A Western Kid’s Journey into the Eastern Cultivation World

Three days after the sanctuary's purification, Jack woke to find his right hand translucent, veins of shadow pulsing beneath the semi - transparent skin. He clenched his fist, and the Elysian Requiem hummed in its sheath, as if mocking his struggle to control the power within.

"Another episode?" Lyra asked, placing a pouch of ice on his wrist. Her eyes lingered on the faint black tendrils creeping up his forearm. "Solis said the more you wield the sword, the worse it gets."

The Keeper entered the room, ancient scrolls in hand. "I found references to 'the Balance Bearers' in these texts," she said, unrolling a brittle parchment. "The First Mages created six fusion orbs, not just one. They intended to train an army to fight the abyss, but... something went wrong."

Just then, the ground shook. From outside their camp, a chorus of inhuman howls echoed through the forest. Jack strapped on his sword, wincing as the shadow veins flared. "Let's see what's out there."

They emerged to find a squad of armored figures tearing through the trees, their armor etched with the same sinister 符文 as the dark mages. But one figure stood out—their helmet was crested with a sun emblem, identical to Aelion's.

"Aelion's old mentor," Lyra breathed, raising her dagger. "Seraphina. She went missing during the first abyss breach."

Seraphina turned, her eyes pure black voids. "Balance is a lie," she hissed, charging forward. Her sword emitted a dark energy that corroded the air, leaving trails of decay.

Jack drew the Elysian Requiem, but the moment the blades clashed, his vision blurred. He saw Seraphina as she once was—teaching Aelion to wield light, her armor gleaming in the sun. The memory distracted him, and Seraphina's blade sliced across his shoulder.

"Jack!" The Keeper fired a 冰锥,but Seraphina batted it aside. "She's being controlled by an orb—look at her chest!"

There, beneath a torn section of armor, pulsed a fusion orb—jet - black and cracked, oozing shadow. "The First Mages' failed experiments," Solis said, materializing beside them. "They became the first abyssal vessels."

Jack forced himself to focus. He channeled the Elysian Requiem's light, but the shadow within him surged in response, creating a chaotic storm of energy. The clash caused Seraphina to stumble, her control over the orb wavering.

"Now!" Lyra shouted, leaping to disarm her. But as Seraphina fell, her orb exploded, sending a shockwave that knocked everyone to the ground. When Jack stood, Seraphina was gone—only a charred crater remained.

"We need to find the other orbs before they fall into abyss's hands," The Keeper said, examining the scorched earth. "But first, we have to reach the Western Shadow Portal."

Their journey took them through a valley where the sky was permanently twilight. As they approached the portal—a swirling mass of shadow framed by broken obelisks—Jack felt a familiar pull. The merged orb was reacting to another presence.

Standing at the portal's edge was a figure clad in midnight armor, holding a sword that mirrored the Elysian Requiem—except its blade was pure shadow, rippling with abyssal energy. The figure turned, and Jack's blood ran cold.

The stranger's face was a perfect reflection of his own, down to the set of his jaw and the curve of his lips. But where Jack's eyes held a mix of light and dark, the stranger's eyes were twin stars of pure, malevolent shadow.

"I've been waiting for you, brother," the stranger said, raising his dark blade. "It's time to finish what the First Mages started."