Volume One: Emergence Chapter 21: A Difficult Choice

Liu Kaixin and his companions moved cautiously through the passage sealed by the Demon God. Eerie lights flickered on the surrounding walls, as if countless eyes were watching them. The air grew increasingly oppressive, making it difficult to breathe.

As they walked, a massive stone gate appeared before them. It was covered in ancient runes and mysterious patterns, radiating a powerful surge of energy. Daoist Xuanyi stepped forward to examine the runes, searching for a way to open the gate.

Suddenly, the runes illuminated, a flash of light swept through, and the gate slowly creaked open. Beyond it lay a vast circular hall. In the center stood a stone pedestal holding a crystal ball that emitted a soft glow. Five passages branched out from around the pedestal, each exuding a distinct aura.

Liu Kaixin and the others entered the hall, sensing that the five passages led to different destinations, each harboring unknown dangers.

"Everyone, be careful. These five passages are surely filled with traps and perils. We must choose wisely," Liu Kaixin said.

The group gathered around the pedestal, watching as images began to emerge within the crystal ball. The first passage was filled with scorching lava; anyone who approached would be reduced to ash. The second was encased in powerful ice and snow, cold enough to freeze a person solid. The third was thick with toxic mist; inhaling it would cause paralysis and death. The fourth was riddled with mechanical traps, where sharp blades and energy blasts made defense nearly impossible. The fifth was shrouded in a mysterious dark force, where entering meant losing one's way and falling into endless hallucinations.

"What should we do? Every path is so dangerous," Ox Girl said, her brow furrowed.

"We must make a choice; there is no turning back," Liu Kaixin said firmly.

Daoist Xuanyi closed his eyes and began to calculate. After a moment, he opened them, his expression grave. "According to my calculations, each of these five passages has a method to be broken, yet each carries immense risk. Furthermore, we do not have enough time to test them one by one."

The group fell silent, understanding the gravity of the choice. Every decision could mean the difference between life and death.

"Why don't we split into five groups and each try one passage?" Rat Boy suggested.

"No, that's too dangerous. We are a team; we cannot scatter," Liu Kaixin immediately rejected the idea.

"Then what should we do?" Monkey Boy asked anxiously.

Liu Kaixin gazed at the images in the crystal ball, deep in thought. Suddenly, he noticed the light flickering between the five passages, as if hinting at something. Observing closely, he realized the sequence of the flickering light corresponded to the elemental attributes of the Four Divine Beasts and Princess Holly.

"I have an idea," Liu Kaixin said. "We can choose our paths based on our individual abilities and attributes. I possess the power of the Four Divine Beasts, so I can attempt the lava passage, using the power of the Vermilion Bird to withstand the heat. Tiger Girl is powerful and fast; she can challenge the mechanical trap passage. Ox Girl’s high defense makes her suited for the ice and snow passage. Rat Boy and Monkey Boy are agile and have high resistance to toxins, so they can explore the toxic mist passage together. Princess Holly, you and Daoist Xuanyi take the fifth passage, using your magic and his spells to break through the hallucinations."

The group considered his proposal. It seemed like a logical plan, yet everyone knew that danger awaited them regardless of the path chosen.

"Agreed. I accept Kaixin's proposal. We cannot hesitate any longer; time is of the essence," Tiger Girl said first.

"Yes, I agree. We trust each other; we will surely overcome these hardships," added Ox Girl.

Rat Boy and Monkey Boy exchanged a look and nodded. "We have no problem. We will be careful."

Princess Holly looked at Liu Kaixin, her eyes full of worry, yet she said firmly, "Very well, we will be careful."

Daoist Xuanyi frowned slightly, well aware of the difficulty of the mission, but he said, "Everyone, be vigilant. Remember, our goal is to break the Demon God's seal; we must not fall here."

Thus, the group headed toward their chosen paths. Liu Kaixin stood before the first passage, took a deep breath, and channeled the power of the Vermilion Bird. Engulfed in raging flames, he resolutely walked inside. The lava within was like a boiling ocean, and the intense heat hit him immediately, but with the Vermilion Bird's power, he managed to withstand it. He moved through the lava with caution, alert to any danger.

Tiger Girl arrived at the fourth passage, gripping her blades, her eyes filled with fighting spirit. The passage was dense with mechanisms; blades and energy blasts struck repeatedly, but with her immense strength and agility, she dodged them time and again, weaving through the traps to find the exit.

Ox Girl stepped into the second passage, the cold instantly enveloping her. She immediately condensed her power to form a defensive barrier. As ice and snow piled up, the path became increasingly treacherous, but through sheer perseverance, she pushed forward step by step.

Rat Boy and Monkey Boy entered the third passage. Toxic mist filled the air, severely limiting visibility. They moved cautiously, using their keen senses and agility to avoid danger. Working in tandem, they reminded each other to stay alert as they searched for the source of the toxins.

Princess Holly and Daoist Xuanyi entered the fifth passage, where dark energy instantly shrouded them. Hallucinations appeared before their eyes—painful memories of the past and terrifying visions of the future. Princess Holly gripped her magic staff, casting spells to disperse the darkness, while Daoist Xuanyi chanted incantations, using his arts to resist the dark force.

In their respective passages, everyone faced immense challenges. Liu Kaixin encountered a giant fire serpent in the lava; its attacks were so fierce he struggled to parry. Tiger Girl was struck by an energy blast in the trap passage, sustaining a minor injury. Ox Girl was blocked by an Ice Giant in the frozen passage and could only resist with great difficulty. Rat Boy and Monkey Boy lost their way in the toxic mist, nearly falling into a desperate situation. Princess Holly and Daoist Xuanyi struggled incessantly against the illusions, nearly losing their sense of self.

Yet none gave up, each keeping their partners and the mission to break the seal in their hearts. Liu Kaixin invoked the power of the Four Divine Beasts to engage the fire serpent in an intense battle, finally defeating it. Tiger Girl, through sheer willpower, found the weak point in the mechanisms and cleared the passage. Ox Girl gathered all her strength to fight the Ice Giant to the death, eventually bringing it down. Rat Boy and Monkey Boy found the source of the toxins at the critical moment and destroyed it, escaping the mist. Princess Holly and Daoist Xuanyi, through mutual support and encouragement, broke the illusions and found the exit.

When the group reunited at the end of the passages, they were exhausted, but their eyes shimmered with the glow of victory. They had successfully navigated the five paths and continued toward the depths of the seal.

However, they did not know that a more difficult choice awaited them. Before them lay a vast abyss, dark and churning, emanating a terrifying aura. On the other side of the abyss stood a glowing platform, with something important resting upon it.

"That must be the key to breaking the Demon God's seal," Daoist Xuanyi said, pointing to the platform.

"But how do we cross?" Dragon Girl asked, staring at the abyss with a furrowed brow.

Just then, a voice echoed from the abyss: "To cross, one must be sacrificed. Only the life of one can serve as a tribute to open the bridge to the other side."

The group turned pale. They had never imagined they would face such a choice.

"No, we cannot sacrifice anyone. There must be another way," Liu Kaixin shouted.

"Ha-ha, there is no other way. You must make a choice, or you shall never cross," the voice mocked.

The group fell into silence. It was a heart-wrenching decision. No one wanted to sacrifice their companions, yet all wished to break the seal and save the world.

"Let me go," Liu Kaixin said suddenly. "I am the captain; I have the responsibility to make the sacrifice for everyone."

"No, Kaixin, we cannot let you," Princess Holly said quickly.

"That's right, Kaixin. We will think of another way together; there must be another option," Tiger Girl added.

"Stop arguing, everyone. This is something we must face. I believe that after I am sacrificed, you will surely be able to break the Demon God's seal," Liu Kaixin’s eyes burned with resolve.

Just as they were debating, Daoist Xuanyi suddenly spoke: "Wait, perhaps I have a way. But this method requires all of our strength."

Everyone looked at the Daoist, their eyes filled with hope.

Daoist Xuanyi took a deep breath and said, "We can pool all of our strength together to form a powerful energy shield, and I will use my magic to open a temporary path across the abyss. But this process requires everyone to give their all without the slightest distraction. Furthermore, this shield can only be maintained for a very short time; we must cross as quickly as possible."

"Good, let's try," Liu Kaixin said.

The group gathered together, channeling their energy into Liu Kaixin. Feeling the strength of his companions, he gathered it all, forming a multi-colored energy shield. Daoist Xuanyi began his spell, light flashing from his hands toward the abyss.

Under the influence of his magic, a glowing path appeared across the void.

"Go! Quickly!" Liu Kaixin shouted.

The group rushed toward the path. Protected by the energy shield, they successfully crossed the abyss and reached the platform.

On the platform lay an artifact radiating immense power. It was the key to breaking the seal.

Liu Kaixin stepped forward and picked up the artifact. He could feel the tremendous power contained within.

"We finally found it," Liu Kaixin said.

"Indeed, but we cannot lower our guard. The Demon God will not let us break the seal so easily," Daoist Xuanyi warned.

Just then, the space around them distorted, and the figure of the Demon God appeared before them.

"You think you can break my seal so easily? Too naive," the Demon God's voice boomed with rage and majesty.

Liu Kaixin gripped the artifact tightly, looking at the Demon God. "We will surely break your seal and restore peace to the world."

A fiercer battle was about to erupt. Whether Liu Kaixin and his companions could successfully break the Demon God's seal remained to be seen. But they were prepared; no matter the difficulties or challenges, they would not retreat. They were a team, bound by a shared belief and a common goal.

And this battle would decide the fate of the entire world.