Chapter 28: Echoes of Forgotten Power

The oppressive weight of the Ancient Dao Palace still lingered in the air as the chamber settled into a tense silence. Li Tian remained poised, his sword glowing with a faint aura of Heavenly Qi as he surveyed the dark figure who had just emerged from the shadows. Though his first strike had momentarily pushed back the tendrils of energy, the guardian of the palace remained unfazed.

"You are strong," the figure said, his voice a low rumble that echoed against the walls. "But strength alone will not save you."

Li Tian tightened his grip on his sword, his senses on high alert. Behind him, Mei Ling and the other companions fanned out cautiously, their weapons drawn and their eyes scanning the room for any sign of further danger.

The altar in the center of the room continued to hum with energy, its ancient symbols flickering as if alive. Whatever power lay hidden in the palace, it was clear they had only scratched the surface. The guardian, a remnant of this place, was not merely a specter but something tied deeply to the secrets this palace had protected for millennia.

"I'm not here to destroy your legacy," Li Tian said, his voice calm yet filled with authority. "I've come to claim what's rightfully mine."

The guardian chuckled darkly, his form flickering in the dim light. "Rightfully yours? Foolish mortal. You are not the first to believe that, nor will you be the last. Many have come before you, seeking to unlock the power sealed within this place, and all have perished."

Li Tian's eyes narrowed. "Then I'll be the first to succeed."

The guardian's laughter died down, replaced by a sinister hiss. "We shall see."

Without warning, the guardian raised his hand, and the floor beneath them began to crack. From the fissures in the stone emerged dark shadows, their forms twisting and writhing like serpents. The creatures were made of pure energy, their ethereal bodies flickering in and out of existence as they slithered toward Li Tian and his companions.

Mei Ling was the first to act, her blade cutting through the air with deadly precision as she leaped toward the nearest shadow. Her sword passed through it cleanly, but the creature simply reformed, as if untouched by her attack. She gritted her teeth, frustrated by its unnatural resilience.

"These things aren't real!" she shouted over her shoulder. "We need to find the source of their power!"

Li Tian nodded, his gaze shifting back to the altar. He could sense it now—the energy pulsing from the altar wasn't just ambient. It was controlling the shadows, feeding them with power. But he also knew that rushing headlong into the fight wouldn't solve the problem. The guardian was testing them, pushing them to see how far they could go before succumbing to despair.

"Stay on defense," Li Tian called out to his companions. "I'll deal with the altar."

Without waiting for a response, he dashed toward the center of the room, moving with the speed and agility that came from years of cultivation. The shadows surged toward him, but he cut through them with ease, his sword glowing brighter with every step. Each strike dispersed the shadows temporarily, but they reformed just as quickly, relentless in their assault.

As Li Tian neared the altar, the guardian appeared once more, his form shifting as if made of smoke. "You think you can touch the heart of the palace?" he sneered. "Foolish boy."

Li Tian didn't respond. He didn't need to. Instead, he focused his energy, channeling his Heavenly Qi into the tip of his sword. With a single powerful thrust, he drove the blade into the altar, sending a shockwave of energy through the chamber.

The symbols on the altar flared brightly, and for a brief moment, the entire room was bathed in light. The shadows screeched and writhed as the light burned them away, their forms dissipating into nothingness. Even the guardian faltered, his smoky form wavering as if struggling to maintain its shape.

Li Tian withdrew his sword, watching as the light from the altar began to fade. The shadows were gone, but the guardian remained, weakened but not defeated. His once intimidating presence now seemed fragile, like a flickering candle in a storm.

"You… you cannot destroy me," the guardian rasped, his voice trembling with desperation. "I am bound to this place. As long as the palace stands, so too will I."

Li Tian walked toward him, his sword still glowing faintly. "Then perhaps it's time for this palace to fall."

The guardian recoiled, his form flickering violently. "No! You cannot… the power sealed here… it cannot be released!"

Li Tian's eyes narrowed. "What power?"

The guardian hesitated, his form growing more unstable with each passing moment. "The Dao Palace… it was built to contain a force far greater than anything you can comprehend. If you destroy the seal… if you let that power out… it will consume everything."

For the first time since entering the palace, Li Tian paused. There was more to this place than he had realized. The guardian wasn't just a remnant of the past—he was a jailer, tasked with keeping something far more dangerous locked away.

"Then why defend it?" Li Tian asked, his voice sharp. "If this power is so dangerous, why not let it be destroyed?"

The guardian's form flickered again, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Because some things are better left buried. You seek strength, but you know not the cost. Release the power, and you may never be able to control it."

Li Tian stood in silence, his mind racing. He had come here seeking knowledge, seeking strength. But now he faced a choice that could change everything. The power sealed within the palace could be the key to ascending to heights no cultivator had ever reached. But was the risk worth it?

The guardian's form finally began to dissolve, his energy too weak to maintain his presence any longer. "Choose wisely, Li Tian… for once the seal is broken, there is no turning back."

With that, the guardian faded into the air, leaving Li Tian and his companions alone in the chamber. The altar lay before him, its symbols dim but still pulsing faintly with power.

Li Tian approached it slowly, his thoughts conflicted. The path to true power was never simple, and the choices he made now could define his future. He glanced back at Mei Ling, who watched him with concern in her eyes.

"What will you do?" she asked quietly.

Li Tian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he placed his hand on the altar, feeling the energy pulsing beneath his fingers. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

"We move forward," he said finally, his voice steady. "No matter what lies ahead."