Two nights after his meeting with Feng Qingxue, Li Tianming stood at the edge of the sect's outer territory, cloaked in spiritual concealment. With no moon in the sky and the System dampening his presence, even formation wards had trouble detecting him.
He was alone.
> [Destination: Temple of Withered Moon – Estimated Distance: 932 li (approx. 460 km)]
[Estimated Threat Level: Grade B – Low Core Disciple Risk]
[Map Overlay Activated]
[Tracking Companion Request: None. Proceed solo?]
He didn't hesitate.
"Proceed."
The journey would take half a day by normal flying beast. But Tianming wasn't normal.
He summoned his Shadowflame Eagle, a spiritual beast bonded via the System—a hybrid of flame and darkness, sleek, silent, and incredibly fast.
With a whisper, the eagle launched skyward, cutting through wind and clouds.
---
Half a Day Later – Forest of Dusk Teeth
Tianming landed near the forest's border. The trees here were blackened and sharp, their twisted branches resembling fangs. The air reeked of stale blood and damp soil. Wild spirit beasts roamed, and no sect dared claim this place.
The Temple of Withered Moon sat at the center of this forbidden forest.
It had once been a sacred ground during the time of the Nine Immortal Dynasties—abandoned after the fall of the Moonlight Sect. Its last known guardian vanished two centuries ago.
Li Tianming moved silently, guided by the System.
> [Beast Presence Detected: Nighthowl Stalker – Mid-Tier Gold Rank]
[Engage or Avoid?]
He chose Avoid.
For now, energy conservation mattered more.
---
At the Temple's Threshold
The temple emerged from behind curling mist and shattered statues. Moonlight filtered through clouds to cast a pale glow over broken pillars and faded murals. Half-buried in vines and ash, the central gate still stood.
Upon it was carved a forgotten emblem: a crescent moon pierced by a falling star.
> [Target Located: Inner Sanctum – Access Requires Moonlight Resonance]
[System Override Possible: Initiate?]
[Warning: Presence of Fragmented Consciousness Detected]
Tianming narrowed his eyes. "What kind of consciousness?"
> [Ancient Sentience – Compatible with Host's Soul Vein Signature (Unknown Origin)]
[Status: Dormant – Potential Ally or Hostile Entity]
[Proceed?]
"…Proceed."
The gate shuddered and creaked open, exhaling air untouched by time.
Inside, the temperature dropped. The walls were etched with glowing lunar glyphs. Every step he took echoed with whispers—unintelligible but oddly melodic.
---
Inner Sanctum – The Star Altar
A circular chamber opened before him. At its center stood an altar shaped like a lotus, and above it floated a single shard of silvery crystal—pulsing faintly with starlight.
As soon as Tianming stepped forward—
The room came alive.
Flames burst from ancient torches. Runes ignited across the walls. And from the shadows emerged a translucent figure—a woman clad in flowing white robes, her eyes closed, her presence vast.
> [Fragment Identified: "Star Maiden – Lin Xuelian"]
[Warning: Spirit-State Entity – Evaluation Pending]
Then her eyes opened.
"You… carry his blood."
Her voice echoed in layers, like wind and rain speaking together.
Li Tianming bowed instinctively. "I don't know who you are, but I came for the fragment."
She studied him. "You are not yet ready. But… the bond is undeniable. The heavens tied your fate to mine long ago."
"What do you mean?"
"You are the final echo of a broken oath," she whispered. "He promised he would return. And now… you stand in his shadow."
He frowned. "Who is 'he'?"
Her gaze became distant. "My husband. The first bearer of the Stellar Dao Lineage. He was devoured by the void a thousand years ago. But part of his soul still lingers."
Tianming felt a pulse of memory from within—the same echo from the Staircase of Stars.
The same woman he'd seen.
"You're… her," he said.
She nodded.
"I was Lin Xuelian, last Oracle of the Moonlight Sect. This is my final memory—stored within this altar. My body is dust. But the power I once wielded… remains."
Then her form began to fade.
"The fragment is yours. But take it with caution. And when you next stand before the stars—listen for the sorrow in their light."
With that, she vanished like mist under sunlight.
And the crystal fragment floated to Tianming's palm.
> [Fragment Acquired – Stellar Core Memory: "Lunar Echo"]
[New Ability Tree Unlocked: Stellar Tempest Blade – Form II: Crescent Burial]
[Soul Vein Synchronization: 27%]
[Title Gained: "Bearer of the Moon's Vow"]
Tianming collapsed to one knee.
The power was overwhelming—celestial wind and silver flame swirled around him, forming a spectral sigil on his back.
A curved crescent with a falling star.
He closed his eyes as the System processed the influx of data and began rewiring his spiritual root.
---
Back in the Azure Cloud Sect – Inner Courtyard
Meanwhile, Feng Qingxue practiced silently in her private courtyard, her robe fluttering with each palm strike.
Suddenly, her flame stilled.
She looked to the north, eyes narrowing.
"…His aura changed."
She wasn't the only one.
Leng Shuang'er, deep in sword meditation, flinched mid-draw.
Even Sect Master Mo Tianhua's eyes opened slightly within his meditation chamber.
"The legacy stirs again," he murmured.
---
Hours Later – Outside the Temple
Tianming emerged from the ruined temple, eyes still glowing faintly with lunar silver.
> [Ability Progress: Crescent Burial 13% Mastery]
[Physical Stats Enhanced: +STR, +AGI, +SPIRIT]
The Shadowflame Eagle appeared beside him, lowering its head.
"Back to the sect," Tianming ordered.
Then he paused.
> [Optional Objective Detected: "Hollow Grove of Forgotten Stars" – 20 li Southwest]
[Estimated Loot: Rare Mineral Vein + Lunar Spirit Flame (Growth Catalyst)]
[Threat Level: Moderate]
[Time Delay: 6 hours]
He considered it.
"…Let's go."
---
[End of Chapter 7]