Chapter 103 Dance of Shadows
Long Tian had been exploring the forest for hours. Many participants had found valuable items like hidden techniques and resources.
At this moment, he walked alongside five people he had met, three from the Xia family and three from the Long family, including himself.
"Are you sure about this rumor?" Long Feng asked, a hint of doubt in his voice as he glanced at a man in his twenties leading them.
Xia Xiao, the man, wore a confident smile. "Trust me. I received this information from a renowned oracle; it can't be wrong," he assured them.
While the others nodded in agreement, Long Tian couldn't shake off a feeling of unease.
Long Hui, one of his friends, noticed his expression. "Brother Tian, is everything alright?" he inquired.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Long Tian replied, his senses on high alert.
"Well, let's proceed cautiously. The six of us should be strong enough to handle three or four-star soul beasts," Long Hui suggested.
Long Tian simply nodded, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings as they followed Xia Xiao deeper into the forest.
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After some time, the group found themselves standing near the ruins of an ancient structure. The ruins were vast and clearly aged, dating back thousands of years.
As they explored the area, Xia Jun, one of their companions, discovered a shining object beneath the debris. He eagerly retrieved it.
His face lit up with excitement. "I've found a treasure!" he exclaimed, holding up a profound spiritual stone.
His find surprised the group. They were well aware of the stone's significance—it was a spiritual stone of a higher level than the usual high-level ones, with effects many times more potent.
"You're incredibly fortunate, Brother Jun. Your cultivation will soar with that stone," complimented Long Hui, acknowledging the rare find.
"It seems the rumors were true. These ruins might conceal many more valuable items," remarked one of the companions.
Xia Xiao chimed in, "Unfortunately, this place isn't the rumor I spoke of. But the fact that we've reached this point might indicate we're getting closer."
"Let's explore this area thoroughly first," suggested Long Jun, and the group agreed, dispersing to search for hidden treasures among the ruins.
Meanwhile, Long Tian couldn't shake off his sense of foreboding. He distanced himself slightly from the group, feeling an eerie presence lurking in the forest.
Suddenly, his instincts kicked in. He squinted his eyes, peering into the depths of the forest ahead. Something felt off, and he unsheathed his katana, Uchigatana.
"Hey, everyone, stay alert. There's something approaching," he warned, his voice carrying through the silence, reaching every ear in the group.
His companions swiftly joined him, readying themselves for what was to come.
"Do you see something?" Xia Xiao asked.
Long Tian didn't respond; his attention was fixed on something up ahead.
Indeed, a small object swiftly flew toward him. He swiftly blocked it with his sword.
Clank!
A small knife was embedded in the ground after he deflected it. And it wasn't just once; six more small knives flew toward him.
Long Tian maneuvered his sword, blocking all the attacks.
"We're under attack, be prepared," he stated, his voice firm.
A rustle in the bushes drew their attention, and Long Tian signaled for silence. The group fell into a tense hush, their eyes scanning the surroundings.
From the shadows emerged a mysterious group, their dark robes blending seamlessly with their body. Xia Xiao tightened his grip on his sword, demanding, "Who are you?" His voice, though firm, couldn't hide the underlying tension.
The leader of the shadowy figures stepped forward, a malevolent smile on his lips. "We seek ancient knowledge," he revealed, his voice low and ominous. "And it appears you've stumbled upon something that doesn't belong to you."
Xia Xiao's eyes narrowed. "We're not here to steal. We're exploring the forest," he retorted, defiance in his tone.
The leader's smile widened. "Curiosity can be perilous," he said cryptically. "But since you're eager to learn, how about a lesson in power?"
With a swift motion, the leader raised his hand, and the air crackled with dark energy.
Hid eyes glowed with an eerie light as he chanted a spell, causing nine shadowy figures behind him to move.
"Kill them," he commanded, pointing at the group.
A menacing darkness thickened the air as the nine shadows advanced, brandishing sharp objects.
Long Tian tightened his grip on his Uchigatana, prepared for the impending battle. His companions mirrored his determination, their weapons drawn and spiritual energy primed.
Xia Xiao lunged forward, his sword aiming for one of the shadowy figures. Yet, the dark figure moved with unnatural speed, dodging the attack. Long Tian followed suit, his Uchigatana striking with lightning. However, the shadowy figure countered, using darkness to absorb the lightning, rendering Long Tian's attack ineffective.
Observing the struggle, Long Tian furrowed his brow. He glanced at his companions and found them grappling with their own shadowy opponents.
This time, Xia Xiao managed to pierce his sword into the shadowy figure. However, it felt like he was cutting through emptiness rather than flesh.
"What the hell?" he muttered in confusion. Suddenly, the shadow figure in front of him revealed two glowing red eyes, locking onto his.
He felt his strength ebbing away, leaving him paralyzed. His pupils gradually faded.
But in the next moment, a bolt of lightning struck him, causing pain but also snapping him back to awareness. He hastily retreated, putting distance between himself and the shadow.
He glanced to the side, meeting Long Tian's eyes. "Thanks," he said, appreciating Long Tian's intervention.
"Be more careful next time," Long Tian warned.
With a nod, Xia Xiao turned back to face the black shadow before him.
Long Tian, meanwhile, refocused on the shadow in front of him.
The shadow moved incredibly fast, attacking him with a black sword. Yet, he skillfully dodged its strikes.
Darkness coalesced in his hand, and seizing the opportunity, he thrust his hand into the shadow's body. The shadow seemed to be absorbed by the darkness in his hand.
A few seconds later, the shadow completely disappeared, absorbed by him.
"Heh, just as I suspected. They are made of darkness, a perfect feast for me," he said, a grin gracing his face.
Not only did he eliminate the shadow, but he also felt a surge in power from absorbing it.
Meanwhile, the man in the black robe was surprised; clearly, he didn't anticipate that Long Tian could absorb his shadow army. And at this moment, Long Tian's gaze was locked onto him.
Rumble!
Lightning struck from above, but he managed to evade it skillfully. And not just once, but repeatedly.
While evading the lightning strikes, he chanted a spell, and darkness enveloped him.
Following that, his body expanded, and powerful muscles emerged. His robe tore apart, unveiling a man around forty with a bald head and enigmatic black runes etched on his skin.
"Now, face me!" he declared, his voice echoing with power.
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