The Falling Heavens Valley sprawled beneath a jagged sky, its cliffs carved with ancient moonlit runes that pulsed faintly under a fading celestial glow. Ye Tian stood at the valley's edge, the Lunar Fang in one hand, its blue steel humming, and the Starshatter Fragment in the other, its black steel resonating with the Celestial Scroll's clue: "Sworn under the heavens' fall, the blade's heart binds the sect's soul."
The Void Scar in his dantian throbbed, its black Qi weakened by the Moonlit Purification Art but still a persistent thorn, whispering pain and doubt. The scroll pointed to a shrine in the valley, where the next fragment of the Starshatter Sword lay.
Behind him, Xiao Lan gripped her crescent blade, her wounds bandaged but her eyes burning with defiance. Elder Lian Yue's silver hair caught the starlight, her Core Formation aura scanning the cliffs.
Su Mei stood close, her jade flute at her waist, its star runes glowing, her Starlit Melody a steady anchor against the Void Scar's chaos. Chen Wei lingered, his scarred face tense, clutching the stone tablet's map, his knowledge of the Void Shard Array fueling Ye Tian's suspicion.
The valley's air grew heavy, celestial Qi mingling with a faint void malice. Ye Tian felt the Void Scar stir, a memory flashing—a disciple, face hidden, chanting in a Court ritual, a Void Shard glowing. The third betrayer. Pain blurred the vision, but Su Mei's voice cut through, soft yet resolute. "The shrine's close. Let's end this."
Ye Tian's eyes met her jade gaze, her resolve strengthening his own. "Together," he said, his voice low, her faith a spark against his pain.
Xiao Lan's voice snapped, sharp with tension. "We're walking into their trap. Move faster!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry crackling, her patience fraying.
Lian Yue's aura surged. "A Core Formation guardian awaits. Stage 8, maybe higher."
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The tablet's runes—they warn of a Void Shard array in the shrine. I saw it in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar whispering doubt. "You know too much, Chen Wei." He stepped toward the shrine, Su Mei at his side, the Lunar Fang ready.
The shrine loomed, its moonlit runes pulsing with celestial Qi, a Starshatter Fragment embedded in its altar, glowing with a mournful hum. As they approached, the ground trembled, a Core Formation Stage 8 guardian emerging—a Celestial Warden, its armor forged of starlight, its blade radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi. Its voice boomed, cold and unyielding. "The Oath's heart is ours. Kneel, Sovereign."
Ye Tian raised the Lunar Fang, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My blade kneels to no one." Su Mei's Starlit Melody surged, weaving a shimmering barrier, their energies syncing.
The Warden struck, its blade a storm of dark Qi. Ye Tian flowed into Body Sword Stance, parrying with a burst of silver sparks. The impact shook his bones, the Void Scar flaring, a vision searing—Zhao Wuji, his sworn brother, forging a Void Shard, his voice broken. "I had no choice, brother." Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The valley's starlight surged into his blade, amplifying his Qi, his strikes glowing as he slashed the Warden's armor, sparks flying.
Su Mei's melody swelled, summoning a Starlit Phoenix, its wings scattering the Warden's dark Qi. The bird dove, talons grazing its helm, but the Warden's blade lashed, 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 Warden's arms.
Xiao Lan's crescent slashes carved the Warden's side, blood and mist spraying, but its blade grazed her leg, her grunt sharp. Lian Yue's Crescent Moon Slash unleashed a blue arc, slicing its armor, but the Warden pressed forward, relentless. Chen Wei struck, his blade precise, but his eyes darted to the shrine, hesitation flickering. "The array's activating!" he shouted.
Ye Tian's gaze snapped to him, doubt coiling. "Find it!" He ducked the Warden's strike, the corrupted shard nicking his arm, blood dripping. Pain surged, but Su Mei's melody wrapped around him, a Starlit Barrier shielding him. "Stay with me," she urged, her jade eyes fierce with resolve.
The Warden'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 Warden. Ye Tian lunged, Iron Vein Slash infused with Starlight Resonance, slashing its chest. Blood arced, the Warden staggering, but the shrine's runes flared, a Void Shard Array activating, summoning Void Wraiths, Stage 8, their red eyes glowing.
Xiao Lan and Lian Yue fought back-to-back, their blades 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 Warden's core. The guardian roared, collapsing into starlit mist, the array dimming.
The shrine stilled, the fragment's glow softening. Ye Tian panted, blood dripping from his arm, the Void Scar quiet but lingering. Su Mei steadied him, her hand lingering on his shoulder, her touch a warmth against his pain. "You're unstoppable," she said, a faint smile breaking through. "My mother's tales were true."
Ye Tian's heart stirred, her faith a mirror to his resolve. "Her Oath lives in us," he said, their gazes holding, a spark of unspoken connection flaring under the starlight.
Xiao Lan's voice cut through, sharp. "We're not clear yet! They'll come for the fragment." Her eyes lingered on Su Mei, tension raw.
Lian Yue frowned, her aura probing. "The scroll—it details the Starshatter Oath. We need it."
Chen Wei's voice was low, urgent. "The shrine holds it. I saw a compartment in the vale's relics."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar pulsing. "Show us." He approached the shrine, 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 Starshatter Scroll, its star runes detailing the Oath: "Forged in the heavens' fall, the blade's heart binds the sect's soul to eternity." A map below pointed to the Eternal Star Chasm, the next fragment's resting place.
Before Ye Tian could study it, the valley trembled, a massive aura surging. A Court Ambush erupted—three Core Formation Stage 5 agents, their blades radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, jade slips pulsing in their hands. Their leader sneered. "The Oath's heart is ours, Sovereign. You'll fall."
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 ambush the traitor's work, or a deeper Court ritual unfolding?