Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Chapter 29

The lack of the sun that should hung high in the sky, made the sky look like it had melted and turned into a blazing inferno. The scorching heat was oppressive, beating them down mercilessly and baking the air until every breath felt like inhaling smoke. The heat of the desert its oppressive weight felt in every labored breath the group took. Sweat beaded on their foreheads and soaked their robes, their footsteps dragging across the fine, golden sand that shifted under their weight.

Even the magical beasts soaring above them, great bird-like creatures with wings as broad as sails, offered little relief despite their best efforts.The massive creatures cast wide shadows over the group, their vibrant, radiant feathers shimmering with faint magical auras, soared above them, their vast wings creating patches of shade that danced across the sand. Yet the momentary shade they provided only emphasized the sweltering temperature, trapping the heat beneath their wings like an oven.

"These birds makes me feel more like their reminding us were being cooked alive instead of helping" A bobbed haired female mage grumbled, her voice heavy with exhaustion. She wiped her forehead with a damp sleeve, her enchanted cooling amulet failing to counter the oppressive heat.

"They’re trying their best," a mage said, though his tone lacked conviction. He fanned himself with a charred piece of parchment, his frustration evident. "This isn’t ordinary heat. It’s infused with magic."

"We should have chosen a different path," one cultivator muttered, his face flushed as he shielded his eyes from the glaring sun.

"There was no other path," Liang Feng, the crown prince, said firmly. Despite his composed tone, his face glistened with sweat. "This heat is testing us, just like every other challenge we’ve faced so far."

Han Qing walked at the front, his sharp eyes scanning the shimmering horizon. "Save your strength," he said coldly. "Complaining won’t make it any cooler."

"Is it just me," Someone groaned, wiping sweat from his brow, "or does it feel hotter under their shadows?"

"It’s not just you," one of the younger cultivators muttered, his voice hoarse. "I think we’re being roasted alive."

A magician wearing light silver robes fanned himself with a conjured breeze, though it quickly dissipated in the oppressive heat. "These birds are supposed to help," he grumbled, glaring upward at the creatures. "What’s the point if they can’t even keep us cool?"

"They’re doing their best," Liang Feng, the crown prince, said evenly, though his own face was damp with sweat. "The heat isn’t natural, like what the mage said, it’s infused with magic. Nothing can fully block it."

Cheng Rong scanned their surroundings, his expression tired and worn as any other. "As Han Qing said, complaining won’t make it any cooler. Focus on moving forward."

Despite his words, the group’s pace had slowed to a crawl, their movements lethargic under the relentless sun. Even Feng Jiao Xue, who normally exuded an air of unshakable calm, felt the heat seeping into her bones. Her steps were steady, but the icy aura she unconsciously emitted flickered like a dying ember.

After what felt like an eternity, the group pressed on in a very slow pace, some almost crawling, desperate for water, the shimmering heat waves parted to reveal something unexpected, a massive wall of glittering crystals.

The wall towered before them, its surface composed of countless translucent shards that refracted the sunlight into a dazzling array of colors. Blues, greens, and purples danced across the sand, creating an almost otherworldly glow.

"What... is that?" A cultivator asked as he was using his sword to block the glimmering shines, his voice tinged with both awe and dread.

"It looks like the teeth of some massive beast," one of the mages murmured. The jagged rocks jutted out at irregular angles, Its surface was uneven, forming narrow gaps that resembled the spaces between a predator’s fangs, full of sharp edges and cracks that gave it the appearance of a beast’s gnarled teeth, bared in a mocking grin

"It’s beautiful," A beautiful blondmage breathed, momentarily forgetting the heat as she stared in awe.

"Beautiful and dangerous," Han Qing said, his tone sharp. "Don’t let its appearance fool you. Those crystals look sharp enough to cut through steel."

"Great," The girl replied in a mutter, her sarcasm cutting through the silence. "Because the desert wasn’t challenging enough, now we have to deal with this."

Liang Feng stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the wall. The crystals jutted out at odd angles, forming narrow gaps between them that resembled the jagged teeth of some glittering beast.

"There’s no way around it," Liang Feng said after a moment, his tone grim. "We’ll have to go through."

"Through that?" another cultivator exclaimed, his face pale. "Those gaps are barely wide enough for a person to fit!"

"We don’t have a choice," Liang Feng replied firmly. He gestured toward the narrowing space behind them, where the shimmering heat waves distorted the horizon. "Going back isn’t an option."

"We don’t have a choice," Feng Jiao Xue said calmly, her gaze fixed on the shimmering wall. "The desert doesn’t leave us alternatives."

Liang Feng nodded. "Move slowly and carefully. The crystals are sharp, and the structure looks fragile. Any disturbance could bring it down on us."

The group began to move forward, one by one slipping into the narrow gaps between the rocks. The air within the passage was cooler, the shimmering surfaces refracting the light into soft, shifting patterns. Yet the beauty of the crystals was offset by the jagged edges of the rocks pressed against their robes and armor, leaving little room to maneuver.

"Don’t rush," Liang Feng instructed, his voice steady. "Move slowly and stay close to each other."

"Don’t touch the walls," Han Qing warned as well, his voice echoing softly through the crystalline corridors. "Even the slightest pressure could trigger a collapse."

The group moved in tense silence, their breaths shallow as they navigated the labyrinthine gaps. The walls seemed to hum faintly, their vibrations resonating in the air like the haunting melody of an unseen instrument

As the path narrowed, the group found themselves pressed tighter and tighter against the jagged surfaces. The shimmering light grew dimmer, the once-beautiful hues taking on an eerie, menacing glow.

"Focus," Han Qing said sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The group pressed onward, the oppressive heat outside replaced by a suffocating sense of claustrophobia. The walls seemed to press closer with every step, their sharp edges scraping against arms and legs.

"I don’t like this," one of the younger cultivators said, his voice trembling. His breathing grew heavier as the space narrowed further, the rocks pressing tightly against his sides. His breathing quickened, and his eyes darted around wildly. "I can’t... I can’t move!"

"Stay calm," Liang Feng urged, his tone firm but reassuring. "Panicking will only make it worse."

But the young man’s fear had taken hold. He struggled against the enclosing crystals, his movements frantic. His eyes darted around wildly, and his breath came in short, shallow gasps. "I can’t— I can’t move! It’s too tight!" He could feel it as the crystals pressed on him, they were moving or growing he couldn’t think! All he had in mind was that ’it was getting tighter! he needs to get out of here’

"Don’t use your qi!" Han Qing barked as he noticed the young man gathering energy. "The rocks are unstable—"

Before he could finish, the cultivator’s panic overtook him. With a burst of uncontrolled qi, he swung his sword in desperation, a frenzied attempt to free himself, its blade glowing with a surge of uncontrolled qi. The strike cleaved through the nearest crystals, sending shards tumbling to the ground.

A deafening crack echoed through the passage as the wall shuddered violently.

"Run!" Liang Feng shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The group surged forward, abandoning caution as the crystals around them began to collapse. Shards rained down like deadly icicles, their sharp edges slicing through the air with a chilling hiss.

Feng Jiao Xue darted forward, her movements swift and precise despite the chaos. The exit was just ahead, a sliver of light cutting through the darkness. But as she leapt toward it, a sharp cracking sound echoed above her.

She barely had time to react before an icicle-like shard of rock broke free from the ceiling and struck before her, blocking her path.

As if sensing her distress, the crown prince turned back just in time to see crystal shards blocking her figure but she saw her face clearly, calm, calculating but Liang Feng could not think clearly.

It was like his heart stopped beating for in that moment, dread and fear clouded his mind. "Jiao Xue!" Liang Feng called out running towards her but his subbordinates held him back in time.

For a brief moment, the crown prince’s composed mask shattered. His heart pounded in his chest again, and his mind raced with a single, overwhelming thought: She can’t die. The suffocating weight of the collapsing rocks forgotten as his gaze locked onto her dissapearing form as beautiful sprakling crystal dusts covered his view.

Without thinking, he activated the talisman embedded in her robes, the intricate runes flared to life, glowing brightly for a brief moment before she vanished from sight.

Feng Jiao Xue was about to enter the secret realm within her ring when an ethereal light before she vanished from sight.

A moment later, she reappeared at his side, her expression one of mild shock as she was engulfed in a hug.

Before either of them could say anything, Han Qing’s voice cut through the moment. "Move! We’re not safe yet!"

Feng Jiao Xue’s gaze softened as she slightly pushed him away, her eyes full of tormiol and conflicted emotion, though her tone remained even. "I had it under control."

Liang Feng didn’t reply, his eyes scanning her for injuries before Han Qing simply dragged him along.

The group surged forward, the collapsing passage forcing them into a frantic sprint. The exit loomed ahead, a blinding beacon of safety against the encroaching darkness.

One by one, they burst through the narrow gap, stumbling into the open air just as the passage behind them collapsed entirely. Dust and debris billowed outward, but they were safe.

For a moment, no one spoke, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they processed what had just happened.

"That..." Mei Lin began, her voice shaky. "That was too close."

Liang Feng glanced at Feng Jiao Xue, his heart still racing despite their escape. "Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine," she replied calmly, though her hand rested briefly on the spot where the shard had struck her.

Han Qing surveyed the group, his sharp gaze ensuring that everyone was accounted for. "Let’s move. We’ve wasted enough time."

Despite his stern tone, there was a faint undercurrent of relief in his voice.