Igaris, Fairy Hua, Yang Huo, Mu Chen, and four other Dao Children stood within a dimly lit chamber where the air was thick with anticipation. Ancient stone walls enclosed the space, etched with faint runes that pulsed softly. The flickering lamps hanging along the perimeter cast ghostly shadows, their flames dancing like dying embers caught in their final breath. At the center of the chamber, an ancient array formation shimmered — a spectral gate that pulsed with a quiet hum, waiting to be awakened.
But they weren't alone.
Third Princess Lihua of the Blue Moon Empire stood in her elegant robes, her expression unreadable. Beside her, another royal youth — a prince whose name was spoken with quiet awe — kept a hand resting casually on the hilt of his saber.
The sect masters and elders lined the perimeter, their gazes sharp and focused. Tension simmered just beneath the surface. No one dared speak above a whisper.
