The Celestial Weep Lake churned under a fractured moon, its starlit waters trembling as the Celestial Guardian—a dragon of starlight and shadow—loomed above the stone altar. Its scales pulsed with corrupted Qi, a twisted echo of the Starshatter Fragment embedded in the altar, its black steel glowing with a mournful hum.
Ye Tian gripped the Lunar Fang, its blue steel singing in defiance, his Body Refinement Stage 3 aura straining against the guardian's Stage 10 pressure. The Void Scar in his dantian burned, black Qi threading through his meridians, whispering pain and doubt. Behind him, Xiao Lan clutched her crescent blade, blood seeping from her wounds, her eyes fierce.
Elder Lian Yue's silver hair caught the starlight, her Core Formation aura a steady shield. Su Mei stood at his side, her jade flute raised, its star runes glowing, her Starlit Melody a quiet anchor against the Void Scar's chaos. Chen Wei lingered, clutching the Starlit Relic—a jade amulet defaced with Celestial Court runes—his scarred face tense, his claim of a traitor sharpening Ye Tian's suspicion.
The guardian's roar shook the vale, its voice a blend of celestial wrath and void malice. "None shall claim the Starshatter's heart!" Its tail lashed, sending a wave of dark Qi crashing toward them.
Ye Tian raised the Lunar Fang, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My heart was forged in that blade. You'll not keep it." His voice was steel, but the Void Scar pulsed, a memory flashing—a cloaked figure, not Lin Feng or Zhao Wuji, slipping an amulet like Chen Wei's into a cloak. The third betrayer? Pain blurred the face, but Su Mei's melody cut through, steadying him.
Her jade eyes met his, fierce yet warm. "We fight as one," she said, her flute's notes weaving a shimmering barrier. The melody synced with his Qi, easing the Void Scar's burn, their bond a spark in the dark.
Xiao Lan's voice was sharp, her blade drawn. "Enough talk. Kill it!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry flaring, but she charged, her crescent slashes slicing the air.
Lian Yue's aura flared. "Careful—it's tied to the Court's curse!"
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The relic's runes—they're activating the guardian. We need to destroy it."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, the Void Scar whispering doubt. "You know too much, Chen Wei." He stepped forward, the Lunar Fang ready, Su Mei at his side.
The guardian lunged, its claws slashing, starlight and shadow twisting. Ye Tian flowed into Body Sword Stance, parrying with a burst of silver sparks. The impact rattled his bones, the Void Scar screaming, a vision searing—Zhao Wuji, tears in his eyes, forging a jade slip under a shadowed figure's command. "I had no choice, brother." Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The lake's starlight surged into his blade, amplifying his Qi, his strikes glowing as he slashed the guardian's scales, sparks flying.
Su Mei's Starlit Melody swelled, summoning a Starlit Phoenix, its wings scattering the guardian's dark Qi. The bird dove, talons grazing its flank, but the guardian's tail whipped, shattering the phoenix and sending Su Mei staggering. Ye Tian caught her, their hands clasping briefly, her touch a warmth against his pain. "I'm fine," she whispered, her melody rising again, vines binding the guardian's claws.
Xiao Lan's slashes carved the guardian's side, blood and mist spraying, but its roar knocked her back, her wounds reopening. Lian Yue's Crescent Moon Slash unleashed a blue arc, slicing its scales, but the guardian reformed, its aura growing darker. Chen Wei struck, his blade grazing its tail, but his eyes darted to the relic, hesitation flickering.
"Chen Wei!" Ye Tian barked, ducking a claw strike. "The relic—now!"
Chen Wei hesitated, then tossed the amulet to Ye Tian. Its runes flared, the guardian roaring louder, its eyes locked on the relic. Ye Tian's Sword Intent surged, the air quaking as he slashed the amulet. It shattered, black light erupting, the guardian faltering, its aura dimming.
Su Mei's melody peaked, a Starlit Barrier shielding them as the guardian's tail lashed, cracking the altar. Ye Tian lunged, Iron Vein Slash infused with Starlight Resonance, his blade piercing the guardian's chest. Starlight and shadow exploded, the beast collapsing into mist, its roar fading.
The lake stilled, the fragment's glow softening. Ye Tian panted, blood dripping from his side, the Void Scar quieting. Su Mei steadied him, her hand lingering on his arm, her jade eyes soft. "You broke its hold," she said, her voice a quiet vow. "You're closer to freeing us all."
Ye Tian's heart stirred, her faith mirroring his own resolve. "Your mother's strength lives in you," he said, their gazes holding, a spark of unspoken connection flaring under the starlight.
Xiao Lan's voice cut through, sharp. "We're not done yet. Look." She pointed to the altar, where a hidden compartment had opened, revealing a scroll etched with star runes: "The Starshatter Oath lies where the heavens kneel." Another clue, another fragment.
Lian Yue frowned, her aura probing. "The Court's influence is strong here. They'll send more."
Chen Wei's voice was low, urgent. "The relic—it mentioned a traitor's vow. A disciple who swore the Starshatter Oath, then broke it. I… saw their mark in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar pulsing. "Who?" He clutched the scroll, a vision flashing—a disciple, face hidden, slipping an amulet into a cloak, whispering to a Court elder. The third betrayer, closer than ever.
Su Mei's fingers brushed his, her face pale. "My mother warned of a traitor. She died to protect that secret." Her eyes shimmered, their shared loss binding them tighter.
Before Ye Tian could press Chen Wei, the lake trembled, a distant rumble echoing. Shadows stirred in the mist, a Core Formation Stage 5 aura surging. A cloaked figure emerged, its blade radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, a jade slip pulsing in its hand. "You've taken the fragment," it hissed, "but the Oath will bind you."
Ye Tian raised the Lunar Fang, Su Mei's melody rising beside him, their energies entwined. The Void Scar burned, but her presence steadied him. Was this figure the traitor, or another pawn in the Court's game?