The Falling Heavens Valley echoed with the fading clash of steel, its moonlit cliffs casting jagged shadows as Ye Tian faced the Core Formation Stage 5 ambush. Three Court agents stood before the shrine, their blades radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, jade slips pulsing with malice in their hands.
The Lunar Fang in Ye Tian's grip hummed, its blue steel resonating with the Starshatter Fragment clutched in his other hand, its black steel glowing with the Oath's promise: "Forged in the heavens' fall, the blade's heart binds the sect's soul to eternity."
The Void Scar in his dantian throbbed, its black Qi weakened but persistent, whispering pain and doubt. The Starshatter Scroll's map pointed to the Eternal Star Chasm, but the agents blocked their path. Behind him, Xiao Lan gripped her crescent blade, blood seeping from her wounds, her eyes fierce with defiance.
Elder Lian Yue's silver hair gleamed, 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, clutching the stone tablet, his knowledge of the Void Shard Array fueling Ye Tian's suspicion.
The lead agent, a wiry figure with cold eyes, sneered. "The Oath's heart belongs to the Court, Sovereign. You'll break before it."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My blade breaks chains, not hearts." The Void Scar pulsed, 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 melody cut through, steadying him.
Her jade eyes met his, fierce yet warm. "We'll shatter their plans together," 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, sharp with frustration. "Less talk, more blood!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry crackling, but she charged, her crescent slashes slicing the air.
Lian Yue's aura surged. "They're linked to a Void Shard. Find it!"
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The shard's near the shrine. I saw its runes in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar whispering doubt. "Prove it, Chen Wei." He stepped forward, the Lunar Fang ready, Su Mei at his side.
The lead agent struck, his 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, placing a Void Shard in a shrine, his voice cold. "The ritual will bind him." Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The valley's starlight surged into his blade, amplifying his Qi, his strikes glowing as he slashed the agent's arm, blood spraying.
Su Mei's Starlit Melody swelled, summoning a Starlit Phoenix, its wings scattering the agents' dark Qi. The bird dove, talons grazing the leader's shoulder, but another agent's blade 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 second agent's legs.
Xiao Lan's slashes felled the third agent, blood and mist spraying, but the leader's blade grazed her side, her grunt sharp. Lian Yue's Crescent Moon Slash unleashed a blue arc, slicing the second agent's arm, but the leader pressed Ye Tian, his corrupted shard aiming for his heart. Su Mei's melody shifted, a Starlit Barrier shielding him. "Stay strong," she urged, her jade eyes fierce with resolve.
Chen Wei dashed to the shrine, his blade striking a Void Shard hidden in its base. It cracked, black light erupting, summoning Void Wraiths, Stage 8, their red eyes glowing. Ye Tian's gaze snapped to Chen Wei, doubt coiling. "You knew exactly where it was!" He ducked the leader's strike, pain surging, but Su Mei's melody steadied him.
The leader laughed, his jade slip flaring. "The Scar owns you, Sovereign." His blade flashed, but Ye Tian parried, Sword Intent quaking the air. Su Mei's vines tightened, slowing the leader. Ye Tian lunged, Iron Vein Slash infused with Starlight Resonance, slashing his chest. Blood arced, the leader collapsing, his allies retreating into the mist.
The wraiths surged, but Chen Wei struck another shard, its light dimming, the wraiths dissolving. The valley stilled, the fragment's glow softening. Ye Tian panted, blood dripping from his side, the Void Scar quiet but lingering. Su Mei steadied him, her hand lingering on his arm, her touch a warmth against his pain. "You're their nightmare," she said, a faint smile breaking through. "My mother knew you'd rise."
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! They'll send more." Her eyes lingered on Su Mei, tension raw, her rivalry a simmering fire.
Lian Yue frowned, her aura probing. "The scroll mentioned a relic tied to the Oath. It's here."
Chen Wei's voice was urgent. "I saw it in the vale—a celestial relic, linked to the Court's ritual."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar pulsing. "Show us." He approached the shrine, a vision flashing—a disciple, face hidden, activating a relic in a Court ritual, Void Shards glowing. The third betrayer, ever closer.
They searched the shrine, finding a hidden compartment with a Celestial Relic—a jade orb etched with star runes, pulsing with celestial Qi. As Ye Tian touched it, a vision erupted: a Court ritual under a blood moon, Void Shards circling a shadowed altar, a cloaked disciple chanting, their amulet glowing. The third betrayer's voice echoed—"The Oath binds the blade's heart." The vision faded, pain spiking, but Su Mei's hand steadied him, her jade eyes shimmering. "My mother saw that ritual," she whispered. "She died to stop it."
Their shared loss bound them tighter, her touch a quiet vow. Before Ye Tian could press Chen Wei, the valley trembled, a massive aura surging. A Celestial Relic's Activation flared, the orb glowing, summoning a spectral figure—a Starlit Revenant, Stage 9, its form woven from moonlight, its blade radiating pure Starshatter Qi. "The Oath's keeper must face the sect's soul," it intoned, its voice ancient and mournful.
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 revenant a test of the Oath, or a trap of the Court's design?