Chapter 13: The Veil Between Worlds

Li Tian stood at the threshold of the Ancient Dao Palace, his senses still buzzing from the encounter with the shadowy figure. The ominous warning it had left behind weighed heavily on his mind. Beside him, Mei Ling's presence was steady, her sharp eyes taking in every detail around them. She, too, had felt the disturbance, the strange ripple in the air that had left them both uneasy.

"Something's wrong," Mei Ling whispered, her voice low and cautious. "This place... it's like we're not the only ones here."

Li Tian nodded. "I know. The veil between worlds is thinner here."

The two of them moved forward, cautiously making their way deeper into the palace. The air grew colder with each step, and the dim light of the ancient braziers flickered ominously, casting long, twisted shadows on the walls. Mei Ling's hand hovered near the hilt of her blade, ready to strike at any moment, while Li Tian's grip on his sword tightened in response to the oppressive atmosphere.

As they walked, a faint whisper echoed through the corridor, barely audible at first, but enough to send a chill down their spines. Mei Ling stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as she glanced around. "Did you hear that?" she asked.

Li Tian nodded, his gaze sharp. "It's been following us since we entered this place."

The whisper grew louder, a haunting voice that seemed to drift through the very walls of the palace. "Li Tian..." it called, soft but chilling. Mei Ling's breath hitched, and her expression darkened.

"Who's there?" she called out, her voice firm but edged with tension.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the voice returned, stronger, more distinct. "You are not alone... You cannot escape what is coming..."

Li Tian and Mei Ling exchanged a glance, both of them immediately on edge. "Show yourself," Li Tian demanded, his voice commanding, echoing through the chamber.

The air shifted, and from the shadows around them, a figure began to materialize—a ghostly, ethereal woman, her form shrouded in a veil of darkness. Mei Ling's hand was already on her blade, ready to strike, but Li Tian held up a hand, signaling her to wait.

"Who are you?" Li Tian asked, his tone steady.

The ghostly figure's eyes glowed faintly as she hovered in the air before them. "I am a remnant of the past, bound to this place for eternity. I have witnessed the rise and fall of many, and I know the doom that approaches."

Mei Ling stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "Doom? What are you talking about? Is this about the Forgotten Ones?"

The ghostly woman's face remained obscured by shadows, but the sorrow in her voice was unmistakable. "The Forgotten Ones are older than you can comprehend. Cast into the void long ago, but not truly forgotten. Their return is inevitable, and their hunger... endless."

Li Tian's expression hardened. "How do we stop them?"

The woman hesitated, her form flickering like a flame about to go out. "You cannot stop what has already begun. But you... Li Tian... you walk a path of destiny. You may yet tip the scales, though the price will be great."

Mei Ling's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? What path?"

The woman's voice grew softer, as if she was struggling to remain in this world. "The veil between worlds is fragile... You will find your answers beyond it, but crossing it comes at a cost. Not all who pass through return."

Li Tian took a step forward, his gaze intense. "Where is this veil? How do we find it?"

"Seek the heart of this palace," the woman whispered. "But be warned... the shadows are watching. The Forgotten Ones have already begun to stir..."

Before either of them could ask more, the ghostly figure began to fade, her form dissolving into the darkness of the palace. Her final words lingered in the air like a chilling breeze.

Mei Ling let out a slow breath, her eyes still scanning the room warily. "That was... unsettling."

Li Tian sheathed his sword but didn't relax. "She spoke of the veil between worlds. If it's here in this palace, we have to find it."

"And fast," Mei Ling added. "If what she said is true, we don't have much time before the Forgotten Ones make their move."

They moved deeper into the palace, the oppressive weight of the shadows following them every step of the way. The air grew colder, and the sense of being watched became almost unbearable. Mei Ling's grip on her weapon remained tight, her sharp instincts telling her that danger was near.

"We're close," Li Tian said, his voice low. "The heart of the palace must be just ahead."

Mei Ling nodded, her eyes focused. "Whatever we find there, we need to be ready."

As they pressed forward, the corridor widened, leading into a massive hall filled with towering statues and ancient runes glowing faintly. At the center of the room, a large, intricate altar stood, pulsing with a strange, otherworldly energy. This was it—the heart of the Ancient Dao Palace.

Li Tian stepped forward cautiously, feeling the energy of the place pulsing through him. The veil was close, just as the ghostly figure had said. But something else was there too—something dark, hidden in the shadows.

Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath them, and a low rumbling filled the hall. Mei Ling's hand immediately went to her blade, and Li Tian drew his sword once more.

"We're not alone," Mei Ling whispered.

The shadows around the altar began to writhe and twist, and from within them, a figure began to emerge—a towering, grotesque form cloaked in darkness. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and its presence exuded an overwhelming sense of dread.

Li Tian's eyes narrowed as he raised his sword. "Get ready."

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AUTHOR: A reader asked me to tone the wordings down a little simpler so that most of the readers can understand and follow the story with leisure.

I have tried writing it down in simpler wordings. Give me your suggestions if there are another issues. This is my first time writing and I started 3 novels at a time togather. So your help will be appreciable in my writing journey .

THANK YOU.