Time Travel: Ancient Martial Arts Chronicles

New crisis and hope

As they approached the stone platform, the faint blue light of the "Tears of the Stars" grew increasingly dazzling, nearly burning their eyes. But before they could recover from the joy of surviving the disaster, a new crisis had already arrived.

At that moment, the air within the hall seemed to freeze instantly, the temperature plummeting. A chill like an icy snake crawled up everyone's spines. The ground began to tremble violently, and the once silent hall roared like an enraged beast awakened. The walls, where strange runes and patterns were carved, began to flicker erratically, their light flickering, then dimming, as if trembling in fear.

From beneath the ground surrounding the stone platform, statues emanating an eerie aura slowly rose. These statues, in human and animal form, were lifelike, yet shone with a chilling eeriness. Their eyes flickered with an eerie red light, like the eyes of judgment from hell. This glow cast blood-red shadows across the dim hall, adding to the surrounding horror.

"What the hell is this thing?" A disciple of Tianjianmen couldn't help but scream, his voice trembling, and his exhaled breath turned into a white mist in the cold air.

Ye Wuhen's heart sank, feeling the immense pressure of these statues. "Everyone, be careful! These statues are not simple," he shouted. His voice echoed through the trembling hall, stirring up a subtle echo, as if countless voices were repeating his warning. Although he was nervous at this moment, his eyes remained firm. He would never let his companions fall into despair.

Lin Yu gripped his weapon tightly. His body was already extremely weak, but his fighting spirit remained undimmed. "No matter what, we must fight. This is our only choice." He looked at his companions, his eyes gleaming with an unyielding light, his breath coming out fast and heavy. The venom of the flame snake raged through his body, and every movement felt like a tug-of-war with death, but his unyielding spirit sustained him. The surrounding cold seemed to make his wounds hurt even more, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.

Ling Jian of the Tianjian Sect frowned, sensing the extraordinary power of these statues. "Hmph, it looks like another tough battle, but we at Tianjian Sect aren't afraid." He brandished his sword, ready for battle. The blade sliced ​​through the air, stirring up a gentle gust of air. The fierce aura seemed to sever all obstacles, yet his brow trembled slightly with nervousness.

Su Yao of the Lingxiao Sect gazed at the statue, a surge of unease welling up in her heart. She quickly gathered her disciples, "Everyone, maintain your formation! Don't panic! We'll handle this together!" she shouted, her voice carrying through the icy air, yet unable to dispel the fear in their hearts. Fine beads of sweat formed on her forehead, but despite the cold, they didn't slide away. Instead, they condensed into tiny beads of ice on her forehead.

Mo Yu of the Yuhun Sect stared intently at the statues, trying to detect flaws in their auras. "These statues appear to possess some special spiritual power. Everyone, pay attention," he said to his fellow disciples, his voice low and serious. The Horcruxes glowed faintly in his hands, their cold light appearing particularly mysterious against the surrounding blood-red light and dimness, poised for action.

Bai Zhi sensed the growing danger around her. She strengthened her own spiritual shield while preparing to treat anyone who might be injured. "I hope everyone can survive this crisis safely," she prayed silently, her eyes filled with worry. Her spiritual shield radiated a soft glow, like a candle in the darkness amidst the cold and eerie atmosphere—warm yet fragile.

Lin Xiaoxiao looked at the statues, feeling a little apprehensive, but she knew now was not the time to retreat. "We have to find a solution quickly. We can't let them get any closer," she said to those around her, her lips trembling slightly, her breath drifting before her eyes. Then she began searching for clues that might help her fight the statues, her eyes rapidly scanning every corner of the hall. Her figure seemed small and helpless in the flickering light.

The statues began to move, their movements stiff yet imbued with an indescribable power. Each movement was accompanied by a dull grinding sound, like the footsteps of death. The humanoid statues brandished stone weapons, which sliced ​​through the air with a whistling sound that was particularly piercing in the silent and eerie hall. The beastly statues opened their mouths, revealing sharp fangs, and belched out bursts of rotten air as they pounced upon the crowd.

"Go!" Ye Wuhen shouted, charging at a humanoid statue. His Soul-Breaking Sword collided with the statue's weapon, sending up a shower of sparks. The sparks instantly bloomed and faded in the dim light, illuminating his resolute face. He felt a surge of immense power, his arm numbing as the force coursed through his body, causing him to sway slightly. "This guy's incredibly strong!" He gritted his teeth, quickly adjusting his stance and launching another attack. He planted his feet firmly on the trembling ground, his eyes filled with determination.

Lin Yu faced off against a beast-shaped statue. He seized the opportunity and attacked its legs, shouting to Lingxiao Sect's Su Yao as he did so: "Su Yao, attack its head. Let's cooperate." His voice was hoarse from the effort. Every time he swung his weapon, he felt as if his body was being torn apart. The excruciating pain from his wounds nearly made him faint, but he persevered with his tenacious will, engaging in a thrilling exchange of blows with the statue. Dust rose up around him, dancing in the interweaving of light and shadow.

The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect engaged in a fierce battle with the statue, sword flashes clashing with stone shadows. Ling Jian cried out as he fought, "Brothers, we cannot lose! For the glory of the Heavenly Sword Sect!" His cry echoed through the hall, inspiring the disciples. The disciples responded in unison, their morale soaring as they engaged in a desperate struggle with the statue. Their figures darted between the sword flashes and the statue's shadows, each collision sending up puffs of dust and sparks.

The Lingxiao Sect's magic once again unleashed its power, shrouding a portion of the statue in a brilliant light. This light intertwined and clashed with the statue's red glow, forming a dazzling yet eerie curtain of light in the air. Su Yao instructed her disciples, "Everyone, pay attention to the continuity of your spells. Don't give them a chance to counterattack." Her voice was clearly audible above the roar of the spell. She adjusted the angle and intensity of her spell, attempting to trap the statue. Her hands formed seals rapidly, sending a surge of spiritual energy through her movements. The air around them seemed to distort slightly under the powerful force.

Mo Yu of the Yuhun Sect detected a flaw in the statue's soul energy. He seized the opportunity and launched his Horcrux attack, shouting to his fellow disciples, "Now is the time! Focus on attacking its weak spot." The black light from his Horcrux shot towards the statue's weak spot. Like an arrow in the darkness, it was silent yet deadly. The statue's movements slowed slightly, creating an opening for the others to attack. The surrounding light and shadows seemed to freeze at that moment, and everyone watched the statue's reaction intently.

The battle reached a fever pitch, and everyone fought with all their might. Shouts, the clash of weapons, and the roar of spells mingled, a melody of death echoing through the cold and eerie hall. Just then, in an obscure corner, Lin Xiaoxiao discovered a faintly glowing stone slab, its light seemingly dispelling the dust surrounding it. Faint patterns and words were engraved upon it, seemingly revealing ancient secrets. Her eyes lit up. "I've found the clue!" she shouted, running toward the slab. Her voice, resounding above the clamor of battle, brought new hope to the weary crowd. Her figure, illuminated by the light, stood out against the thick smoke and dust, a resolute presence.