The days after Li Yi's summons were a whirlwind of preparations. The Veiled Summit's invitation was an honor, but it came with heavy expectations. Disciples who were invited were often the best and brightest, those whose names had already begun to echo through the Floating Cloud Pavilion. However, Li Yi was no ordinary disciple. His status as a descendant of the Unbound Origin Flame made him an anomaly even among the most talented individuals. For all the grand titles, his invitation had been one of necessity—a recognition that the Pavilion needed someone like him, someone with the bloodline to face an enemy that had not been seen in centuries.
For the next three days, Li Yi immersed himself in the deep quiet of the Floating Cloud Pavilion's secluded chamber. His cultivation had reached the Core Formation – Early Stage, but his true potential remained a mystery even to him. The Unbound Origin Sutra had unlocked a torrent of energy within him, but it was clear that each breakthrough now required more effort, more sacrifice. The path was no longer linear.
The days passed in a haze of meditation, focus, and controlled power. He could feel the connection to the ancient altar flame within him pulsing stronger with every passing hour. It was as if the flame was growing impatient, pushing him toward something greater, something darker. The bloodline of the old gods had been dormant within him for so long, yet the more he nurtured it, the more he sensed the calling from the forgotten realms.
When the third day arrived, Li Yi made his way to the preparation hall where the team of elite disciples was being assembled. They were all cultivators at the Core Formation or higher, each one a potential threat to any enemy they faced. Li Yi felt the weight of their gazes as he entered. They were scrutinizing him, judging him not by his face or his reputation, but by the pulse of his cultivation. The Unbound Origin Flame was not something easily ignored.
Bai Qing stood near the entrance, her expression unreadable. She was wearing a silver robe, a sharp contrast to the bright white of most Pavilion disciples. In her hand, she held a jade tablet that shimmered with runes, and behind her, a small group of disciples had gathered. There was a woman in her early twenties, a man with jade-green robes and a sword hanging at his side, and another man whose eyes gleamed like polished obsidian.
"These are your companions," Bai Qing said. "They are the best the Pavilion has to offer for this mission."
Li Yi's gaze lingered on the young woman, her violet eyes meeting his with a look of intense focus. Her name, as Bai Qing had introduced, was Wu Xian. She was known for her mastery of fire techniques, particularly her control over celestial flames. Then, there was Zhao Fang, the swordsman with a reputation for cutting down even the toughest beasts with his blade, and finally, Lu Qing, a silent figure whose mastery over illusions was almost legendary. They were all formidable in their own right, and yet there was an air of hesitation around them. A hesitation that came from knowing this mission was not like the others.
"This mission is dangerous," Bai Qing continued, her voice taking on a somber note. "The portal we will be entering is unstable. The Abyssal Rift is unlike anything we've faced before. The demons of the Abyss can't pass through fully, but their influence has already begun to corrupt the realm around us."
She handed Li Yi a small vial filled with a black liquid. "This is a spiritual suppressant. If the Abyssal energy begins to overwhelm you, drink it. It will calm the corruption. But be warned—it has side effects."
Li Yi nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The Abyss. The name alone carried with it an aura of death and chaos. He had only heard whispers about it in passing, but now it was real, tangible, and right in front of him. This mission wasn't just about sealing a rift—it was about keeping something far worse from invading.
The group assembled, and they moved toward the gate that led to the hidden rift beneath the Sea-Crystal Peak. The journey took hours, the landscape changing as they climbed higher and higher into the mist. The higher they ascended, the more Li Yi felt the weight of the world pressing down on him. It was as if the very atmosphere was thick with suppressed energy, a pressure that made his blood hum with anticipation.
As they neared the rift, the air grew colder, the winds sharper, and the very sky above began to twist unnaturally. The once serene surroundings now felt oppressive. The rift itself was a jagged tear in the fabric of reality, its edges glowing with an eerie, pulsating purple light. It seemed to throb like a living thing, and the closer they got, the stronger the pull of its aura became. The smell of decay and burning sulfur hung in the air.
"This is it," Zhao Fang muttered, drawing his sword. His expression was grim, his usual confidence tempered by the unknown dangers ahead.
Li Yi stepped forward, feeling the pull of the rift within his very soul. The Unbound Origin Flame within him flickered to life, its heat rising in response to the darkness ahead. It was as if the flame recognized the presence of something far older and far more dangerous than anything it had ever encountered.
"This portal has been sealed for centuries," Wu Xian said, her violet eyes scanning the swirling abyss before them. "Yet, it still pulses with the remnants of the Abyssal energy. We need to act quickly."
Lu Qing stepped forward, his eyes closing as if feeling the ripples in the air. "The rift is unstable. The energy fluctuations are chaotic. We need to stabilize it before it expands."
Li Yi felt the pull of the rift intensify, the darkness whispering to him in a language he couldn't understand. The Unbound Origin Flame burned hotter in response, but it wasn't enough. The rift wasn't simply a tear in space—it was a wound, a scar that had been festering for far too long.
Without warning, the rift expanded, a crackling, jagged tear that grew larger by the second. The air around them grew heavy with dark energy, the pressure building until it felt like they were standing at the edge of a cliff, about to fall into an abyss of nothingness.
"Now!" Bai Qing shouted. She raised her hands, and the disciples immediately began forming a formation, their bodies glowing with spiritual energy as they channeled their power into the rift. The ground beneath them cracked, and the rift surged violently as if resisting their efforts.
Li Yi stepped forward, feeling the heat of the Unbound Origin Flame surge within him. He extended his hands, and flames erupted from his palms, swirling around him in a dance of celestial fire. The flames felt alive, their energy merging with the spiritual pressure of the rift, pushing back against the chaotic forces that sought to break through.
But it wasn't enough.
The rift seemed to grow, its energy feeding off their attempts to seal it. The whispers in the air grew louder, more insistent, and Li Yi could feel the presence of something ancient, something that had been waiting for this moment. The Unbound Origin Flame flared brighter, the power within him reaching a boiling point.
And then, just as it seemed like the rift would consume them all, Li Yi's bloodline reacted.
A surge of ancient power erupted from within him. The Unbound Origin Flame roared to life, becoming a torrent of celestial fire that flooded the rift with a force that shook the very heavens. The abyssal energy recoiled, the rift shrinking back as if it were a wounded beast. But the flames did not stop. They continued to pour into the rift, cleansing the darkness, purging the corruption.
The ground trembled as the rift began to close, its edges flickering and sparking like a dying ember. Li Yi gritted his teeth, forcing more of his power into the flames. The heat was unbearable, but he pushed through, feeling the pull of his bloodline guiding him, directing the flames.
Slowly, the rift began to shrink, its energy waning as the Unbound Origin Flame burned away the abyssal remnants. Finally, with a loud crack, the rift sealed itself, and the surrounding area was filled with a sudden, unnatural stillness.
Li Yi stood, his body trembling from the exertion, sweat pouring down his face. The flames around him flickered and died, leaving nothing but the faint remnants of their power. The air was thick with the scent of burnt sulfur, and the pressure that had been weighing them down began to dissipate.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then, Bai Qing finally exhaled, her shoulders slumping with relief. "It's done."
Zhao Fang lowered his sword, his expression still tense. "We've only sealed it temporarily. We need to report this to the Pavilion. The rift may reopen."
Li Yi nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I know."
Wu Xian stepped forward, her violet eyes studying him closely. "That power… it was unlike anything we've seen before. What is it?"
Li Yi turned away, his gaze lingering on the now-sealed rift. "It's something I'm still trying to understand."
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[End of Chapter 8]