Chapter 1070: The Great Sage's Resolve

There I sat, at the bottom of a massive crater, the only testament to the incredible energy that had surged through this place not too long ago. 

The earth around me was scorched, its once vibrant hue tainted by the power of the Nether. As I stared into the distance, the silence seemed to echo my internal turmoil. 

I could feel it, the hum of magic coursing through my veins, pulsing within me with every beat of my heart. 

The very energy that had once been my bane was now my salvation. 

With each breath, I could sense the life around me, or rather, the crater, every blade of grass, every grain of sand. 

It was a power I'd long coveted, yet its acquisition bore a heavy cost.

My fingers clenched, the cold touch of the Soul Fragments of my friends serving as a harsh reminder of the price I'd paid.