The Eternal Star Chasm yawned beneath a star-streaked sky, its depths ablaze with celestial flames that cast eerie shadows across jagged cliffs. Ye Tian stood at the chasm's edge, the Lunar Fang in one hand, its blue steel humming, and the Starshatter Fragment in the other, its black steel pulsing with the Starlit Map's clue: "The blade's heart burns where stars die."
The Void Scar in his dantian throbbed, its black Qi weakened but persistent, a lingering thorn of the Celestial Court's curse. The map pointed to a shrine within the chasm, where the next fragment of the Starshatter Sword lay, but the Core Formation Stage 8 Court Vanguard blocked their path, its blade radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, a jade slip pulsing with malice.
Behind Ye Tian, 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 Court's traps fueling Ye Tian's suspicion.
The Vanguard's voice hissed, cold and venomous. "The Oath's heart burns for the Court, Sovereign. You'll die in these flames."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My blade outshines your fire." The Void Scar pulsed, a memory flashing—a cloaked disciple, face half-seen, placing a Void Shard in a chasm 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 warm. "We'll face the flames 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, sharp with frustration. "Burn them already!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry crackling, but she charged, her crescent slashes slicing the air.
Lian Yue's aura surged. "The Vanguard's tied to a Void Shard trap. Find it!"
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The shard's in the chasm's shrine. I saw its runes in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar whispering doubt. "You know too much, Chen Wei." He stepped forward, the Lunar Fang ready, Su Mei at his side.
The Vanguard struck, its blade a storm of corrupted Qi, flames trailing. 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, chanting in a Court ritual, a Void Shard glowing. "The blade's heart is ours," he intoned. Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The chasm's starlight surged into his blade, amplifying his Qi, his strikes glowing as he slashed the Vanguard's arm, blood and sparks flying.
Su Mei's Starlit Melody swelled, summoning a Starlit Phoenix, its wings scattering the Vanguard's flames. The bird dove, talons grazing its chest, but the Vanguard'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 Vanguard's legs.
Xiao Lan's slashes carved the Vanguard's side, blood spraying, but its blade grazed her shoulder, her grunt sharp. Lian Yue's Crescent Moon Slash unleashed a blue arc, slicing its armor, but the Vanguard pressed forward, relentless. Chen Wei struck, his blade precise, but his eyes darted to the chasm, hesitation flickering. "The shard's below!" he shouted.
Ye Tian's gaze snapped to him, doubt coiling. "Find it!" He ducked the Vanguard's strike, the corrupted blade nicking his arm, 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 Vanguard'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 Vanguard. Ye Tian lunged, Iron Vein Slash infused with Starlight Resonance, slashing its chest. Blood arced, the Vanguard staggering, but its jade slip flared, summoning Void Wraiths, Stage 8, their red eyes glowing in the chasm's flames.
Xiao Lan and Lian Yue fought back-to-back, their blades felling wraiths, but more emerged. Chen Wei descended into the chasm, his blade striking a Void Shard at the shrine's 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 Vanguard's core. The figure roared, collapsing into ash, the jade slip dimming.
The chasm 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 outshone their fire," she said, a faint smile breaking through. "My mother's tales couldn't capture your strength."
Ye Tian's heart stirred, her faith a mirror to his resolve. "Her courage burns 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! They'll send more." Her eyes lingered on Su Mei, tension raw, her rivalry a smoldering ember.
Lian Yue frowned, her aura probing. "The map's clue—'where stars die.' The shrine holds the fragment."
Chen Wei's voice was urgent. "The tablet's runes mentioned a vision—the third betrayer's face, tied to the shrine's relic. I saw it in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar pulsing. "Show us." He approached the shrine, a vision flashing—a disciple, face half-seen, chanting in a Court ritual, their amulet glowing. The third betrayer, closer than ever.
They searched the shrine, finding a hidden compartment with a Starshatter Relic—a jade tablet 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 turning, their face revealed—Hua Qing, a Fallen Moon elder, her eyes cold with ambition. "The Oath is mine," she whispered. Pain spiked, but Su Mei's hand steadied him, her jade eyes shimmering. "My mother trusted her," she whispered, her voice breaking. "She betrayed us all."
Their shared betrayal bound them tighter, her touch a quiet vow. Before Ye Tian could process Hua Qing's face, the chasm trembled, a massive aura surging. A Court Trap activated, black runes flaring, summoning a Celestial Inferno Beast, Stage 10, its form wreathed in starfire, its roar shaking the cliffs. "The blade's heart burns for none but the worthy," it bellowed.
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 beast the Court's final trap, or a guardian of the Starshatter Oath?