Chapter 37 - Chapter 37 Perilous Journey to the Ancient Temple

The sun had begun its descent, casting long, ominous shadows across the path as Jack, the Keeper, and the Mysterious Yin Alliance disciples made their way towards the Misty Peaks. The air grew colder with each step, and a thick, eerie fog began to roll in, obscuring their vision and muffling the sounds of their footsteps.​Jack tightened his grip on his bronze sword, the Chaos Orb within him pulsing with a faint, anxious rhythm. His eyes scanned the fog - shrouded landscape, on high alert for any signs of danger. "Stay vigilant," he called back to the group. "I don't trust this silence."​As if on cue, a chilling laugh echoed through the fog. The sound seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, sending shivers down the spines of the disciples. Suddenly, a volley of dark arrows pierced through the mist, aimed straight at the group.​"Take cover!" the Keeper shouted. She waved her short sword, creating a shield of ice - blue energy that deflected most of the arrows. Jack leaped into action, channeling the power of the Chaos Orb to create a swirling barrier around himself. The few arrows that managed to break through were incinerated upon contact with the barrier's multicolored glow.​From the fog emerged more of the shadowy figures, their numbers far greater than Jack had anticipated. They were led by a tall, hooded figure whose face remained hidden in the darkness. "You think you can stop us?" the hooded figure sneered. "The Gate of Oblivion will open, and your world will drown in darkness."​Jack gritted his teeth. "Over my dead body!" He charged forward, his sword ablaze with a combination of Heavenly Gang Sword Technique and the power of the Chaos Orb. The Keeper and the disciples followed suit, their battle cries echoing through the fog.​The battle was fierce. The shadowy figures fought with a ferocity that seemed to know no bounds, their dark blades leaving trails of corruption in the air. Jack parried and struck, his movements a blur of precision. But the more he fought, the more he realized that these enemies were different from the usual Blood Fiend Sect remnants. Their techniques were more refined, as if they had received training from a powerful and ancient source.​Just as the tide of the battle seemed to be turning in Jack's favor, the hooded figure let out a sharp whistle. In an instant, the shadowy figures disengaged and disappeared back into the fog. Jack was left standing, panting heavily, his sword dripping with a strange, black substance that hissed and smoked upon hitting the ground.​"We can't let them delay us," Jack said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "We need to reach the temple before it's too late."​As they continued their journey, the Misty Peaks loomed ahead, their peaks hidden in the clouds. The old temple came into view, a dilapidated structure made of weathered stone. Cracks ran through the walls, and vines had grown over the ancient carvings that adorned the entrance. The air around the temple was thick with a sense of foreboding, as if the very ground beneath their feet was holding its breath.​As they approached the temple, Jack noticed that the front gates were slightly ajar. A faint, red light seeped through the crack, casting an ominous glow on the ground. "This doesn't feel right," he murmured.​The Keeper nodded. "But we have no choice. The shard is in there, and we need to get it back before they use it to open the gate."​With that, Jack took a deep breath and pushed the gates open. The creaking of the ancient hinges echoed through the stillness, announcing their arrival to whatever lay within. Inside, the temple was filled with a strange, pulsating red light. On an altar at the far end of the room, the black shard sat, surrounded by a group of hooded figures chanting in a language Jack had never heard before.​Before Jack could make a move, a new figure stepped out from the shadows. It was a woman, her long, silver hair flowing down her back. She wore a gown of pure white, but there was a cold, calculating look in her eyes. "Welcome, Jack," she said, her voice like silk. "I've been expecting you."