At the edge of the wasteland, Ye Chenyu stepped into a vast forest of towering boulders. The stones soared into the clouds, fissures gaping endlessly, as if the earth itself had been split apart by an invisible force. Along the cracks, blood-red symbols twisted and coiled, remnants of ancient rituals or perhaps warnings from the deeper layers of the spiritual domain. The wind howled through the stone forest, carrying a low, resonant hum, like the incantations of ancient priests chanting incomprehensible spells. With every step, Ye Chenyu tread on the edge of a fissure; loose stone crumbled beneath his feet, as if threatening to swallow him whole.
As he proceeded cautiously, a shadow darted across a fissure, causing his heart to tighten. He drew his dagger instantly, holding his breath as he watched the shifting darkness. Slowly, the shadow took form—a tall, slender woman. Her black robes shimmered faintly in the dim light, her face partially hidden beneath a cloak and shadow, eyes sharp and piercing, seeming to penetrate directly into Ye Chenyu's soul.
"You…" Ye Chenyu's voice was low, yet quivered with an indescribable tension. "You… who are you?"
The woman tilted her head slightly, revealing a faint, indifferent smile. "Li Yueying," she said softly, her name drifting like a whisper on the wind—cold, mysterious, and edged with an unspoken sharpness. She did not move closer, standing firm amid the stone forest. Subtle ripples seemed to emanate from her presence, lightly vibrating the blood-red symbols.
Ye Chenyu felt a jolt in his chest. His instinct told him she was no ordinary human. Li Yueying's appearance seemed orchestrated by the spiritual domain itself, a deliberate encounter—but instinct also warned him she was not here for him; she was tracking a line of symbols he had yet to notice.
The wind through the cracks suddenly stilled, as if the entire wasteland were holding its breath. The air between Ye Chenyu and Li Yueying was thick with tension. Even the faint echoes seeping from the fissures seemed like ancient whispers, reminding him of the lurking unknown danger.
Ye Chenyu tried to approach, but with every step, the stone shards beneath him vibrated, as if invisible forces resisted his advance. Realizing the risk, he stopped immediately. Li Yueying lifted a finger, tracing the air as though pointing out some intangible thread. The blood-red symbols flickered subtly under her guidance, their rhythm strangely compelling, pulling at Ye Chenyu with irresistible force.
"You have stepped into a place you should not have," she said coldly. Her voice was low but clear, commanding attention in a way that could not be ignored.
Ye Chenyu realized she bore no overt hostility; her words were both warning and guidance. Suddenly, a surge of hallucinatory energy rippled through the fissures, the blood-red symbols dancing violently as if alive, triggering a faint tremor. They briefly clashed, their powers colliding and reverberating across the stone forest. Ye Chenyu felt a pull unlike anything he had encountered before—the symbols, the wasteland, the fissures, and Li Yueying herself seemed to tug at his consciousness.
Each time they "faced off," her movements were precise and graceful, fast and fluid, rarely striking directly. Instead, she disturbed the environment, forcing Ye Chenyu onto the defensive. Gradually, he realized they were not true opponents; both were guided by the same mysterious force, though their purposes differed.
"You're chasing the same thread," Ye Chenyu murmured.
Li Yueying nodded slightly, her gaze scanning the fissures before settling on the core fragment in Ye Chenyu's hand. She remained silent, raising her hand gently. A subtle wave of energy emanated, reactivating the blood-red symbols. From the depths of a crack, a faint light flickered, hinting at their next direction.
For a brief moment, they paused, silently observing one another. The fissured stone array, bathed in the interplay of wind and symbol light, felt eerie and oppressive. Ye Chenyu felt his chest tighten—he knew her appearance was no accident. It was a deliberate draw from the depths of the spiritual domain. Each step forward could provoke forces beyond imagination, while Li Yueying's presence served both as a warning and a faint guide.
He wanted to ask more, but Li Yueying slowly retreated, blending into the shadows between the stones. Her voice floated back: "Do not act rashly… the danger here far exceeds your expectations."
Her figure vanished into the deep fissures, leaving only the low hum of wind and the faint pulse of the symbols. Ye Chenyu stood still, gripping the core fragment, his emotions a complex mix of awe, fear, and curiosity—but above all, a sense of urgency: deeper within the spiritual domain, even more unfathomable mysteries awaited him.
The fissured stone array seemed to whisper, each crack a reminder that this wasteland was not isolated. Every step connected to unknown powers. Ye Chenyu drew a deep breath and stepped toward the faintly glowing fissure—West Mountain's secrets awaited his exploration, and Li Yueying's shadow still watched his every move from afar.