Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu stood ready as the three-horned lion monsters slowly closed in. With every step they took, the ground trembled slightly, and black smoke billowed from their nostrils, filling the air with a pungent odor.
"These monsters aren't easy to deal with, Qiye, we need to be careful," Shen Qingzhu said in a low voice, gripping his spear tightly. His eyes revealed a grave expression; although he had been treated by Lin Qiye, his body had not fully recovered, and he knew this was a battle of life and death against the formidable enemy before them.
Lin Qiye nodded slightly, his gaze locked firmly on the lead lion monster. This monster was the largest, and the green light in its eyes was the most dazzling; it seemed to be the leader of the pack. Lin Qiye made the first move, his figure flashing like lightning as he instantly charged at the lead lion monster. With a wave of his sword, a fierce sword light slashed toward the monster's head.
The lion monster let out an angry roar, raising its huge paw to swat at the sword light. With a loud "boom!", the sword light and the paw collided, generating a powerful shockwave that scattered the surrounding air. Lin Qiye felt a massive rebound force, and his body flew backward uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Shen Qingzhu hurriedly brandished his spear technique, thrusting toward the lion monster in an attempt to distract it. The long spear transformed into a phantom, thrusting toward the monster's abdomen like a dragon emerging from the sea. However, the lion monster remained unruffled, flicking its tail to easily deflect Shen Qingzhu's attack. The spikes on its tail grazed Shen Qingzhu's body, leaving a deep wound on his arm.
"Qingzhu!" Lin Qiye shouted. Regaining his footing, he charged at the lion monster once again. This time, he unleashed an even more powerful move: "Star Slash". Brilliant starlight surrounded his body, converging onto his sword to make the blade even larger and its light even more dazzling. He leaped high into the air and brought his sword down fiercely upon the lion monster. This single strike seemed to contain the shattering power of the stars, and its might was astonishing.
Sensing the threat of this blow, the lion monster opened its bloody maw and spat out a black energy wave to meet Lin Qiye's Star Slash. Another loud "boom!" echoed as the energy wave and the Star Slash collided, creating a massive explosion. The entire Divine Temple shook, murals fell from the walls, and dust filled the air.
Seeing their leader locked in fierce combat with Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu, the other two lion monsters lunged at the pair. Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu were forced to divide their attention to deal with the attacks of these two monsters. Though injured, Shen Qingzhu fought the monsters tenaciously. His spear danced like a spirit snake, continuously fending off the monsters' assaults while he searched for an opportunity to counterattack.
During his battle with the lion leader, Lin Qiye gradually discovered its weakness. Although this monster possessed immense strength, its movements were somewhat sluggish, especially after launching consecutive attacks, when it would experience a brief pause. Spotting this opportunity, Lin Qiye feigned an attack, provoking the lion leader into spitting out another energy wave. The moment the energy wave was released, the lion leader's body froze for an instant. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Qiye applied his movement technique, appearing like a ghost at the lion leader's flank and driving his sword into its abdomen.
The lion leader sensed danger, but it was too late to dodge. The sword plunged deep into its abdomen, and black blood gushed forth. Letting out a painful roar, the lion leader frantically flailed its paws in an attempt to strike Lin Qiye. Lin Qiye quickly pulled out his sword and retreated.
The wounded lion leader grew even more ferocious. Disregarding its injuries, it launched an even more violent assault against Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu. Its attacks were completely uncoordinated yet possessed immense power; every swipe of its paws and sweep of its tail left deep gouges in the ground. Under its onslaught, Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu were put in a tight spot and could only dodge continuously.
At that moment, Shen Qingzhu suddenly spotted an opening. While the lion leader was attacking Lin Qiye, its flank was exposed. Without hesitation, Shen Qingzhu rushed toward the opening, channeling all his strength into his spear to unleash his ultimate technique, "Spear Piercing the Firmament." With an unstoppable momentum, the spear thrust directly into the lion leader's flank.
With a dull thud, the spear plunged deep into the lion leader's body. The beast let out a shrill scream, staggered a few times, and crashed heavily to the ground. With the death of the lion leader, the other two lion monsters seemed affected, and their attacks descended into chaos.
Seizing this opportunity, Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu joined forces to attack the two remaining lion monsters. Working in tacit coordination, they quickly dispatched them. Both men breathed a sigh of relief, looking at each other's disheveled appearances with an involuntary, shared smile.
"We finally took care of these guys." Shen Qingzhu wiped the sweat from his forehead. His wounds had started bleeding again due to the intense exertion, but he paid them no mind.
Lin Qiye nodded. "Let's go get the Divine Artifact." They walked toward the stone platform. As they drew near, the light radiating from the Divine Artifact grew even more intense, as if welcoming their arrival. Lin Qiye reached out and grasped the Divine Artifact shield, and a powerful surge of energy immediately flowed from it into his body. He felt his entire body flood with strength, instantly sweeping away the exhaustion from the previous battle.
"This Divine Artifact is truly powerful," Lin Qiye praised. He handed the shield to Shen Qingzhu. "Take it, it will protect you."
Shen Qingzhu took the shield, feeling the power pulsing within it. "With this, we have even more confidence in fighting the Gods."
Just as they were preparing to leave the Divine Temple, it suddenly began to shake violently. Massive cracks appeared on the walls, as though the entire structure was on the verge of collapse.
"What's going on?" Lin Qiye asked, frowning.
Shen Qingzhu looked at the changes around them, his expression turning grave. "Not good, we triggered the Divine Temple's self-destruction mechanism. We need to get out of here!"
The two hurriedly ran toward the temple gates, but the shaking grew increasingly violent, and numerous massive boulders fell from the ceiling, blocking their path. Lin Qiye swung his sword, shattering the falling rocks to carve out a path for them.
Just as they were about to reach the entrance, a massive stone door suddenly crashed down from above, sealing the exit. Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu pushed against the heavy stone door with all their might, but it remained completely immovable.
"What do we do?" Shen Qingzhu asked anxiously.
Lin Qiye looked at the falling debris and collapsing walls around them, a flash of resolute determination in his eyes. "We'll break through the side wall!" He raised his sword and slashed at the wall. The blade left deep gouges, but the wall was exceptionally thick; breaking through it would be no easy task.
Shen Qingzhu joined in, ramming the wall with the shield while stabbing at its weak points with his spear. Through their joint efforts, a small hole finally appeared in the wall. Seeing hope, they attacked the barrier even more desperately.
As time passed, the hole grew larger until they finally punched through the wall and escaped the temple. The moment they cleared the exit, the Divine Temple collapsed with a thunderous roar, sending up a massive cloud of dust.
Looking back at the collapsed ruin, Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu felt a lingering sense of dread. They knew that had they been even a moment later, they would have been buried inside.
"We need to leave here as quickly as possible," Lin Qiye said. Carrying the Divine Artifact, they headed toward the edge of the Desert. As they crossed the Desert, they encountered a few small bands of monsters, but with the aid of the Divine Artifact shield, they easily dispatched the enemies.
When they stepped out of the Desert, a war-torn town appeared before them. Most of the town's buildings were in ruins, and unextinguished flames still flickered amidst the broken walls in the wind, resembling the resentment and grievances of lost lives. The air was thick with the pungent stench of gunpowder and blood, and corpses lay scattered haphazardly across the streets—some human, others belonging to various bizarre monsters.
The hearts of Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu grew immensely heavy. They walked silently into the town, every step feeling as though it landed upon their own hearts. This place had once been a vibrant spot where people lived and laughed; now, nothing remained except death and ruins.
"These Gods... they are simply demons." Shen Qingzhu clenched his fists, flames of fury burning in his eyes. Gazing at the tragic scene before him, his hatred for the Gods deepened.
Lin Qiye said nothing, his gaze as cold as frost. He wove through the corpses, trying to find if any survivors remained. Suddenly, he heard a faint groan. Following the sound, he discovered a Little Girl pinned beneath the rubble. Her face was covered in dust and blood, her eyes filled with terror and despair.
"Don't be afraid, we're here to save you," Lin Qiye said softly. Working together, he and Shen Qingzhu carefully moved the heavy stones off the ruins. Through their efforts, the Little Girl was finally rescued.
"Mister, Mom and Dad... they're all dead." Bursting into tears, the Little Girl threw herself into Lin Qiye's arms and wept bitterly. Lin Qiye gently stroked her hair, feeling a sharp pang in his heart. Not knowing how to comfort a child who had lost her family, he could only hold her tightly.
"Let's take her with us," Shen Qingzhu said, looking at the Little Girl with eyes full of pity.
Lin Qiye nodded. "Yeah, we can't leave her here." They took the Little Girl and left the town, continuing their journey. Along the way, the Little Girl gradually stopped crying, staying close to Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu as if they were her only reliance in this world.
After several days of trekking, they arrived before a Mountain Valley. Thick mist shrouded the valley, and a mysterious aura vaguely drifted from within. Sensing that something in the Mountain Valley was calling to him, Lin Qiye decided to enter and investigate.
"It feels a bit dangerous here, Qiye, we must be careful," Shen Qingzhu cautioned, holding the Divine Artifact shield as he vigilantly scanned their surroundings.
Lin Qiye nodded. "Protect the Little Girl, I'll lead the way." Gripping his sword, he stepped into the Mountain Valley first. The mist inside grew thicker, reducing visibility to a minimum. They could only grope their way forward with utmost caution. Suddenly, Lin Qiye felt something writhing beneath his feet. Looking down, he saw countless black vines bursting from the ground, winding toward them.
"Careful!" Lin Qiye shouted, swinging his sword to sever the approaching vines. But these vines surged forth endlessly, as if infinite in number. Shen Qingzhu also swung his shield, batting away the entangling vines. The Little Girl hid behind them, her eyes filled with terror.
"These vines seem to be controlled by something; we need to find the source," Lin Qiye said. Channeling his Spiritual Power, he formed a protective barrier around his body to temporarily block the vines' attacks. Then, he began observing the direction of their growth, trying to trace them back to their origin.
After some observation, Lin Qiye discovered that the vines were gushing from the depths of the Mountain Valley. He headed deeper inside, with Shen Qingzhu and the Little Girl closely following behind. As they penetrated further, they encountered even more dangers. Aside from the black vines, there were also giant flowers that spewed toxic pollen; once inhaled, it would cause a person to fall unconscious.
Covering their noses and mouths with their clothes to prevent inhaling the pollen, Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu pressed onward until they finally reached the center of the Mountain Valley. There lay a massive lake, in the middle of which grew a giant black Ancient Tree. The Ancient Tree had an exceptionally thick trunk, and its branches were draped with black vines and giant flowers.
"It seems these vines and flowers are all controlled by this Ancient Tree," Lin Qiye said, watching the tree with a surge of vigilance. Emanating a powerful aura, the Ancient Tree was clearly no ordinary plant.
At that moment, the Ancient Tree seemed to sense their arrival. Its branches began to shake violently, and the black vines rushed toward them like a tidal wave. At the same time, the giant flowers spewed massive clouds of toxic pollen in their direction.
Back-to-back, Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu braced for the attack. Lin Qiye unleashed "Star Slash", severing the closing vines. Shen Qingzhu used the shield to block the pollen while thrusting his spear at the encroaching vines. The Little Girl cowered between them, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
"We can't keep going like this, we have to find a way to attack the Ancient Tree," Lin Qiye said, eyeing the tree in search of its weakness. He noticed a massive tree hollow on its trunk, glowing with a strange light.
"That tree hollow might be its weakness; we need to find a way to strike it," Lin Qiye said, pointing toward the hollow.
Shen Qingzhu nodded. "I'll draw its fire; you look for a chance to hit the hollow." With that, he charged at the Ancient Tree. Swinging his shield to bat away the entangling vines, he simultaneously attacked the tree's branches with his spear to draw its attention.
Indeed, the Ancient Tree took the bait, directing the majority of its vines and flowers to assault Shen Qingzhu. Seizing the moment, Lin Qiye executed his movement technique, darting toward the tree's hollow like a ghost. As he approached, he poured all his strength into a single slash aimed right at the opening.
The sword plunged deep into the tree hollow, and the Ancient Tree let out a painful roar. Its branches whipped about frantically in an attempt to shake Lin Qiye off. Gripping his sword tightly, Lin Qiye continuously channeled his Spiritual Power into the blade to widen the wound in the hollow.
Seeing Lin Qiye succeed, Shen Qingzhu also charged at the Ancient Tree. Together, they assaulted the tree, and under their combined offensive, the wound in the hollow grew larger and larger. Though the Ancient Tree's attacks became increasingly frantic, it could no longer stop them.
Finally, under their relentless assault, the Ancient Tree let out a shrill shriek and crashed heavily to the ground. As it collapsed, the black vines and toxic pollen withered and vanished. The mist in the Mountain Valley began to dissipate, and sunlight washed over them.
"We did it." Shen Qingzhu let out a sigh of relief, looking at Lin Qiye with eyes full of exhaustion and joy.
Lin Qiye nodded, feeling a similar sense of relief. Though the battle had been difficult, they had overcome yet another hurdle. Walking over to the Little Girl, he said, "It's alright now, we can move on."
Looking at Lin Qiye, the Little Girl's eyes were filled with admiration. "Mister, you guys are amazing."
After resting for a moment in the Mountain Valley, they resumed their journey. Upon leaving the valley, they arrived at a three-way fork in the road. Three paths led in different directions, each exuding a mysterious aura.
"Which path should we take?" Shen Qingzhu asked, hesitating as he looked at the three routes.
Lin Qiye stared at the paths, feeling a similar uncertainty. He did not know which path would lead him faster to a method for fighting the Gods, but he knew that whichever one he chose, it would be fraught with the unknown and danger.
At that moment, the sword in his hand suddenly trembled slightly, and the runes on the blade flashed with a light that pointed directly down one of the paths.
"It seems the sword is guiding the way for us," Lin Qiye said, a spark of hope rising in his chest as he looked at the path indicated by the blade. Believing the sword would not guide them without reason, he knew that path must hold what they needed.
They followed the path indicated by the sword. Along the way, they encountered various bizarre creatures and mysterious ruins. These ruins harbored ancient power and knowledge, and through exploring them, Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu continuously enhanced their strength and their understanding of the world.
During one exploration, they arrived before an ancient Castle. The Castle walls were towering, its gates tightly shut, and its exterior covered in moss and vines, as if it had been abandoned for ages. Yet Lin Qiye sensed a powerful force hidden within the Castle—a force that made his heart beat faster against his will.
"What's inside there?" Shen Qingzhu asked, looking at the Castle with a sense of curiosity.
Lin Qiye shook his head. "I don't know, but we have to go in and see." He walked up to the heavy door and gave it a tentative push. To his surprise, the door slowly creaked open, and a stale, ancient scent washed over them. Entering the Castle, they found the interior dark and damp. The grand hall held ancient furniture and decorations; though dilapidated, one could still discern their former grandeur.
Deep within the Castle, they heard the sound of melodious music. Dreamlike and ethereal, the music seemed to possess a magical quality that drew them toward its source. After passing through a long corridor, they entered a massive banquet hall. The hall was brilliantly lit and laden with sumptuous food and fine wine, while people dressed in gorgeous attire danced gracefully in circles.
"What... is going on here?" Shen Qingzhu asked, somewhat at a loss as he gazed at the scene before him. Clearly situated in a world destroyed by Gods, this place felt like another realm altogether, brimming with life and joy.
Lin Qiye frowned, casting a vigilant eye around them. He knew that beneath this seemingly idyllic scene, danger was surely concealed. Gripping his sword, he walked toward the center of the banquet hall. As he reached the middle, the music abruptly stopped, and everyone in the room froze, turning their gazes upon Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu.
"Welcome to my Castle, two distant guests," a gentle female voice echoed through the banquet hall. The speaker was a woman clad in a gorgeous long dress; her face was exquisitely beautiful, yet her eyes held a hint of mystery.
"Who are you?" Lin Qiye asked, watching the woman with heightened vigilance.
The woman smiled slightly. "I am the master of this Castle; you may call me Lisi."
"Lisi? We're just passing through, no intention of disturbing you," Shen Qingzhu said.
Lisi shook her head. "No, you aren't just passing through. You were guided here by fate." Her eyes flashed with a strange light, as if she could see right through their thoughts.
"Fate? What do you mean by that?" Lin Qiye asked with a frown.
Lisi walked up to them. "A secret is hidden within this Castle—a secret that can change the fate of the world. And you are the ones with the ability to unlock it."
Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu exchanged glances, seeing doubt and astonishment in each other's eyes. They had no idea what secret Lisi spoke of, but they knew they had nothing left to lose in this world. If this secret truly held the power to change the world's fate, they were willing to try.
"What do we need to do?" Lin Qiye asked.
Lisi smiled. "Follow me." She turned and walked toward the side of the banquet hall. Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu, bringing the Little Girl with them, followed behind. Passing through a secret passage, they arrived at the Castle's basement. A massive Crystal Ball sat in the center of the basement, glowing with a strange light within which vague images seemed to flow.
"This Crystal Ball is the key to the secret. You must use your own power to activate it to see the secrets within," Lisi said.
Looking at the Crystal Ball, Lin Qiye could sense the powerful energy contained inside. He stepped up to it, reached out, and channeled his Spiritual Power into the sphere. Shen Qingzhu also stepped forward, infusing his power into the Crystal Ball. As their energies poured in, the light of the Crystal Ball grew brighter, and the images within gradually cleared.
The projections displayed an ancient war fought between the Gods and a mysterious race. Possessing immense power, this mysterious race had engaged in a fierce battle against the Gods. During the conflict, the mysterious race utilized a powerful Divine Artifact—one that possessed enough might to destroy the Gods. Ultimately, however, the power of the Divine Artifact spiraled out of control, not only dealing a devastating blow to the Gods but also nearly destroying the entire world.
"This... is why the world became like this?" Shen Qingzhu asked, staring at the projection in shock.
Lisi nodded. "Yes. After that war, the world fell into chaos. This Crystal Ball records the whereabouts of the Divine Artifact. If you can find it, you might be able to reseal the Gods and restore order to the world."
Lin Qiye stared at the images inside the Crystal Ball, a surge of hope rising in his chest. He knew this was the key to their revenge and the salvation of the world. "Where is the Divine Artifact?" he asked.
Lisi looked at the Crystal Ball. "The Divine Artifact is hidden at the edge of the world—a place forgotten by time and space. It is fraught with danger, and only those with immense power and unyielding conviction can reach it."
"We aren't afraid of danger. We must find the Divine Artifact," Lin Qiye said firmly. He looked at Shen Qingzhu and the Little Girl; their eyes were equally resolute.
Lisi smiled. "I believe in you. However, before you set off, I can help you elevate your strength. There are still some ancient sources of power within this Castle; you can absorb them to grow stronger."
Gratefully looking at Lisi, Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu knew this was a rare opportunity. Guided by Lisi, they located several ancient power sources in the Castle and began absorbing their energy to enhance their capabilities.
After a period of cultivation, the strength of both Lin Qiye and Shen Qingzhu had vastly improved. Feeling flooded with power, they felt even more confident about finding the Divine Artifact and fighting the Gods.
"Thank you, Lisi. We must be on our way," Lin Qiye said.
Lisi nodded. "Good luck to you. I hope you succeed."
Leaving the Castle behind, Lin Qiye, Shen Qingzhu, and the Little Girl headed toward the edge of the world. They knew the road ahead would be fraught with hardships and obstacles, but they had no way back. For revenge and for the salvation of the world, they had to press forward bravely.