Chapter 35: Beneath the Crumbling Sky

The forest canopy thinned as Ye Tian's group advanced, revealing a jagged cliffside in the distance. The air grew heavier—not from Ye Tian's gravity manipulation, but from the suffocating aura emanating from the terrain itself. Faint whispers echoed through the wind, sending an unspoken warning.

Zhou Lie moved closer to Ye Tian, his expression cautious. "Brother Ye, this place… it doesn't feel natural. It's as if the land itself is warning us away."

Ye Tian's sharp eyes scanned the horizon. "Not the land. There's a formation here. Something left to keep others out—or trap them inside."

Wu Liang and Lin Feng, walking ahead as the group's vanguard, stiffened. Lin Feng muttered under his breath, "Whatever it is, let's get through it quickly. This place gives me the creeps."

"You're the ones leading," Jiang Hao snapped, irritation evident in his voice. "Keep moving, or step aside."

Wu Liang shot him a glare but pressed forward, unwilling to risk Ye Tian's ire by complaining further.

The Collapse

The group pressed on cautiously, eyes darting to every shadow and crack in the uneven terrain. Suddenly, Wu Liang froze, raising a hand in alarm. "Something's wrong!"

Before anyone could respond, the ground trembled violently. Cracks spidered out beneath their feet, and a low, guttural roar reverberated through the area. The cliffside ahead split open, revealing a massive chasm that exhaled a burst of chilling air.

"It's a trap!" Zhou Lie barked, pulling Jiang Hao back as the ground beneath them gave way. Wu Liang and Lin Feng scrambled to retreat, but their footing faltered as the earth crumbled beneath them.

Ye Tian moved with precision. His Golden Sovereign Power activated, a ripple of gravity stabilizing the ground momentarily. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled Wu Liang and Lin Feng back to safety, depositing them unceremoniously behind him.

The tremors subsided, leaving the group staring at the newly revealed chasm. At its center stood an ancient stone gate, its surface covered in glowing carvings that shifted as if alive.

The Gatekeeper

As they approached, the carvings on the gate began to coalesce, forming a humanoid figure. The figure stepped forward, its body composed of glowing stone and shimmering energy. Hollow eyes fixed on the group, its voice resonating like grinding rocks.

"Who seeks the legacy of the Abyss?"

Ye Tian took a step forward, his tone calm and commanding. "We do."

The gatekeeper's glowing eyes flared. "Only the worthy may pass. Prove yourselves, or perish where you stand."

Without warning, the guardian raised its arm, unleashing a torrent of energy that distorted the air.

The Battle

Zhou Lie and Jiang Hao reacted instantly. Zhou Lie's spear deflected the energy with precise strikes, while Jiang Hao unleashed a shockwave from his blade to counter the next attack.

Wu Liang and Lin Feng hesitated but eventually joined the fray, their strikes lacking the cohesion of Zhou Lie's and Jiang Hao's. Each blow against the guardian seemed ineffective, as its glowing runes absorbed the energy and restored its form.

Ye Tian stood back, observing the fight. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a pattern in the guardian's defenses. "Focus your attacks on the glowing runes!" he commanded.

The group shifted their approach. Zhou Lie and Jiang Hao targeted the carvings with coordinated strikes, while Wu Liang and Lin Feng provided distractions.

Ye Tian stepped forward, activating his Golden Sovereign Power. A ripple of gravity emanated from him, pinning the guardian in place. With a flick of his hand, he sent out a shockwave that disrupted the energy flow within the carvings.

The guardian let out a guttural roar as cracks formed along its body. Flames of Nine Hells erupted from Ye Tian, spreading like wildfire across the carvings and consuming the guardian's energy source. The creature collapsed into glowing fragments, its energy dissipating into the air.

The Path Forward

Silence fell over the group as the battle ended. Wu Liang and Lin Feng exchanged relieved glances, while Zhou Lie and Jiang Hao steadied their breathing.

Ye Tian stepped toward the gate, his hand brushing against its surface. The carvings shifted again, revealing a passageway spiraling downward into darkness.

"This is it," Ye Tian said, his voice steady but edged with anticipation. "The legacy lies ahead."

The group followed him into the abyss, their resolve steeled for the challenges yet to come.