The light of the Nexus faded behind them as Li Feng and Yan Wei stepped into the open air. The world seemed calmer, the oppressive weight of imbalance lifted. Yet, something felt… wrong.

Li Feng looked to the horizon, where the once-vivid colors of the sky seemed muted, as if the world itself was holding its breath. "It doesn't feel like it's over," he said quietly.

Yan Wei sheathed her blade, her expression tight. "The Nexus is stable, but the Dao's fracture left scars. It'll take time—if it even heals completely."

They began their descent, the winding path through the mountains eerily silent. The absence of spirit beasts, once so common in the wild, was unsettling. The mark on Li Feng's palm was gone, but he could still feel its echo in his chest, a faint pull toward something he couldn't define.

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Their journey led them to a crossroads where a lone figure waited. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his black and silver robes bearing the faint marks of battle. His spear rested on the ground beside him, its tip gleaming even in the dim light.

"You must be the ones who restored the Nexus," the man said, his voice calm but edged with urgency. "I've been looking for you."

Yan Wei's hand went to her blade. "Who are you?"

The man raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Lei Ming. A wandering cultivator—or what's left of one. The world has changed since the Nexus was mended, and not all for the better."

Li Feng frowned. "What do you mean?"

Lei Ming gestured to the path ahead. "The balance is fragile. Cultivation realms are collapsing in some areas, and shadows still linger in places rich with qi. Whatever you fixed, it wasn't enough."

Yan Wei's grip tightened on her blade. "Then we'll finish it."

Lei Ming nodded. "Good. Because the Shadowborn Sect isn't finished either."