Reincarnation of the Celestial Bastard

Chapter 86: Secrets in Shadows

Li Tian felt the weight of the pendant around his neck, its faint glow fading as they left the shrine behind. The calm of dawn washed over them, but there was an underlying tension that hinted at the battles to come. Liu Mei walked beside him, a silent companion, her gaze occasionally flicking his way with a mix of worry and trust.

As they reached the edge of the forest, Li Tian could sense an unusual disturbance ahead, something that made the air feel thick with impending conflict. His senses sharpened, the pendant subtly amplifying his awareness. He glanced at Liu Mei, giving a small nod.

"Let's move cautiously," he whispered.

They continued toward Yunhai's borders, slipping through the early morning shadows, when they came upon a trio of unfamiliar cultivators standing near an abandoned well. The figures were clad in dark robes, their eyes glinting with hostility as they caught sight of Li Tian and Liu Mei.

One of the men stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Well, well, what do we have here? A couple taking a morning stroll? Not the wisest place to wander at this hour."

Li Tian didn't respond immediately, his gaze cool as he sized them up. Each cultivator radiated an aura of dark energy, unmistakably marked by the Cult's influence. They were a level higher than most of the fighters he'd faced recently, and their presence here hinted at an orchestrated move by the Cult to expand their reach.

"Who sent you?" Li Tian asked, his tone casual, almost uninterested.

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The leader's grin widened. "You think you're in a position to ask questions?"

Li Tian sighed, exchanging a brief glance with Liu Mei. "It's a shame. I thought we could end this peacefully."

The man scoffed, drawing his sword, and his companions quickly followed suit. The three advanced, dark energy crackling around them, filling the air with an oppressive force. Li Tian tightened his grip on the pendant and let his own energy flow freely, an intense aura of power flooding the area.

[Liu Mei Quest Update: Protect Liu Mei from the incoming attack.]

As the first attacker lunged, Li Tian sidestepped gracefully, evading the strike while delivering a swift, precise blow to the man's chest, sending him sprawling back. Liu Mei moved fluidly beside him, her agility on full display as she used her own refined techniques to keep the enemies at bay.

But the Cultists were tenacious. The two remaining fighters pressed forward, channeling their dark energy into their weapons, amplifying their strength. A coordinated strike from two directions forced Li Tian to parry rapidly, the impact sending a shock through his arm. These were no ordinary fighters; they were well-trained and relentless.

[System Notification: Quest Activated - Defeat the Cult Enforcers.]

[Reward: Shadow-Step Technique - enables swift, near-invisible movement within a short range.]

Li Tian smirked at the reward, the promise of Shadow-Step giving him a new advantage. Focusing, he summoned his inner energy, feeling the pendant resonate with his intent.

As the Cultists closed in, he moved suddenly, disappearing from their sight and reappearing behind one of them, unleashing a devastating punch that shattered his opponent's defense. The Cultist staggered forward, clutching his side in pain, as Li Tian took advantage of the opening, delivering a strike that sent the man crashing to the ground.

The remaining attacker froze, his confidence visibly shaken. Before he could retreat, Liu Mei stepped forward, a calculated expression in her eyes as she delivered a series of rapid blows, subduing him with swift precision.

With the Cultists incapacitated, Li Tian and Liu Mei took a moment to recover. She looked over, her breath steadying, and gave him a faint smile. "You still have that knack for showing off."

"Only when necessary," he replied, catching his breath with a grin.

They moved on, leaving the Cultists behind, but the encounter only fueled Li Tian's curiosity. Why was the Cult moving so aggressively in Yunhai? The pendant pulsed faintly as if sensing his thoughts, and he felt a tug in a specific direction, as though it were guiding him toward something.

"We have a lead," he murmured to Liu Mei, holding up the pendant. "It's pointing us to the next source."

She nodded, her expression solemn. "Then let's see how far this goes."

As they walked deeper into Yunhai, Li Tian felt the pulse grow stronger, guiding them along winding paths and secluded alleyways. The pendant's power was undeniable, its connection to the Cult a steady hum against his skin. It was as if it resonated with the dark energy surrounding Yunhai, tracking the Cult's influence like a beacon.

Just as the day turned to evening, they arrived at a hidden temple, cloaked in vines and darkness. The aura surrounding the temple was thick and heavy, oppressive enough to make even Liu Mei hesitate.

"This is it," she whispered, eyes scanning the temple's foreboding entrance.

Li Tian nodded, feeling the thrill of challenge surge within him. The Cult had extended its roots deeper than he'd anticipated, but with each step he took, he was closer to cutting them off at their core.