The System's brutal ultimatum, stark and unwavering, burned itself into Kenji's mind: "Choice: Sacrifice [Rare Item] OR Risk [Permanent Debuff] to Elder." Master Thorne's weak, pained voice, begging him to run, echoed in the ancient chamber. The Obsidian Hand operatives intensified their guttural chanting, their hooded forms swaying in the sickly green-black light of the runes. Master Thorne's Qi, already a flickering flame, threatened to extinguish completely.
Kenji's mind raced with impossible speed, processing the options, analyzing the unseen data. He had very few "Rare Items." The Qi Condensation Pellet was vital for his own progression. The Basic Cultivation Scroll was his foundation. The Basic Spatial Pouch… He looked down at the pouch at his hip. It contained everything he had, meager as it was. It was his only storage, his only true physical link to the System's direct rewards. Sacrificing it would leave him utterly vulnerable, unable to carry anything, unable to utilize a core System function. It was, indeed, a rare item to him.
Then, his gaze fell on the Void-touched Charm he still clutched in his other hand, the piece of evidence Jax had dropped in his haste. The System's analysis of it had indicated "Traces of Ancient Arcane Ritual" and correlation with the "Forbidden Arcane Ritual." Could it be used as the "Rare Item" for sacrifice? It was an artifact directly linked to the very force that was draining Master Thorne. An insidious, malevolent energy that vibrated with the word "Sacrifice."
Kenji made his decision. He couldn't sacrifice his own spatial pouch, his future means of storage. And he wouldn't risk a permanent debuff to Master Thorne, not when the Elder was already so vulnerable. The charm was the key. Its dark energy, its very essence, was intertwined with this ritual. It was a risk, a desperate gambit, but it felt right. He had to use the enemy's own tool against them.
With a roar born of desperation and newfound resolve, Kenji lunged forward, bursting from his hiding place. His Stealth Skill immediately deactivated, but his Qi Condensation Level 1 cultivation surged through him, making his movements swift and powerful. He aimed directly for the Obsidian Hand operatives, who, startled by his sudden appearance, broke their chanting, their heads snapping towards him.
"A commoner?!" one hissed, disbelief warring with fury.
Kenji ignored them. He focused on the obsidian shard embedded in the platform, the primary conduit for the draining. As he closed the distance, he threw the Void-touched Charm with all his might, aiming it with System-guided precision directly at the pulsing obsidian shard. As the charm arced through the air, he simultaneously channeled a raw burst of his True Aetherial Roots Qi into it, amplifying its inherent dark energy, making it resonate with the malevolent power of the ritual itself.
The charm struck the obsidian shard with a resounding CRACK!
A blinding flash of green-black void energy erupted, far more violent than anything Kenji had witnessed before. The air screamed as the charm, overloaded with Kenji's amplified Qi, exploded, directly corrupting and destabilizing the core conduit of the ritual. The runes etched on the platform flared wildly, then began to crack and splinter, unable to contain the chaotic energy feedback.
The Obsidian Hand operatives shrieked in agony as their own ritual turned against them. The void energy, meant to be siphoned into the ritual, surged back into them, causing their bodies to contort grotesquely. Their hoods fell back, revealing faces twisted by pain, their eyes burning with void-touched malevolence. They were cultivators themselves, but lesser ones, incapable of controlling this backlash.
Kenji shielded his eyes from the blinding light, feeling the oppressive spiritual pressure dissipate as the ritual collapsed. He pushed through the chaotic void energy, his True Aetherial Roots Qi naturally purifying the corrupted energy around him, shielding him from the backlash. He reached Master Thorne, who lay limp on the platform, his aura barely a flicker, his face pale and clammy.
The two Obsidian Hand operatives, despite their agony, attempted one final, desperate act. They reached for small, dark crystals attached to their belts, intending to detonate themselves and destroy the evidence, perhaps even taking Kenji with them.
But Kenji was faster. He had anticipated this. He had seen their desperation. His System had subtly highlighted their actions. He used his newly acquired Basic Combat Skill: Iron Palm (from Chapter 4), infusing his hands with a burst of Qi. He slammed his palms into their chests, not aiming to kill, but to disrupt their internal Qi flow, stunning them into unconsciousness before they could activate their self-destruct. They crumpled to the ground, unconscious, their forms still twitching with suppressed void energy.
Kenji ignored them, his focus entirely on Master Thorne. He knelt, his heart pounding, and placed a trembling hand on his mentor's chest. Master Thorne's breathing was shallow, almost non-existent. His Qi Sea was almost completely depleted, leaving him on the brink of spiritual collapse.
The System screen glowed, a triumphant green light cutting through the fading green-black of the ruined ritual.
CRUCIAL MISSION: Rescue the Elder.STATUS: COMPLETE!
Reward: Arcane Disruption (Basic) Skill + 10 System Points + Elder's Profound Gratitude Reputation.
System Points: 10.5 SP (0.5 from previous + 10 new)
Kenji felt a surge of relief so profound it almost buckled his knees. He had done it. He had rescued Master Thorne. And the reward, a new skill and a significant boost in System Points, felt incredibly well-earned.
He immediately retrieved the Mid-Grade Healing Elixir he had painstakingly crafted in Master Elara's lab (Chapter 12) from his Spatial Pouch. It glowed with a pure, emerald light. He gently lifted Master Thorne's head and carefully poured a few drops of the elixir between his pale lips.
The effect was instantaneous. A soft, golden light emanated from Master Thorne's body, his Qi aura flickering back to life, slowly growing stronger. His breathing deepened, his complexion gaining a faint, healthy hue. The void dust on his robes seemed to dissolve, repelled by the elixir's purifying properties. The healing was slow, but it was undeniable. The elixir was working.
Master Thorne's eyes fluttered open. He looked at Kenji, his gaze hazy at first, then slowly sharpening with recognition. He saw the ruined ritual, the unconscious Obsidian Hand operatives, and Kenji kneeling beside him. A profound sense of shock, then immense relief, washed over his face.
"Kenji…" he whispered, his voice raspy, barely audible. He tried to sit up, but his body was still too weak. "You… you came back."
Kenji nodded, a small, weary smile touching his lips. "Of course, Master. I wasn't going to let them… sacrifice you." He didn't mention the "Choice" the System had given him, or the "Rare Item" that had saved the day. That was his secret.
Master Thorne slowly shook his head, a pained expression on his face. "It's deeper than you know, boy. Much, much deeper." He managed to grasp Kenji's arm, his grip surprisingly firm. His voice dropped to a low, conspiratorial whisper, filled with an urgency that belied his weakness. "You've stumbled into something far darker than you can imagine. They… they are everywhere. Hidden. They hunt those who seek the truth." He coughed, a dry, rattling sound. His eyes, though still clouded by pain and exhaustion, gleamed with an immense, terrifying knowledge. "Trust no one, Kenji. Especially not those who seem to hold absolute power. They are hunting those who seek the truth. They… they are within the Sanctum's leadership."
Kenji's eyes widened. A hidden enemy. Within the Sanctum's leadership. Not just rogue disciples like Lord Valerius, but powerful figures. The implications were chilling. Master Thorne was accusing members of the Sanctum High Council of colluding with the Obsidian Hand. His mentor, a revered Elder, had been secretly investigating this, and it had almost cost him his life. Kenji's gaze instinctively went to the Elder's personal token, a familiar insignia subtly embroidered on his robes, an insignia Kenji knew to be a mark of deep respect and long service.
Master Thorne coughed again, a weak, painful sound. He tightened his grip on Kenji's arm, his eyes pleading. "They were trying to use this ritual… to empower something. Something ancient. A corruption from beyond. I only managed to find fragments of their plan in the Sunken Archives of Eldoria before they ambushed me here. They spoke of the 'Architect'… and the 'Grand Void Maw'…" His voice trailed off, his eyes closing in exhaustion, the healing elixir slowly doing its work. He had given Kenji a chilling glimpse into his secret investigation, hinting at a higher authority's involvement. The confession was immense, a profound trust placed in Kenji.
Kenji stared at his mentor, then at the unconscious Obsidian Hand operatives, then back at the ruined ritual. The Architect. The Grand Void Maw. These were terms that pulsed with dark, terrifying energy, far beyond the scope of any personal duel or sect conflict. This was not just about saving Master Thorne; it was about saving the entire Sanctum, perhaps even Aethelgard itself. He looked down at the Arcane Disruption (Basic) Skill glowing on his System screen, a reward from saving Master Thorne. He had a vital new tool. He had a mission far grander than he could have imagined. And he had a secret war to fight, right within the walls of his own home.