The shrine at Kneeling Heavens Peak trembled under a fading celestial alignment, its moonlit runes flickering as the Shadowed Seraph loomed above Ye Tian's group. Its wings of dark Qi spread wide, Stage 10 aura pulsing with a blend of starlight and void malice, its blade of shadowed celestial steel gleaming with intent.
Ye Tian gripped the Lunar Fang, its blue steel humming in defiance, the Starshatter Fragment in his other hand radiating a mournful glow. The Void Scar in his dantian throbbed, its black Qi weakened by the Moonlit Purification Art but still a jagged thorn, whispering pain and doubt.
The map's clue—"The Starshatter's heart beats where the heavens fall"—burned in his mind, pointing to a new destination, but the Seraph blocked their path. 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 close, her jade flute raised, its star runes glowing, her Starlit Melody a quiet anchor against the Void Scar's chaos. Chen Wei lingered, his scarred face tense, the stone tablet's map clutched tightly, his knowledge of the Void Shard Array deepening Ye Tian's suspicion.
The Seraph's voice echoed, cold and ancient. "The Oath's heart is forbidden. Prove your worth, or perish."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My worth is my blade. Step aside." The Void Scar pulsed, a memory flashing—a disciple, face hidden, placing a Void Shard in a shrine, a Court elder nodding. The third betrayer. Pain blurred the vision, but Su Mei's melody cut through, steadying him.
Her jade eyes met his, fierce yet soft. "We'll face it 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 snapped, edged with frustration. "Enough promises! Fight!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry crackling, but she charged, her crescent slashes slicing the air.
Lian Yue's aura surged. "The Seraph's tied to the Void Shard Array. Destroy the shards to weaken it."
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The array's runes—they're in the shrine's base. I saw them in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar whispering doubt. "You see too much, Chen Wei." He stepped forward, the Lunar Fang ready, Su Mei at his side.
The Seraph struck, its shadowed blade a storm of dark Qi. Ye Tian flowed into Body Sword Stance, parrying with a burst of silver sparks. The impact rattled his bones, the Void Scar flaring, a vision searing—Lin Feng, his disciple, forging a Void Shard under a Court elder's gaze, his voice cold.
"The Oath will bind him." Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The peak's fading starlight surged into his blade, amplifying his Qi, his strikes glowing as he slashed the Seraph's wing, dark mist spraying.
Su Mei's Starlit Melody swelled, summoning a Starlit Phoenix, its wings scattering the Seraph's dark Qi. The bird dove, talons grazing its flank, but the Seraph's wing lashed, shattering the phoenix and sending Su Mei stumbling. Ye Tian caught her, their hands clasping briefly, her touch a warmth against his pain. "I'm with you," she whispered, her melody rising again, vines binding the Seraph's legs.
Xiao Lan's slashes carved the Seraph's side, blood and mist spraying, but its blade grazed her arm, her grunt sharp. Lian Yue's Crescent Moon Slash unleashed a blue arc, slicing its wing, but the Seraph reformed, its aura intensifying. Chen Wei struck, his blade precise, but his eyes darted to the shrine, hesitation flickering. "The shards—destroy them!" he shouted.
Ye Tian's gaze snapped to him, doubt coiling. "Show us." He ducked the Seraph's strike, the shadowed blade nicking his shoulder, blood dripping. Pain surged, but Su Mei's melody wrapped around him, a Starlit Barrier shielding him. "Stay strong," she urged, her jade eyes fierce with resolve.
The Seraph's blade flashed, aiming for Ye Tian's heart. He parried, Sword Intent quaking the air. Su Mei's melody shifted, vines tightening, slowing the Seraph. Ye Tian lunged, Iron Vein Slash infused with Starlight Resonance, slashing its chest. Dark mist erupted, the Seraph staggering, but the Void Shard Array flared, black runes pulsing, summoning Void Wraiths, Stage 8, their red eyes glowing.
Xiao Lan and Lian Yue fought back-to-back, their blades a flurry, felling wraiths, but more emerged. Chen Wei dashed to the shrine, his blade striking a Void Shard at its base. It cracked, black light erupting, the wraiths faltering. Ye Tian seized the moment, Starlight Resonance peaking, his blade a silver comet. He struck, the Lunar Fang piercing the Seraph's core. The beast roared, dissolving into starlit mist, the array dimming.
The shrine stilled, the fragment's glow softening. Ye Tian panted, blood dripping from his shoulder, the Void Scar quiet but lingering. Su Mei steadied him, her hand lingering on his arm, her touch a warmth against his pain. "You broke its hold," she said, a faint smile breaking through. "My mother's faith in you was true."
Ye Tian's heart stirred, her faith a mirror to his resolve. "Her 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 safe yet! The array's gone, but they'll come for us." Her eyes lingered on Su Mei, tension raw.
Lian Yue frowned, her aura probing. "The map's clue—'where the heavens fall.' It's a sacred valley nearby."
Chen Wei's voice was low, urgent. "The tablet's runes mentioned a vision—the Court's ritual, tied to the Oath. I saw a relic in the vale, hinting at it."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar pulsing. "Show us." He clutched the map, a vision flashing—a disciple, face hidden, chanting in a Court ritual, a Void Shard glowing. The third betrayer, ever closer.
They searched the shrine, finding a hidden compartment with a Celestial Scroll, its star runes detailing the Starshatter Oath: "Sworn under the heavens' fall, the blade's heart binds the sect's soul." A map etched below pointed to the Falling Heavens Valley, the next fragment's resting place.
Before Ye Tian could study it, the peak trembled, a massive aura surging. A Court Enforcer—Core Formation Stage 7—emerged from the mist, its blade radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, a jade slip pulsing in its hand. "The Oath's heart is ours," it hissed. "You'll fall, Sovereign."
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 enforcer the traitor, or a pawn in the Court's ritual?