A desperate plan formed in the warrior-mage’s mind, a way to hasten the beast’s inner depletion and secure his own retreat. “I must find purchase within its defenses!” Even as he manipulated the swirling energies of ‘Fei’ and ‘Yi’, Wang Lin plotted.

Without pause, he struck his pouch, summoning forth a score of enchanted blades. Forged from remnants of battles past, he now poured his own vital essence into each. He compressed and refined the energies within, imbuing each with destructive potential. A chilling glint flickered in his eyes as he unleashed the blades. Like silver serpents, they snaked through the beast’s inner flesh towards vulnerable points within the titan’s anatomy. These subtle changes, these minute aggressions, might well alter the creature’s very nature!

Such knowledge was Wang Lin’s alone. Few others could fathom the intricacies of the titan, let alone identify its weaknesses and prepare such a calculated gambit.

Meanwhile, the spirit-blade, guiding Wang Lin’s awareness, approached the churning vortex. As it neared, a violent surge of raw, untamed essence erupted forth, a maelstrom of power ejected from the abyss.

Wang Lin’s features contorted in alarm. He severed the link, withdrawing his consciousness with all haste, seeking to elude the sudden onslaught. But the surge, a tempest of pure energy, proved too swift. It enveloped the spirit-blade.

With a deafening crack, the blade shattered. The disintegration spread from tip to hilt, but Wang Lin’s withdrawal had been swift. He had narrowly escaped. Still, the tendrils of the surge brushed his spirit, stripping away a significant portion of his essence. He sat rigid atop the titan’s bone, a flush staining his face, gradually subsiding.

“Such potent energy,” he murmured, eyes gleaming with icy resolve. “Had it been direct, my essence would have been utterly consumed!” He knew the surge had been but a fraction of the vortex’s true power.

The vortex itself possessed a formidable suction, a skill unique to the titan. Any force attempting to escape its grasp would face insurmountable resistance. The surge had been severely weakened before it even reached the spirit-blade.

Again, he retrieved a spirit-blade, shrouding it with his awareness. It transformed into a streak of light hurtling forward.

Moments later, it hovered before the vortex once more. Wang Lin paused, ensuring the absence of lingering energy. Then, without hesitation, the blade transformed into a streak of silver, plunging into the whirling gateway.

The ravenous suction seized the blade, drawing it through the vortex and into the tunnel beyond.

In that instant, a cataclysmic shock wave assailed the corridor, a howling wind that threatened to rend reality itself.

Tendrils lining the tunnel walls disintegrated under the assault. Corpses entwined amongst the tendrils scattered into dust.

The spirit-blade, guided by Wang Lin, veered sharply, clinging to the tunnel’s fleshy wall. It wedged itself into a crevice, barely avoiding the devastating force.

Ahead, two figures clashed. A kaleidoscope of spells filled the tunnel, punctuated by deafening roars.

It was the warrior Qing Shui, locked in mortal combat with the golden dragon.

The ancient immortal’s spirit, weakened and subdued, lay trapped in the embrace of multiple tendrils, draining his essence.

Further on, a mage was surrounded by floating bubbles, forever pursuing and battling his opponent. Wang Lin’s brow furrowed.

The tunnel was now but half its original length, its end visible. The flesh of the titan sealed the chamber where the dragon slumbered! Wang Lin remained hidden, his gaze fixed on the ongoing battle.

The golden dragon roared, circling the ancient immortal’s spirit. Five yellow talismans emanated light, firmly bound to the dragon’s form. Before it stood Qing Shui, his face grim. Red lightning crackled from his right eye, arcing towards the dragon.

With a mournful cry, the dragon shed hundreds of scales, the scales formed together to create a glimmering sword. Divine authority radiated from the weapon, and its energy crashed against Qing Shui’s lightning.

The tunnel quaked from the resulting explosion. The golden dragon wailed, its scales torn, as it retreated to protect the ancient immortal.

Qing Shui staggered backward. As he did, a primal roar echoed within the titan’s body—the beast’s cry!

The tunnel erupted into chaos, violently shaking. A gaping rift tore through the roof, unleashing a torrent of green blood and a wave of intense rage. Something was attempting to break free from within.

Qing Shui steadied himself, shifting his focus forward. With a flick of his wrist, he called, “Slaughter Realm!”

Instantly, Qing Shui’s hair billowed. A red light emanated from his feet, flooding the surrounding area and casting the dragon in an eerie glow.

The dragon, enraged, unleashed a torrent of ancient power from its talismans. “Residual Gold! Ensnaring Wood! Condemning Water! Toxic Flame! Entombing Earth! Five elements reversed!”

The talismans imprinted upon the dragon, forming an inescapable prison.

Despite this, Qing Shui broke through the magic, and reached the ancient immortal. Qing Shui was about to strike, when a scarlet hand thrust from the rift.

The hand slammed into Qing Shui, sending him spiraling backward. It then seized the ancient immortal’s spirit, dragging him back towards the rift.

Enraged, Qing Shui moved to give chase. Now, no one was willing to face his wrath.