The descent into the valley was steep and treacherous, the mist clinging to their skin like a second layer. Each step brought Li Feng, Yan Wei, Lei Ming, and Mei Lin closer to the Shadowborn Sect’s stronghold, but the oppressive energy in the air made every breath feel heavier.

“This mist,” Mei Lin said quietly, her voice barely audible over the faint hum of corrupted qi. “It’s alive. It’s watching us.”

Yan Wei nodded, her blade drawn and glowing faintly. “They’re preparing for us. Whatever’s inside that fortress won’t just be shadows. We need to find an advantage before we face them.”

Lei Ming hefted his spear. “Easier said than done. They’ve had years to embed themselves here.”

Li Feng’s gaze swept the valley. The fortress loomed in the distance, its jagged spires like claws tearing at the dim sky. But to the west, half-hidden by the mist, he noticed the faint outline of a structure—a cluster of low buildings that seemed to pulse faintly with qi.

“What about there?” he asked, pointing toward the structures.

Yan Wei followed his gaze. “A side position? If it’s connected to the Shadowborn Sect, it might hold something useful.”

Mei Lin stepped forward, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her blade. “I’ve seen those buildings before. They’re older than the fortress—older than most sects. If there’s knowledge to be found, it’ll be there.”

Li Feng nodded. “Then that’s where we start.”

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The approach to the hidden sect was eerily quiet, the mist parting reluctantly with every step. The buildings were ancient, their stone walls covered in moss and cracked with age. Despite their disrepair, an aura of power lingered in the air, a faint hum of energy that resonated through the ground.

“They guarded something,” Mei Lin murmured, running her fingers over a carving etched into one of the walls. “Whoever built this wasn’t just defending themselves. They were protecting the threads of the Dao.”

Yan Wei’s eyes narrowed. “If that’s true, then the Shadowborn Sect has likely already plundered it.”

Lei Ming moved to the entrance of the largest building, his spear at the ready. “Only one way to find out.”

The interior was dark, the faint glow of qi illuminating symbols carved into the walls. As they moved deeper, the energy grew stronger, and the carvings began to shift, their shapes rearranging themselves into flowing patterns.

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“These are runes,” Yan Wei said, her voice tinged with awe. “Not just decorative—these are meant to guide and bind qi.”

Mei Lin stepped closer, her fingers brushing against one of the symbols. “It’s a map. These runes describe the Nexus, the threads, and… something else.”

“What something else?” Li Feng asked, his voice urgent.

Before Mei Lin could answer, the chamber trembled. The runes flared with light, and the air grew colder. Shadows poured from the corners of the room, coalescing into humanoid forms with glowing crimson eyes.

“They know we’re here!” Lei Ming shouted, his spear spinning in a defensive arc.

Yan Wei moved instantly, her blade cutting through the first shadow with precision. “Protect Mei Lin! She needs time to finish.”

Li Feng positioned himself in front of Mei Lin, his staff glowing faintly as he deflected the shadows’ attacks. The mark on his palm was gone, but he could still feel its echo, a faint thread of power that connected him to the Dao. He focused on disrupting the shadows’ forms, each strike sending ripples of light through their bodies.

“The runes are binding them here,” Mei Lin said, her voice strained as she worked. “If I can unravel them, it’ll weaken the connection.”

“Then hurry!” Lei Ming called, driving his spear into another shadow.

The battle was fierce. The shadows fought with relentless intensity, their movements erratic and lethal. Yan Wei moved like a whirlwind, her blade glowing brighter as she channeled her qi into every strike. Lei Ming held the line with unwavering determination, his spear cutting through the darkness with precision.

Li Feng felt the threads of the Dao pulsing faintly around him. He reached out, channeling the residual energy of the mark to disrupt the shadows’ connection to the runes. Each strike grew more precise, more deliberate, as the shadows began to falter.

“Almost there!” Mei Lin shouted, her hands glowing as she traced the runes.

The chamber trembled again, and the shadows let out a collective shriek. Mei Lin’s hands moved in a final sweeping motion, and the runes dimmed, their energy dissipating. The shadows dissolved into smoke, leaving the chamber silent once more.

“It’s done,” Mei Lin said, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

Li Feng turned to her, his chest heaving. “What did you find?”

Mei Lin gestured to the now-dormant runes. “This sect wasn’t just guarding the Nexus—they were its stewards. Their purpose was to ensure the threads of the Dao remained balanced.”

Yan Wei frowned. “Then why did they fall?”

Mei Lin’s expression darkened. “The threads became too powerful to control. They fractured under the weight of ambition. This sect tried to stop it, but they were overwhelmed.”

Lei Ming leaned on his spear, his brow furrowed. “So the Shadowborn Sect isn’t the first to try to exploit the Dao.”

“No,” Mei Lin said. “And they won’t be the last.”

Li Feng’s voice was steady despite the tension in his chest. “Then we need to finish what this sect started. If the Shadowborn Sect is gathering their power, we can’t let them undo the balance.”

Yan Wei nodded, her blade still glowing faintly. “We’ll end this. Once and for all.”

As they stepped out of the hidden sect, the mist seemed lighter, but the weight of their mission pressed heavily on their shoulders. The stronghold loomed ahead, its dark spires waiting like silent sentinels. The final battle was close, and there was no turning back.