Chapter 30 - Heart of the Hidden Chamber

The faint glow of the rune-locked door bathed the chamber in an eerie, pulsing light. Jiang Hao stepped forward, veins faintly glowing with the lingering energy of Seal Two. The dull ache in his chest reminded him that his powers came at a cost, yet his confident, almost teasing grin betrayed none of the pain."Here we are," he said, voice low, yet playful. "The heart of mystery itself. I hope it appreciates my sense of style."Mei Ling's hands glowed faintly as she hovered beside him. "Your sense of style won't protect you if this place decides to—""Kill me? I know," he interrupted, smirking. "That's why you're here. Protective, worried, dramatic… perfect companions."Lin Xueyao's eyes narrowed, scanning the chamber. "This place is older than most sects. The energy here isn't residual—it's alive. It will react to power, intent, even emotion. Move carefully."Jiang Hao waved a hand lazily, though the subtle shimmer beneath his skin hinted at the controlled power he carried. "Careful is boring. Let's make this interesting."The younger mysterious girl from earlier stepped lightly onto the obsidian floor, her eyes scanning the glowing runes. "This chamber isn't just a test. It's… a guardian. Ancient energy, intelligent, dangerous. One wrong move, and it could overwhelm even an immortal cultivator like you."He smirked faintly. "Overwhelmed? Me? That's cute. Let's see if it's as clever as it thinks it is."The first pulse of energy came almost immediately—a wave of ancient qi rolled across the floor, reacting to the residual Seal Two energy he carried. The ground trembled slightly as ethereal symbols shimmered on the walls.Mei Ling grabbed his sleeve, worry evident. "Senior Brother… don't provoke it too much! You still haven't fully recovered!""Recovery is for the boring," he murmured, leaning forward. "Exploration, danger, and a touch of flair—that's how we learn."A hidden panel shifted suddenly, releasing twin spectral blades that spun toward them with deadly precision. Jiang Hao moved fluidly, a faint glow from Seal Two pulsing along his veins as he deflected the blades without fully releasing his seal. Pain shot through him as residual energy pushed against his body, but he grinned despite it."See?" he said through clenched teeth. "Fun. Exciting. Dramatic. All in one package."Lin Xueyao scowled, moving to block another attack. Mei Ling's hands glowed, stabilizing the floor and protecting their footing. The younger girl observed silently, eyes flickering with amusement.Step by step, they advanced, each pulse of Seal Two energy illuminating the chamber and revealing a massive circular glyph at the far end, etched deep into the obsidian floor. The glyph shimmered with ancient power, a faint heartbeat vibrating through the hall."This is it," the younger girl whispered. "The core of the chamber. Whoever controls this glyph… controls the secrets locked here."Jiang Hao's pulse quickened. He could feel the latent demonic energy—old, cunning, and probing for weaknesses. The lingering pain from Seal Two throbbed, a reminder that he was not invincible. Yet beneath the ache, a thrill ignited: discovery, danger, and a challenge perfectly suited for him."Secrets?" he murmured, eyes glinting with mischief. "I do love secrets. Especially ones that come with danger and wine."Mei Ling rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a faint smile. Lin Xueyao's lips pressed into a thin line, though there was a flicker of admiration. The younger girl simply laughed softly, almost like wind chimes in a storm, as the hall pulsed with anticipation.And in that moment, the chamber seemed to watch them, alive with ancient intelligence, waiting for the first true test of Seal Two's control—and the MC's cunning, charm, and endurance.The adventure, teasing, and danger were just beginning.The glyph at the center of the chamber pulsed again, brighter this time, as if it had finally decided their presence was worth acknowledging. Lines of light shot outward, crawling along the floor like veins of molten gold, connecting to the carved walls and ceiling until the entire hall thrummed with a deep, resonant hum.Then, the air thickened.It wasn't qi in the normal sense—it was ancient, oppressive, the kind of power that remembered centuries of blood and war. The chamber itself seemed to draw breath, and from the glowing glyph rose a figure.At first, it was only smoke and light. Then it coalesced into a towering warrior clad in jagged obsidian armor, a faceless helm with burning crimson eyes. Its blade was longer than Jiang Hao was tall, forged of condensed lightning and hatred.The guardian's voice was a chorus of echoes. "Who dares step into the core… carrying power sealed in chains? Speak, or be annihilated."Jiang Hao tilted his head, utterly unfazed, though a sharp pulse of pain radiated down his spine. He smirked faintly. "Annihilation? Sounds like overwork to me. And I don't do overtime."Mei Ling groaned audibly. "Senior Brother, even in the face of death, you can't resist."The guardian raised its blade, energy crackling violently. The ground trembled beneath its presence.Lin Xueyao's eyes narrowed, stepping forward. "This isn't a mere remnant. This is a conscious guardian, crafted from soul and law. Ordinary strikes won't break it."The younger girl whispered, her tone oddly fascinated. "And it knows… his seals. It senses them." Her gaze lingered on Jiang Hao with something sharper than curiosity.Jiang Hao exhaled, the ache in his chest flaring as if mocking him. He felt Seal Two stirring, power begging to be unleashed, yet every pulse came with the reminder of pain and looming backlash.He smirked anyway, lifting his hand lazily. "Well then. Let's give it a dance."The guardian lunged, obsidian blade cleaving the air. The strike cracked the floor in a line of molten stone, lightning arcing outward.Jiang Hao moved in a blur, Seal Two energy flickering along his veins, his immortal-like appearance shimmering brighter. He redirected the strike with a palm, the ground shaking as sparks scattered across the chamber. The force reverberated through his body, and pain shot across his ribs like knives. He staggered slightly, breath shallow, but the grin never left his face."Not bad," he muttered. "But you'll have to try harder if you want to ruin my hair."Mei Ling darted forward, throwing a glowing barrier between him and the backlash of the lightning. "Senior Brother! Stop playing around—you're hurt already!"He glanced at her, eyes twinkling. "Hurt? This is just the warm-up stretch."Lin Xueyao joined the fray, her blade cutting arcs of silver through the guardian's defenses, sparks flying as steel clashed with condensed lightning. The younger girl stayed back, her eyes never leaving Jiang Hao, as if measuring not just his power but the hidden cost of each release.Another strike came. Jiang Hao caught it with his glowing hand, Seal Two flaring brighter. The guardian's blade trembled, as if resisting. Energy rippled through the chamber, shaking stone and dust loose from the ceiling.But this time, the backlash was harsher. Blood welled at the corner of his lips, his chest screaming in protest. The seal pulsed with fire, demanding release—threatening to consume him if he went further.Mei Ling's panicked voice cut through the chaos. "Enough! You're burning yourself up—"Jiang Hao spat the blood aside, straightened, and smirked faintly, handsome and untouchable even in pain. "Burning? No. Just warming up the stage."The guardian roared, obsidian armor glowing as it prepared to unleash a devastating strike that could shatter the chamber itself.And Jiang Hao, chest aching, vision blurring, and grin unshaken, lifted his hand once more.