The Boundless Ascendant

The air around them felt different, charged with a palpable tension, as if the world itself had shifted. The trees, once gnarled and twisted from the influence of the Black Lotus, now seemed to hum with a strange, muted energy. Ling Xiao stood at the center of the clearing, his body trembling with the weight of the Source within him. His skin tingled, his muscles tight with the effort of keeping the darkness at bay. It was like holding a wildfire in the palm of his hand, its heat and hunger radiating through his every fiber.

But he had made his choice. He had chosen to bear this burden, to contain the Source, no matter the cost.

Zhen Xue stood nearby, her eyes never leaving him. She was still, her gaze sharp, as if searching for signs of the change she feared. She could see it in his eyes—the dark shadows that had settled there. She could feel the subtle shift in his aura, a coldness that hadn't been there before. But what worried her more was the quiet that now surrounded them. It wasn't the stillness of peace—it was the silence of something waiting.

Ling Xiao took a deep breath, feeling the power of the Source thrumming within him, demanding to be released, to be free. His hands clenched into fists, the muscles in his arms straining as he fought to contain the dark energy swirling inside him.

**"I can feel it,"** he said, his voice low, almost a growl. **"It's inside me… always. Every moment, it's pulling at me."**

Zhen Xue stepped closer, her eyes filled with both concern and determination. **"How are you holding up?"**

Ling Xiao met her gaze, his eyes darkened with an unnatural gleam. **"I'm holding up… but I'm not sure how much longer I can."** He glanced down at his hands, his skin almost translucent, veins pulsing with dark energy. **"It's like it's alive. The Source… it's alive within me, and it wants to take over. But I can't let it. I won't let it."**

Zhen Xue placed a hand on his arm, the touch grounding him, a reminder that he wasn't alone. She had seen the toll this was taking on him, but she also knew he was stronger than anyone gave him credit for. **"You've been through worse. This is just another trial. You'll find a way to control it. I know you will."**

But Ling Xiao wasn't so sure. **"It's not like anything I've ever faced before. The Source is unlike any enemy we've fought. It's inside me, Zhen Xue. I can feel its influence trying to corrupt my thoughts, to twist my intentions."**

A flicker of movement caught Zhen Xue's attention. She turned quickly, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her sword. But there was no immediate threat—just the wind, rustling through the trees. And yet, the feeling of being watched remained. It was as if the very forest itself was alive, sensing the change in Ling Xiao.

**"We should keep moving,"** she suggested, her voice steady despite the unease she felt. **"We need to find answers. There's no time to waste."**

Ling Xiao nodded, though he could feel the tug of the Source growing stronger with each passing moment. **"You're right. We can't stay here. The Source is already too close to breaking free. We have to find a way to seal it."**

But the path ahead was uncertain. They had no map, no guide. The only thing they knew for certain was that they had to find the ancient temple of the Elders—a place said to hold knowledge of the Source, its origins, and perhaps even a way to stop it.

---

**The Road Ahead**

As they moved through the desolate landscape, the weight of the journey pressed heavily on them. The world around them was dying. The air had thickened with the smell of rot, the trees barely standing as if drained of life. Ling Xiao's thoughts were clouded, the darkness inside him whispering, ever persistent, urging him to embrace it, to unleash its power. 

The closer they got to the Elders' temple, the more intense the pull became. It was as if the Source had already sensed their destination, anticipating their arrival. Every step felt heavier, every breath harder to take. Ling Xiao was beginning to feel like a puppet, its strings pulled by an unseen hand, threatening to drag him down into the abyss.

**"We're getting close,"** Zhen Xue said, her voice strained. Her sharp eyes had caught glimpses of the ruins in the distance—a broken temple, half consumed by the land around it. 

Ling Xiao nodded, though he could barely focus on anything beyond the storm raging inside his mind. **"We don't have much time,"** he muttered. **"I can feel it. The Source… it's calling to me."**

The path was treacherous, the earth cracked and torn by the spreading corruption. The forest was silent now, eerily so. Even the wildlife had fled, leaving nothing but the stillness of decay. But as they neared the temple, a strange feeling washed over Ling Xiao, a sensation that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He wasn't just being watched now—he was being hunted.

**"Something's wrong,"** he said, his voice tight. **"It's not just the Source. There's something else here."**

Zhen Xue's grip on her sword tightened, her eyes scanning the ruins ahead. **"Stay on guard. Whatever it is, we'll face it together."**

But as they entered the clearing before the temple, the ground beneath their feet suddenly cracked, a deep rumble shaking the earth. Ling Xiao barely had time to react before a burst of dark energy shot up from the ground, slamming into him like a tidal wave.

He was thrown back, crashing into the earth with a grunt. His body was racked with pain as the Source roared within him, furious at the disruption, its power flaring wildly. For a moment, Ling Xiao couldn't breathe, the weight of the darkness inside him threatening to crush him.

**"Ling Xiao!"** Zhen Xue's voice cut through the haze of pain. She was by his side in an instant, pulling him up. **"Get up! We have to keep moving!"**

Ling Xiao's eyes were wide with fear and frustration. He could feel the energy from the temple—dark and ancient, stirring like a slumbering beast awakened. The Source within him reacted to it, a dark resonance echoing through his body. His hands shook as the power surged, struggling to break free. 

**"I can't… I can't control it…"** His voice was raw, a mixture of fear and resolve. He felt like a man on the edge of a precipice, one misstep away from falling into an endless abyss.

But Zhen Xue didn't hesitate. She grabbed him by the shoulders, her grip firm. **"You *will* control it. We're not stopping now. The temple is just ahead. It's our only chance."**

With Zhen Xue's support, Ling Xiao managed to stand, his legs unsteady. His vision swam as the dark energy within him writhed, threatening to break free. But they couldn't afford to stop—not now. They had come too far.

Together, they moved forward, toward the temple.

---

**The Temple of the Elders**

As they entered the temple's ruin, a cold, oppressive energy met them. The walls were cracked, the once grand columns now crumbling under the weight of time. But there was something more here—something ancient, something that *knew* them. The Source stirred violently inside Ling Xiao, a deep resonance reverberating through the temple's stone.

Zhen Xue's grip on her sword never loosened as she scanned the temple's interior. There were markings along the walls—runes and symbols she didn't recognize, each one radiating a dark, foreboding aura.

**"This place,"** Zhen Xue murmured, her voice tinged with awe and fear, **"It's alive. It's been waiting for us."**

Ling Xiao's heart pounded in his chest. The Source inside him responded to the temple, a pull so strong that it felt as if his very soul was being dragged toward something deeper within the ruin. He staggered forward, his hand reaching out almost instinctively.

And then, in the center of the temple, he saw it.

A pedestal, surrounded by ancient glyphs, an altar bathed in the faintest light. It was as if the Source itself was drawn to it—beckoning him.

The answer was here. But so was the price.

Ling Xiao's body trembled, his mind racing. "This is it…" He breathed the words, barely able to keep his thoughts together.

"We've come too far to turn back now," Zhen Xue said, her voice steady.

Ling Xiao nodded, his determination hardening. "Then let's finish this."

End of Chapter 87

In Chapter 87, Ling Xiao and Zhen Xue venture deeper into the dying world, with Ling Xiao struggling to contain the power of the Source now bound within him. As they approach the ancient temple of the Elders, they are confronted by a surge of dark energy that nearly overwhelms Ling Xiao. The Source within him reacts violently to the temple, leading them to believe the answers they seek may

 lie within its walls. But as they enter the temple, the air is thick with dark energy, and Ling Xiao senses the presence of something ancient and powerful waiting for them. They must face the temple's trials and the Source's full power if they are to have any hope of stopping its spread.

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.