Volume One, Chapter 16: Seeking Life Amid the Aftermath of the Ancient Palace

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The shock wave from the explosion hurled Lin Fan violently through the air. A deafening roar filled his ears, while shattered stones and blinding white light flashed before his eyes.

He felt like a fallen leaf, mercilessly swept into the heart of a storm.

The pungent smell of gunpowder flooded his nostrils, nearly suffocating him.

He squeezed his eyes shut and struggled to suppress the surging energy and blood within him. Only one thought remained in his mind:

Xia Jiang!

Zhang Meng!

Zhao Ling'er!

When he opened his eyes again, the world had dissolved into chaos.

Broken stone pillars lay scattered all around like severed limbs. The once-glorious Treasure Pavilion had been reduced to nothing but shattered walls and ruins.

The air was thick with dust, irritating his throat until it itched.

He struggled to stand, only to discover that every inch of his body was sore and weak.

“Xia Jiang! Zhang Meng! Zhao Ling'er!” Lin Fan shouted hoarsely. His voice echoed through the ruins, but no one answered.

Fear coiled around his heart like an icy serpent.

Enduring the agony coursing through his body, he staggered through the rubble in search of his companions.

Suddenly, a massive chunk of stone fell from above with a shriek of rushing air and slammed heavily into Lin Fan.

He let out a muffled groan. His vision went black, and his body crashed to the ground like a kite with its string cut.

Violent pain surged from his back, as though it were being torn apart.

He clenched his teeth and refused to cry out. Beads of sweat the size of peas rolled down his forehead, soaking into his collar.

The air around him seemed to congeal, growing so heavy that it was difficult to breathe.

Lin Fan struggled to lift his head. His vision was blurred, but he still forced himself to survey the surroundings.

Then, through the smoke left by the explosion, he vaguely saw something writhing...

“What is that?” Lin Fan murmured.

Amid the swirling dust, the twisted shadows gradually became clear. They were no hallucination.

They resembled specters, their limbs long and thin like withered branches, yet they sprang from the shadows among the ruins with astonishing speed, pouncing toward Lin Fan.

A rancid stench accompanied their arrival, turning his stomach.

Enduring the excruciating pain in his back, Lin Fan gritted his teeth and forced himself upright.

He drew a deep breath and suppressed the turbulent energy and blood within him.

He knew there was no room for hesitation.

The shadow creatures grew more numerous by the moment. They shrieked sharply like demons from hell, sending shivers down the spine.

Although badly wounded, Lin Fan’s movements remained swift and decisive.

He swung his fists, each blow carrying the howl of the wind as it smashed viciously into the approaching shadow creatures.

The dull sound of flesh meeting fist echoed through the ruins. Stones flew, and dust billowed.

Whenever a shadow creature was struck, it gave a shrill cry of agony before dissolving into a wisp of black smoke.

Yet there were simply too many of them. They surged forward like a tidal wave, and Lin Fan gradually found himself unable to cope.

His breathing grew ragged. Sweat soaked through his clothes, while the wound in his back began to throb faintly.

Then Lin Fan noticed something.

Whenever flying rubble briefly blocked the faint light filtering down from the sky, the shadow creatures seemed to slow for a moment.

An idea flashed through his mind.

“They’re... afraid of light?”

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Lin Fan’s heart stirred. He immediately summoned the spiritual energy within him and silently recited an incantation.

Gathering the energy in his palm, he shouted in a low voice, “Radiant Glory!”

A dazzling white light burst from Lin Fan’s palm, instantly illuminating the surrounding ruins.

Beneath the intense radiance, the shadow creatures let out anguished shrieks. Their bodies smoked as though scorched by raging flames, and they retreated one after another, desperately trying to evade the deadly light.

Seeing this, a confident smile appeared on Lin Fan’s face.

He increased the flow of spiritual energy. The light grew even more brilliant, driving away the surrounding darkness like a miniature sun.

“Looks like they aren’t so difficult to deal with after all...” Lin Fan murmured, though his gaze had already shifted toward the darkness in the distance. More shadow creatures seemed to be stirring there...

Suddenly, he sensed a powerful aura rapidly approaching.

“Who is it?”

Xia Jiang’s heart felt as though an invisible hand had seized it in a tight grip. In the distant ruins, Lin Fan’s slender figure appeared especially small beneath the encircling shadows.

She gritted her teeth and charged toward him without hesitation. Her skirt snapped fiercely in the wind, and every step carried the grim resolve of one who had burned all bridges behind her.

She could feel the demonic power within her surging restlessly—a primal reaction born from her intense concern for Lin Fan’s safety.

Her delicate figure flashed between the broken walls and shattered stone like an arrow loosed from its bow. Anxiety and worry burned together in her eyes.

The corner of her eye caught sight of Lin Fan struggling to hold his ground. Pain pierced her heart, and she quickened her pace.

When Lin Fan saw Xia Jiang, the tautness in his heart eased slightly.

That familiar figure clad in red was his only comfort in this desperate situation.

A warm current surged through his heart, and his exhausted body seemed to receive a fresh infusion of strength.

He knew he was not fighting alone.

Elsewhere, Zhang Meng wielded his long saber. Its gleaming arc swept through the air like a violent storm, slicing the shadow creatures rushing at him into pieces.

He roared as every strike descended with thunderous force, yet he still could not stop the shadow creatures from surging forward like a tide.

His body was already spattered with their foul, stinking fluid, and his arm had begun to ache faintly.

His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression grave.

He knew that if this continued, the monsters would devour them sooner or later.

Zhao Ling'er held a folding fan. With every sweep, its ribs cut through the bodies of the shadow creatures like blades.

Her movements were graceful and agile, but even she was beginning to struggle against the overwhelming number of enemies.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her breathing grew rapid.

A trace of anxiety flickered in her eyes.

The shadow creatures’ howls rang in their ears like a summons to death. Their attacks grew denser and more relentless, as though they would never end.

Weariness appeared simultaneously on Zhang Meng and Zhao Ling’er’s faces.

Their defensive circle began to contract, while the pressure around them mounted steadily.

At that moment, Xia Jiang streaked to Lin Fan’s side like a bolt of red lightning.

Without the slightest pause, she swept out one slender hand. A crimson radiance erupted, instantly forcing back the shadow creatures surrounding them.

She looked at Lin Fan with concern, her voice trembling faintly.

“Are you all right?”

Lin Fan shook his head, a weary smile touching the corners of his mouth. “I’m fine. It’s enough that you’re here.”

He knew that with Xia Jiang’s arrival, they would certainly be able to break through the encirclement.

“Lin Fan, I’m coming to help!” Zhang Meng shouted.

He and Zhao Ling’er also began moving toward Lin Fan, attempting to regroup.

Lin Fan turned toward Xia Jiang. Their eyes met, and unwavering determination shone in both their gazes.

Xia Jiang gave a slight nod. Then she slowly raised her hand, and a vortex flickering with eerie crimson light appeared in her palm.

Understanding her intention, Lin Fan immediately poured his spiritual power into the vortex.

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At that instant, the air around them seemed to freeze. An unprecedentedly powerful aura began to spread through the ruins.

The two moved in perfect harmony, yet their actions made the distant shadow creatures even more agitated. Their shrieks grew more desperate, as if they sensed what was coming—but it was already too late.

“Are you ready?” Xia Jiang asked softly, a hint of excitement in her voice.

“Mm!” Lin Fan replied, determination gleaming in his eyes.

The corners of Xia Jiang’s lips lifted slightly into a strange smile.

With Lin Fan’s spiritual power pouring into it, the crimson vortex in Xia Jiang’s palm expanded rapidly, radiating a sinister light that made the heart tremble.

The air around them seemed to twist. A powerful suction force drew nearby stones and dust into the vortex, forming a miniature storm.

At its center, the red light grew brighter and brighter until it transformed into a dazzling pillar that shot into the heavens, illuminating the gloomy ruins as brightly as day.

“Crimson Flame Scorches the Heavens!” Xia Jiang cried.

The pillar of light exploded in an instant, transforming into countless fiery-red sparks that poured down like a meteor shower.

These sparks were no ordinary flames. Each one was an inferno infused with immense demonic power, possessing enough force to burn gold and melt iron.

As the sparks landed upon the shadow creatures, they ignited them instantly, reducing them to wisps of black smoke.

The creatures’ screams rose and fell in succession, like wails from the depths of hell.

The shock waves sent the surrounding rubble flying. Dust filled the air, and the entire ruin seemed to tremble.

Overwhelmed by the force of the attack, Lin Fan, Zhang Meng, and Zhao Ling’er were forced back several steps.

When the dust finally settled, the densely packed shadow creatures had vanished completely, leaving behind only scorched black marks across the ground.

The air reeked of charred flesh, sickening all who breathed it.

Only then did the survivors finally release the breath they had been holding.

Zhang Meng wiped the sweat from his brow and said with lingering fear, “That was close! We have Miss Xia to thank for her demonic art.”

Zhao Ling’er nodded as well, her eyes filled with admiration when she looked at Xia Jiang.

Lin Fan gazed at Xia Jiang, his eyes brimming with warmth and gratitude.

He took her hand and said softly, “Thank you, Xia Jiang.”

Xia Jiang smiled faintly and clasped his hand in return. “There’s no need for thanks between us.”

Just then, Lin Fan noticed a pitch-black opening at the center of the blast.

The stone walls surrounding it were smooth as mirrors, as though they had been carved apart by some overwhelming force.

“What is this?” Zhang Meng asked curiously as he stepped forward and peered inside.

The opening was utterly dark, its depths impossible to see, as if it led to another world.

A chill seeped out from within, raising gooseflesh across their skin.

Zhao Ling’er frowned. “This seems to lead deeper into the ancient hall, but it feels extremely dangerous...”

Lin Fan sensed the unease as well, yet he also felt an inexplicable attraction drawing him inward, urging him to enter and discover what lay beyond.

He turned toward Xia Jiang, silently asking her opinion.

Xia Jiang seemed to understand his thoughts. She smiled faintly and said, “Since we’re already here, we might as well go in and take a look.”

Lin Fan nodded and drew a deep breath. “Let’s go.”

He took the lead toward the opening. Xia Jiang followed closely behind, while Zhang Meng and Zhao Ling’er exchanged a glance before following them inside.

“Wait.” Xia Jiang suddenly stopped and looked back at the others. “Be careful once we’re in.”