here!"Chen Jiuzhang rushed to her aid, the crystal - key's light flaring as he swung it at the tendrils. The blue light seared through the flesh, causing it to recoil with a sickening hiss. But as he fought, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being toyed with, that the true threat of this place was yet to reveal itself.Back on the other side, Luna's starlight began to dim. She opened her eyes, a look of despair on her face. "I can't hold it much longer. Whatever this is, it's feeding on our fear and confusion."Just then, the ground began to shake violently. The rift between the two groups widened, and a figure emerged from the shadows at the end of the passageway. It was a creature unlike anything they had ever seen, its body a mass of writhing, pulsating flesh, with glowing, multifaceted eyes that seemed to pierce their very souls. The battle for their sanity and reunion had just become a fight for their lives.