The Black Mist Valley stretched before them, shrouded in a dense, eerie fog. The valley was the only known entrance to the Cloud Abyss Ruins, and it was said that even before reaching the ruins, many had already lost their lives in this cursed place.
Lin Xuan took a deep breath, feeling the oppressive aura around them. The very air carried a faint scent of decay, mixed with an unexplainable chill that seeped into the bones.
Zhao Feng gritted his teeth. "This place gives me a bad feeling already. Are we sure we’re ready for this?"
Xiao Ling chuckled, clearly unfazed. "If you’re scared, you can always turn back."
Zhao Feng scoffed. "Scared? No way. Just being cautious."
Lin Xuan ignored their banter and stepped forward. His instincts were already on high alert. The ground beneath his feet was uneven, littered with the skeletal remains of past explorers who had failed to return.
Whatever happened here… it left behind a graveyard.
----------------------------------------
THE FIRST TRIAL – PHANTOM BEASTS
As they ventured deeper, the mist thickened, making it harder to see beyond a few meters. Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the valley.
Lin Xuan’s body tensed. "We’re not alone."
The next moment, dark silhouettes emerged from the mist. Glowing red eyes stared at them from all directions.
"Phantom Beasts," Xiao Ling muttered. "Creatures born from the resentment of those who died here. They have no physical form, but they can kill."
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Zhao Feng gripped his sword. "That’s just great. Any advice on dealing with them?"
Xiao Ling smirked. "Don’t get hit."
Before Zhao Feng could complain, the beasts lunged.
Lin Xuan reacted instantly, his golden qi flaring to life as he dodged the first strike. The creatures moved like shadows, their bodies shifting between solid and intangible forms.
Xiao Ling took the offensive, her sword glowing with a strange blue light as she slashed at the nearest beast. The blade cut through the mist-like body, and with a pained howl, the beast dispersed.
"So they can be killed," Lin Xuan noted, his eyes gleaming.
He focused his qi into his palm and struck out. The golden runes from the inheritance flickered to life, and with a single palm strike, another beast exploded into nothingness.
Zhao Feng, seeing their success, grinned. "Alright, let’s do this!"
The battle erupted in full force.
----------------------------------------
A HIDDEN DANGER
After slaying the last Phantom Beast, the mist around them began to recede slightly, revealing the entrance to the Cloud Abyss Ruins—a massive stone gateway covered in ancient inscriptions.
Lin Xuan wiped his brow. "That was just the welcoming party."
Xiao Ling stepped forward, examining the inscriptions. "This gateway is sealed with an ancient formation. It’ll take time to break through."
Zhao Feng frowned. "Let me guess… that means we’re sitting ducks here?"
Before anyone could respond, a deep voice echoed from the mist.
"Not quite."
Lin Xuan's head snapped up. A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in black robes.
His aura was suffocating, far beyond the Phantom Beasts they had just fought. But what caught Lin Xuan's attention the most was the emblem on his robe—the mark of the Abyssal Shadow Sect.
"Abyssal Shadow Sect?" Zhao Feng whispered, his voice filled with disbelief. "Why are they here?"
Lin Xuan’s gaze sharpened. "That’s what we’re about to find out."
The figure chuckled, his voice cold. "You’ve stepped into the wrong battlefield, Heavenly Origin Sect disciples. The ruins belong to us."
Xiao Ling smirked, gripping her sword. "Oh? Then you’ll have to kill us to prove it."
The tension crackled like lightning. The real battle was about to begin.