CHAPTER 13: A GLIMPSE OF THE ABYSS
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The Village’s Secret
The morning after the battle, the group gathered in the village square. The villagers, emboldened by the Tang Sect’s victory, began to emerge from their homes, offering thanks and supplies. Among them was an elderly man who introduced himself as Elder Yuan, the village leader.
“You’ve saved us from a nightmare,” Elder Yuan said, his voice trembling. “But I fear this isn’t the end. The beasts were drawn here by something deeper.”
Tang Ya furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
Elder Yuan led them to a hidden cellar beneath the village hall. The air grew colder as they descended, and a faint, pulsating glow emanated from the walls.
“This place has been here for centuries,” Elder Yuan explained. “We’ve always known it held a strange power, but recently, it’s grown unstable.”
At the center of the chamber stood a crystalline shard embedded in the ground, its surface shimmering with dark energy. Huo Yuhao felt a chill run down his spine.
“That’s not ordinary,” Zhen Han said, stepping closer. His silver eyes glinted as he examined the shard. “It’s a fragment of abyssal energy—a remnant from the Abyss Plane.”
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The Abyss Plane
Tang Ya and Beibei exchanged uneasy glances. “The Abyss Plane?” Beibei asked. “What is that?”
Zhen Han turned to them, his expression grim. “The Abyss Plane is a dimension of pure malevolence, inhabited by creatures that thrive on destruction. Long ago, it clashed with our world. Though it was sealed away, fragments of its energy occasionally seep through, corrupting everything they touch.”
Huo Yuhao’s Spirit Eyes glowed faintly as he studied the shard. “Could this be what’s drawing the soul beasts here?”
Zhen Han nodded. “Most likely. The shard radiates a frequency that disrupts the natural balance, driving creatures to madness. If left unchecked, it could weaken the barrier between planes.”
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A Difficult Decision
Elder Yuan wrung his hands nervously. “We’ve tried to remove it, but anyone who gets too close falls ill or... worse.”
Zhen Han’s gaze hardened. “Destroying it isn’t an option. The energy it contains is volatile—tampering with it could cause an explosion powerful enough to obliterate the village.”
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Tang Ya placed a comforting hand on Elder Yuan’s shoulder. “Then we need to contain it somehow. Yuhao, can your Spirit Eyes do anything?”
Huo Yuhao hesitated. “I can try, but I’ll need time to figure out how.”
Zhen Han stepped forward. “I’ll guide you. This will be your first test of true spiritual control.”
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The Ritual
That evening, Huo Yuhao and Zhen Han prepared to neutralize the shard. The group formed a protective circle around them, ready to fend off any disturbances. Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged before the shard, his Spirit Eyes glowing intensely.
“Focus,” Zhen Han instructed. “Feel the energy within the shard. It’s chaotic, but your spiritual power can stabilize it.”
Huo Yuhao extended his spiritual detection toward the shard. At first, the dark energy resisted, lashing out like a wild beast. He winced as the backlash struck his mind, but he pressed on, guided by Zhen Han’s steady voice.
“Breathe. Control. You are the master of your power,” Zhen Han said.
Gradually, Huo Yuhao’s spiritual energy enveloped the shard, forming a cocoon of light around it. The dark pulses began to weaken, their chaotic rhythm giving way to a calmer, steadier flow.
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An Unexpected Interruption
Just as Huo Yuhao neared completion, a deafening roar echoed through the village. The ground shook as a massive soul beast, its eyes glowing with abyssal energy, charged toward the cellar.
Tang Ya and Beibei sprang into action. “Protect Yuhao!” Tang Ya shouted, unleashing a barrage of hidden weapons at the beast.
The creature roared in pain but continued its assault, its massive claws raking the earth. Beibei summoned his Blue Lightning Dragon, striking the beast with a bolt of lightning that momentarily stunned it.
Inside the cellar, Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth, his focus unbroken despite the chaos above. “I’m almost there!” he called out.
Zhen Han stood guard at the entrance, deflecting stray attacks with his spiritual techniques. “Hurry, Yuhao. We can’t hold it off forever.”
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Success and Sacrifice
With one final surge of effort, Huo Yuhao stabilized the shard’s energy. Its dark glow faded, replaced by a serene, blue light. The oppressive aura dissipated, and the soul beast outside let out a final, mournful cry before collapsing.
The group regrouped, exhausted but relieved. Elder Yuan approached, his eyes brimming with gratitude. “You’ve saved us again. We are forever in your debt.”
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. “It’s not over yet. We need to find a safe place to seal the shard.”
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The Journey Continues
As dawn broke, the group departed the village, the shard carefully contained within a reinforced capsule crafted by Zhen Han. Their destination was the nearest sanctuary capable of holding such a dangerous artifact.
As they traveled, Tang Ya turned to Huo Yuhao. “You did something incredible back there, Yuhao. You’re growing stronger every day.”
Huo Yuhao nodded, his Spirit Eyes glowing faintly. “Thanks, but I know this is just the beginning. If the Abyss Plane is involved, we’re facing something far bigger than any of us imagined.”
Beibei placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Whatever comes, we’ll face it together. The Tang Sect doesn’t back down.”
As the group pressed on, shadows loomed on the horizon, and a chilling wind whispered through the trees. The abyss had revealed itself, and its influence would only grow stronger.