The Boundless Ascendant

The morning sun cast long shadows over the rugged path ahead as Ling Xiao and Zhen Xue pressed on through the dense wilderness. The Forgotten Valley was still days away, but the tension in the air felt palpable, as if the very earth beneath their feet held its breath, waiting for something to happen. The deeper they traveled into the untamed wilderness, the less certain Ling Xiao felt about their decision. Each step seemed to pull them closer to an inevitable confrontation—not just with the Source, but with themselves.

Ling Xiao glanced sideways at Zhen Xue, her expression unreadable, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword. Though she hadn't spoken much, he could feel her unease, as if she too were sensing the weight of the unknown pressing down on them. 

**"How much farther?"** she asked, breaking the silence between them. Her voice was practical, but there was a hint of exhaustion in her tone.

Ling Xiao squinted at the distant horizon, where the jagged peaks of the Forgotten Valley's mountains loomed. The sky above them had shifted from blue to a dull, overcast gray, as if the land itself was unwilling to let them pass without protest. 

**"Another two days, maybe less,"** he answered. **"But the terrain will only get harder from here. We'll have to navigate through the Windblight Gorge before we reach the valley itself."**

Zhen Xue's eyes narrowed, a shadow passing over her face. **"Windblight Gorge. That's where many who try to find the Forgotten Valley meet their end. The winds there are said to be as deadly as the valley's monsters."**

Ling Xiao nodded grimly. He had heard the stories too—of travelers who entered the gorge and were never seen again. The valley was a place of ancient, forgotten power, and the land surrounding it had been warped by the mysterious forces that still resided there. But they had no choice. If the temple of the ancient ones truly existed, it was their only hope to understand the Source and learn how to control it.

For the next two days, they journeyed onward, the path growing more treacherous with each step. The air grew colder, and the wind howled through the trees, carrying whispers that sounded almost like voices, drifting in and out of their hearing. Ling Xiao had learned to tune out the distractions, to focus on the road ahead, but the longer they traveled, the more he could feel the Source twisting inside him, ever present, ever waiting.

They reached the edge of Windblight Gorge by midday on the third day, the mountains looming in the distance like jagged teeth waiting to devour them. The gorge itself was a deep, narrow fissure in the earth, the air thick with an unnatural chill. The wind, violent and unrelenting, whipped through the gorge's narrow passages, carrying with it a biting cold that seemed to claw at their skin.

Zhen Xue scanned the path ahead, her hand tightening on her sword as she felt the oppressive force of the place. **"It's worse than I imagined,"** she muttered, her eyes flicking to Ling Xiao. **"Are you sure about this?"**

Ling Xiao felt the source stir inside him, its presence palpable, as if it were aware of the danger ahead. He could sense its subtle pull, its mocking whisper, urging him to turn back. But he pushed the thoughts aside, forcing himself to focus on the mission. **"We don't have a choice. If we want to survive, we have to go through it."**

With that, they began their descent into the gorge. The air grew even colder as they entered, the winds howling like the cries of lost souls. The narrow path they followed was jagged and uneven, the stones beneath their feet slick with a thin layer of frost. The wind seemed to cut through their clothing, biting at their skin with every step. Ling Xiao had faced countless dangers in his life, but the presence of the gorge was unlike anything he had experienced before. It felt alive—inhospitable, unforgiving, and hostile to anyone who dared enter.

As they moved deeper into the gorge, the wind began to shift. It howled louder, the gusts more erratic, swirling around them like a living force. Ling Xiao had to shout to be heard above the noise.

**"We need to keep moving! Stay close!"**

Zhen Xue nodded, her face set in determination, but her eyes were shadowed with something darker. Ling Xiao could see it—a flicker of doubt, of fear. The gorge was testing them, wearing them down, and it was only a matter of time before the winds turned lethal.

They pressed on, moving as quickly as they could through the blinding winds and swirling mists. The path was treacherous, and with every step, the world seemed to close in around them. The walls of the gorge towered above them, blocking out the sun, casting them into a perpetual twilight. The only light came from the flickering torches they had carried with them, their flames barely holding strong against the fierce gusts.

Hours passed, the cold sinking deeper into their bones, but they refused to stop. They had to reach the other side, had to get to the Forgotten Valley before the Source consumed them both. But Ling Xiao could feel it now—the Source stirring more violently within him, its influence pushing against the walls of his mind, trying to take control. The winds themselves seemed to grow more intense, almost as if the Source was using them against him.

Suddenly, the winds grew to a deafening roar, and the ground beneath their feet shook violently. Ling Xiao staggered, his body lurching as if something unseen had struck him. Zhen Xue grabbed his arm, pulling him back toward her. 

**"What is happening?"** she shouted over the howling winds.

Ling Xiao's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in sharp gasps. **"The Source is trying to break me! It's using the winds against us!"**

Before Zhen Xue could react, the wind lifted them off their feet, hurling them both toward the jagged cliffs on either side of the gorge. Ling Xiao's vision blurred as he fought to hold onto her, his sword slipping from its sheath as the wind battered them. Everything seemed to spin, as though the very world was being torn apart.

In the chaos, Ling Xiao felt the Source surge within him, its power crackling in his veins like lightning. It was overwhelming, its voice deafening in his mind, urging him to submit, to give in. He felt his body begin to respond to its call, his fingers tightening around Zhen Xue's arm as the darkness within him sought to take control.

"No!" Ling Xiao gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay focused. "I will not fall to you!"

With a burst of energy, he pushed the Source back, resisting its pull long enough to steady himself. The wind seemed to pause for a brief moment, as if recognizing his defiance. The world around them trembled, but Ling Xiao's grip on reality held firm. He knew he couldn't let go, couldn't give in to the power that had already claimed so much of him.

He pulled Zhen Xue close, his voice hoarse as he shouted into the wind. "We have to keep going! We're almost through!"

With the last of his strength, he pushed forward, using his own will to cut through the wind, his body fighting against the forces that sought to tear him apart. The path was near, the gorge's end just within reach. 

As they approached the mouth of the gorge, the winds began to subside. The air cleared, and the pressure lifted, though Ling Xiao could still feel the Source stirring inside him, as if it had not finished with him yet.

They emerged from the gorge, their bodies battered but alive. Before them lay the entrance to the Forgotten Valley, a darkened portal surrounded by towering, weathered stone structures, half-swallowed by the earth. The valley beyond was shrouded in mist, and Ling Xiao could sense an oppressive energy rising from it ancient, untamed, and powerful.

Ling Xiao turned to Zhen Xue, their gazes meeting for a brief moment. They had made it. But the real challenge was only just beginning.

End of Chapter 98

In Chapter 98, Ling Xiao and Zhen Xue make their way through the perilous Windblight Gorge, a dangerous and haunted place that tests their resolve. As they battle fierce winds and treacherous terrain, the Source within Ling Xiao grows stronger, attempting to take control. Ling Xiao struggles to resist its pull, but his determination to survive and protect Zhen Xue keeps him focused. Despite the overwhelming power of the Source, they push forward, eventually emerging from the gorge and reaching the entrance of the Forgotten Valley. However, the misty valley before them holds its own mysteries, and the real test of their journey is about to begin.

If you'd like more chapters, I can continue to build the story step by step, expanding on Ling Xiao's journey, his growing power, and the world he seeks to reshape.