Reincarnation of the Celestial Bastard

Chapter 87: The Shadows’ Lair

The sun was dipping low as Li Tian and Liu Mei approached the temple's entrance. The old structure stood tall, carved into the stone mountainside, with ominous statues and runes etched into every visible surface. Its walls seemed to absorb light, as if the darkness had seeped into the very stone.

Li Tian felt a strange energy wash over him. It was familiar yet deeply unsettling, and he could sense the Cult's presence saturating the atmosphere. Liu Mei moved beside him, her body tense and alert, as if she, too, felt the weight of dark forces within.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, casting a sidelong glance at him.

He nodded. "I don't think we have a choice if we want to find out what they're plotting. It feels like this place is at the heart of it all."

They exchanged a final look before stepping into the shadowed interior of the temple. The air grew colder as they moved deeper, their footsteps echoing in the vast space. Li Tian's hand instinctively went to the pendant at his neck, feeling its subtle warmth pushing back against the chill.

They hadn't gone far before they heard faint voices echoing down the stone corridors. Shadows danced along the walls, cast by flickering torches that lined the path ahead.

As they rounded a corner, Li Tian held up a hand to stop Liu Mei. Just ahead of them, several robed figures were gathered in a circle, chanting in low, murmuring tones. They hadn't noticed Li Tian or Liu Mei yet, their attention fully on a dark, swirling orb suspended in the air before them.

Li Tian's eyes narrowed. He recognized the type of energy emanating from the orb—it was an artifact of immense dark power, likely fueling the Cult's expansion efforts. His gaze flicked to Liu Mei, who met his look with an understanding nod. They needed to act quickly and decisively.

[System Notification: Quest Activated - Destroy the Dark Artifact.]

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[Reward: Whispering Phantom Technique - a stealth skill allowing near-complete invisibility for a limited time.]

Li Tian's excitement flickered as he read the description. A stealth technique would be a perfect tool for the ambushes and surprises the Cult seemed so fond of. He motioned for Liu Mei to stay low and move in sync with him as they approached.

They moved silently, edging around the pillars until they were within striking distance of the group. As the cultists continued their chanting, Li Tian tightened his grip on the pendant and channeled his energy, ready to strike.

In one swift movement, he unleashed a burst of energy that surged toward the orb, shattering the dark silence with a sudden blaze of light. The cultists staggered back in shock, some reaching for weapons, while others tried to shield the orb from further attacks.

Liu Mei sprang into action, her graceful movements a deadly contrast to her usual calm demeanor. She took down two cultists in rapid succession, her strikes clean and efficient. Li Tian was right behind her, his movements blurring as he activated the Shadow-Step, dodging and weaving through their opponents' defenses.

Within moments, the room descended into chaos. Cultists fell one by one, unable to match the coordinated attacks. The orb, however, remained intact, a pulsing heart of darkness that seemed to taunt them with each throb.

Li Tian sensed the artifact's growing resistance, its energy pushing back against his own. Every time he got close, it felt as though an invisible barrier was repelling him. He gritted his teeth, frustration flaring as the orb's defenses grew stronger.

Beside him, Liu Mei muttered, "It's as if it's alive, feeding off our energy to protect itself."

He nodded grimly. "It's powerful, but everything has a weakness. Let's see if we can overload it."

Li Tian summoned his inner energy, gathering it into a tight sphere. With a determined glare, he hurled it at the orb with all his strength, watching as the force impacted the dark core. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a hairline crack appeared, followed by a low, ominous rumble.

The cultists who had managed to survive their initial assault watched in horror as the orb began to fracture, the cracks spreading rapidly across its surface.

Realizing what was about to happen, the remaining cultists scrambled for the exits, abandoning the artifact in their panic. Li Tian and Liu Mei exchanged a quick glance, both realizing that they, too, needed to escape before the artifact shattered completely.

They sprinted down the corridors, the sound of breaking stone and splintering energy echoing behind them. The walls trembled, loose rocks and dust cascading from the ceiling as they ran. Finally, they burst out of the temple, stumbling into the open air just as an explosion of dark energy erupted from within.

The shockwave knocked them back, sending debris flying in every direction. Li Tian shielded Liu Mei, covering her with his body as the wave passed over them. When it finally subsided, they looked back at the temple, now a smoking ruin.

Liu Mei exhaled, shaking her head. "Well, that was a little too close."

Li Tian chuckled, glancing down at the pendant. It felt warm against his skin, a faint glow signaling its approval—or perhaps a new alignment with his will. He didn't quite understand the pendant's nature yet, but he knew it had been instrumental in the battle.

"Seems like we're safe for now," he murmured, helping her to her feet.

As they stood together, catching their breath, Liu Mei turned to him with a soft smile. "Thanks for watching my back in there. I don't know what I would've done without you."

He shrugged, a grin tugging at his lips. "What are friends for?"

She nudged him playfully, her gaze lingering a little longer than usual. "Some friend you are—always running headfirst into danger."

They both laughed, the tension easing as they finally began to relax.

As they made their way back through the woods, Li Tian felt a new sense of accomplishment. The Cult's presence was strong, but they had dealt it a serious blow tonight. And with each encounter, he grew more skilled, his power evolving alongside his experience.

The pendant hummed faintly, as if reminding him of the path ahead. There would be more challenges, more enemies waiting to be faced. But as long as he had allies like Liu Mei, he knew he could face them.

The stars overhead shone brightly as they walked back toward Yunhai, their light a comforting reminder of the victories they'd won—and the ones yet to come.