Their discovery was cut short by a tremor in the cave, the crystals dimming as a wave of dark qi surged through the air. Veyra emerged from the shadows, her violet robes shimmering, her staff glowing with stolen qi, flanked by a small group of rogue cultivators, their eyes cold with greed. "You've found the sanctuary," she hissed, her emerald eyes blazing, her voice a melodic threat. "The Eternal Seed's power will be mine." Her staff unleashed a wave of dark qi, the cave trembling under its weight, the crystals shattering as the energy tore through the sanctuary.
Arin acted swiftly, planting the Whispering Vines' seeds along the cave floor, channeling the grove's qi into the soil. The vines erupted, forming a barrier, their tendrils lashing out at the rogue cultivators, holding them at bay. Saria fought with precision, her sword clashing against their blades, her qi a sharp contrast to their darkness. "We need to retreat!" she shouted, her voice fierce, as she blocked a strike, her body trembling with the effort.
Naya supported Arin, her staff sending waves of qi to bolster the vines, her movements fluid and fierce. "We can't let her take the relics!" she called, her voice urgent, as she shielded the altar, the orb's light flickering under Veyra's assault. Arin nodded, his mind racing. The cave was collapsing, the ancient qi destabilized by Veyra's power, and they couldn't risk losing the relics—or their lives. "We'll come back," he said, his voice firm, as he channeled the sealing technique from the tablets, a burst of golden qi that pushed Veyra back, giving them a moment to escape.
They fled through the passage, the cave crumbling behind them, the waterfall's roar masking their retreat. Veyra's voice echoed, a chilling promise. "You can't run forever, Jade Farmer!" she called, her dark qi lingering in the air, a shadow that followed them back to the village.