The Eternal Star Chasm shimmered under a blazing celestial alignment, its cliffs aglow with starfire that cast long shadows across the shrine's moonlit runes. Ye Tian stood before the Core Formation Stage 9 Court Agent, 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 jagged thorn of the Celestial Court's curse. The agent's blade radiated corrupted Starshatter Qi, a Void Shard pulsing in its hand, its words echoing Hua Qing's betrayal: "The Oath's heart is ours." 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 Hua Qing's ritual fueling Ye Tian's suspicion.
The agent sneered, its voice dripping with malice. "Hua Qing's ritual will bind the Oath, Sovereign. You'll kneel."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My blade kneels to no traitor." The Void Scar pulsed, a memory flashing—Hua Qing, her cold eyes fixed on a Void Shard, chanting in a Court ritual. Pain blurred the vision, but Su Mei's melody cut through, steadying him.
Her jade eyes met his, fierce yet warm. "We'll break her chains 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 starfire.
Xiao Lan's voice snapped, sharp with frustration. "End this traitor's pawn!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry crackling, but she charged, her crescent slashes slicing the air.
Lian Yue's aura surged. "The agent's tied to the Void Shard. Destroy it!"
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The shard's in the shrine's altar. I saw its runes in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar whispering doubt. "You're too certain, Chen Wei." He stepped forward, the Lunar Fang ready, Su Mei at his side.
The agent struck, its blade a storm of corrupted 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 Hua Qing's gaze, his voice cold. "The ritual binds the blade's heart." Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The chasm'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 agent's dark Qi. The bird dove, talons grazing its shoulder, but the 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 agent's legs.
Xiao Lan's slashes carved the agent's side, blood spraying, but its blade grazed her arm, her grunt sharp. Lian Yue's Crescent Moon Slash unleashed a blue arc, slicing its armor, but the agent pressed forward, relentless. Chen Wei dashed to the shrine, his blade striking a Void Shard at the altar's base. It cracked, black light erupting, weakening the agent's aura. Ye Tian seized the moment, Starlight Resonance peaking, his blade a silver comet. He struck, the Lunar Fang piercing the agent's core. The figure collapsed, its Void Shard dimming, the chasm's flames flickering.
The alignment's light intensified, stars blazing above. Ye Tian felt the Void Scar stir, its black Qi coiling, but the alignment offered a chance to weaken it further. Su Mei's voice was soft, urgent. "The alignment empowers the Moonlit Purification Art. Now's the time."
Ye Tian's eyes met her jade gaze, her resolve strengthening his own. "Guide me," he said, his voice low, her faith a spark against his pain.
Xiao Lan's voice snapped, sharp with tension. "We're exposed! Hurry!" Her gaze lingered on Su Mei, tension raw, her rivalry a smoldering ember.
Lian Yue nodded, her aura probing. "The alignment's power is fleeting. Focus."
Su Mei raised her flute, her Starlit Melody weaving a protective barrier of celestial Qi. "Harmonize your Qi with the stars," she said, her notes syncing with the alignment's light. Her melody enveloped Ye Tian, its warmth dulling the Void Scar's burn, their energies entwining like a dance.
Ye Tian knelt at the shrine, the Starshatter Fragment in hand, its glow merging with the chasm's starlight. He channeled the Moonlit Purification Art, guided by Su Mei's melody. The alignment's power surged through him, his Qi clashing with the Void Scar's black Qi. Pain erupted, a vision searing—Hua Qing, her voice cold in a Court pact, swearing to bind the Starshatter Oath. "The sect's soul is mine," she vowed. Ye Tian gritted his teeth, Su Mei's melody anchoring him, her notes a lifeline.
The Void Scar writhed, black Qi seeping from his core, dissipating into the chasm's flames. Ye Tian's aura flared, Body Refinement Stage 3 stabilizing, the Scar's grip loosening further. Su Mei's hand brushed his, steadying him, her touch lingering. "You're breaking free," she whispered, her jade eyes shimmering with awe and something deeper—shared purpose, shared pain.
The chasm stilled, the alignment's light fading. Ye Tian stood, the Starshatter Fragment glowing brighter, its power resonating with his purified Qi. The Void Scar quieted, a faint black thread remaining, unyielding. Su Mei's melody softened, her face pale from exertion. "You're stronger now," she said, a faint smile breaking through. "Like the Sovereign my mother believed in."
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, her rivalry a simmering flame.
Lian Yue frowned, her aura probing. "The shrine holds a relic tied to Hua Qing's betrayal."
Chen Wei's voice was urgent. "I saw it in the vale—a jade tablet, linked to her ritual."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar pulsing. "Show us." He approached the shrine, a vision flashing—Hua Qing, her cold eyes fixed on a jade tablet, chanting in a Court ritual. The third betrayer's ambition was clear.
They searched the shrine, finding a hidden compartment with a Jade Relic, its star runes etched with Hua Qing's name, pulsing with corrupted Qi. As Ye Tian touched it, a vision erupted: Hua Qing in a Court ritual, Void Shards circling a shadowed altar, her voice cold. "The Oath's heart will make me a god." Pain spiked, but Su Mei's hand steadied him, her jade eyes shimmering. "She betrayed my mother's trust," she whispered, her voice breaking. "We'll stop her."
Their shared betrayal bound them tighter, her touch a quiet vow. Before Ye Tian could study the relic, the chasm trembled, a massive aura surging. A Court Enforcer—Core Formation Stage 10—emerged from the shadows, its blade radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, a jade slip pulsing in its hand. "Hua Qing's ritual begins," 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 Hua Qing's final pawn, or a herald of her ritual's awakening?