The fields surrounding Qinghe stretched endlessly, their golden hues dulled under a clouded sky. As Li Feng approached the village, a strange unease settled over him. The air, once vibrant with the hum of life, felt hollow. His steps slowed as he passed familiar paths, the faint outlines of spirit beast attacks marring the land.

Yan Wei walked beside him, her sharp gaze scanning their surroundings. “This place isn’t how you left it.”

Li Feng’s chest tightened. “No, it’s not.”

Lei Ming followed close behind, his spear resting against his shoulder. “The threads of the Dao are mended, but the fractures were deep. Places like this, rich in natural qi, are the most affected.”

As they entered the village, the silence was deafening. Homes stood dark and abandoned, their doors hanging askew. A faint wind carried whispers of movement, but no one emerged to greet them. Li Feng’s heart sank.

“Where is everyone?” he murmured, his voice thick with worry.

A sharp rustling drew their attention to the village square. A lone figure emerged from the shadows of the central well, their steps hesitant. It was an old man, his face gaunt and his eyes sunken with exhaustion.

“Li Feng?” the man croaked, disbelief flashing across his face. “Is that you?”

Li Feng rushed forward. “Uncle Ren! What happened here?”

The old man leaned heavily on his cane, his voice trembling. “After you left, the spirit beasts came. At first, we could fend them off, but… they became stronger, faster. The land itself turned against us.”

Li Feng’s fists clenched. “And the others?”

“Some fled. Others…” Ren shook his head, his voice breaking. “They didn’t make it.”

Yan Wei stepped forward, her voice steady but firm. “The beasts are tied to the imbalance in the Dao. Even with the Nexus mended, the corruption lingers. We need to find the source.”

Ren pointed toward the hills beyond the village. “The beasts come from the old shrine. It was once a sacred place, but now it’s cursed. No one who goes there returns.”

Li Feng exchanged a glance with Yan Wei, determination hardening in his gaze. “Then we’ll go.”

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The path to the shrine was overgrown, the air thick with the scent of decay. The closer they got, the darker the sky became, as though the land itself recoiled from their presence. Yan Wei’s blade was drawn, her every movement precise and deliberate. Lei Ming followed, his spear at the ready.

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The shrine emerged from the gloom, its once-pristine walls cracked and overrun with dark vines. The air was oppressive, heavy with corrupted qi. Shadows flickered at the edges of their vision, and faint growls echoed from within.

“They’re here,” Yan Wei said, her voice low.

Li Feng stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly as he channeled the mark’s residual energy. “Stay close.”

The shrine’s interior was a labyrinth of crumbling halls, the air thick with malevolence. As they moved deeper, the growls grew louder, and the walls seemed to pulse with dark energy.

A sudden roar shattered the silence, and a massive beast lunged from the shadows. Its body was twisted, its fur matted with dark ichor, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light. It was unlike any spirit beast Li Feng had ever seen.

Lei Ming moved first, his spear spinning in a blur of light as he struck the beast’s flank. The creature howled, its form flickering like a shadow. Yan Wei followed, her blade carving through its defenses with deadly precision.

Li Feng focused on disrupting the corrupted qi coursing through the beast. He channeled the mark’s energy into his staff, striking at its core. The beast roared in pain, its body convulsing before collapsing into a pool of blackened mist.

As the mist dispersed, the shrine trembled. The walls cracked, and a low, guttural voice echoed through the chamber. “You dare trespass in my domain?”

A figure emerged from the shadows, their form cloaked in swirling darkness. Their presence was suffocating, their voice dripping with malice. “The threads may be mended, but the Dao’s corruption is eternal. You will not undo what has been set in motion.”

Li Feng stepped forward, his voice steady. “We’ve faced worse than you. Your corruption ends here.”

The figure laughed, a hollow, grating sound. “Then face the wrath of the forgotten.”

The chamber erupted into chaos as the figure unleashed a wave of dark energy. Tendrils of shadow lashed out, forcing Li Feng and the others to scatter. Lei Ming’s spear spun, deflecting the attacks, while Yan Wei moved with deadly precision, her blade slicing through the tendrils.

Li Feng focused on the figure, his staff glowing as he channeled the mark’s energy. He could feel the threads of the Dao within the shrine, frayed and corrupted. “I need time to sever their connection!” he shouted.

“Do it!” Yan Wei called back, her blade flashing as she blocked another attack.

Li Feng closed his eyes, focusing on the threads. The mark flared, its light spreading through the chamber. He could feel the corrupted threads pulling against him, their energy resisting his efforts.

“Almost there,” he muttered, his voice strained.

The figure let out a roar, their attacks growing more frantic. “You will not succeed!”

Yan Wei and Lei Ming pressed the attack, their movements synchronized as they created an opening. With a final surge of energy, Li Feng severed the corrupted threads. The figure let out a final, anguished scream before dissolving into smoke.

The chamber fell silent, the oppressive energy lifting. Li Feng collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving. The mark’s light dimmed, its pulse steady but faint.

Yan Wei knelt beside him, her expression a mix of relief and concern. “You okay?”

He nodded weakly. “It’s done.”

Lei Ming approached, his spear resting against his shoulder. “The shrine is cleansed, but this won’t be the last of them. The corruption runs deep.”

Li Feng rose slowly, his resolve hardening. “Then we keep fighting. For the Dao, for balance—for everyone.”

As they stepped out of the shrine, the sky began to clear, the faint light of dawn breaking through the darkness. The battle was far from over, but for the first time, hope glimmered on the horizon.