At the forefront, the Dharma Image intoned a solemn chant. Moments later, a radiant orb, emanating a stately and awe-inspiring golden light, rose from his hand. At first, the light seemed to cling to the Dharma Image, but as he channeled his powers, the golden light surged forth. Centered around the orb, the golden radiance spread like an oceanic wave in all directions.
Zhang Xiaofan stood rooted to the spot, momentarily deceived by the whooshing sound in his ears as the golden halo swept past him.
Every face in the vicinity was bathed in a gentle, golden glow, and a sense of tranquility settled over them, easing even the most nervous among them. The vast, dark space transformed into a daylight realm, except for the menacing rocks and writhing bats that still hinted at their location’s nature.
Li Xun, ever haughty, now looked surprised. Standing to one side, he exclaimed, “Cycle Orb!”
The Dharma Image glanced at him and said, “Brother Li has keen eyes.”
Li Xun’s tone, however, carried a newfound respect, “Not at all, Brother Dharma Image, it is you who possess great insight.”
By the light of the Cycle Orb, Zhang Xiaofan could see that they stood on clean, solid ground. Above, on the cavern’s ceiling, the black bats had vanished, yet the rustling sound persisted.
He examined further and noticed that behind them, the bats still clung to the cave’s top, but above the hard ground, a thin red line ran across the ceiling, resembling a vein within the rock. Beyond this red line, the bats crowded together, none crossing over, leaving the ground beneath free from their noxious droppings.
The Dharma Image surveyed the surroundings and spoke gravely, “This place is fraught with oddities; be vigilant, everyone.”
Everyone knew well enough, but after finally standing on clean ground and finding nothing amiss, many took a moment to straighten their clothing.
Beside Zhang Xiaofan, Zeng Shushu removed his shoes, emptied the contents, and muttered, “I never knew walking on a clean path could be so refreshing!”
Zhang Xiaofan smiled and tidied up, feeling slightly more comfortable.
After a while, Qi Hao, seeing that everyone was ready, announced, “Let’s go.” He led the way deeper into the cave.
They followed, and as they moved forward, darkness enveloped them once more. Ahead, the darkness loomed like a beast, arms wide open in a sinister grin, welcoming their arrival.
A solitary point of light moved through the dark.
For what seemed an eternity, the ancient, winding cave stretched onward. Despite its spaciousness, the twisting passages made it difficult to discern direction, except for a general downward slope.
The rustling of the bats at the entrance had long faded. In this pitch-black environment, the only sounds were their footsteps. Zhang Xiaofan felt the increasing humidity, unsure how deep they had descended.
The Cycle Orb continued to emit a golden Buddha light, illuminating the group. Qi Hao, leading the way, also raised the Hexagonal Mirror as a precaution.
The two artifacts’ lights intertwined, guiding their path. After some time, Qi Hao suddenly stopped and gestured back, “Hold.”
All halted instantly.
Silence reigned, and the light from the Cycle Orb and Hexagonal Mirror brightened, revealing two deep, dark forks in the cave, each looking like a gaping maw of a monster.
At the center, a massive stone tablet, nearly six people tall, stood inscribed with four blood-red characters: **The Dao Lies Within!**
Li Xun of the Incense Valley snarled, “How dare these demonic heretics claim to hold the Dao!”
The Dharma Image frowned, examining the tablet. “When I left, my master, the Venerable Puhong, mentioned that eight hundred years ago, such a tablet existed here, but it was split by our righteous cultivators. How can it be whole now?”
Yan Hong, who had been silent, spoke, “Do you see a crack about a quarter down the tablet?”
Her voice, soft and enchanting, caught everyone off guard. Upon closer inspection, they found a subtle fissure, dark and barely visible, splitting the tablet.
Qi Hao nodded, “Sister Yan, your attention to detail is commendable.”
She smiled demurely and fell silent again.
Qi Hao pondered, “Since the tablet has been restored, it suggests the demonic heretics are here, up to no good. We are in the right place.”
The Dharma Image agreed, “But which path should we take?”
Qi Hao deliberated, “Dharma Image, did your master mention anything about these paths?”
The Dharma Image nodded, “He did, but he learned from his ancestors. Both paths led to demon dens during the Great War, though their current state is uncertain.”
Seeing no other option, Qi Hao proposed, “Let’s split into two groups. My companions and I will take the left path, while Dharma Image, Dharma Shan, and the Incense Valley duo take the right. If we encounter demons, signal with a long whistle.”
The Dharma Image, though wary, saw no better choice. With a nod, he said, “Agreed. Be cautious, all.”
With that, Qi Hao and Zhang Xiaofan, along with the others, entered the left fork. The light from the Dharma Image’s group gradually dimmed as they ventured right.
Qi Hao led, holding the Hexagonal Mirror, casting a pale yellow glow around them. The narrow, jagged passage differed starkly from the previous, spacious cave. Zhang Xiaofan narrowly avoided injury, and the oppressive darkness remained.
They walked in silence, tension high, until a ghastly wail shattered the quiet, deafening and terrifying.
Startled, they watched as multicolored beams emerged from the darkness, striking the Hexagonal Mirror’s protective barrier. The force was immense, jarring the mirror and shaking Qi Hao. He focused, stabilizing the barrier.
The wails intensified, disorienting them. Zhang Xiaofan, Zeng Shushu, Lu Xueqi, and Qi Hao prepared for the onslaught. The beams, deflected by the Hexagonal Mirror, curved and attacked again, revealing numerous foes and weapons in the dark.
Qi Hao, pale and focused, struggled to maintain the barrier. As they thought they might breathe easier, Zhang Xiaofan felt the ground shake.
Before he could react, Zeng Shushu yelled, “Watch out, below—”
A deafening explosion rocked the earth, shattering the ground and scattering the group. The Hexagonal Mirror’s light dissipated, leaving them exposed.
In the darkness, beams whizzed past, targeting the separated quartet. Zhang Xiaofan, propelled forward, used the Firewood Stick, emitting a faint azure glow, to deflect the attacking red beam, which dulled under its influence.
From the dark, a surprised gasp sounded.
Two more beams, one yellow and one gray, struck the stick. The red beam was a small, bloodstained fork, the yellow a three-foot sword, and the gray a monstrous, unidentified fang. The impact flung Zhang Xiaofan back, embedding him in the wall, injured and in pain.
As he tried to regain composure, the beams turned, closing in again. Desperate, he chanted, the Firewood Stick colliding with the sword and fang, repelling them.
The fork, overshooting, blasted a hole in the wall. The fang lunged, but Zhang Xiaofan parried, the fang cracking.
A distant scream of anguish echoed.
The sword returned, forcing Zhang Xiaofan to rise, shielded by the stick’s azure light. The sword, undeterred, and the fang, from below, attacked. Zhang Xiaofan, overwhelmed, curled up, chanting, the stick’s light encasing him.
A double explosion, one above, one below, rebounded the weapons. Panting, Zhang Xiaofan’s heart raced, but the stick held firm.
Suddenly, searing pain shot through his shoulder. A red fork pierced him, awakening and drawing his blood. A shadowy figure, its host, emerged, latching onto Zhang Xiaofan, feeding.
Far-off laughter rang out, and a voice sneered, “Die, boy, and give me your essence!”
Paralyzed, Zhang Xiaofan felt his life draining, his vision blurring. The Firewood Stick, dropping from above, landed, pulsating with power.
Summoning his last strength, he plunged the stick into the fiend. The creature, incredulous, stopped feeding, staring at Zhang Xiaofan. The dark chuckled, and the stick throbbed with power.
The fork’s light dimmed, and the shadow retreated. Zhang Xiaofan, half-conscious, saw the creature’s flesh wither, becoming a skeletal shell before darkness engulfed them both.
Power surged through the Firewood Stick, reviving Zhang Xiaofan. Stunned, he touched his healing wound, thoughts swirling: What have I done? What have I done?
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