In the distant land of Gu Province, nestled within the borders of the Western Ling Kingdom, the relations between nations are never simple. The establishment of diplomatic ties does not guarantee that the ruler of the Eastern Ling Kingdom has lowered his guard against his counterpart in the Western Ling Kingdom. The emperor’s careful mind might even entertain the thought of sacrificing the armies of his own son-in-law if it served his interests, perhaps hoping to utterly undermine their military strength.
However, the recent events unfolding in the ancient city—where practitioners at the Golden Core stage have disappeared—have escalated the situation beyond his control. The emperor of the Eastern Ling Kingdom is a cautious and prudent man. Thus, he entrusted this matter to the Forge Heaven Workshop and alerted the king of the Western Ling Kingdom. Consequently, when the ancient city reappeared within Western Ling’s territory, the Western Ling king sent his men to manage the situation, ensuring that nearby martial artists and smaller sects remained at a distance while notifying the Forge Heaven Workshop through his father-in-law.
Elder Liu raised his hand, and the flame of his everlasting lantern transformed into a wall of fire, engulfing the black creatures that charged forth. After the flames subsided, dozens of black monsters lay motionless on the ground. Half of these beings began to shed the dark substance that covered them, revealing beneath it the corpses of those long dead.
One of the disciples pointed towards the mountainside. Elder Liu looked up and indeed spotted a massive city nestled halfway up the mountain, its presence stark against the surrounding trees and landscape.
As a wave of bell-like sounds echoed, it seemed that the creatures inside the ancient city realized that the arrival of these practitioners could not be so easily dealt with. The darkness swirling within the city began to shift like a tangible entity, before a curious assembly of humanoid figures staggered out of the shadows.
Elder Liu, alongside the disciples from the Forge Heaven Workshop, stood firmly at the foot of the mountain. Upon exiting the ancient city's shadows, the dark beings displayed a jagged opening where their heads ought to be, revealing a gaping maw. They let out a chilling howl, the sound mingled with a psychic assault, though far weaker than the bell tolls.
The Eastern Ling and Western Ling Kingdoms had separated from an older realm known as Qing Ling Kingdom, once embroiled in long periods of conflict. Recently, however, under the shared intentions of both monarchs, relations had improved through diplomatic ties and marriage, making the current king of the Western Ling Kingdom the son-in-law of the Eastern Ling king.
Elder Liu contemplated briefly, raising his artifact that resembled a long-lasting lantern. With potent energy coursing through him, the dancing flame ignited into a roaring inferno that soared into the sky, spreading for miles while striking down like fire dragons under Liu's command toward the ancient city.
The disciples aligned their hearts to fortify their spirits, and a moment later, a bell sound resonated from within the ancient city, carrying a piercing mental attack with it. He promptly dispatched one disciple to relay this information back to the Forge Heaven Workshop, leading his remaining disciples to the site of the ancient city.
“Prepare for battle!” he commanded, observing the howling monstrosities. Liu held the everlasting lantern, its flickering light reflecting his growing concern.
The remaining half of the black monsters still struggled back to their feet, proof of their formidable resistance as they had survived his previous onslaught—a testament to their strength, comparable to that of Golden Core practitioners. Initially, they had been sent by the sect leader, Yue Qianlian, to investigate the sudden emergence of the ancient city in Eastern Ling that coincided with numerous mysterious disappearances. Upon completing their survey, news from the Eastern Ling monarch indicated the reappearance of the ancient city in Western Ling.
Elder Liu took a deep breath, feeling uncertainty in his heart. “All disciples below the Nascent Soul realm stay here to control the puppets; those above Nascent Soul, follow me. If things go awry, retreat immediately!”
As he and his disciples approached the ancient city, the gates began to open as if aware of their arrival. The dark figures emerged from within, dark as night, adorned with strange white markings forming black runes upon their surfaces. The sight was utterly bizarre.
“Elder, there is the ancient city!” called one disciple, noting the gathering of faded uniforms upon several deceased bodies.
“Those are soldiers missing from the Eastern Ling Kingdom!” another exclaimed.
A sense of urgency gripped the air, as Liu commanded, “Unleash the puppets, move cautiously forward!” The disciples from the Forge Heaven Workshop, their training allowing them to wield enhanced strength through the manipulation of finely crafted puppets, prepared to advance.
As they lowered themselves to the gates of the city, an ominous bell toll echoed, amplifying with dark whispers, each word adding weight to the dread enveloping them. Liu understood that the situation had escalated beyond simple diplomacy; they must fight back against this growing darkness.
The grim encounter had only just begun, and the future of their kingdoms hung in the balance amidst the shadows of the ancient city and the unseen threats emerging from the dark.