Chapter 96: Into the Depths of the Soul

As Chen Jiuzhang was swallowed by the swirling black portal, a sense of weightlessness overcame him. He felt as if he was falling through an endless void, his body and mind disconnected. Memories flashed before his eyes - moments of triumph, moments of defeat, and moments of doubt. But amidst the chaos, one image kept repeating: a shadowy figure, cloaked in darkness, whispering secrets he couldn't quite understand.​On the floating platform, Su Nian struggled to her feet, her vision blurry from the impact of the energy bolt. "We can't just stand here!" she shouted, her chains at the ready. "We have to find a way to help Jiuzhang and break through this barrier."​Zhang Chengying nodded, his grip tightening on the shard of rock. "But how? These light - beings are too powerful, and we don't even know where that portal took him."​Lyra, her face pale from exhaustion, studied the barrier. "There has to be a weakness. Every magical construct has one. If we can find it, we might be able to disrupt the energy flow and get through."​The light - beings continued their relentless assault, their staffs emitting a steady stream of energy. Su Nian leaped and dodged, her chains deflecting as many bolts as she could. But with each passing moment, she could feel her strength waning.​Suddenly, Zhang Chengying noticed something. The light - beings' attacks seemed to follow a specific rhythm, and whenever they raised their staffs high, the energy they released was at its strongest. "I think I have an idea!" he shouted. "If we can time our attacks right, when they're preparing their most powerful strikes, we might be able to catch them off - guard."​Meanwhile, Chen Jiuzhang found himself in a strange, misty landscape. The ground beneath his feet was soft and spongy, and the air was thick with an otherworldly fog. In the distance, he could see a faint, glowing figure. As he approached, the figure took shape - it was a version of himself, but with eyes filled with darkness and a malevolent smile on its face.​"You've finally come," the shadowy figure said, its voice a chilling echo of his own. "This is where your journey ends. The taint within the crystal - key is a part of you, and you'll never be able to cleanse it."​Chen Jiuzhang stood his ground, his resolve steeling. "I don't believe you. The key was corrupted by an external force, and I will find a way to purify it. I have to, for the sake of my friends and the Gui Xu Secret Realm."​The shadowy figure laughed, a cold, mocking sound. "You're a fool. But if you insist on trying, then face your greatest fears. Only then will you truly understand the depth of the taint."​With a wave of its hand, the shadowy figure summoned a horde of nightmarish creatures from the fog. They lunged at Chen Jiuzhang, their claws and teeth glinting in the dim light. Back on the floating platform, Su Nian, Zhang Chengying, and Lyra prepared to launch their desperate counterattack, while Chen Jiuzhang faced the darkest corners of his soul in a battle that could determine the fate of them all.