The righteous sect force flooded the chamber like a white tide—thirty strong, led by three golden-core elders in flowing robes embroidered with holy seals. Swords hummed with purifying qi, formation banners unfurling to lock the space. Their eyes burned with judgment as they circled the obsidian coffin and the trio standing before it.
"Traitor Wei Chen," the lead elder boomed, voice echoing off the stone. "You've defiled this sacred seal with demonic arts. Surrender the women and face purification!"
Wei Chen stepped forward, fan open, golden flames dancing along its ribs. "Sacred? You mean the prison your ancestors failed to guard properly. We just made it stronger."
Lin Xue flanked him, frost qi forming crystalline shields around their group. Su Mei grinned wickedly, crimson chains coiling in the air like restless serpents.
The elder's face twisted. "Arrogant to the end. Take them!"
They attacked as one. Sword beams slashed forward, holy light pressing down to suppress Su Mei's demonic essence and Wei Chen's overload. Formation chains shot from the banners, seeking to bind.
Wei Chen moved first—fan sweeping wide, sending arcs of Nine-Suns fire to meet the beams. Where his flames clashed with holy light, explosions bloomed. Lin Xue's frost wove through his fire, turning it into glittering ice-flame that shattered sword qi mid-air. Su Mei's chains lashed out, wrapping banners and yanking cultivators off balance.
The trio fought back-to-back, the shared flame pulsing between them. Every strike drew on their bond—Wei Chen's heat fueling Lin Xue's precision, her cool clarity sharpening Su Mei's wild strikes, Su Mei's corrosion eating through defenses for Wei Chen's finishing bursts.
A younger cultivator lunged at Lin Xue with a sealing talisman. Wei Chen intercepted, fan blocking the blade while his free hand found Lin Xue's waist, pulling her close for a heartbeat. Shared essence surged—his Yang steadying her frost. She spun out of his grasp with renewed speed, freezing the attacker's feet solid.
Su Mei laughed as she bound two elders together. "Feel that, dragon? We're unstoppable."
Wei Chen grinned, shoulder brushing hers as he blasted a path clear. "Together. Always."
But beneath their feet, the coffin stirred.
The battle chaos fed it—clashing qi shaking the chamber, righteous chants vibrating the stone. The new frost chains around the obsidian surface began to crack, faint gold-black mist seeping out again.
Whispers returned, threading through the shouts and explosions.
Yes… fight… let anger widen the door…
An elder noticed the mist first. "The seal—it's weakening! The demoness is corrupting it!"
The hunters redoubled, focusing suppressing formations on Su Mei. Crimson chains faltered under holy pressure.
Wei Chen felt the pull on his brand. The mist reached toward him like cold fingers.
Lin Xue grabbed his hand mid-battle, frost qi flowing strong. "Stay with us. Anchor here."
Su Mei broke free of a binding chain and pressed close on his other side. Their triangle reformed briefly amid the chaos—shared flame flaring bright, pushing mist back.
The lead elder saw the glow between them and paled. "Their bond—it's unnatural! Sever it!"
Talismans flew, aimed to disrupt qi flow. One struck near Wei Chen's chest, burning cold against the brand.
Pain lanced through him. For a moment, the whisper won.
Wei Chen… open…
His fan wavered. A sword slipped past his guard, grazing his side.
Lin Xue cried out, ice wall rising to block the follow-up. Su Mei's chains whipped the attacker away.
Wei Chen shook it off, bond warmth flooding back as both women touched him—Lin Xue's cool palm on his cheek, Su Mei's warm grip on his arm.
"I'm here," he growled. "Let's end this."
They unleashed together. Combined essence gathered into a single spiral—gold, frost, crimson—then exploded outward in a ring of power. Hunters flew back, formations shattering, banners burning.
The chamber fell quiet except for groans. The righteous force lay scattered, defeated.
But the coffin's cracks had widened. Gold-black mist pooled thicker now. The handprint returned on the inner surface—stronger, pressing harder.
And from within, the voice spoke clearly, using the echo of the battle chants.
The next wave comes… and with it, your name…
Distant thunder rumbled through the tunnels—heavier boots, stronger qi. Reinforcements. Led by someone far more powerful.
Wei Chen closed his fan, breathing hard, blood trickling from his side. Lin Xue and Su Mei stayed close, hands linked with his.
"We held," Lin Xue said quietly.
Su Mei nodded. "But it's not over."
The mist swirled, forming faint eyes in the air.
Watching. Waiting.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2026
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