Chapter 65 - Chapter 66: The Enigmatic Heart of the Realm

The pulsating orb of the Heart of the Realm cast a kaleidoscopic glow over the battle - scarred chamber, bathing the exhausted group in a light that seemed to both heal and unnerve them. Chen Jiuzhang, his grip on the crystal - key still firm, took a tentative step forward. The key vibrated in response, its energy intertwining with the strange aura emanating from the Heart.​Shen Qingluan struggled to her feet, the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal hanging limply around her neck. "What... what do we do now?" she asked, her voice hoarse from shouting and fatigue.​Luna, her starlight - woven gown hanging in shreds, approached the Heart with wide, cautious eyes. "I've only read legends about this. It's said to be the very essence of the Gui Xu Secret Realm, a source of power that can reshape reality itself. But no one knows for sure what will happen when we touch it."​Zhang Chengying, leaning on his broken peachwood sword for support, let out a dry laugh. "Well, we didn't come all this way to just stand around and look at it. Let's see what this thing can do."​As he reached out his hand, a sudden burst of energy shot from the Heart, knocking him backward. He landed with a thud, his eyes wide with shock. "What the -? It doesn't want to be touched!"​Wu Laogou, puffing on his pipe which had somehow survived the battle, shook his head. "This ain't right. There's something about this place, this Heart... it's as if it's waiting for something... or someone."​Just then, the crystal - key in Chen Jiuzhang's hand began to glow with an intense, blinding light. Images flashed through his mind—visions of the past, when the Heart of the Realm was in harmony with the world, and of a future where darkness once again threatened to engulf everything. But among these visions, he saw a figure, cloaked in a familiar shadow, watching them with a malevolent gaze. It was the shadowy figure they had thought defeated, somehow still lingering.​"I think I know what we have to do," Chen Jiuzhang said, his voice steady despite the unease in his heart. "The key and the Heart are connected. I need to use the key to unlock the Heart's power, but... I'm not sure what the consequences will be."​Before anyone could respond, the ground began to shake violently. Cracks spiderwebbed across the chamber floor, and a low, ominous rumble filled the air. From the depths of the cracks, a dark mist emerged, thick and choking. The shadowy figure materialized once again, its form more solid than before.​"You think you can just claim the Heart of the Realm for yourselves?" it sneered. "You're even more foolish than I thought. The Heart belongs to the darkness, and I will see to it that it stays that way."​With a wave of its hand, the shadowy figure summoned a new horde of creatures—creatures made of pure mist, their forms constantly shifting and changing. They lunged towards the group, their touch sapping the strength from anyone they came into contact with.​As the battle resumed, Chen Jiuzhang knew that this time, the stakes were higher than ever. He had to unlock the power of the Heart of the Realm, but doing so might unleash a force that even he couldn't control. And with the shadowy figure standing in their way, he wasn't sure if they had the strength to succeed.​Meanwhile, as Su Nian fought off the mist - creatures, she noticed something strange about Luna. The girl's eyes were fixed on the Heart of the Realm, and there was a hunger in her gaze, a longing that Su Nian had never seen before. It made her wonder—was Luna truly on their side, or did she have her own agenda when it came to the Heart?