The darkness of the chamber was familiar now, almost comforting. The deep shadows seemed to wrap around Kalen like a shroud, but he was no longer afraid of them. The Abyssal Qi pulsed softly through his veins, a silent rhythm that he had come to recognize as part of himself. But tonight, something was different. The air felt heavier, the energy around him thicker. He knew this sensation—it meant that he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Kalen sat cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees as he concentrated on the energy flow within him. The techniques he had been refining over the past few weeks had taken root, but now it was time to push further. He had learned the basics of the Black Sect’s methods, and even adapted them to his own cultivation style. But there was more to be discovered—deeper secrets that only those with true mastery could unlock.
---
#### **Abyssal Core Refinement**
The first of these secrets was the *Abyssal Core Refinement* technique. This was the next stage in the Black Sect’s cultivation path, a method that allowed a cultivator to condense their Abyssal Pulse into a core of pure dark energy. The core, once fully formed, would serve as a reservoir for the Abyssal Qi, allowing the cultivator to access far more power than before.
But the process was dangerous. The elders had warned that many initiates failed to form a stable core, their bodies unable to handle the concentrated energy. Those who succeeded often did so at great personal cost, their minds and spirits twisted by the overwhelming darkness.
Kalen had no intention of rushing the process. He knew that the key to success lay in patience and control, as with every other technique he had learned. The first step was to deepen his connection with the Abyssal Qi, allowing it to flow more freely through his body without overwhelming him.
He began by focusing on his dantian, where his Abyssal Pulse resided. The pulse was steady now, a constant thrum of dark energy that beat in time with his own heart. He visualized the pulse, seeing it as a sphere of swirling shadows, surrounded by his icefire energy. Slowly, carefully, Kalen began to condense the shadows, pulling them tighter and tighter until they formed a dense core of Abyssal Qi.
At first, the process went smoothly. The dark energy compressed without resistance, forming a small, solid core within his dantian. But as he continued, the Abyssal Qi began to push back, its chaotic nature resisting the forced compression. Kalen gritted his teeth, using his icefire energy to stabilize the core, cooling the chaotic qi and keeping it under control.
The pressure in his dantian increased, the Abyssal Qi pushing against the confines of the core. Kalen’s body trembled with the strain, sweat beading on his forehead as he fought to maintain control. But he didn’t falter. With each pulse of his core, he tightened his grip on the energy, forcing it into submission.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the core stabilized. It pulsed softly in his dantian, a dense, concentrated ball of Abyssal Qi surrounded by a layer of icefire energy. Kalen let out a long breath, his body relaxing as the tension eased.
He had done it. The *Abyssal Core* was complete.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
---
#### **Combat Technique: Abyssal Step**
With his core stabilized, Kalen turned his attention to combat techniques. The Black Sect’s fighting styles were brutal and direct, but there was one technique that stood out to him—*Abyssal Step*. This was a movement technique that allowed the cultivator to move through shadows, effectively vanishing from one place and reappearing in another. It was not true teleportation, but rather a method of traveling short distances by merging with the shadows around them.
The technique required a deep connection with the Abyssal Qi, as well as a mastery of manipulating the surrounding shadows. Most initiates struggled with the technique, their bodies unable to fully merge with the darkness, leading to incomplete or unstable movements.
Kalen, however, had a natural affinity for the shadows. His ice element gave him a unique connection to the cold and dark, allowing him to blend into the shadows more easily than others. He had practiced *Abyssal Step* in secret, refining his control over the shadows until he could move through them with ease.
He stood in the center of the chamber, his body tense with anticipation. The room was dimly lit, the shadows thick and heavy. Perfect conditions for the technique. Kalen closed his eyes, focusing on the darkness around him. He felt the shadows reach out to him, their energy mixing with his Abyssal Qi.
With a sharp breath, Kalen stepped forward—and vanished.
He reappeared on the other side of the chamber, his body emerging smoothly from the shadows. There was no jarring sensation, no instability. He had moved through the shadows as if they were an extension of himself.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. *Abyssal Step* was a success.
---
#### **Abyssal Chains: Advanced Control**
While *Abyssal Step* provided mobility, Kalen knew he needed more than just movement to survive in the Black Sect. He needed a way to restrain his enemies, to hold them in place while he delivered the killing blow. The answer lay in *Abyssal Chains*, a more advanced version of the *Shadow Bind* technique he had already mastered.
The difference between *Shadow Bind* and *Abyssal Chains* was the level of control and the complexity of the binding. While *Shadow Bind* created simple chains of dark energy to immobilize an opponent, *Abyssal Chains* allowed the user to manipulate the chains with far greater precision. The chains could be used to ensnare multiple targets at once, or even form barriers to block attacks.
The challenge with *Abyssal Chains* was maintaining control over multiple chains at once. Most initiates struggled to keep more than two or three chains active, their minds unable to handle the complexity of controlling so many moving parts. But Kalen had always excelled at multitasking, his mind sharp and focused.
He raised his hands, summoning the Abyssal Qi from his core. The dark energy flowed through his body, gathering in his palms before shooting out in the form of chains. The chains snaked through the air, coiling around the training dummies in front of him. With a flick of his wrist, Kalen tightened the chains, pulling the dummies off their feet and suspending them in midair.
But he wasn’t finished. With a sharp mental command, Kalen split the chains, sending additional strands of dark energy toward the other dummies in the chamber. Within moments, all of the dummies were bound by the *Abyssal Chains*, their movements completely restricted.
Kalen held the chains in place for several minutes, testing his ability to maintain control over so many bindings at once. His mind remained clear, his control over the dark energy precise and unwavering. The chains moved as he commanded, tightening or loosening at his will.
When he was satisfied, Kalen released the chains, allowing them to dissolve back into the shadows.
---
#### **Unseen Abyssal Flow: A New Direction**
With his mastery of the *Abyssal Core*, *Abyssal Step*, and *Abyssal Chains*, Kalen felt a surge of confidence. But there was still one technique that intrigued him, a method that only the most skilled Black Sect disciples could use—the *Unseen Abyssal Flow*. This technique was less about direct combat and more about subtlety, allowing the cultivator to manipulate Abyssal Qi in ways that were almost imperceptible to others.
The *Unseen Abyssal Flow* allowed the user to send small, undetectable pulses of Abyssal Qi into the environment, influencing the world around them without drawing attention. It was a technique often used for assassination or sabotage, as it allowed the user to weaken their opponents or alter the battlefield without anyone noticing.
Kalen had only heard whispers of this technique, but he knew it was the key to unlocking the true potential of the Abyssal Qi. If he could master it, he would be able to control his surroundings in ways that no one else could predict.
He began experimenting with small pulses of Abyssal Qi, sending them out from his core and into the environment around him. At first, the pulses were clumsy and obvious, the dark energy too strong to remain hidden. But as he practiced, Kalen learned to refine the pulses, making them smaller and more controlled.
With time, he could send out pulses of Abyssal Qi that were nearly undetectable, influencing the flow of energy in the chamber without anyone noticing. It was a subtle art, but one that would serve him well in the future.