Somewhere three thousand kilometers east of New Moon City...
The morning sun burned over a sprawling mountain range, its golden rays glinting off marble rooftops and crimson banners that fluttered in the wind. The mountains themselves seemed carved into palatial tiers — halls upon halls rising skyward like a city sculpted by pride and fire.
At the heart of it all stood the Burning Heaven Clan.
For hundreds of years, this clan had stood as one of the four pillars of the Blue Wind Empire's power. Yet for all its grandeur — the tiled temples, the gilded courtyards, the mist-laced stairways winding endlessly up the mountain — it was also known as the weakest of the four. Its strength was not in wisdom, but in arrogance; its fire burned bright, but burned short.
And right now, that fire was raging out of control.
SMASH!!!
A thunderous crash echoed from the highest chamber — the sect master's audience hall.
A carved obsidian table lay in splinters across the floor, torn apart by a single furious blow. The one responsible stood at the center of the chaos — a middle-aged man with a stern face, black hair streaked with silver, and an aura of molten fury radiating from his body. His crimson robes bore the blazing emblem of the Burning Heaven Phoenix — though at that moment, his presence felt more like an erupting volcano than a divine bird.
Fen Duanhan, Sect Master of the Burning Heaven Clan.
His eyes burned with anger as he slammed his palm against the shattered remains of the table once more, the sound reverberating through the hall.
"That Yun Che again…" he growled, his voice low but trembling with suppressed rage. "First, he humiliates our disciples in New Moon City. Then he destroys our foothold there entirely. And now—he kills my men and harms my son!"
The words cracked through the chamber like thunder.
All thirty elders kneeling before him dared not raise their heads.
Fen Duanhan's gaze swept across them, sharp as a blade. "Who is he? What is he? Some vagrant cultivator? A hidden disciple of the Four Sacred Grounds? Or perhaps…" His voice lowered to a dangerous hiss. "A ghost we failed to exterminate?"
No one answered.
Only the sound of the flames flickering from the lanterns filled the suffocating silence.
Finally, one elder dared to kneel forward. "Sect Master… all the reports we gathered point to the same story. Yun Che appeared in New Moon City barely a month before the grand banquet. No sect background, no records of lineage. He enrolled as a mere outer disciple in the New Moon Profound Palace."
The elder swallowed hard before continuing. "But… his abilities… they're abnormal. He wields techniques we've never seen before. At the banquet, he conjured a massive serpent made entirely of bone and… annihilated seven clan leaders in one strike. The last witnesses claim the arena itself collapsed—then he vanished without a trace."
Fen Duanhan's teeth ground audibly. "A boy with no background, no sect, and yet he slaughters my men like dogs and dares to harm my son!"
He turned sharply, glaring at the gathered elders.
"I HAVE THIRTY OF YOU USELESS OLD MEN IN THIS ROOM—AND NOT ONE OF YOU CAN TELL ME WHERE HE IS?!"
His voice boomed like a roar of fire, shaking the very rafters.
The elders trembled. None dared speak.
Fen Duanhan's aura erupted, scorching the air. The pressure of a Sky Profound Realm cultivator filled the hall like a living inferno. Cracks spidered through the marble tiles beneath his feet, and several weaker elders began to sweat profusely, their faces pale.
The heavy silence in the great hall was stifling. None of the elders dared to breathe too loudly under the Sect Master's glare. The only sound that dared to exist was the faint hiss of fire from the braziers burning along the walls.
When no answer came, Fen Duanhan turned his burning gaze toward the man kneeling below him — his eldest son, Fen JueCheng.
His aura pressed down like a hammer. "You were there, JueCheng. Speak."
Fen JueCheng bowed deeply, voice trembling just enough to sound pitiful. "It's true, Father. This son wished only to deepen ties with the lovely Princess Cang Yue… yet it seems she has been seeing someone behind my back."
A ripple of whispers passed among the elders — scandal, betrayal, insult.
Fen Duanhan's eyes narrowed. "Someone behind your back?" His tone dropped, low and sharp as a blade. "You mean to say this someone is the same brat who destroyed our branch in New Moon City?"
"Yes, Father." JueCheng's voice hardened, bitterness seeping into his words. "The one called Yun Che—and the black-haired woman who travels with him. She called herself Retsu."
He spat the name as though it were poison.
In truth, his wounds still ached from that humiliation — both physical and prideful. He dared not tell his father how completely he had been overpowered. So instead, he spoke with half-truths, carefully crafted to keep his image intact.
Fen Duanhan folded his arms, brow furrowed. "Did you sense their cultivation?"
"No, Father. That's the problem." Fen JueCheng's tone grew wary. "Their bodies were completely shrouded. I couldn't sense a trace of profound energy from either of them — as if they were ordinary mortals. Even a Monarch's aura leaks faintly, but theirs…" He clenched his fists. "Theirs was nothing. Empty. Hidden."
The hall stirred uneasily. One of the elders stepped forward, his voice quivering slightly.
"According to the reports from our remnants in New Moon City, that boy—Yun Che—was only at the peak of the Nascent Profound Realm. Yet he managed to slay disciples in the middle and late True Profound Realm… even one at the first level of the Spirit Profound Realm."
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
Another elder spoke, his expression grave. "And the woman—this Retsu—her strength far surpassed even him. The survivors claim she wiped out fourteen late-stage True Profound Realm cultivators alone, without taking a single step back."
The murmuring grew louder. The very idea defied logic.
No one below the Earth Profound Realm should be capable of such feats — not without divine intervention or ancient treasure.
"I believe…" another elder interjected, stroking his beard nervously, "they're using some kind of treasure or artifact to suppress their cultivation. It's the only explanation. Otherwise, it's impossible for them to overwhelm even a single Earth Profound master."
"Heavens…" an old voice whispered. "Both of them aren't even twenty years old and yet capable of such destruction?"
Fen Duanhan's eyes flashed with shock. "Not even twenty?! Are you certain?"
A trembling Sky Profound attendant — one of the few survivors — stepped forward and knelt. His arm was still bandaged from his encounter. "I was there, Sect Master. I saw it with my own eyes. The woman—Retsu—she knocked down the entire squad… even those guarding the Third Prince. She didn't kill us—she toyed with us. Every strike felt like she was merely… testing her strength."
The memory made him shudder.
"She said something before she left," the attendant continued in a weak voice. "She said… 'You're lucky I'm in a good mood, or none of you would live to crawl back.'"
The entire hall fell silent.
Fen Duanhan's expression darkened like a thundercloud. "Testing… her strength?" His tone was slow, deadly.
"So to her, my men… were toys."
He clenched his fists so tightly the veins bulged in his forearms. Flames began to flicker faintly from his sleeves, his fury so strong that it ignited his profound energy unconsciously.
The attendants and elders bowed lower, trembling.
At last, Fen Duanhan raised his hand and barked, "Enough! If that woman truly wields power enough to destroy fourteen of my disciples, then she is not just a nuisance — she is a threat to the entire Burning Heaven Clan!"
He turned to his son. "And this Yun Che—this arrogant child who dares to harm my blood—he will learn what it means to defy the Burning Heaven Clan!"
The surviving attendant's words fell heavy into the air.
"I was there, Sect Master," he said, his voice trembling. "The woman—they called her Retsu—she knocked out every man, including the Third Prince's guards. She did it alone… while that Yun boy was still inside the mysterious cave."
For a moment, the grand hall fell utterly silent.
Then Fen Duanhan's eyes flashed wide with recognition. "The cave from the rumors…?" His voice rumbled like a gathering storm.
The survivors, including Fen JueCheng, nodded in unison.
Fen Duanhan's expression twisted from shock into bitter fury. "So it's true… The dragon-guarded cave hidden beneath the Azure Mountains—the one our clan has failed to enter for decades…" He slammed a fist against the armrest of his throne. "That brat not only slaughtered our men—he stole what rightfully belongs to us!"
A suffocating silence hung in the hall, broken only by the faint hum of power radiating from the Sect Master's clenched fists.
"We spent years trying to breach that cave," Fen Duanhan growled. "Hundreds of disciples dead to those guardian dragons. And now, the moment they disappear, he walks in and claims everything as his own."
He rose from his seat, his robes flaring like a burst of flame. His aura pressed outward, making even the Sky Profound elders bow their heads instinctively.
"Enough!" he barked. "Send word to every branch elder and inform every contact we have within the Empire. I want that boy found—him, the woman called Retsu, and Princess Cang Yue. Use every resource, every informant, every ounce of gold necessary."
His voice thundered across the hall.
"I want to know everything about them. Their cultivation, their backers, their movements. I want to know what we are up against before I burn it all down!"
The elders bowed deeply, their voices uniting as one. "Yes, Sect Master!"
With that, they hurried out of the hall to carry out his orders, their steps echoing through the corridors like the drumming of war.
As the hall emptied, Fen JueCheng's lips curled into a sinister grin. His father's fury was exactly what he wanted — the gears of vengeance were turning faster than he could have hoped.
Soon, Yun Che would be surrounded, crushed, and humiliated beyond repair. The thought alone made his blood boil with satisfaction.
He turned toward his father and asked, "But Father… if we do find them, what then? Even the Sky Profound Realm wasn't enough. Are we to send our elders into a death trap?"
Fen Duanhan's eyes glowed with cold fire. "If Sky Profound isn't enough, we send those beyond it." His tone was absolute, leaving no room for argument. "If this Yun Che truly dares to challenge us, then he will learn the price of offending the Burning Heaven Clan."
He turned slightly, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Prepare to summon the elders from the later stages. We'll need those capable of fighting at the peak of their realm."
Fen JueCheng hesitated, his face twisting in uncertainty. "Father… the boy offended the Wu Clan before all this. Does that mean his backer is that powerful?"
Fen Duanhan gave him a look filled with disdain — the kind a master reserves for an ignorant pupil.
"Hmph. You still know nothing of this world, JueCheng." His tone was cutting. "The Wu Clan is not to be underestimated. They are directly affiliated with one of the Four Sacred Grounds of the Profound Sky Continent."
At that, even Fen JueCheng flinched. "The… Sacred Grounds?"
"Indeed," Fen Duanhan said, pacing before his throne. "The Frozen Cloud Asgard wouldn't dare offend them openly. The Wu Clan holds influence that spans continents. Their alliance ensures protection even from monarchs. For this Yun Che to openly defy them…" His tone dropped, cold and deadly. "…means he is either unimaginably strong… or suicidally stupid."
Fen Duanhan paused, staring at the banners of his clan swaying above him. His hands tightened into fists, knuckles whitening.
"Either way, I will find out which he is."
He turned sharply toward his son. "You will not act on your own again, JueCheng. Not until we've confirmed his background. If this Yun Che truly carries the strength or backing to destroy us, we strike strategically — not blindly. Do I make myself clear?"
Fen JueCheng gritted his teeth and bowed low, hiding the hatred in his eyes. "Yes… Father."
As the Sect Master sat back down, the flames of the braziers flickered wildly, their light reflecting in his eyes like molten gold.
"Find him," Fen Duanhan muttered under his breath. "Before he finds us."
=====================
After they finished cleaning up at the cave, Yun Che and the others boarded Cang Yue's great white eagle and left the Wasteland of Death behind. From above, the scene below looked chaotic: cultivators converging toward the Dragon Trial cave, scouts combing the ridges, and small groups arguing over leads. They'd come to watch the ruins of the trial — and would leave disappointed. Whatever was left inside the cave no longer concerned them.
They rode in silence for a while, the eagle's wings cutting cold air as the wasteland spread beneath them. Along the way they passed fractured hunting grounds where men squared off with feral beasts and the occasional hollow. Hollows, once a common quarry for Quincies and Shinigami in Yun Che's old world, were now treated as a cultivator's problem. Contracts, bounties, and prestige had made hollow-hunting fashionable — but Menos were not roaming this part of the continent. Those ravenous things preferred stronger prey; if they were around, they were hiding somewhere the Blue Wind Empire's cultivators had not yet found.
More and more cultivators gathered near the stone gateway that marked the Wasteland's edge. The cave still drew hopeful and greedy souls — treasure-hunters, prospectors, and anyone who wanted to test themselves against the unknown. Yun Che suspected many would never return. The wasteland's seals and formations kept lesser beasts and hollows from spilling out, but they did little to stop men who would press their luck.
Cang Yue guided the eagle to a hush closer to the gateway. The white bird's feathers gleamed against the pale rock, but they kept their distance; flying over the gate itself was an invitation to death. The area around the portal thrummed with the old defenses: sky-level sigils that shredded careless flights and barrier traps keyed to profound energies. Even a proud eagle had no business storming that threshold.
Retsu and Mio drew a thin veil over themselves and helped Cang Yue conceal her features. Yun Che slipped into a dark cloak that swallowed his outline; Kon tucked himself beneath its folds like a mischievous shadow. They wanted nothing to attract the curious or the covetous — not with the Burning Heaven Clan and other watchful eyes already on the move.
Through the gateway a steady stream of cultivators vanished into the wastes. Only a handful emerged — thin, exhausted, or not at all. Whether they had been defeated, diverted, or chosen to stay inside hunting or hiding, nobody outside could say.
Yun Che watched the procession and felt no pull to stay. He had what he needed from the trial: power, allies, a new trump card. There would be time later for sieges, rumors, and greedy men. For now, the three in their cloaks rode away beneath the eagle's silent wings — careful, curious, and already scheming for what came next.
In the original tale, Yun Che and the Little Fairy had stepped boldly through this very gateway, beginning their descent into the deadly heart of the Wasteland.
But the man who walked now was no longer that version of Yun Che.
The current him knew better. He had slipped out through one of the formation's unguarded veins — a gap in the old array the Azure Dragon had never bothered to repair. The barrier didn't cover the entire forest, and Yun Che preferred quiet exits to grand ones.
Besides, if the gateway's formation was still active, it meant Fen JueCheng and his band of fools had indeed used this path not long ago.
Despite their efforts to move unnoticed, attention clung to them like dust to silk. Even veiled, Retsu, Cang Yue, and Mio drew eyes from every corner. Their elegance couldn't be hidden — not the soft grace of their movements, nor the otherworldly poise of women who carried strength far beyond mortal measure.
Their exquisite kimonos, patterned subtly with eastern motifs, made them stand out even more amidst the rough leather and armor of passing cultivators.
The only one who escaped notice was Yun Che himself — wrapped in a plain, travel-worn cloak that swallowed most of his figure. He looked like any other wandering mercenary… or at least, he hoped he did.
When they finally stepped through the stone gateway, the sight beyond was almost comforting. Civilization — noisy, messy, alive.
A small trading town sprawled near the base of the cliffs, a hasty yet profitable settlement built by merchants who preyed on the desperate.
Stalls lined the road, overflowing with spiritual talismans, dried beast meat, low-grade potions, and fake "anti-curse charms" that no doubt only worked on the gullible.
Despite the wasteland's deadly reputation, business thrived — adventurers were fools with money, and every corpse that didn't come back left behind more wealth for the living to spend.
Yun Che smirked faintly. Even in hell, there's always someone running a shop.
The group made their way through the bustle and found a small inn on the quieter side of the market. The inn's front was open to a modest restaurant, its air thick with the scent of spiced broth and grilled beast meat. It wasn't much, but after months in barren wilderness, it smelled like paradise.
They took a table at the far edge of the restaurant, half hidden by a wooden partition. The place wasn't luxurious, but the view let Yun Che keep an eye on the entrance — old habits die hard.
Still, the whispering began almost instantly.
"Those three… are they nobles?"
"No, look at their posture — cultivators, maybe from one of the sects."
"That guy in the cloak… who the hell is he? His luck's unnatural."
"Probably a young master keeping his concubines close."
Yun Che exhaled softly through his nose. Low profile, huh? So much for that.
He leaned back in his chair, ignoring the jealous glances stabbing at him from nearby tables. Across from him, Mio's eyes sparkled beneath her veil as she poked at the chopsticks curiously. Retsu calmly poured tea as though none of the world existed beyond her porcelain cup. Cang Yue, graceful and reserved, followed her lead — but her cheeks were faintly pink at the murmurs of envy drifting through the room.
Yun Che rested his chin on his hand, watching the three with a faint smile. "Well," he muttered under his breath, "so much for going unnoticed."
Kon's muffled voice piped up from under his cloak. "Next time, let me pick the disguise plan. I'd rather wear a barrel than sit through all this envy!"
Yun Che smirked. "You in a barrel? That might actually work."
They'd planned to book a private room, but Yun Che refused the innkeeper's offer. In his experience, VIP rooms only invited attention — assassins, spies, or worse, nosy waiters. He'd read enough stories to know better. Better to sit in plain sight where everyone could see you, and no one could sneak up behind you.
The waiter approached their table carefully, glancing once more at the cloaked man and the three veiled women whose poise screamed not ordinary travelers.
"What will it be, honored guests?" he asked, his voice a mix of caution and curiosity.
Yun Che leaned back, glancing at the menu with little interest before waving it off.
"Let's see… a meal for ten people should do." He looked at the others with a faint grin. "That should be enough, right, girls?"
Cang Yue tilted her head, eyes curious behind her veil. "Are you sure that'll be enough, Yun Che? Sister Mio and Retsu have… rather large appetites."
"Hai~," Mio chirped immediately, eyes bright. "When I eat, I eat a lot. Especially meat!"
Retsu sipped her tea and smiled faintly. "Ara~ Mio-chan does need the energy. And Yuu-kun, don't forget Kon."
Yun Che sighed. "Right… the bottomless lion. I almost forgot."
Kon's muffled voice popped from under the cloak. "Oi! I heard that! I'm a growing lion, all right?"
The waiter blinked, utterly lost by the conversation. "Ten… servings?" he echoed weakly. "Travelers, if this is a jest—"
Yun Che interrupted him with a lazy wave. "You know what? Make it twenty."
"Twenty…?"
"Twenty servings," Yun Che confirmed casually. "Take your time making them. We'll be here for a while."
The waiter stared, mouth slightly open. "But, travelers—"
Before he could protest further, Yun Che flicked his wrist, and a purple profound coin landed neatly in the man's palm. The faint shimmer of the rare metal caught the lantern light, and the waiter's eyes went wide as saucers.
A purple coin was enough to keep the restaurant running for months — maybe half a year. Even major sect disciples rarely used one for simple meals.
The realization hit him all at once: these weren't just travelers — they were powerful.
Yun Che offered a small, amused smile. "Keep the change. Anything else?"
The waiter immediately straightened, bowing low enough that his forehead nearly touched the floor. "N-No, honored guests! We will prepare everything at once!"
He practically sprinted back toward the kitchen, shouting orders like a man possessed.
As he disappeared, Cang Yue sighed softly. "You really have no sense of moderation, Yun Che."
He shrugged, pouring himself tea. "Moderation's for people who can't afford indulgence."
Retsu chuckled. "Ara~ spoken like someone who always gets his way."
"Of course," Yun Che said with a grin. "And besides, it's been months since we had a real meal. Let's enjoy this before someone decides to ruin the mood."
As the waiter dashed off to relay their impossible order, Mio looked around with wide, curious eyes. Her gaze danced over every lantern, every passing merchant, every group of laughing humans bustling through the restaurant's open front.
"So this is the realm of humans…" she murmured softly, her voice carrying a mixture of wonder and nostalgia. "I don't know how long I've missed the changes of this world."
Cang Yue turned to her, her expression tender and full of sympathy. "Sister Mio… it must have been painful, being trapped in that realm for so many thousands of years."
Mio blinked once, then smiled — a calm, radiant smile that belonged to someone who had long accepted her fate. "Don't worry, Yue'er. The years blur together after a while. I don't even remember much from those old days. What I want now is to spend my time with Danna-sama." She giggled softly, holding up a strand of her short hair. "Besides, reverting to an eighteen-year-old girl makes me feel youthful again."
Retsu's gentle laugh followed, rich and soothing. "Ara~ Mio, you'll find this world far more colorful now. And with Yuu-kun's help, you'll see more joy than sorrow. We'll train you together — cultivate, eat, live. You'll experience everything you missed."
Mio closed her eyes and leaned her head lightly against Retsu's shoulder. "Hnn~ I'm looking forward to it, Ret-chan."
"Mu… there it is again." Retsu's cheeks warmed immediately. "That '-chan' of yours is so embarrassing."
"But Danna-sama said he liked it," Mio replied innocently, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes.
Before Retsu could retort, Yun Che's voice slid smoothly between them. "Well… no arguments there. It does make you look cuter."
Poof!
If steam could actually rise from Retsu's head, it would have. Her face turned a brilliant shade of pink as she stammered, "Th-then… I have no arguments either."
Across the table, Mio leaned toward Cang Yue and whispered teasingly, "See? Watching Retsu embarrassed like this makes the whole day brighter, doesn't it, Yue'er?"
Cang Yue smiled behind her veil, eyes gleaming with warmth. "It does," she admitted softly.
Yun Che rested his chin on one hand, watching the three of them with a faint, genuine smile. Even if they came from different worlds, he thought, they've found something rare — peace, laughter, and each other.
For someone who had lived most of his lives in battle and blood, seeing them like this — teasing, smiling, alive — was worth more than any cultivation treasure.
Yun Che's attention drifted from the girls' laughter to the low rumble of voices behind him. A group of cultivators had gathered at the next table, their cups clinking, the sharp scent of ale cutting through the air. At first, their chatter was meaningless noise — talk of beasts, bounties, and women — until a single phrase caught his ear.
"Oi, you lot… haven't you heard about the Tomb of the Moon Empress? They say someone finally unearthed it."
The burly man who spoke had a voice like gravel and arrogance to match, but his words made the others lean in instantly.
"Tomb of the Moon Empress? You kidding me? Every major clan's been searching for that thing for a thousand years! None of 'em even found a hint."
"Well, they did now," the man grunted, slamming his cup down. "By imperial decree, the tomb belongs to the clan who discovered it — and that's the Xiao Clan. Word is, they stumbled across it in one of their training zones near Gao Ling City."
The table erupted with disbelief.
"It's been under Gao Ling City this whole time? Impossible!"
"Not the tomb itself," the burly cultivator corrected, leaning forward. "A teleportation formation — an ancient one. It's buried under the city, and it leads straight to the Moon Empress's resting place."
The men fell silent for a moment, their drunken bravado fading to quiet awe.
"Damn… one of the Four Great Clans strikes gold again," one of them muttered. "Looks like the Xiao Clan's luck just keeps rising. The rest of us don't stand a chance."
Yun Che's brows furrowed slightly beneath his hood.
The Tomb of the Moon Empress…?
That name wasn't ringing any bells from the story he remembered. In the novel, there was no mention of such a figure — and yet, the reverence in their tone spoke volumes. Whoever this "Moon Empress" was, her name carried weight across the empire.
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"System," he murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible. "Any information on this legend?"
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
==================
[Ding… No information found in the novel based on host's memory.]
==================
None?
He opened his eyes slowly, his interest deepening. So this isn't part of the original timeline… something new has surfaced.
Yun Che leaned slightly forward. The chatter of other patrons faded as a different kind of curiosity stirred in his chest.
"Well, since the system's useless on this one," he muttered under his breath before turning toward the woman beside him."Cang—"
Her eyes immediately narrowed, the corners of her lips curling into that deceptively sweet glare of hers.
"It's Yue'er," she corrected gently.
He coughed into his fist, pretending not to notice Retsu's faint smile and Mio's muffled giggle."Ehemm… Yue'er," he began again, rubbing the back of his neck, "do you happen to know anything about this Moon Empress?"
For a moment, Cang Yue blinked at him in surprise. "Yun Che, the legend of the Moon Empress is common knowledge in the Blue Wind Empire. I thought you already knew."
Yun Che fake-coughed again, eyes darting away. "W-well, you know me. I spend too much time training… legends weren't exactly on my reading list."
His sheepish tone drew a light laugh from Mio. "Hooo~ a new legend, is it? Count us in, Danna-sama. I love stories.
"Retsu nodded, her eyes glimmering with curiosity. "Ara~ then by all means, sister Yue, tell us this one."
Cang Yue smiled softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Very well then."
Her voice carried a gentle pride as she began, "The Moon Empress was the first ruler — and the first Monarch — of the Blue Wind Empire. Every record of her life is preserved in the Imperial Palace archives. When I was a little girl, I used to sneak into the library to read her stories over and over again. I dreamed… of becoming like her someday."
Her eyes grew distant, the flickering lamplight reflecting in them like twin silver moons. "She was a woman of unmatched power. The title 'Moon Empress' wasn't just a symbol of her reign — it came from her unique cultivation art. She could draw power directly from the moon's light, weaving its energy into her profound veins. It's said that her cultivation soared to the later stages of the Sovereign Profound Realm — perhaps even touching the edge of the Divines itself."
Mio's mouth parted in awe. "Drawing energy from the moon itself… so beautiful, yet so lonely."
Cang Yue nodded softly. "Yes. In her final years, her body weakened, but her legend burned brighter than ever. After ruling for nearly a thousand years, she passed away but the tomb was never found — the greatest ruler our empire ever had."
Retsu rested her chin on one hand, listening quietly. "A thousand years of rule… even people like us would envy that kind of peace."
Cang Yue's smile turned wistful. "Before she died, she left no heir of her own, only her disciple — another woman — who inherited her title and the throne. That disciple was our first empress of the Cang bloodline. In a way, all who bear my surname are her descendants."
Yun Che blinked, a small smile tugging at his lips. "So you're a royal descendant of the disciple of the Moon Empress. Huh. That explains your grace — and your stubbornness."
Cang Yue flushed lightly but didn't deny it. "Even so, her legacy faded with time. No one of our line ever reached the same heights again. The Blue Wind Empire hasn't seen another Monarch since her passing."
She sighed, fingers brushing the rim of her teacup. "Now, the Frozen Cloud Asgard holds the highest power in the Empire. When Sister Yuechan became a Throne, our royal family could only watch from the shadows of what we once were."
Silence lingered for a moment, filled only by the distant clinking of dishes and the hum of voices from the street.
Then Mio leaned closer, smiling brightly. "Then maybe, Cang Yue — Yue'er — you'll be the one to change that. A new Moon Empress for a new era~."
Retsu added softly, "With Yuu-kun by your side, that might not be impossible."
Cang Yue's cheeks pinkened again as she lowered her gaze. "You two flatter me too much…"
Yun Che just smiled faintly into his tea. Moon Empress, huh…?A ruler who drew strength from the moon — and a power that even the Empire forgot.
Yun Che and the others nodded quietly. The reality of Cang Yue's words hung over them like a heavy mist.
The Blue Wind Empire was a shadow of its former self — rotting from within.
Even if Cang Shuo's death had cleared one path, the others would soon crawl from the dark to seize the throne. The moment her father, the current Emperor, passed on… chaos would bloom again.
In the end, removing one viper only allowed the rest to slither free.
Before the silence could stretch too long, a small muffled voice rose from beneath Yun Che's cloak.
"But Yue Nee-san," Kon said from the safety of his hiding spot, "you said the Moon Empress used a special art to empower her cultivation. What kind of art was it?"
His question drew Cang Yue's attention. She tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful as she recalled the details.
"Ahh, that…" she began softly. "According to the archives in the palace, before the Moon Empress passed away, she passed her unique cultivation method to her disciple — our ancestor. But… she failed to passed it on to a successor."
Yun Che's brows knitted slightly. That means the art itself was extremely dangerous… or too pure for anyone below her level to withstand. It is the art to draw power from the Moon.
Cang Yue continued, her voice quieter now. "The art was said to be lost forever after that. However… there were whispers that the Empress herself managed to transcribe it into a scripture — to preserve it for eternity. But such a scripture could only be hidden in one place."
A soft voice completed her thought.
"Her tomb," Retsu murmured.
Cang Yue nodded. "Yes. Our ancestor buried her in a secret location, one known only to the Imperial Family. Even those records vanished after the palace fire five hundred years ago. To this day, no one knows where the Moon Empress truly rests."
She took a sip of tea before adding, "Many have tried to find her resting place — sects, clans, even scholars from the Four Sacred Grounds. All failed. But the tomb is said to contain not just her remains, but the scripture of her personal cultivation method. It's the reason so many risked war to find it."
Mio leaned closer, curiosity bright in her greenish yellow eyes. "What kind of power does it grant?"
"The legend says it allows one to draw power directly from the moon's essence," Cang Yue explained. "To cultivate pure Yin energy and merge it into one's profound veins. The stronger the moonlight, the greater the cultivation speed. But there's a catch—"
She paused, her tone sharpening. "It can only be cultivated by women."
Yun Che blinked. "Only women? That's… unusual."
"Hnn." Cang Yue nodded, her eyes gleaming faintly behind the veil. "The art was created specifically for women. The moon represents Yin — calm, nurturing, yet infinitely deep. A man's body, filled with Yang energy, would collapse under it. The archives state that any man who tries to cultivate the art would die instantly — their meridians frozen from the inside by the opposing force."
"Scary!!" Kon squeaked from under Yun Che's cloak, trembling so hard the fabric rustled.
The girls exchanged a glance, half amused, half exasperated.
Retsu, ever composed, turned back to Cang Yue. "Does this cultivation art have a name?" she asked.
Cang Yue tapped a slender finger against her chin, thinking. "No. It wasn't recorded in the Imperial archives. All that was left were vague descriptions of the technique itself — but its true name was never written."
Mio sighed, resting her chin on her palm. "So the ancestor died before passing it down properly. That means…"
"We've hit a dead end," Retsu finished softly.
Cang Yue lowered her eyes. "Hnn. Too bad no one ever found the tomb…" Her voice trailed off. The thought clearly weighed on her.
Even now, she dreamed of reclaiming the lost glory of her family — of proving that the Cang line was worthy of the Moon Empress's blood. But without that scripture, it was only a dream whispered across generations.
Then Yun Che's calm voice broke the silence.
"Actually," he said, his eyes glinting beneath the hood, "someone has found it."
That single sentence froze the air.
"Really?!" Cang Yue's head snapped up, hope and disbelief dancing in her eyes.
"Hnn," Yun Che replied with a small nod. "Those cultivators behind us — the ones I've been listening to — they're talking about it. That's why I asked you about the Moon Empress in the first place."
Cang Yue immediately gripped the edge of her kimono, the faint tremble in her hand betraying her excitement. "Then, let's ask—"
But before she could stand, Retsu gently placed a hand on her wrist, stopping her.
"No," she whispered. "Let's not draw attention. Extend your haki instead — listen quietly."
"She's right," Yun Che said, eyes narrowing slightly. "If we go asking questions, they'll know we're interested. That'll draw flies we don't want."
Cang Yue hesitated but nodded, calming her heartbeat. Yun Che could tell from her expression — this wasn't mere curiosity. It was resolve. For her, this wasn't about treasure or power. It was about redemption — about proving that her family's honor still meant something.
At her nod, the four of them — Yun Che, Retsu, Cang Yue, and Mio — silently released their Haki.
The invisible wave spread across the restaurant, brushing past tables and laughter like a whisper on the wind. Every detail sharpened — footsteps, breaths, clinks of cups — until the group of cultivators behind them came into perfect focus.
Their voices cut through the air, clear as if they were sitting right beside them.
"The tomb of the Moon Empress was found beneath Gao Ling City, right?"
"Yeah, but it's not that simple. There's… something guarding it."
"Guarding it?"
"They said it's got a restriction ......"