The rogue cultivators advanced like hungry wolves, eyes gleaming with greed under flickering torchlight.
Nine in total. Some Qi Gathering. A few Foundation. Their leader wore crimson robes embroidered with bone-thread, his left hand missing — replaced with a twisted silver claw.
"Step aside," the leader rasped. "You've done the hard part. The treasure belongs to us now."
Han Yuren's hand moved to his blade.
Shui Fang whispered to Lu Shuwei, "There's no negotiation."
And Fang Xi stood perfectly still, eyes closed for half a breath.
The tomb watches us all.
Let's give it a feast.
⚔ The Battle Erupts
The first blow came from Lu Shuwei — a barrage of glowing talismans exploded into white flame, forcing the raiders to scatter.
Shui Fang conjured a twisting chain of water, lashing out and knocking one man into a black coffin — which cracked open at the impact.
The rogue screamed as spectral hands emerged, pulling him inside.
The tomb is hungry, Fang Xi thought.
🩸 The Betrayal
But not all the traitors stood among the invaders.
Suddenly, Yan Sui spun behind Shui Fang, slashing with a curved dagger laced with venom.
Shui Fang gasped as blood sprayed from her shoulder.
"You—!" she hissed.
"Apologies, darling," Yan Sui smiled. "Night Talisman Sect didn't send me just to observe."
Han Yuren turned toward Yan Sui with lightning speed, but two more raiders intercepted him, locking him into a brutal duel.
⚡ Fang Xi Moves
One of the Foundation-level raiders lunged at Fang Xi, sword flashing toward his throat.
Fang Xi stepped into the strike — too close for a full swing.
He caught the attacker's wrist, eyes calm.
Memory Snare.
In a flash, he saw the man's last week — meetings with a cloaked emissary, secret payments, whispered orders from distant powers.
Ah. Not just grave robbers. Someone larger is behind this.
Fang Xi twisted the wrist, shattering bone, and drove his blade into the man's heart.
The tomb drank.
The Echo Mark pulsed.
🧠 First Release of Echo Power
Suddenly, Fang Xi felt the resonance shift.
The Soul Echo he carried — Yun Zhao's final memory — bled into the mark.
For a brief moment, the world slowed.
He could see:
Every heartbeat
Every shift of Qi
Every hesitation of his enemies' next move
[Echo Vein – Tier I: Momentary Insight]
For 3 seconds, Fang Xi perceives combat with unnatural clarity, mimicking the precision of a veteran master.
⚔ The Butcher's Calm
He moved like water.
Dodged a blade by inches.
Stepped behind another rogue and slit his throat.
Kicked the remaining one into the blood pool at the obelisk's base, where ancient whispers dragged the screaming man under.
The rest hesitated.
"He's not normal!" one raider shouted.
"The tomb's feeding on him!"
Even Yan Sui faltered for a heartbeat.
🔥 The Tomb Stirs
And then… the obelisk cracked.
A pulse of deep, ancient Qi spread through the chamber. Whispering voices filled the air — not words, but commands:
"Blood given. Memory consumed. Release… incomplete."
Crimson mist swirled around the coffins as two more ancient constructs rose from the ground — bone and spirit, half-formed protectors of the inner vault.
The invaders panicked.
🩸 A Deal in Motion
Fang Xi's voice was calm as ice.
"You came for power."
He stepped forward as the raiders backed away.
"Now you can serve it instead."
The Echo Mark burned hot under his skin.