The Boundless Ascendant

The temple before them was an ancient relic, half-swallowed by the earth as though nature itself sought to hide the darkness it had once housed. Its jagged spires reached upward like broken teeth, torn from the jaw of the world. The stone doors that guarded the entrance were massive, weathered by time and neglect, yet there was an undeniable power pulsing from within, thrumming like a heartbeat—a dangerous, unnatural rhythm.

Ling Xiao stood at the threshold, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on him. He glanced over at Zhen Xue, who stood beside him, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her blade. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes betrayed her thoughts—a mixture of determination and fear. This place, whatever it was, had been the center of the Black Lotus' power. And now, it was their only hope—or their doom.

Xuan Wei, who had taken the lead, seemed almost drawn to the place, his face a strange blend of awe and unease. His usually steady steps now carried an urgent rhythm, as if the pull of the Source was undeniable, beckoning him forward with a force too powerful to resist. The strange resonance he had spoken of earlier seemed to intensify the closer they got, as though the temple itself was calling to him.

"I can feel it," Xuan Wei murmured, his voice a little hoarse. "It's in the air… in the ground. It's… awakening."

Ling Xiao nodded but said nothing. His mind was focused on the door before them. There were no guards, no traps—at least none that they could see. But he knew that this place was far from empty. The Black Lotus had created more than just physical power—it had created an aura, a layer of control that permeated everything. And now that Xiu Fen was gone, it seemed that the Source was fighting to regain control.

The air shimmered with an almost electric charge. The feeling was suffocating, but Ling Xiao knew there was no turning back.

"Let's go," Ling Xiao said, his voice resolute.

With a single motion, he stepped forward and pushed against the enormous doors. They creaked loudly in protest, but they moved, revealing the inner sanctum of the temple.

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**A Place of Power**

Inside, the temple was vast, far larger than any structure Ling Xiao had encountered in his travels. The walls were covered in ancient carvings, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light. The ground was paved with stones that seemed to pulse with energy, like veins of power running through the earth itself. The air was thick with the scent of incense, but it wasn't like any incense Ling Xiao had ever smelled. This was ancient, foul-smelling—a miasma that seemed to suffocate the mind as well as the body.

At the center of the temple stood an altar, dark and slick, as though it had been carved from the very bones of the world. It was surrounded by enormous statues of what appeared to be ancient deities—figures with faces obscured by shadow and cloaked in robes made of swirling darkness. Their eyes, though carved from stone, seemed to follow them as they walked through the chamber, as if watching their every move.

Ling Xiao felt a chill race down his spine. The Source was here. He could feel it now—its presence was undeniable. It was as though the very air around them had shifted, and something immense was stirring, slowly awakening after an age of slumber.

"I don't like this," Zhen Xue muttered, her voice low and tense. "It feels wrong. Like we're intruding into something that shouldn't be disturbed."

Ling Xiao's gaze remained fixed on the altar. "We don't have a choice."

Xuan Wei, who had been walking ahead of them, stopped abruptly. He stared at the altar with wide eyes, his face pale as though the sight had drained him of strength. His breathing became shallow, ragged.

"It's… it's calling to me," Xuan Wei whispered, his voice trembling. "I can feel it, pulling me… pulling me into it."

Ling Xiao stepped forward, his hand reaching out to steady his friend. "Don't give in to it," he warned, his tone sharp. "This place isn't just some forgotten relic. It's the heart of the Black Lotus. It's been waiting for someone like you."

Xuan Wei's eyes shifted, a strange light flickering within them. "It's not just me," he said, his voice distant. "It's calling to all of us."

Zhen Xue drew her sword, the blade gleaming faintly in the dim light of the temple. "Then we'd better not let it take us."

Ling Xiao nodded, unsheathing his own sword. "Stay close. We'll face it together."

They began to move forward again, each step bringing them closer to the altar. The pulsing energy in the air grew stronger, heavier. The walls seemed to close in around them, the statues watching, the carvings shifting as if alive.

As they approached the altar, the ground beneath their feet trembled, and a deep, resonating voice filled the chamber, reverberating through their bones.

**"You have come."**

The voice was ancient—broken, yet undeniably powerful. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, a manifestation of the temple itself.

Ling Xiao felt his heart race. "What are you?" he demanded, his voice steady despite the growing unease in his chest.

**"I am the Source,"** the voice replied, slow and deliberate. **"I am the foundation upon which the Black Lotus was built. I am the beginning and the end of all things. You have come to claim what is mine."**

Zhen Xue's grip tightened on her sword. "We didn't come for you. We came to destroy what you've done to this world."

The voice let out a hollow laugh, like the echo of a dying star. **"Destroy me? You cannot destroy what is eternal. I am the seed of all creation. I am the birth of the Black Lotus, the shadow that lives in every corner of existence. You cannot destroy me without destroying yourselves."**

Ling Xiao's gaze hardened. He knew the Source was dangerous, but it was clear that it wasn't merely a force of destruction. It was an ancient entity, bound to the world's very foundations. If they destroyed it, they might also destroy everything that held the world together.

"Then what do you want?" Ling Xiao asked, his voice laced with defiance.

**"I want to be free,"** the Source responded, the words heavy with longing. **"I want to return to the world I once ruled. You, who seek to destroy me, are nothing but the tools of fate. You cannot escape the inevitability of my return."**

The ground trembled again, and the statues around them seemed to shift, their stone eyes now glowing with a dim, malevolent light. The walls closed in, the temperature dropping as a sudden chill filled the room. It was as if the temple itself was alive, a twisted reflection of the power that lay at its core.

Xuan Wei took a step forward, his body trembling as if caught between two worlds. His eyes locked onto the altar, and for a moment, Ling Xiao saw something different in him—a look of recognition, as if he understood the Source more than he was willing to admit.

"Xuan Wei!" Ling Xiao shouted, his voice full of urgency. "Don't listen to it! We're not here to play its game!"

But Xuan Wei didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on the altar, and slowly, he began to walk forward, as if drawn by an invisible force.

"Xuan Wei, no!" Zhen Xue cried out, reaching for him, but it was too late.

Xuan Wei reached the altar, his hands hovering over the dark stone. A strange energy pulsed around him, the power of the Source overwhelming him, consuming him.

"Welcome home," the Source whispered.

End of Chapter 83

In Chapter 83, Ling Xiao, Zhen Xue, and Xuan Wei enter the heart of the Black Lotus, an ancient, corrupted temple where the Source of the Black Lotus lies. The Source speaks to them, revealing itself as the foundation of the Black Lotus and a being of immense power. It calls to Xuan Wei, who is drawn to it despite Ling Xiao's warnings. The Source seeks to return to its former dominion, and as it consumes Xuan Wei, the trio faces the terrifying reality that to defeat it may mean destroying the very fabric of the world itself. Their journey is far from over, and the true battle has only just begun.

If you'd like more chapters, I can continue to build the story step by step, expanding on Ling Xiao's journey, his growing power, and the world he seeks to reshape.